Loratadine 10mg Tablets

What are Loratadine tablets?

Loratadine can be taken by children and adults from the age of 2 years to treat the symptoms caused by mild to moderate allergic conditions.

Loratadine is a medicine known as a non-drowsy, antihistamine that when taken once a day prevents the body from having an inflammatory reaction to something it is allergic to.

What is Loratadine used for?

Loratadine tablets can be used to treat symptoms of allergies caused by:

• Hay fever
• Skin reactions - rashes such as hives
• Pets and dust mites
• Insect bites and stings
• Mild food allergies

Symptoms of allergies may include:

• Sneezing
• Runny nose
• Itchy nose and throat
• Itchy and watery eyes
• Itchy skin and rashes

How does Loratadine work?

Loratadine is an antihistamine and works just as the name suggests, by blocking the substance histamine.

Histamines are naturally produced by the body when it comes into contact with something it is allergic to. This reaction is what causes the inflammation and irritation in the eyes, nose and skin. Loratadine prevents this reaction from taking place.

Loratadine vs Cetirizine - can you take them together?

Loratadine and cetirizine both fall into the category of non-drowsy antihistamines. They both work in the same way to reduce the symptoms of mild to moderate allergic reactions.

Both loratadine and cetirizine are taken once a day and it is not recommended to take more than one antihistamine within 24 hours unless you have been advised to do this by a doctor.

What is the difference between Loratadine and Cetirizine?

Both loratadine and cetirizine are long-acting, non-drowsy antihistamines that have similar effectiveness in tackling symptoms of allergies.

Cetirizine, unlike loratadine, however, has been reported to cause the following side effects:

• Feeling sick
• Jitteriness
• Sore throat
• Cetirizine has also reportedly more often caused drowsiness.

Loratadine, unlike cetirizine, may cause the following side effects:

• Nervousness
• Disturbed sleep

Is Loratadine or Cetirizine better for itching?

Both Loratadine and Cetirizine are effective for the treatment of itchy skin caused by an allergic condition.

There is currently no research to suggest that either loratadine or cetirizine is more effective than the other but some people may feel that personally, one manages their symptoms better than the other.

Loratadine vs Desloratadine

Desloratadine is another type of non-drowsy antihistamine that is the active metabolite of loratadine, this means it is the end product that is left after loratadine is broken down by the body.

Desloratadine can be used in the same way of loratadine to reduce symptoms of allergies that affect the eyes, mouth, nose and skin.

One of the only differences between loratadine and desloratadine, is that desloratadine can be used for children from 1 year whereas loratadine is only licensed for use in children over 2 years old.

Read our indepth guide on Desloratadine vs Loratadine for more information, or view the Desloratadine treatment here.

Loratadine and Sertraline

Sertraline is a prescription only medication used to reduce the effects of depression. There is no indication to suggest that you cannot take Loratadine at the same time as sertraline, however if you have been taking or are currently taking any medication you should speak to a doctor or pharmacist before taking loratadine.

Does Loratadine make you drowsy?

Loratadine is classified as a non-sedating antihistamine, which means it has been specially formulated to not make you feel drowsy.

In some people, however, loratadine may cause people to feel more sleepy than normal for them. It is therefore advisable to wait, to make sure you feel alert, before you drive or operate heavy machinery when taking loratadine.

Sources

• https://www.nhs.uk/medicines/loratadine/
• https://bnf.nice.org.uk/interaction/loratadine-2.html
• https://bnfc.nice.org.uk/drug/desloratadine.html
• https://patient.info/medicine/loratadine-for-allergies
• https://www.nhs.uk/medicines/cetirizine/
• https://bnfc.nice.org.uk/treatment-summary/antihistamines-allergen-immunotherapy-and-allergic-emergencies.html
• Loratadine Patient Information Leaflet: https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/product/8911/pil

Loratadine dose

Children and Adults over 2 years old: Take one 10 mg tablet once a day.

Before taking Loratadine, please make sure that you have read and understood the information included in the Patient Information Leaflet.

Loratadine tablets can be taken orally by children and adults over the age of 2 years who weigh over 20 kg, with a glass of water.

Loratadine overdose

You should only take Loratadine tablets as directed in the Patient Information Leaflet. If you take over the recommended dose of Loratadine you are more likely to experience unwanted side effects and you should always seek advice from a doctor straight away.

Loratadine ingredients

The active ingredients contained in this medicine is/are:

Loratadine 10mg

The medicine may also contain the following inactive ingredients to make up the complete product:

lactose monohydrate, microcrystalline cellulose (E460), maize starch, magnesium stearate.

Loratadine side effects

Possible side effects Like all medicines, this medicine can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.

Stop taking Loratadine tablets and contact your doctor at once if you notice signs of:

• an allergic reaction: swelling of the face, lips, tongue or throat, narrowing of the airways causing difficulty breathing, shock, collapse, rash, itching.

Tell your doctor if you notice any of the following side effects or notice any other effects not listed:

The most commonly reported side effects in adults and children over 12 years of age are:

• drowsiness
• headache
• increased appetite
• difficulty sleeping.

The most commonly reported side effects in children aged 2 to 12 years are:

• headache
• nervousness
• tiredness

The following very rare side effects (may affect up to 1 in 10,000 people) have also been seen during the marketing of loratadine:

• dizziness
• convulsion
• fast or irregular heartbeat
• nausea (feeling sick)
• dry mouth
• upset stomach
• liver problems
• hair loss
• tiredness

The frequency of the following side effect is not known:

• weight gain

If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse. This includes any possible side effects not listed inthe leaflet.

Loratadine warnings

Please make sure you have read and understood all warnings and precautions, set out in the Patient Information Leaflet, before taking Loratadine tablets.

You should speak to a doctor or pharmacist for advice if:

• You have a condition that affects your liver as you may be advised to take a smaller dose.
• You have recently been taking or are currently taking any other prescribed or non-prescribed medication.

If you are due to undergo a skin prick test for allergies you should not take Loratadine tablets for 2 days before the skin test as this could affect your test results.

Loratadine - pregnancy and breastfeeding

For people that are experiencing allergic conditions who are pregnant or breast-feeding, you should speak to your doctor or pharmacist for advice before taking this medicine.

Loratadine and alcohol

It is not recommended to drink alcohol while taking Loratadine tablets as you are at increased risk of experiencing drowsiness.