Loratadine, Oral

________________________________________________________________________

KEY POINTS

• This medicine is taken by mouth to treat itchy or watery eyes, itchy nose, sneezing, or a runny nose caused by allergies. Take it exactly as directed.
• Do not give a child under age 4 any cough and cold medicines unless specifically instructed to do so by your healthcare provider.
• 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.

________________________________________________________________________

What are other names for this medicine?

Type of medicine: antihistamine

Generic and brand names: loratadine, oral; Alavert; Children’s Claritin; Claritin; Claritin Reditabs (There may be other brand names for this medicine.)

What is this medicine used for?

This medicine is an antihistamine taken by mouth to treat seasonal allergies (hay fever) and other allergic conditions that may cause itchy or watery eyes, itchy nose sneezing, or a runny nose. Usually this medicine does not cause drowsiness.

This medicine may also be used to treat the symptoms of chronic hives. Your healthcare provider will explain.

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?

Talk with your healthcare provider before using this medicine if you have ever had:

• An allergic reaction to any medicine
• Kidney or liver disease
• Trouble swallowing

Phenylketonurics: some of these products, such as the chewable or quick dissolving tablets, may contain phenylalanine. Talk with your healthcare provider about this.

Females of childbearing age: Tell your healthcare provider if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Do not breast-feed while taking this medicine without your healthcare provider's approval.

How do I take it?

This medicine is available without a prescription and may come in different forms, including tablets, disintegrating tablets (that dissolve quickly on your tongue), chewable tablets, and a liquid.

Check with your healthcare provider before using this medicine in children. Some brands should not be used in children under a certain age.

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 or take it more often than directed. Taking too much could cause severe drowsiness. Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist about anything you do not understand.

If you are using the liquid medicine, measure it carefully with a measuring device that comes in the package. The average household teaspoon may not hold the right amount of liquid. Ask your pharmacist if you do not have the measuring device or if you have any questions about how to measure the liquid medicine correctly.

You may take this medicine with or without food. If you have the regular tablets, take them with a full glass of water.

If you have the quick dissolving tablets or orally disintegrating tablets, these tablets will dissolve quickly on your tongue. Use the tablet right away after removing it from the package. You can take them with or without water.

If you have the chewable tablet, chew the tablet thoroughly before you swallow it.

What if I miss a dose?

If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember unless it is almost time for the next scheduled dose. In that case, skip the missed dose and take the next one as directed. Do not take double doses. If you are not sure of what to do if you miss a dose, or if you miss more than one dose, contact your healthcare provider.

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: headache, drowsiness, fast pounding heartbeat.

What should I watch out for?

Do not give a child under age 4 any cough and cold medicines unless specifically instructed to do so by your healthcare provider. If your child is over the age of 4, ask your healthcare provider before giving cough and cold medicines.

Usually, this medicine causes little or no drowsiness compared with other antihistamines. However, do not drive or operate machinery unless you are fully alert. You may feel dizzy or faint when you get up quickly after sitting or lying down. Getting up slowly may help.

This medicine increases the effects of alcohol and other drugs that slow down your nervous system, such as sleeping pills. Do not drink alcohol or take other medicines unless your healthcare provider approves. Do not take this medicine for other conditions unless your healthcare provider approves.

Rarely, this medicine may make your mouth dry. If this feeling becomes bothersome, contact your healthcare provider.

Adults over the age of 65 may be at greater risk for side effects. Talk with your healthcare provider about this.

Contact your healthcare provider if your condition does not improve in several days, if you develop a high fever, 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.): Extreme drowsiness or dizziness, constant headache, seizures, irregular or fast heartbeat, chest pain, severe nervousness, severe trouble sleeping, severe stomach pain.

Other: Tiredness, nervousness, headache, trouble sleeping, wheezing, cough, dry mouth, mild stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, sore throat, red or irritated eyes.

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:

• Amiodarone (Cordarone, Pacerone)
• Antianxiety medicines such as alprazolam (Xanax), clonazepam (Klonopin), clorazepate (Gen-Xene, Tranxene), diazepam (Valium), lorazepam (Ativan), and oxazepam
• Antibiotics such as azithromycin (Zithromax, Zmax), clarithromycin (Biaxin), and erythromycin (E.E.S., Ery-Tab, Erythrocin)
• Antidepressants such as amitriptyline, citalopram (Celexa), clomipramine, duloxetine (Cymbalta), escitalopram (Lexapro), fluoxetine (Prozac), fluvoxamine (Luvox), imipramine (Tofranil), nortriptyline (Pamelor), sertraline (Zoloft), trazodone, venlafaxine (Effexor), and vortioxetine (Trintellix)
• Antifungal medicines such as fluconazole (Diflucan), itraconazole (Sporanox), ketoconazole (Nizoral), posaconazole (Noxafil), and voriconazole (Vfend)
• Antipsychotic medicines such as aripiprazole (Abilify), asenapine (Saphris), brexpiprazole (Rexulti), cariprazine (Vraylar), chlorpromazine, clozapine (Clozaril, FazaClo), fluphenazine, haloperidol (Haldol), iloperidone (Fanapt), olanzapine (Zyprexa), paliperidone (Invega), perphenazine, pimozide (Orap), quetiapine (Seroquel), risperidone (Risperdal), thioridazine, trifluoperazine, and ziprasidone (Geodon)
• 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)
• Bupropion (Aplenzin, Forfivo, Wellbutrin, Buproban, Zyban)
• Cimetidine (Tagamet)
• Doxepin (Silenor)
• HIV medicines such as atazanavir (Reyataz), darunavir (Prezista), delavirdine (Rescriptor), efavirenz (Sustiva), etravirine (Intelence), fosamprenavir (Lexiva), indinavir (Crixivan), lopinavir/ritonavir (Kaletra), maraviroc (Selzentry), nelfinavir (Viracept), nevirapine (Viramune), rilpivirine (Edurant), ritonavir (Norvir), saquinavir (Invirase), stavudine (Zerit), tipranavir (Aptivus), and zidovudine (Retrovir)
• Muscle relaxants such as baclofen (Gablofen, Lioresal), carisoprodol (Soma), cyclobenzaprine (Amrix), methocarbamol (Robaxin), 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), and pentazocine (Talwin)
• Natural remedies such as gotu kola, kava, melatonin, St. John’s wort, and valerian
• Nausea medicines such as prochlorperazine (Compro) and promethazine
• Other antihistamines such as azelastine (Astelin, Astepro), brompheniramine, chlorpheniramine (Chlor-Trimeton), clemastine (Tavist), diphenhydramine (Benadryl), fexofenadine (Allegra), and hydroxyzine (Vistaril)
• Paroxetine (Brisdelle, Paxil, Pexeva)
• Sleeping pills such as butabarbital (Butisol), doxylamine (Unisom), eszopiclone (Lunesta), flurazepam, ramelteon (Rozerem), suvorexant (Belsomra), temazepam (Restoril), triazolam (Halcion), zaleplon (Sonata), and zolpidem (Ambien, Edluar, Intermezzo)

Do not drink alcohol while taking this medicine.

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 from heat, high humidity, and bright light. Do not freeze.

---

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 medicines in the trash.

Keep all medicines out of the reach of children.

Do not share medicines with other people.