What is loratadine?

• Loratadine is an antihistamine. Antihistamines prevent sneezing, runny nose, itching and watering of the eyes, and other allergic symptoms.
• Loratadine is used to treat allergies, hives (urticaria), and other allergic inflammatory conditions.
• Loratadine may also be used for purposes other than those listed in this medication guide.

What is the most important information I should know about loratadine?

• Use caution when driving, operating machinery, or performing other hazardous activities. Although unlikely, loratadine may cause dizziness or drowsiness. If you experience dizziness or drowsiness, avoid these activities

What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking loratadine?

• Before taking loratadine, tell your doctor if you have
  • ever had an allergic reaction to an antihistamine;
  • kidney disease; or
  • liver disease.
• You may not be able to take loratadine, or you may require a dosage adjustment or special monitoring during treatment if you have any of the conditions listed above.
• The Alavert brand of loratadine orally-disintegrating tablets contain 8.4 mg phenylalanine per tablet. Individuals with phenylketonuria may need to monitor their intake of this additive.
• Loratadine is in the FDA pregnancy category B. This means that it is not expected to be harmful to an unborn baby. Do not take loratadine without first talking to your doctor if you are pregnant or could become pregnant during treatment. Loratadine passes into breast milk and may affect a nursing infant. Do not take loratadine without first talking to your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

How should I take loratadine?

• Take loratadine exactly as directed by your doctor. If you do not understand these instructions, ask your pharmacist, nurse, or doctor to explain them to you.
• Take each dose with a full glass (8 ounces) of water. Do not crush, chew, or break the regular Claritin tablets. Swallow them whole.
• Place the loratadine rapidly-disintegrating-tablets (Claritin Reditabs, Alavert) on the tongue and allow them to dissolve. The tablet will disintegrate rapidly. Swallow with or without water.
• To ensure the correct dose, measure the syrup form of loratadine with a dose-measuring spoon or cup, not with a regular table spoon. If you do not have a dose-measuring device, ask your pharmacist for one.
• Loratadine is usually taken once a day. Follow your doctor's instructions.
• Never take more of this medication than directed. If your symptoms do not improve, talk to your doctor.
• Store loratadine at room temperature away from moisture and heat. Use the loratadine rapidly-disintegrating-tablets (Claritin Reditabs) within 6 months of opening the laminated foil pouch, and immediately upon opening the individual tablet blisters.

What happens if I miss a dose?

• Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. However, if it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and take only the next regularly scheduled dose. Do not take a double dose of this medication.

What happens if I overdose?

• Seek emergency medical attention if an overdose is suspected.
• Symptoms of a loratadine overdose include headache, drowsiness, irregular heartbeat, nausea, and vomiting.

What should I avoid while taking loratadine?

• Use caution when driving, operating machinery, or performing other hazardous activities. Although unlikely, loratadine may cause dizziness or drowsiness. If you experience dizziness or drowsiness, avoid these activities.

Loratadine side effects

• If you experience any of the following serious side effects, stop taking loratadine and contact your doctor immediately or seek emergency medical attention.
  • an allergic reaction (difficulty breathing; closing of the throat; swelling of the lips, tongue, or face; or hives);
  • an irregular heartbeat; or
  • seizures.
• Other, less serious side effects may be more likely to occur. Continue to take loratadine and talk to your doctor if you experience
  • drowsiness or dizziness;
  • headache;
  • nervousness;
  • nausea, diarrhea, or abdominal discomfort;
  • dry mouth;
  • dry skin or itchiness; or
  • discoloration of urine.
• Side effects other than those listed here may also occur. Talk to your doctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome.

What other drugs will affect loratadine?

• There are no known interactions between loratadine and other medications. Talk to your doctor and pharmacist before taking any prescription or over-the-counter medicines, including vitamins, minerals, and herbal products, during treatment with loratadine.

What is the shelf life of the pills?

• The expiry date is mentioned on each blister. It is different for different batches. The shelf life is 2 years from the date of manufacture and would differ from batch to batch depending on when they were manufactured.

Other Useful Information:

Calcium: A mineral found mainly in the hard part of bones, where it is stored. Calcium is added to bones by cells called osteoblasts and is removed from bones by cells called osteoclasts. Calcium is essential for healthy bones. It is also important for muscle contraction, heart action, nervous system maintenance, and normal blood clotting. Food sources of calcium include dairy foods, some leafy green vegetables such as broccoli and collards, canned salmon, clams, oysters, calcium-fortified foods, and tofu. According to the National Academy of Sciences, adequate intake of calcium is 1,200 milligrams a day (four glasses of milk) for men and women 51 and older, 1,000 milligrams a day for adults 19 through 50, and 1,300 milligrams a day for children 9 through 18. The upper limit for calcium intake is 2.5 grams daily.

Cavities: Holes in the two outer layers of a tooth called the enamel and the dentin. The enamel is the outermost white hard surface and the dentin is the yellow layer just beneath enamel. Both layers serve to protect the inner living tooth tissue called the pulp, where blood vessels and nerves reside. Small cavities may not cause pain, and may be unnoticed by the patient. Larger cavities can collect food, and the inner pulp of the affected tooth can become irritated by bacterial toxins, foods that are cold, hot, sour, or sweet - causing toothache.

Naturopathy: A system of therapy based on preventative care, and on the use of heat, water, light, air, and massage as primary therapies for disease. Some naturopaths use no medications, either pharmaceutical or herbal. Some recommend herbal remedies only. A few who are licensed to prescribe may recommend pharmaceuticals in those cases where they feel their use is warranted.

Naturopathy is an American healthcare profession. It was founded in the US as a formal healthcare system at the turn of the 20th century by medical practitioners from various natural therapeutic disciplines. By the early 1900s, more than 20 naturopathic medical schools existed, and naturopathic physicians were licensed in most States. Today there are more than 1,000 licensed naturopathic doctors in the US.

As practiced today, naturopathic medicine integrates traditional natural therapeutics -- including botanical medicine, clinical nutrition, homeopathy, acupuncture, traditional oriental medicine, hydrotherapy, and naturopathic manipulative therapy -- with modern scientific medical diagnostic science and standards of care. The medical research base of naturopathic practice consists of empirical documentation of treatments using case history observations, medical records, and summaries of practitioners' clinical experiences.

At present, the two accredited naturopathic medical schools in the US have active research departments. Naturopathic researchers have investigated the pharmacology and physiological effects of nutritional and natural therapeutic agents, and naturopathic physicians have been active in the investigation of new homeopathic remedies and in the natural treatment of women's health problems. The most recently completed naturopathic study in women's health tested the clinical and endocrine effects of a botanical formula as an alternative to estrogen replacement therapy.

Blood: The familiar red fluid in the body that contains white and red blood cells, platelets, proteins, and other elements. The blood is transported throughout the body by the circulatory system. Blood functions in two directions: arterial and venous. Arterial blood is the means by which oxygen and nutrients are transported to tissues while venous blood is the means by which carbon dioxide and metabolic by-products are transported to the lungs and kidneys, respectively, for removal from the body.

Blood pressure: The blood pressure is the pressure of the blood within the arteries. It is produced primarily by the contraction of the heart muscle. It's measurement is recorded by two numbers. The first (systolic pressure) is measured after the heart contracts and is highest. The second (diastolic pressure) is measured before the heart contracts and lowest. A blood pressure cuff is used to measure the pressure. Elevation of blood pressure is called "hypertension".

Brain: That part of the central nervous system that is located within the cranium (skull). The brain functions as the primary receiver, organizer and distributor of information for the body. It has two (right and left) halves called "hemispheres."

Disease: Illness or sickness often characterized by typical patient problems (symptoms) and physical findings (signs). Disruption sequence: The events that occur when a fetus that is developing normally is subjected to a destructive agent such as the rubella (German measles) virus.

Doctor: In a medical context, any medical professional with an MD, a PhD, or any other doctoral degree. The term doctor is quite nonspecific. A doctor may, for example, be a physician, psychologist, biomedical scientist, dentist, or veterinarian. In a nonmedical context, a professor of history might be addressed as doctor, an eminent theologian might be named a doctor of a church, and a person awarded an honorary doctorate by a college or university might also be called a doctor.

The word "doctor" comes from the Latin "docere" meaning to teach. A doctor was a teacher, especially a learned or authoritative one.