Desloratadine, Oral

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KEY POINTS

• This medicine is taken by mouth to relieve the symptoms of nasal allergies, or to treat hives. Take it exactly as directed.
• This medicine may cause unwanted side effects. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effects that are serious, continue, or get worse.
• Tell all healthcare providers who treat you about all the prescription medicines, nonprescription medicines, supplements, natural remedies, and vitamins that you take.

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What are other names for this medicine?

Type of medicine: antihistamine

Generic and brand names: desloratadine, oral; Clarinex

What is this medicine used for?

This medicine is taken by mouth to relieve symptoms of nasal allergy such as sneezing, runny or stuffy nose, itchy nose and throat, and itchy, watery, and red eyes. It is also used to treat hives.

This medicine may be used to treat other conditions as determined by your healthcare provider.

What should my healthcare provider know before I take this medicine?

Before taking this medicine, tell your healthcare provider if you have ever had:

• An allergic reaction to any medicine
• Liver or kidney disease
• Phenylketonuria (PKU). The RediTabs contain phenylalanine.

Females of childbearing age: Tell your healthcare provider if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant while taking this medicine. It is not known whether this medicine will harm an unborn baby. Do not breast-feed while taking this medicine without your healthcare provider's approval.

How do I use it?

Check the label on the medicine for directions about your specific dose. Take this medicine exactly as your healthcare provider prescribes. Do not take more, take it more often, or take it for longer than directed by your healthcare provider. Check medicine labels carefully before using two or more medicines at the same time. Other prescription and nonprescription cold and allergy medicines may contain the same kind of medicine, and you may take too much. Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist about anything you do not understand.

Check with your healthcare provider before using this medicine in children under age 6 months.

This medicine comes in three forms: a tablet, an orally disintegrating tablet, and a liquid.

If you have the liquid form of this medicine, use the measuring spoon, cup, dropper, or oral syringe that comes with the medicine, or ask your pharmacist for one. Do not use a kitchen spoon because the dose may not be correct.

If you have the orally disintegrating tablets, do not remove the tablet from the blister pack until you are ready to take it. Take the tablet right away after opening the blister pack. Place the orally disintegrating tablets on your tongue and let it dissolve before swallowing.

You may take this medicine with or without meals. It is usually taken only once a day.

What if I miss a dose?

If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember, unless it is almost time for your next scheduled dose. In that case, skip the missed dose and take the next dose as directed. If you are taking this medicine once a day and you miss a dose one day, do not take a double dose the next day.

What if I overdose?

If you or anyone else has intentionally taken too much of this medicine, call 911 or go to the emergency room right away. If you pass out, have seizures, weakness or confusion, or have trouble breathing, call 911. If you think that you or anyone else may have taken too much of this medicine, call the poison control center. Do this even if there are no signs of discomfort or poisoning. The poison control center number is 800-222-1222.

Symptoms of an acute overdose may include: fast heartbeat, drowsiness, vomiting, fainting.

What should I watch out for?

Although unlikely, this medicine may make you dizzy or drowsy. Do not drive or operate machinery unless you are fully alert.

This medicine may increase the effects of alcohol and other medicines that slow down your nervous system. Do not drink alcohol or take other medicines unless your healthcare provider approves.

This medicine may cause dry mouth. Sucking hard candy, taking sips of water, or chewing sugarless gum may help.

Contact your healthcare provider if your condition does not improve in several days, or if your symptoms get worse.

If you need emergency care, surgery, lab tests, or dental work, tell the healthcare provider or dentist you are taking this medicine.

What are the possible side effects?

Along with its needed effects, your medicine may cause some unwanted side effects. Some side effects may be very serious. Some side effects may go away as your body adjusts to the medicine. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effects that continue or get worse.

Life-threatening (Report these to your healthcare provider right away. If you cannot reach your healthcare provider right away, get emergency medical care or call 911 for help.): Allergic reaction (hives; itching; rash; trouble breathing; tightness in your chest; swelling of your lips, tongue, and throat).

Serious (Report these to your healthcare provider right away.): Fast or irregular heartbeat, severe tiredness or dizziness; dark urine; light-colored bowel movements; seizures; yellowing of skin or eyes.

Other: Sore throat, dry mouth, headache, muscle pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite, dizziness, tiredness, drowsiness, hoarseness, menstrual cramps.

What products might interact with this medicine?

When you take this medicine with other medicines, it can change the way this or any of the other medicines work. Nonprescription medicines, vitamins, natural remedies, and certain foods may also interact. Using these products together might cause harmful side effects. Talk to your healthcare provider if you are taking:

• Antianxiety medicines such as alprazolam (Xanax), clorazepate (Gen-Xene, Tranxene), diazepam (Valium), lorazepam (Ativan), and oxazepam
• Antibiotics such as azithromycin (Zithromax, Zmax), clarithromycin (Biaxin), erythromycin (E.E.S., Ery-Tab, Erythrocin), and telithromycin (Ketek)
• Antidepressants such as amitriptyline, duloxetine (Cymbalta), fluoxetine (Prozac), fluvoxamine (Luvox), imipramine (Tofranil), nortriptyline (Pamelor), sertraline (Zoloft), and venlafaxine (Effexor)
• Antifungal medicines such as itraconazole (Sporanox) and ketoconazole (Nizoral)
• Antipsychotic medicines such as chlorpromazine, clozapine (Clozaril, FazaClo), fluphenazine, haloperidol (Haldol), olanzapine (Zyprexa), perphenazine, pimozide (Orap), thioridazine, and trifluoperazine
• Antiseizure medicines such as carbamazepine (Carbatrol, Epitol, Equetro, Tegretol), felbamate (Felbatol), gabapentin (Neurontin), lamotrigine (Lamictal), levetiracetam (Keppra), phenytoin (Dilantin, Phenytek), primidone (Mysoline), tiagabine (Gabitril), and topiramate (Qudexy, Topamax, Trokendi)
• Cimetidine (Tagamet)
• Doxepin (Silenor)
• Medicines to treat breathing or lung problems such as aclidinium (Tudorza), ipratropium (Atrovent), tiotropium (Spiriva), and umeclidinium (Incruse Ellipta)
• Muscle relaxants such as baclofen (Lioresal), carisoprodol (Soma), cyclobenzaprine (Amrix), methocarbamol (Robaxin), orphenadrine, and tizanidine (Zanaflex)
• Narcotic pain medicines such as codeine, fentanyl (Abstral, Actiq, Duragesic, Fentora, Sublimaze), hydrocodone (Hysingla, Zohydro), hydromorphone (Dilaudid, Exalgo), meperidine (Demerol), methadone (Dolophine, Methadose), morphine (Kadian, MS Contin), oxycodone (OxyContin, Roxicodone), oxycodone/acetaminophen (Percocet, Roxicet), pentazocine (Talwin), tapentadol (Nucynta), and tramadol (ConZip, Ultram)
• Natural remedies such as gotu kola, kava, melatonin, SAMe, St. John's wort, and valerian
• Other antihistamines such as chlorpheniramine (Chlor-Trimeton), diphenhydramine (Benadryl), hydroxyzine (Vistaril), and loratadine (Alavert, Claritin)
• Paroxetine (Brisdelle, Paxil, Pexeva)
• Sleeping pills such as butabarbital (Butisol), flurazepam, phenobarbital, suvorexant (Belsomra), temazepam (Restoril), triazolam (Halcion), zaleplon (Sonata), and zolpidem (Ambien, Edluar, Intermezzo)

Do not drink alcohol while taking this medicine unless your healthcare provider approves.

If you are not sure if your medicines might interact, ask your pharmacist or healthcare provider. Keep a list of all your medicines with you. List all the prescription medicines, nonprescription medicines, supplements, natural remedies, and vitamins that you take. Be sure that you tell all healthcare providers who treat you about all the products you are taking.

How should I store this medicine?

Store this medicine at room temperature. Keep the container tightly closed. Protect it from heat, high humidity, and bright light.

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This advisory includes selected information only and may not include all side effects of this medicine or interactions with other medicines. Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for more information or if you have any questions.

Ask your pharmacist for the best way to dispose of outdated medicine or medicine you have not used. Do not throw medicine in the trash.

Keep all medicines out of the reach of children.

Do not share medicines with other people.