Claritin might work for some cold symptoms like sneezing, but it is ineffective for others, like congestion. Combination cold products can help you find the best medication to relieve symptoms.
Loratadine (Claritin) is an over-the-counter allergy product. As an antihistamine, it works on the body’s histamine receptors.
Histamine receptors are responsible for the symptoms you experience in response to seasonal allergens.
Since there is some overlap between allergy and cold symptoms, you might use loratadine (Claritin) for cold relief.
Still, the medication won’t work for all cold symptoms, so you might consider taking a combined cold and antihistamine product or other cold and flu medications.
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Loratadine (Claritin) is a medication for seasonal allergy symptoms.
It’s a second-generation antihistamine which means that it has less of a sedating effect than first-generation antihistamines like diphenhydramine (Benadryl).
Loratadine works on the body’s histamine H1 receptors. It starts to work within 1–3 hours of taking it, and you should feel maximum results at 8–12 hours.
Loratadine (Claritin) is available in 12- and 24-hour formulations. This makes it longer lasting than diphenhydramine (Benadryl) as it has a dose schedule of every 4–6 hours for mild allergy symptoms.
As one of the common symptoms of a cold is also sneezing, taking Claritin might help you find relief from this symptom.
If you experience itchy eyes or other kinds of itch, loratadine might also be an effective remedy.
Still, loratadine (Claritin) will not help with many other cold symptoms like:
sore throat
headaches
congestion
fever
cough
fatigue (low energy)
chills
body aches
Cold and flu medications
You can buy many medications for a cold and flu, including combinations of different drugs. Some of them include:
Nasal decongestants: These medications can help clear your nasal passages so you can breathe easier. An example of this is pseudoephedrine (Sudafed).
Expectorants: Expectorants are cough medicines that can help clear mucus from your chest. Examples include guaifenesin (Mucinex) and acetylcysteine or n-acetylcysteine (Mucomyst).
Cough suppressants: Medications like promethazine dextromethorphan (Promethazine DM) can help with coughs, runny nose, and sneezing.
It’s always a good idea to read the packaging label or ask a pharmacist about the types of active ingredients in each product.
This can give you a better understanding of how the medication will work for your specific symptoms.
A pharmacist will also be able to advise which medications you can safely combine for the best results.
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Some second-generation antihistamines don’t make you feel sleepy. They may also help relieve the sneezing associated with colds.
Second-generation antihistamines last longer in the body, meaning you can take them less often. Both fexofenadine (Allegra) and cetirizine (Zyrtec) come in once-daily formulations.
Home remedies for cold and flu symptoms
Some home remedies and self-care tips you can try include:
gargling with salt water several times daily to relieve sore throat
breathing in steam from a shower or bowl of hot water
using a cool mist vaporizer or humidifier
getting lots of rest
It’s important to note that antibiotics don’t help treat colds. But an antiviral medication might help if you have flu. Antiviral medications are available by prescription from a doctor or healthcare professional.
