This article is not medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician or use the medication guide.

Loratadine information

What is Loratadine?

Loratadine is a non-sedating antihistamine drug that is used to manage seasonal allergic rhinitis (hay fever). This medication is mainly prescribed to individuals who are allergic to dust, pollen, and other common allergens that cause symptoms, such as runny nose, sneezing, and itchy eyes (conjunctivitis).

This drug also helps with insect stings and bites, and it can also be used to treat some food allergies. Loratadine antihistamine has OTC statuses, although health experts also prescribe it. Loratadine is a generic drug, but it’s also available as a brand name drug called Claritin. Another name for Loratadine is Alavert and Claritin RediTabs.

Proper use of Loratadine 10 mg and Oral Syrup

Loratadine comes in the following forms and strengths;

• Oral syrup- 5mg/5ml
• Tablet- 10 mg
• Chewable tablet- 5 mg
• Disintegrating tablet- 5 mg and 10 mg
• Capsule- 10 mg

Whether you are using the Loratadine 10 mg tablet to self-treat or the doctor has prescribed it to you, Loratadine should be handled with care. For Loratadine over the counter, first, go through the patient’s information on the package before self-medicating.

For prescription, your doctor will provide clear instructions on how to use the drug. Please follow the doctor’s (or pharmacist’s) directions and consult if you have any queries about how to use Loratadine.

All forms of Loratadine are taken through the mouth. You can take the medication before meals or after eating if you get stomach upsets.

If you’re using the disintegrating Loratadine 5mg tablet, you’ll need to remove it from the blister package first. Do this carefully, so you won’t break it.

From the package, immediately place it under your tongue for around 30 seconds. It will dissolve rapidly, and you can swallow it with or without water. It would be best if you didn’t swallow it before it has disintegrated completely.

If you’re using a chewable tablet, you should chew it thoroughly and swallow. You may require some water. However, for a regular tablet, you should swallow it without chewing or crushing it.

If you’re taking Loratadine syrup, use a recommendable measuring device (a clearly labeled cap or a spoon) to measure the recommended amount of drug precisely. Please don’t use a teaspoon as it’s not marked and may lead to incorrect Loratadine dose.

Regardless of the type of Loratadine medication that you’re taking, you should never take less or exceed the recommended dosage.

Loratadine dosage

Loratadine is a safe drug for adults and children 2 years old and above. Although second-generation antihistamines, including Loratadine, are considered to be generally safe for children below 12 years, experts are yet to conclude on the safety of Loratadine among pediatric patients. For that reason, Loratadine shouldn’t be used for children below 2 years.

Loratadine dose for adults and children for treating allergic rhinitis and urticaria

• Adults- 10 mg per day (Loratadine maximum dosage per day is 10 mg)
• Children 6 years and above- 10 mg per day (orally)
• Children 2 to 5 years- 5 mg per day (Loratadine max dose per day is 5 mg)
• Children below 2 years- not recommended for babies below 2 years of age

Missed dose- What to do if you missed Loratadine dose

Oftentimes, Loratadine (Claritin generic) is taken as needed. However, you should adhere to your doctor’s or pharmacist’s instructions. If you missed your Loratadine dosage, you should take it as soon as you remember.

Loratadine medicine is taken once every day (unless advised otherwise). You can take it as soon as you think about it during the day, even before sleeping. However, if it’s almost time for your next dosage, skip the one you forgot and wait for the next dose.

Loratadine overdose

The maximum dosage for Loratadine for adults and children above 5 years is 10 mg per day and 5 mg/day for children 2-5 years. So, what if you accidentally took 20 mg Loratadine? Excess Loratadine may cause headaches, heart racing, and excessive sleeping.

If you suspect that you’ve taken more than the recommended Loratadine dose, contact the poison control center immediately at (800) 222-1222.

Uses of Loratadine

What is Loratadine 10mg used for?

Loratadine is a second-generation antihistamine medication that is available for prescription and over the counter. Loratadine drug is mainly used to treat:

• Hay fever- also known as Allergic rhinitis, is an allergic reaction to allergens, including dust, dust mites, pollen, and animal fur and dander. Its symptoms include sneezing, red and watery eyes, and runny nose.

• Atopic eczema is an itchy skin inflammation characterized by a red and lighter, grey, darker brown, or purple patch on your skin.

• Red eyes (conjunctivitis) - inflammation and irritation of the eye, which makes it red or pink. It’s caused by a virus or bacteria.

Before using Loratadine- What should you know?

As with other medicines, there are a few essential things to understand about Loratadine before using it:

Allergies

It’s rare for Loratadine to cause an allergic reaction among adults or children. However, in case a patient is allergic to its components, he/she may have a severe allergic reaction called Anaphylaxis.

Anaphylaxis symptoms include vomiting, nausea, skin rash, and difficulty breathing, which may lead to shock. If you experience any of these symptoms, contact an emergency center immediately.

Loratadine interactions- which drugs interact with Loratadine?

Loratadine (Claritin generic) interacts with at least 69 drugs, some of which we’ve listed below. This list is not conclusive. Your doctor/pharmacist already understands which drugs may interfere with how Loratadine works. Before taking this drug, present a list of other medications that you’re taking to the doctor for expert guidance.

• Apalutamide
• Boceprevir
• Celecoxib
• Clarithromycin
• Diltiazem
• Dronedarone

Special conditions

Loratadine while pregnant- some years back, Loratadine was thought to cause hypospadiasis- where the opening of a newborn’s penis is on the underside. However, recent studies have refuted this drug’s ability to interfere with embryo development. Although Loratadine is regarded as a safe medicine for expectant mothers, it’s advisable to have a discussion with your doctor before taking it.

Pediatric- FDA has not approved Loratadine for use by patients below 2 years.

Loratadine (Claritin generic) warning

• Loratadine ingredients are known to interact with other medications. Tell the doctor/pharmacist if you’re using other prescription or non-prescription, herbal, legal or illegal drugs.
• This drug interacts with renal/liver and kidney disease. It might also interact with asthma. Tell your doctor if you have any of these.
• Although Loratadine is considered safe during pregnancy, it’s not yet clear whether it may affect a developing baby. Talk to your doctor if you’re pregnant or are planning to get pregnant while using this drug.
• FDA is yet to establish the efficacy and safety of Loratadine in children below 2 years.
• Loratadine breastfeeding- this drug passes into breastmilk, albeit in small doses. Let your doctor know if you’re breastfeeding.

Loratadine 10mg Side effects

Loratadine side effects among:

Adults and children 12 years and above (conventional and rapid dissolving tablets)

• Dry mouth
• Fatigue
• Headache
• Somnolence

Children 6-12 years (oral solution)

• Dysphonia
• Wheezing
• Nervousness
• Fatigue
• Wheezing
• Hyperkinesia
• Upper respiratory tract infection
• Conjunctivitis (itchy and red eyes)
• Abdominal pain

Children 2-5 years (oral solution)

• Flu-like symptom
• Tooth disorder
• Diarrhea
• Earache
• Stomatitis

Proper Storage- How should Loratadine be stored?

• Keep the drug in its original package/container.
• Dispose of the medication after expiry. Don’t throw Loratadine tablets and syrup in sewage systems. Ask your pharmacist on the safest way to dispose of them.
• Store medicine out of children’s reach and in a cool, dry place.

Loratadine Cost/Price

This drug is generally inexpensive, and it gets even cheaper with Loratadine coupon. Although this highly depends on the pharmacy, the best price for Loratadine is around $12 for a 112ml-bottle of Loratadine oral syrup. 10 oral tablets of Loratadine 10 mg costs around $10, while 70 tablets go for about $14. If you’re lucky to get the best Loratadine coupon, you could get this drug at a 60% lower cost. You only need to check around. We’ve already scoured the market for you and identified the best coupon for Loratadine.

Loratadine Mechanism of Action

In this section, we’ll answer the questions: how does Loratadine work, and how long does it take for Loratadine to work?

Loratadine is a type of antihistamine. Loratadine works by inhibiting H1-receptors, which are primarily located along the gastrointestinal tract and in the respiratory smooth muscle. This makes it impossible for histamines to work on the receptors.Worth noting, Loratadine is a second-generation antihistamine. This means that it’s non-sedating for most patients.

Loratadine (Claritin generic) is a long-acting drug. Loratadine works within the first 1-3 hours after administration, but it reaches its peak after 8-12 hours.