Warnings
What are the risks of taking loratadine?
Loratadine can cause serious health problems in certain groups of people. You should talk to your healthcare provider if you have any concerns or other treatment options.
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What should I tell my doctor before starting loratadine?
Tell all your healthcare providers your complete medical history. You should inform your doctor about your medical conditions, allergies, pregnancy, and breastfeeding status.
You should not take this medication if you are allergic to loratadine (Claritin) or desloratadine (Clarinex).
Tell your doctor if you have a history of phenylketonuria (PKU) - Some of the chewable or orally disintegrating tablets may contain phenylalanine.
Tell your doctor if you have:
- Kidney disease
- Liver disease
Ask your doctor before giving loratadine to a child.
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant, planning to get pregnant. A study of 161 pregnant women taking loratadine during the first trimester showed no differences in the rates of miscarriage.
Tell your doctor if you plan to breastfeed; loratadine may pass into breast milk.
What proper medical care should I take while on loratadine?
Stop taking loratadine if your cold and allergy symptoms do not improve in 3 days or if your hives do not resolve by 6 weeks.
Do not use loratadine to a skin rash that does not itch or if the hives are bruised or blistered.
If you develop an allergic reaction while taking loratadine for skin hives, seek emergency medical attention immediately. Symptoms of allergic reactions include difficulty swallowing, speaking, swelling of the tongue and throat. If your healthcare provider suspects that your hives are symptoms of an anaphylactic reaction, you will probably be prescribed EpiPen - an epinephrine injector.
Do not use loratadine or any other medicines in place of the epinephrine injector.
What drugs can interact with loratadine?
Other medicines may interact with loratadine that can decrease its effects, increase its adverse effects, and change how long it works.
Some of the common medications that may interact with loratadine are:
- Amiodarone
- Celecoxib
- HIV medications (darunavir, ritonavir, saquinavir)
- Dasatinib
- Diltiazem
- Fluvoxamine
- Mifepristone
- Voriconazole
This is not a complete list. Other drugs, including prescriptions, over-the-counter medicines, herbal products, and vitamins, may interact with loratadine. Not all potential drug interactions are listed in this guide. It is highly recommended to keep a list of all the drug products you are using (prescriptions, over-the-counter products, herbal supplements, natural products, and vitamins) and share it with your doctor and pharmacist.
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