Is depression a side effect of Loratadine (Claritin)?

31 Jul 2004

Yes depression can be a side effect of Claritin. I read this in the nurse's Drug handbook. It is listed under the common side effects along with many others. When you pick up your Claritin it may also tell you this under the side effects.

31 Jul 2004

Thank you for the information. I contacted the company that makes this drug and their contact there assured me that depression was NOT a side effect. I guess they do not have the correct facts, which could be dangerous to someone who is already subject to depression before taking the drug.

PAQ

1 Aug 2004

Interestingly enough, depression is listed as a side effect in the PDR info
http://www.drugs.com/cdi/claritin-syrup.html

... the following adverse events have been reported in at least one patient in CLARITIN clinical trials in adult and pediatric patients:
... Psychiatric: agitation, amnesia, anxiety, confusion, decreased libido, depression, impaired concentration, insomnia, irritability, paroniria. [?][?]

22 Dec 2009

i am not so sure that taking claritin can cause depression i am weening off paxil,and taking claritin the only affects i am feeling is the withdraws of the paxil.

4 May 2011

I found this to be so. I started to feel "down" for several days, for no apparent reason. When I discontinued Claritin, my mood returned to normal again!

29 Mar 2012

I can only speak from an experience I had some years ago. A coworker gave me a Claritin, and after about an hour, my vision got super clear and definative, colors became more brilliant, like I put on a pair of "super" sunglasses, but along with these side effects, I became extremely depressed. It was as if, the weight of the world was on my shoulders. It was all I could do to maintain, knowing that the pill was the reason for it all. I remember driving home that afternoon and having to pull over and just cry... yes cry! Grown male, around 28 years old, on the side of the road, sobbing for no reason! Never again, Claritin