How do claritin 24 hour caps work compared to other drug products
going under the name "claritin"?

Hi finler-ga,
This is a very good question and after searching the web over I have
an answer for you. Claritin-D 24 hour is a tablet that contains two
different medications that help reduce the symptoms (nasal stuffiness,
runny nose, sneezing, and itching) associated with allergies. It
contains loratadine and pseudoephedrine sulfate.

Loratadine is a medication that inhibits the actions of histamine.
Histamine is a chemical produced by our bodies. If made in excess it
causes a person to have itching, sneezing, and a runny nose. This
particular medication prevents histamine from causing these symptoms.
Loratidine is long-acting meaning that it will last a long time in the
body before being eliminated from your body. This medication is in the
coating of the tablet and is released immediately in your intestines.
For more information on histamine and what loratadine does go here:
http://www.alphanutrition.com/allergy/antihistamines.htm 

The other medication pseudoephedrine sulfate is effective in reducing
or eliminating the nasal stuffiness (congestion) associated with
allergies (hay fever). It does not last as long in the body and so is
put in the center of the tablet. There is a little wax and other
additives in the center of the tablet that keep the pseudoephedrine
sulfate from being dissolved rapidly in the intestines. Rather it is
slowly dissolved over a course of 24 hours in you intestines. That is
why they tell you not to bite or chew the tablet. If you chew or bite
the tablet you destroy the slow release of the pseudoephedrine
sulfate.

The official explanation can be found in the package insert usually
placed in the box of the product. Here is what it says,
"CLARITIN-DŽ 24 HOUR (loratadine and pseudoephedrine sulfate, USP)
Extended Release Tablets contain 10 mg loratadine in the tablet
coating for immediate release and 240 mg pseudoephedrine sulfate, USP
in the tablet core which is released slowly allowing for once-daily
administration."

Here is the website with the entire package insert.
http://www.claritin.com/pi/24hour.html

For more information on allergic rhinitis (hay fever) go here:
http://www.alphanutrition.com/ent/rhinitis.htm

Search terms I used with google.com: claritin-D 24 hour.
Hope that helps
nealc-ga

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Clarification of Answer by nealc-ga on 03 Sep 2002 07:38 PDT

Sorry I forgot to mention that the syrup and the rapidly dissolving
tablets only contain 10 mg of loratadine. The 12 hour extended release
tablets contain the same two medications found in the 24 hour extended
release tablets however they have one half as much of the medications
as the 24 hour tablets contain.
http://www.claritin.com/pi/index.html

nealc-ga

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Clarification of Answer by nealc-ga on 03 Sep 2002 09:16 PDT

As far as how well they work. It is my understanding that how well a
product works depends on the person. Oftentimes the less expensive
claritins work just fine.
nealc-ga

Thank you - and please let me know how to address the answer person
diretly so that we might negotiate a similar explanation of all my
other medications.