# Take Claritin regularly? Do you still get colds? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [November 20, 2009, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/take-claritin-regularly-do-you-still-get-colds/518342 "2009-11-20T21:50:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Sattua](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sattua/32/11906_2.png) [@Sattua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sattua)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2009, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/take-claritin-regularly-do-you-still-get-colds/518342/1 "2009-11-20T21:50:09Z")
I’ve been taking Claritin on a daily basis for about a year and a half now (because I’m allergic to my cat). I haven’t had a head cold since I started, which is great. A couple of times, though, I have felt rotten–run down–and just slightly snottier than usual. I have assumed that these are times when I had a cold virus, but the excellent drainage provided by Claritin was stopping me from getting congested and fully sick. Has anyone else had a similar experience? Does anyone agree or disagree with my theory? ---
**Author:** ![aruvqan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aruvqan/32/2891_2.png) [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2009, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/take-claritin-regularly-do-you-still-get-colds/518342/2 "2009-11-21T00:33:20Z")
No, I agree … from what I have read, much of the misery of a cold is actually the odd symptom not the actual cold [mucus draining tends to cause sore throats, and mucus can be rendered less annoying by hydrating and using guaifenesin assiduously] I can tell when I am about to get a cold, I get this funny almost scratch on one side of my throat, and my sinus on that side will almost be blocked. I happen to know if I immediately hork down guaifenesin and dose with nasonex and keep hydrated, AND DO NOT STOP, I can avoid the whole raging sore throat and blocked sinuses, but I have to keep it up for 2 weeks, otherwise I get the full on 2 weeks of misery starting from when I miss the meds. ---
**Author:** ![ErinPuff](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dbc845/32.png) [@ErinPuff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ErinPuff)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2009, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/take-claritin-regularly-do-you-still-get-colds/518342/3 "2009-11-21T02:39:23Z")
I’ve taken Claritin for about four years; I do get colds, but not too often (last one was in February). I moved to a different state in August and my allergies have gotten worse, but I haven’t gotten properly sick. There have been several times where I was sure I was coming down with a cold, but it didn’t stick. A week after I moved, I had one day of full-on head cold, and then it went away overnight; that was weird, but certainly preferable to being sick for a week. I don’t know if it has to do with the Claritin or if I just have a weird immune system. ---
**Author:** ![Cowgirl\_Jules](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4af34b/32.png) [@Cowgirl\_Jules](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cowgirl_Jules)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2009, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/take-claritin-regularly-do-you-still-get-colds/518342/4 "2009-11-21T04:00:56Z")
I’ve taken it for four or five years, at my doc’s recommendation. Haven’t had a sinus infection since, and I used to get three or four miserable ones a year. ---
**Author:** ![Sattua](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sattua/32/11906_2.png) [@Sattua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sattua)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2009, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/take-claritin-regularly-do-you-still-get-colds/518342/5 "2009-11-22T03:16:35Z")
Man, I’d had the run-down cold-virus feeling for three or four days. Today, this afternoon, I suddenly got the distinct, satisfying sensation of blocked sinuses suddenly clearing up and breathing being easier. I never was stuffed up, but I got the feeling. I’ve got more energy tonight, too. ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2009, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/take-claritin-regularly-do-you-still-get-colds/518342/6 "2009-11-27T01:00:42Z")
I took it for years and got the typical number of colds. ---
**Author:** ![elbows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b3f665/32.png) [@elbows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elbows)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2009, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/take-claritin-regularly-do-you-still-get-colds/518342/7 "2009-11-27T02:00:20Z")
No concerns over side effects for taking this kind of medication daily, for years? I was freaking out because I had to give it to my dog for a few months, I was dreadfully worried about side effects.