Loratadine: Mode of Action, Dosage, Side Effects, and Potential for Overdose | Good Doctor

Loratadine is a drug that is usually used to relieve symptoms due to allergies such as itching, skin rashes, runny nose, cold symptoms, sneezing, and others.

This drug cannot prevent allergies but can treat severe allergic reactions. Mainly nasal allergies and itching. This is related to how the drug loratadine works.

Find out more about this antihistamine drug through the following review!

Also Read: It turns out that this is the cause of hives on the body for no reason

How loratadine works

Loratadine is an antihistamine drug that can reduce the chemical effects of histamine that occur in the body. Histamine itself can cause symptoms of sneezing, itching, watery eyes, and runny nose.

In order for the allergy symptoms to decrease, this drug will work by suppressing histamine activity in the body. Loratadine is also often used to treat itching in people who have chronic skin reactions.

Drugs that can be in the form of pills or syrup include those that can cause drowsiness in users. Therefore, to consume it requires a doctor’s prescription and according to the rules stated on the packaging.

Uses or advantages of loratadine

There are several functions or uses for using this loratadine drug. Here are some of them:

• Help relieve symptoms of allergic rhinitis perennial or seasonal allergies.
• Effectively controls symptoms such as sneezing, itching, watery eyes, and runny nose that appear due to allergies in the respiratory system.
• It can also relieve itching caused by chronic urticaria which is characterized by the appearance of itchy red bumps and spots on the skin.
• Can be used for skin treatment due to other allergic disorders.
• The effect of sedation or less awareness is smaller than other antihistamines.
• Can be consumed once a day.
• It can be given regularly, especially during the season where allergens or allergy triggers appear. For example in spring or summer.
• The generic drug loratadine is available.
• Can be found at the nearest drug stores.

Some of the trademarks of loratadine include Alavert, Claritin, Claritin Reditabs, Clear-Atadine, Dimetapp ND, ohm Allergy Relief, QlearQuil All Day & Night, Tavist ND, And Wal-itin.

Disadvantages or side effects that can arise

Reported from Drugs.comif you are between 18-60 years old, have no history of certain diseases and are not currently taking other drugs, here are some possible side effects:

• Headaches, fatigue, lethargy, and dry mouth. This effect can be avoided by taking loratadine at normal doses.
• This drug generally does not cause drowsiness. But it can cause drowsiness in some people. It’s better not to drive if you have just taken this drug.
• The dose of loratadine should be reduced if you have liver or kidney disease.
• Just like other antihistamines, loratadine can reduce the response to skin prick test. Stop taking this drug 48 hours before a skin testing test.

In general, the elderly or children, and people with certain medical conditions (sufferers of liver or kidney disease, heart disease, diabetes, seizures).

Or people who take other oral medications are more at risk of experiencing a wider range of side effects.

How to deal with side effects that arise

In some people this drug can indeed cause side effects that interfere with the user’s activities. Here are tips for dealing with side effects that arise:

• Sleepy. If you feel sleepy after taking loratadine, it’s a good idea to find another antihistamine drug. If it still doesn’t work, call your doctor.
• Headache. Be sure to rest and consume enough fluids. You can also ask a doctor to prescribe pain relievers. Headaches should go away after the first week of taking loratadine. Call your doctor if these symptoms persist and get worse.
• Feeling tired or restless. If you experience this it’s a good idea to discuss it with your doctor. The doctor will usually prescribe another antihistamine drug.

Who can and can’t consume loratadine

This medicine should only be taken by children over 2 years of age and also adults. Loratadine is also not suitable in certain circles.

If you have some of these symptoms, you should tell your doctor before they prescribe loratadine:

• Have a history of allergy to loratadine or other drugs in the past.
• Have serious problems with the liver.
• The body has an intolerance or is unable to absorb certain types of sugar such as lactose or sucrose.
• Have a history of epilepsy or other diseases that pose a risk to health.
• Experiencing illness porphyria.
• Will undergo an allergy test, because consumption of loratadine can affect the results of the test.

Can pregnant and breastfeeding women consume it?

Loratadine is a class B category drug, meaning that it has no effect or can hurt the baby in the womb.

But even so, pregnant women should consult a doctor before taking various types of drugs including loratadine.

Breastfeeding mothers are usually not advised to take this drug. Because loratadine can be carried through breast milk, therefore always consult a doctor.

Recommended dosage

Loratadine can be in the form of 10 mg tablets as well as syrup which is usually labeled 5mg/5ml or 1mg/1ml. The dose for adults is 10 mg per day.

For children, the doctor will usually prescribe a dose that is adjusted to the child’s age and weight. Dosage for children who experience normal allergies or urticaria ages 2-5 years is 5 mg per day (syrup).

Whereas for children aged 6 years and over is 10 mg per day (can be syrup, tablets or capsules).

Rules for taking loratadine

Make sure you take the drug according to the instructions or recommendations listed on the drug label. Do not use less or more than the recommended dose.

1. How to take the drug in the form of syrup

If you choose a syrup-type drug, be sure to use a tool for measuring special drugs. If you don’t have one, consult a pharmacist.

2. How to take medicine in tablet form

If you choose to take the drug in tablet form. Take the following steps:

• Do not remove the medicine from the container until you are ready to take it.
• Take the medicine with dry hands.
• Do not press on the packaging which can cause the medicine to break.
• After entering the mouth, do not swallow or chew immediately. Let the drug dissolve in the mouth.
• You can help him by drinking water to help the drug dissolving process.

Tips for consuming loratadine

There are some important tips or information that you should know about consuming loratadine. Here are some of them:

• Can be consumed without eating or drinking first.
• Although drowsiness effects are rare, it’s best to avoid driving and operating machinery after taking this drug.
• Call your doctor if you have symptoms of swelling of your face, neck or tongue, followed by headaches, runny nose, difficulty speaking, and shortness of breath.
• Loratadine cannot be used as a substitute for epinephrine. Epinephrine is usually used to treat severe allergies.
• If your allergic symptoms do not improve after 3 days of taking loratadine, contact your doctor immediately. Especially if the itching doesn’t go away after one week.
• Stop consuming it immediately when the symptoms have disappeared.
• Do not take this drug while pregnant or breastfeeding unless advised by your doctor.

When to take this medicine?

You are advised to take loratadine when allergy symptoms appear. Or it could be when you’ve just been exposed to an allergen or something that can cause allergies.

Such as dust, pollen from flowers and plants, and animal hair. You can also consume it regularly if it’s summer and spring when the potential for allergies increases.

What happens after taking loratadine

This drug will begin to be absorbed by the body and work optimally about 1 hour after taking it. Effects will be felt between the first 10-20 minutes.

After 45 minutes, the patient should start to feel the allergy symptoms getting better. If not, then immediately contact the doctor.

Drug interactions

Consumption of loratadine with other drugs can reduce the effectiveness and benefits of the drugs you are taking. It can even increase the risk of side effects on the body.

The following are several types of drugs that should not interact with loratadine:

• amiodarone
• celecoxib
• HIV medications such as darunavir, ritonavir, or saquinavir
• dasatinib
• diltiazem
• fluvoxamine
• mifepristone
• voriconazole.

If you are taking any of the medications above, talk to your doctor. Loratadine is very similar to desloratadine. Do not use drugs containing desloratadine while using loratadine.

Interaction with alcohol

When taking loratadine, you are not allowed to drink alcoholic beverages. Because both loratadine and alcohol can cause unconsciousness in users.

Apart from that, it can also cause dry mouth and dry eyes, which can affect your vision.

Interaction with grapefruit juice

These antihistamines and grapefruit are both broken down in the liver in the same way.

If consumed at the same time could have a bad impact. Consult a doctor before consuming grapefruit juice before taking this medicine.

What if there is an overdose?

Adults who consume more than 10 mg per day are at great risk of experiencing side effects ranging from severe drowsiness, racing heart, and severe headaches.

Meanwhile, excessive consumption in children can cause more dangerous conditions. Usually children will show symptoms like people who have Parkinson’s disease.

If you find symptoms of an overdose of this drug, you should immediately contact a doctor or medical facility nearest emergency to get treatment.

What if I forget to take this medicine?

Maybe some of you often forget to schedule medication. What to do if it’s past the schedule for taking the medicine recommended by the doctor?

Take the medicine as soon as you remember. However, if you just remember that it’s almost time to take your next medicine, you don’t need to take it right away.

You just need to take medicine for the next schedule. It doesn’t mean because you forgot to drink and then took twice as much medicine on the next schedule. It is not recommended!

Call the hospital if these signs appear

Immediately contact the doctor if you experience any of the following:

• Have a skin rash. Starting from itching, swelling, blistering, to peeling.
• Abnormal breath sounds
• Feeling like being pressed in the chest area and also the throat.
• Difficulty in speaking and also breathing.
• Mouth, face, lips, tongue and throat begin to swell.

The signs above can be a signal that you have an acute allergy and need medical attention at the hospital.

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