Loratadine is used to relieve symptoms of seasonal allergy (seasonal allergic rhinitis) and other upper respiratory tract allergies. This medicine works by restricting the action of a natural chemical (called as, histamine) which acts on the body cell sites (H1 histamine receptor). Loratadine is also used to treat long-term hives.

Antihistamines

Follow directions on the product label, information guide, and provided by your doctor before using Loratadine. Consume this medicine as per your doctor's instructions.

Loratadine is consumed with or without food. Swallow the whole tablet of Loratadine with water.

The typical adult dose of Loratadine is 10 mg once daily or 2 teaspoonfuls (10 mg) of syrup once daily. The typical dose for children is 5 mg (1 teaspoonful) once daily. The maximum dose for adults of Loratadine is 10 mg per day. It takes 1 to 3 hours for this medicine to start its action.

Tell your doctor if your condition persists or worsens or if you develop new symptoms. Talk to your doctor if swelling of the face, swelling of lips, swelling of the tongue, swelling of the throat, difficulty in breathing due to narrowing of the airways, shock, rash, itching, and collapse. If you have any kidney disease, an initial dose of 10 mg every other day is recommended in patients having kidney disease with clearance rate less than 30 ml/min. In children of age 2 to 5 years with kidney disease, the initial dose should be 5 mg per day. If you have issues with the health of your liver, a low initial dose of 10 mg every other day is recommended in adults and children weighing more than 30 kg or 66.1 lb. In children weighing less than 30 kg or 66.1 lb, a dose of 5 ml (5 mg) is recommended.

If you are giving Loratadine to a child, be sure to use a product that is meant for use in children. Before giving this medicine, use the child's weight or age to find the right dose from the leaflet or product package. You can also read the dosage section of this page to know the correct dose for your child. Else, consult with your doctor and follow their recommendation.

If using the liquid form of this medicine, measure the dose using the provided measuring cup, spoon, or dropper. Before pouring the medicine into the measuring device, you should check the measurement markings carefully. Then, pour the dose amount into the device. After use, clean and store the measuring device in a safe place for your next use. You should not use a tablespoon or teaspoon as the dose measuring devices since it can result in an incorrect dose. If indicated on the product package, shake the medicine before use.

If using the orally-disintegrating form of this medicine, make sure you do not consume any food or fluid 5 minutes before or after taking this medicine. Before taking the medicine out of the package, wash your hands thoroughly. Place the medicine on the tongue. Make sure you do not chew or swallow the medicine. You do not need to drink water after consuming the medicine. In certain cases, the medicine can taste slightly bitter. Also, ensure that you do not break or split the medicine.

If using the rapidly-dissolving tablet form of this medicine, chew this medicine or allow the medicine to dissolve on the tongue. Next, swallow the medicine with or without water.

Medicines may be given for uses other than those listed in the medicine guide. Do not use Loratadine for symptoms for which it was not prescribed. Do not give Loratadine to others who may have similar symptoms as you. Self-medication can cause harm.

Store Loratadine at 2-30°C (36-86°F) for tablet, 2-25°C (36-77°F) for syrup and rapidly dissolving tablet, and 20-25°C (68-77°F) for suspension and capsule, and away from moisture. Keep this medicine away from children and pets.

Read more: What are the uses of Loratadine?

Before you use Loratadine, tell your doctor if you are allergic to it or its ingredients. Your doctor may prescribe an alternative medicine and update your medical records to record this information.

Before you use Loratadine, tell your doctor of your medical history including liver disease, or kidney disease.

Loratadine should be used only when required in patients who are pregnant or planning to become pregnant. There are no adequate and well-controlled studies of Loratadine has been performed in pregnant women. Loratadine should be used while breastfeeding only when required. Loratadine may pass into the breast milk. A choice should be made whether to discontinue the breastfeeding or to discontinue using this medicine; this decision depends on the importance of the Loratadine to the mother. Consult with your doctor on the use of Loratadine, if you are trying to conceive.

Loratadine can make you feel sleepy. Be careful, especially while driving, while using heavy machinery, or when doing any activity that needs you to be completely alert. The consumption of alcohol with Loratadine can worsen the sleepiness. Loratadine may cause seizures in some people. Hence, you should discuss with your doctor before performing any activities where a loss of consciousness may cause harm to you or others.

This medicine may increase your sensitivity to sunlight and make you prone to sunburn. If this happens, limit your time outdoors to prevent sunburn. Use a sunscreen and cover your skin when you are outdoors. If you get sunburns on your body, consult with your doctor.

Pregnant Women

Breastfeeding

Younger Adults Population

• fatigue
• headache
• nervousness

• allergy to sunlight
• altered salivation
• altered taste
• altered urination
• back pain
• breast enlargement
• breast pain
• chest pain
• constipation
• coughing
• decreased sexual desire (decreased libido)
• difficulty in speaking (dysphonia)
• disturbed focus
• dizziness
• dry hair
• dry mouth
• dry skin
• earache
• excess of nightmares and abnormal dreams (paroniria)
• eye pain
• fall down (collapse)
• feeling of discomfort
• feeling or being sick
• flu like symptoms (influenza-like symptoms)
• flushing
• gas formation (flatulence)
• hair loss
• hiccup
• hives
• impotence
• increased appetite
• increased sweating
• indigestion (dyspepsia)
• insomnia
• involuntary blinking of eyelids (blepharospasm)
• involuntary urination (urinary incontinence)
• irritability
• itching
• itchy inflammation of the skin (dermatitis)
• leg cramps
• loss of strength
• memory loss (amnesia)
• migraine
• muscle rigidity (hypertonia)
• muscle spasm (hyperkinesia)
• nasal dryness
• nausea
• pain in joints
• pain in muscle
• painful periods (dysmenorrhea)
• palpitations
• red or purple spots on the skin
• reduced sense of touch (hypoesthesia)
• ringing in the ear
• severe itching
• sneezing
• stomach pain (abdominal pain)
• swelling of the face
• swelling of the legs
• swelling of the lips
• swelling of the throat
• swelling of the tongue
• temporary loss of consciousness
• thirst
• tingling sensation
• tiredness
• tooth disorder
• tremor
• urinary discoloration
• vertigo
• weight gain

• heart diseases such as fast or irregular heartbeat
  If this happens, consult with your doctor.
• liver diseases (such as abnormal liver function, jaundice, liver injury and inflammation of the liver)
  If such side-effect occurs, consult with your doctor.
• seizure
  If this happens, consult with your doctor.
• severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis and erythema multiforme)
  Symptoms: swelling of the lips, swelling of the face, swelling of the tongue, swelling of the throat, difficulty breathing due to narrowing of airways, shock, collapse, rash itching
  If this happens, stop taking this medicine and contact your doctor immediately.
• diarrhea
  Consult with the doctor if such side-effects occur.
• high blood pressure
• low blood pressure
• depression
• abnormally heavy menstrual bleeding
  If this happens, consult with your doctor.
• inflammation of the vagina (vaginitis)
  If such side-effect occurs, consult with your doctor.

Your doctor has prescribed this Loratadine because they have judged that the benefits outweigh the risks posed by side-effects. Many people using this medicine do not have serious side-effects. This is not a complete list of possible side-effects for Loratadine.

If you experience side-effects or notice other side-effects not listed above, contact your doctor for medical advice. You may also report side-effects to your local food and drug administration authority. You can look up the drug authority contact information from the Drug Authority Finder at TabletWise.com.

Infrequent and Rare Side-effects

• abdominal pain (stomach pain)
• alopecia (hair loss)
• altered micturition
• altered salivation
• altered taste
• amnesia
• arthralgia
• asthenia (loss of strength)
• back pain
• blepharospasm
• breast enlargement
• breast pain
• chest pain
• collapse
• constipation
• coughing
• decreased libido
• dermatitis
• dizziness
• dry hair
• dry mouth
• dry skin
• dysmenorrhea
• dyspepsia (indigestion)
• dysphonia
• earache
• eye pain
• feeling or being sick
• flatulence
• flushing
• hiccup
• hyperkinesia (muscle spasm)
• hypertonia (muscle rigidity)
• hypoesthesia (reduced sense of touch)
• impaired concentration
• impotence
• increased appetite
• increased sweating
• influenza-like symptoms
• insomnia (inability to sleep)
• irritability
• itching
• leg cramps
• malaise
• migraine
• myalgia
• nasal dryness
• nausea
• palpitations
• paresthesia
• paroniria
• peripheral edema
• photosensitivity reaction
• pruritus
• purpura
• sneezing
• swelling of the face
• swelling of the lips
• swelling of the throat
• swelling of the tongue
• syncope
• thirst
• tinnitus
• tiredness
• tooth disorder
• tremor
• urinary discoloration
• urinary incontinence
• urticaria
• vertigo
• weight gain

Severe Side-effects

• abnormal hepatic function (abnormal liver function)
• agitation
• altered lacrimation
• anaphylaxis
• angioedema
• angioneurotic edema
• anorexia
• anxiety
• blurred vision
• bronchitis
• bronchospasm
• confusion
• conjunctivitis
• depression
• diarrhea
• dyspnea
• epistaxis
• erythema multiforme
• fast heartbeat
• fever
• gastritis
• hemoptysis
• hepatic necrosis
• hepatitis
• hypertension
• hypotension
• jaundice
• laryngitis
• menorrhagia
• mucositis
• narrowing of the airways causing difficulty breathing
• pharyngitis
• rash
• rigors
• seizures
• shock
• sinusitis
• somnolence (sleepiness)
• supraventricular tachyarrhythmias (fast or irregular heartbeat)
• thrombocytopenia
• upper respiratory tract infection
• urinary retention
• vaginitis
• viral infection
• vomiting
• wheezing

Side-effects in Children

• abdominal pain
• conjunctivitis
• diarrhea
• dysphonia
• earache
• epistaxis
• fatigue
• fatigue
• hyperkinesia
• influenza-like symptoms
• malaise
• nervousness
• pharyngitis
• rash
• stomatitis
• tooth disorder
• upper respiratory tract infection
• viral infection
• wheezing

Serious Allergic Reactions

• collapse
• difficulty breathing due to narrowing of airways
• itching
• rash
• shock
• swelling of the face
• swelling of the lips
• swelling of the throat
• swelling of the tongue

If you experience side-effects or notice other side-effects not listed above, contact your doctor for medical advice. You may also report side-effects to your local food and drug administration authority. You can look up the drug authority contact information from the Drug Authority Finder at TabletWise.com.

When two or more medicines are taken together, it can change how the medicines work and increase the risk of side-effects. In medical terms, this is called as a Drug Interaction.

Loratadine may interact with cytochrome P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) inhibitors. When Loratadine is used with CYP3A4 inhibitors, the amount of Loratadine increases in the body and results in more chances of adverse events.

There may be an interaction of Loratadine with cytochrome P450 2D6 (CYP2D6) inhibitors. When Loratadine is used with CYP2D6 inhibitors, it results in an increased amount of Loratadine and adverse events of Loratadine.

Loratadine interacts with erythromycin, which is used to treat bacterial infection. When Loratadine is used with erythromycin, the amount of Loratadine increases in the blood and the amount of erythromycin decreases in the blood.

Special instructions need to be followed while taking this medicine along with cimetidine, which is used to treat heartburn and stomach ulcers. The use of Loratadine with cimetidine may increase the amount of Loratadine in the blood.

Your doctor's guidelines may need to be followed while taking this medicine along with ketoconazole, which is used to treat fungal infection. The amount of Loratadine in the blood may increases when taken with ketoconazole.

This page does not contain all the possible interactions of Loratadine. Share a list of all medicines that you use with your doctor and pharmacist. Do not start, stop, or change the dose of any medicines without the approval of your doctor.

Serious

• Cytochrome P450 2D6 Inhibitor
• CYP3A4 Inhibitors

Moderate

• Erythromycin
• Cimetidine
• Ketoconazole

Allergy

• severe itching
• red or purple coloured spots on the skin
• hives
• rash
• photosensitivity reaction
• swelling due to the fluid accumulation
• severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis)

Children under the age of two years