There had to be an advantage having to a friend in med school somewhere...
I read up on Claritin D (I take it myself sometimes) and it looks like those side effects aren't out of the range of possibility. But are you sure you didn't have anything else that could have affected you that way? What did you eat today? Believe it or not, some foods can lead to a release of norepinephrine (a body chemical a lot like adrenaline that can in fact increase heart rate and blood pressure) and maybe it was that that interacting with the pseudoephedrine in the Claritin D. Check with the allergist, or even call a pharmacist who might know. This could be an isolated occurrence. Don't give up on the Claritin just yet.
However, just as an aside, I've been told that Allegra causes less drowsiness side effects. And Benadryl works too and is dirt cheap, it just makes you tireder. (but you'd have to take the pseudoephedrine separately, since you can't buy Benadryl D anywhere)
no subject
I read up on Claritin D (I take it myself sometimes) and it looks like those side effects aren't out of the range of possibility. But are you sure you didn't have anything else that could have affected you that way? What did you eat today? Believe it or not, some foods can lead to a release of norepinephrine (a body chemical a lot like adrenaline that can in fact increase heart rate and blood pressure) and maybe it was that that interacting with the pseudoephedrine in the Claritin D. Check with the allergist, or even call a pharmacist who might know. This could be an isolated occurrence. Don't give up on the Claritin just yet.
However, just as an aside, I've been told that Allegra causes less drowsiness side effects. And Benadryl works too and is dirt cheap, it just makes you tireder. (but you'd have to take the pseudoephedrine separately, since you can't buy Benadryl D anywhere)