Loratadine is a highly effective drug used in the reduction of allergic symptoms. It belongs to antihistamine drugs. Their equivalents are cetirizine and fexofenadine. These medications do not require a prescription, but are best used only if directed by a qualified professional. If you do not exercise caution with the intake of these drugs, damage to the liver (liver), cardiovascular and respiratory problems can occur. Its use is quite wide, also working as an anti-inflammatory and antiallergic.
What is loratadine
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It is a drug that does not act aggressively on the Central Nervous System. It is prescribed mostly for not causing sedation. This medicine does not prevent anaphylaxis, so it should be used only for what is indicated. It belongs to the H-1 histamines and its mechanism of action includes preventing histamine (which causes the allergy) from reaching and attaching itself to its receptor, thus blocking the allergy produced by histamine. The loratadine dosage is subject to the age of the patient or whether he suffers from any liver-related disease.
Composition and presentation of loratadine
The composition of the medicine depends on the presentation in which it comes, all being orally.
In syrup. For every ml there is 1 mg in a 120 ml bottle. Its components are:
- Propylene glycol.
- Glycerol.
- Saccharose.
- Citric acid monohydrate.
- Propyl and methyl parahydroxybenzoate.
- Pure water.
- Strawberry aroma.
In tablets. The active principle is loratadine itself and its excipients are lactose, corn starch, povidone and magnesium stearate. It comes as 10 mg tablets and 120 mg repetabs.
Loratadine dosage
In the presentation of tablets, in children between 2 to 5 years it is 5 mg a day and in adults it is 10 mg a day. It is not recommended for children under 2 years of age or weighing less than 30 kg. In patients with liver disease, 10 mg every other day is recommended. As for the presentation in syrup, for children between 2 to 6 years it will be the dose of 5 ml per day and from 6 years, 10 ml per day.
What is loratadine for
It is a drug from the family of antihistamines, that is, it inhibits histamine, which is the cause of allergic reactions. Many people know about this drug, but do not know what loratadine is for, and basically, it is for allergies. It is used to treat all types of allergies, for dermal itching and others. However, it should NOT be used for rashes that do not sting or do not have the characteristic reddish color. It is advisable to go to the doctor for your personal evaluation.
Why is loratadine prescribed
Its purpose is to improve the symptoms of general allergies. Other common uses are for allergic-type conjunctivitis and hay fever symptoms. To start using loratadine treatment, it is necessary to keep in mind that everything must be told to the doctor, including:
- If you are allergic to this medicine or any of its ingredients.
- If you are taking other medications and what are they.
- If you have had asthmatic, kidney or liver diseases.
- If you are or want to become pregnant.
- If you are breastfeeding.
- If you have the inherited condition called phenylketonuria. This is because some soluble tablets (one of its presentations) have phenylalanine.
Contraindications of loratadine
This drug is contraindicated in cases of:
- Allergy to components.
- Diseases in the liver. This is because the drug is metabolized there.
- Narcotic and alcohol problems. It is not recommended because it can relapse into addiction or interact negatively with ingested substances.
- Other medications It interacts with some medications, causing a higher concentration of loratadine metabolites. This also produces the worsening of side effects in patients. It is important to exercise caution with sedative drugs, opioid analgesics, antipsychotics, and tricyclic anti-depressants.
- Asthma. Due to the cholinergic activities, despite being scarce, it can thicken the bronchial mucus, aggravating this respiratory problem.
- Pregnancy and breastfeeding. During pregnancy, the intake of loratadine is not advisable, as it can create an allergic reaction in the fetus. Since it is excreted in breast milk, the use of the drug is not recommended.
- Lactose intolerance, as it is one of the components of the drug.
- Jobs that need mental agility. Although it does not happen in all patients, it can cause drowsiness, which can be dangerous in jobs where being awake and alert is essential.
It is noteworthy that loratadine can be combined with other medications, for example:
Loratadine with betamethasone. Betamethasone is a steroid that is used to treat allergies. Such as dermatitis, rhinitis, asthma, and allergic reactions to food and insect bites. Loratadine with betamethasone comes as a solution, syrup (1 mg per 1 ml), and tablets (5 mg). The doses used in this drug are:
- Children 4 to 6: 2.5 ml every 12 hours.
- Children 6 to 12: 5 ml every 12 hours.
- Over 12 years: one tablet every 12 hours.
Loratadine with ambroxol. It is applied in case of allergies with cough and flu. It comes as a syrup (1 mg per 1 ml) and 5 mg tablets. The doses are:
- Children over one year: 1.25 ml every 12 hours.
- Children over six years: 2.5 ml every 12 hours.
- Over 30 kg: 5 ml or 1 tablet every 12 hours.
Loratadine with phenylephrine: it is used the same for flu and cough. The indicated doses are:
- Children from 1 to 2. 1.25 ml every 12 hours.
- Children 6 to 12. 2.5 ml every 12 hours.
- From 12 years old. 5 ml every 1 hour.
- Tablets Children older than 12 years 1 tablet every 12 hours.
Side effects of taking loratadine
These will depend on the body's ability to assimilate the drug. It will also depend on whether the dosages are adhered to and not overdone, as otherwise you might start to experience drowsiness. Its common symptoms include headache, insomnia, diarrhea, red eyes, rhinorrhagia (minor nosebleed), weakness, stomach and throat pain. Mouth ulcers are common.
However, there are other side effects that can arise during treatment with loratadine, but if they occur, use should be discontinued immediately, as it is likely that you are having an allergic episode to the drug. The serious symptoms are:
- Urticaria.
- Pruritus.
- General rash
- Dyspnoea (shortness of breath)
- Hoarsely.
- Inflammation of the face (eyes, lips, tongue, throat), hands and feet.
However, in the event of an overdose of this drug, it is important to attend a health center as soon as possible. The symptoms that will serve as a signal to know if you have an overdose will be:
- Tachycardia.
- Drowsiness or fainting
- Headache.
- Unusual movements of the body
Alternatives to loratadine
They are drugs that are used as substitutes for loratadine, because they are allergic to it or some of its components. Some of these are:
- Cetirizine. It has little sedative action. It is used for eczema, itching and other allergies. Because it is a 2nd generation drug, it is less common to produce adverse consequences.
- Desloratadine. It is composed of an active metabolite of loratadine. It is used in the same way as other antihistamines.
- Acrivastine. Unlike common antihistamines, it should be taken three times a day. It works faster than the other drugs in this family because it is a new generation.
- Promethazine. Unlike the others exposed, this antihistamine produces drowsiness, so its main precaution is that while you are in treatment you should not handle jobs that require mental agility.
