Pharm

Loratadine

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Loratadine, Claritin, Desloratadine, Clarinex, Alavert

  • See Also
  1. Second Generation Antihistamine
  2. Antihistamine
  3. Allergic Rhinitis
  • Indications
  1. Allergic Rhinitis
  • Mechanism
  1. Second Generation Antihistamine
  2. Loratadine and Desloratadine are less potent than Allegra and Zyrtec
  3. Deloratadine is the active isomer of Loratadine (and therefore dosed at 50%)
  • Dosing
  • Desloratadine (Clarinex)
  1. Deloratadine is the active isomer of Loratadine
    1. Released in 2001, just before the Loratadine patent expired in 2002
  2. FDA approved for perennial allergies in age >=6 months (seasonal allergies in age >=2 years)
  3. Available by prescription only
    1. Tablets 5 mg
    2. Dissolving tablets 2.5 to 5 mg
    3. Syrup 0.5 mg/ml
  4. Adult (ages 12 and over): 5 mg orally daily
  5. Child (ages 6-11 years): 2.5 mg orally daily to twice daily
  6. Preschool (ages 12 months to 5 years): 1.25 mg orally daily
  7. Infant (ages 6-12 months): 1 mg orally daily
  • Dosing
  • Loratadine (Claritin)
  1. FDA approved for age >=2 years
  2. Available OTC
    1. Tablets 10 mg
    2. Dissolving tablets 5 to 10 mg
    3. Syrup 1mg/ml
  3. Adult Dose (ages 6 and over): 10 mg orally daily
  4. Child Dose (ages 2-5 years): 5 mg orally daily
  5. Decrease dose or spread out doses (every other day) in hepatic insufficiency or Renal Insufficiency
  • Safety
  1. Loratadine (Claritin)
    1. Pregnancy Category B
    2. Considered compatible with Lactation
  2. Desloratadine (Clarinex)
    1. Pregnancy Category C
    2. Considered compatible with Lactation
  • Adverse Effects
  1. See Antihistamine
  2. Drowsiness
    1. Although labeled as non-sedating, these Antihistamines may still cause sedation (esp. Cetirizine)
    2. Sedation may be least likely with Loratadine (Claritin) at lower doses, and Fexofenadine (Allegra) at any dose
    3. Loratadine may be sedating at higher doses
  • References
  1. Howarth (1999) J Allergy Clin Immunol 104:927 [PubMed]
  2. Walsh (2001) Drugs 61:207 [PubMed]
  3. (2001) Med Lett Drugs Ther 43(1103):35