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Loratadine is a drug used to treat allergies. It is marketed by Schering-Plough under several trade names such as Claritin®, Clarityn® or Claratyne® depending on the market. Its active metabolite, desloratadine, is also on the market.
Loratadine
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| Ethyl 4-(8-chloro-5,6-dihydro-11H- benzo[5,6]cyclohepta[1,2-b]pyridin-11-ylidine)- 1-piperidinecarboxylate
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| Molecular Weight
| 382.89
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| Empiric Formula
| C22H23ClN2O2
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| ATC code
| R06AX13
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| Metabolism
| hepatic
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| Pregnancy category
| B (USA)
B1 (Aus)
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Available forms
Loratadine is available as tablets and oral suspension.
Mechanism of action
Loratadine is a tricyclic antihistamine, which has a selective and peripheral H1-antagonist action. It has a long-lasting effect and does not cause drowsiness because it does not readily enter the central nervous system.
Pharmacokinetics
Loratadine is rapidly absorbed from the gastro-intestinal tract and it has rapid first-pass hepatic metabolism. Loratadine is almost totally bound to plasma proteins. Its metabolite, desloratadine (descarboethoxyloratadine), is also active, but binds to plasma proteins only moderately. The half-life of loratadine is on average 8 hours, and its metabolite's 28 hours. About 40% is excreted as conjugated metabolites into the urine and similar amount into the feces. Traces of unmetabolised loratadine can be found in the urine.
Recommended dosage
10mg every 24 hours, not to exceed 10mg every 24 hours. (From product packaging for Claritin 24 Hour Tablets.)
Side effects
Most common side-effects are fatigue, drowsiness, dry mouth, headache, and gastrointestinal disturbances.
References
"Packaging directions in PDF Format (http://www.claritin.com/images/for_me/products/tablets/tablets_back_pop.pdf)." Product Packaging for Claritin 24 hour tablets. Accessed on January 3, 2005.
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