Loratadine Side Effects
by Brent Laungret Updated March 02, 2011A common over-the-counter hay fever remedy, Loratidine is sold as Claritin in the US and is useful to sufferers because it does not usually cause drowsiness. Anyone who takes it can safely drive a car or operate a machine, say the makers. However, as with all pharmaceuticals, customers who buy it should be aware of potential Loratadine side effects.
American pharmaceutical giant Schering-Plough, now Merck-Schering-Plough, developed Loratadine in response to the demand for an anti-histamine remedy that did not make the taker sleepy. People who suffered from common allergies like hay fever, hives, and other skin rashes needed a drug they could take while going about their daily business. Many anti- allergic drugs cause drowsiness, making life difficult for anyone who has to go to work, drive or operate machinery. Loratadine side effects do not typically include sleepiness.
By the time Schering-Plough had developed their drug the American Food and Drug Administration had already approved a non-drowsy antihistamine drug developed by the then Hoechst Marion Roussel, Schering-Plough's rivals. Called Terfanadine and marketed as Seldane in the US, it was used by more than 100 million people worldwide, until it was found to cause cardiac arrhythmia and was withdrawn. Meanwhile Loratadine had finally been approved as a prescription drug in 1993 and went on to become one of Schering-Plough's biggest products, at 28% of their sales.
In 2002 the drug went off patent, and it was then approved for over-the-counter sale. Its price fell and health insurers no longer covered its use, so Schering-Plough launched a new form of the drug, Desloratadine, marketed as Clarinex.
Loratadine side effects have been claimed to be minimal for patients who take it for unpleasant allergy symptoms such as running nose, itching, sneezing, sore eyes, skin rashes and mild headaches. However, people with impaired liver function may need to start on smaller doses, although Loratadine does not cause problems with patients suffering renal failure or for elderly people.
Loratadine is sold in tablet form, including as 12-hour release or 24-hour release capsules, as capsules to be swallowed, chewable and mouth disintegrating capsules, as well as a syrup. There are no commonly reported Loratadine side effects at the usual 10mg dose, with many people having no side effects whatsoever. However, some side effects have been reported in around 7% of people who used Loratadine.
Allergic Loratadine Side Effects
Side effects may include severe allergic response, upset stomach, and nausea, tightness of the chest and even difficulty breathing, rash and itching, dizziness and swelling of the mouth, tongue, lips and face. With the slow release capsules, which also contain Pseudoephedrine, the symptoms may include excessive thirst, sore throat and dry mouth, headache, fatigue, excitability and sleeplessness. In rare cases, the effects may include chest pain and irregular heartbeat, shaking, difficult in passing urine, mood swings, and even seizures. The manufacturers stress that anyone experiencing any of these symptoms should immediately seek medical advice.
For people on higher doses, reported Loratadine side effects have included raised blood pressure or low blood pressure, cardiac arrhythmia, palpitations and racing heartbeat. In rare cases jaundice, hepatitis and hepatic necrosis have also been reported in patients on higher doses.
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