All Claritin products are gluten-free per Bayer — the active loratadine and inactive ingredients are gluten-free by composition.
Yes. Per Bayer’s published FAQ, all Claritin products are gluten-free. Active loratadine is a synthetic small molecule with no gluten. Inactive ingredients (corn starch, lactose, magnesium stearate for standard tablets) contain no wheat-derived components. Note: Claritin Allergy, Hives Relief, and Claritin-D 12-hour contain milk/lactose (relevant if you have a dairy sensitivity alongside celiac); Reditabs, Children’s Syrup, and Claritin-D 24-hour are milk-free.
Claritin is one of the cleaner OTC antihistamine answers for celiac readers — Bayer states all Claritin products are gluten-free, a more affirmative position than many OTC drug manufacturers provide. The catch isn’t gluten — it’s milk/lactose. Some Claritin variants contain dairy ingredients that matter for celiac patients with co-existing dairy sensitivity, but those don’t affect the gluten-free status.
What Bayer Says
What’s in Claritin
Active ingredient: loratadine (10 mg) — a synthetic small molecule, gluten-free by chemistry.
Inactive ingredients vary by variant:
- Standard Claritin Tablets: corn starch, lactose, magnesium stearate
- Claritin Reditabs (orally disintegrating): anhydrous citric acid, gelatin, mannitol, mint flavor
- Children’s Claritin Syrup: citric acid, edetate disodium, glycerin, maltitol, natural and artificial flavors, propylene glycol, sodium benzoate, sodium phosphate, sucrose, water
- Claritin Chewables: aspartame, citric acid, colloidal silicon dioxide, FD&C colorants, flavors, magnesium stearate, mannitol, menthol, microcrystalline cellulose, sodium starch glycolate, stearic acid
None of these inactive ingredients is wheat-derived. Per FDA labeling rules, wheat would require a “Contains: Wheat” allergen callout if used.
FDA Position on OTC Drugs and Gluten
Per the FDA’s Medications and Gluten page: “The FDA is aware of no oral drug products currently marketed in the United States that contain wheat gluten or wheat flour intentionally added as an inactive ingredient.” Worst-case estimated exposure per dose: 0.5 mg gluten.
The Milk/Lactose Catch — Important for Dual Sensitivities
Cross-Contamination Risk
Manufacturing
Low
- Bayer states all Claritin products are gluten-free.
- No wheat-derived inactives in any variant.
- Active loratadine is synthetic and gluten-free by chemistry.
Pharmacy / Retail
Low
- Sealed manufacturer packaging.
- Generic loratadine widely treated as GF; verify each store brand.
Home
Low
- Sealed bottle or blister pack; standard storage.
Claritin Variants — Quick Reference
- Claritin Tablets (10 mg) — gluten-free, contains lactose
- Claritin Reditabs — gluten-free, MILK-FREE
- Children’s Claritin Syrup — gluten-free, MILK-FREE
- Claritin Chewables — gluten-free; uses aspartame
- Claritin-D 12-hour — gluten-free, contains milk
- Claritin-D 24-hour — gluten-free, MILK-FREE
- Claritin Allergy / Hives Relief — gluten-free, contains milk/lactose
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Claritin gluten-free?
Yes. Per Bayer’s published FAQ, all Claritin products are gluten-free. Active loratadine is gluten-free by chemistry, and inactive ingredients (corn starch, lactose, magnesium stearate for standard tablets) contain no wheat-derived components. Some variants contain milk/lactose — that’s a dairy concern, not gluten.
Are Claritin Reditabs gluten-free?
Yes. Claritin Reditabs (the orally disintegrating tablets) are gluten-free and ALSO milk-free, making them a clean option for celiacs with co-existing dairy sensitivity. Inactive ingredients: anhydrous citric acid, gelatin, mannitol, mint flavor.
Is Children’s Claritin gluten-free?
Yes. Children’s Claritin Syrup is gluten-free and milk-free per Bayer — a clean option for pediatric celiac patients. Claritin Chewables (also pediatric) are gluten-free but use aspartame; verify the Drug Facts label for any additional concerns.
Does Claritin contain dairy?
Some variants do. Reditabs, Children’s Syrup, and Claritin-D 24-hour are MILK-FREE. Claritin Allergy, Claritin Hives Relief, and Claritin-D 12-hour CONTAIN milk or lactose. For celiacs with co-existing dairy sensitivity, choose the milk-free variants. Note: this is a dairy allergen concern, not gluten — Claritin is still gluten-free across all variants.
Is generic loratadine gluten-free?
The active loratadine is identical across Claritin and all generics. Generic loratadine (Costco Kirkland, Amazon Basic Care, CVS Health, Walgreens) is widely treated as gluten-free. Inactive ingredients vary by manufacturer — verify each store brand’s Drug Facts label.
Claritin vs Allegra vs Zyrtec for celiac?
All three are widely treated as gluten-free. Bayer’s “all Claritin products are gluten-free” position is the most affirmative manufacturer language among the three. Allegra (Sanofi) and Zyrtec (Kenvue) are similarly treated as GF but with slightly less direct manufacturer statements. For severely sensitive celiacs, Claritin’s clearer manufacturer position is a slight edge.