Loratadine

The selected Drug Facts cover runny nose, sneezing, itchy/watery eyes and itching of the nose or throat caused by hay fever or other upper-respiratory allergies. Relief of these symptoms does not establish treatment of their underlying cause.

The current selected OTC labels do not list chronic urticaria. Clinician-directed hive treatment, higher-dose antihistamine regimens and combination Claritin-D products require a separate assessment. Desloratadine is a different drug; do not substitute it milligram for milligram.

For the selected liquid, use only its enclosed dosing cup; children under 2 require a doctor. Chew the selected chewable tablets. Place a RediTab on the tongue immediately after opening its individual blister; it dissolves and may be taken with or without water. These are oral products, not injections or nasal sprays.

The current Drug Facts direct people with liver or kidney disease to a doctor, who should determine whether a different dose is needed. They provide no numerical organ-adjustment algorithm. Do not turn historical prescription-label directions into a universal current OTC regimen.

Check the active ingredient in every allergy/cold product and follow the daily limit. Taking more than directed can cause drowsiness. If symptoms remain troublesome, obtain clinical advice rather than escalating the dose independently.

Do not use after an allergic reaction to loratadine or any ingredient in the selected product. Read the specific inactive-ingredient list when choosing another formulation.

The selected U.S. OTC Drug Facts have no boxed warning. Their allergy, overdose, age and organ-disease precautions remain applicable.

The current Drug Facts specifically warn about allergic reactions and drowsiness when exceeding directions, without supplying a comprehensive incidence table. Historical prescription studies also describe headache, fatigue, dry mouth and somnolence. Do not interpret OTC status as proof of absence of adverse effects.

Historical FDA studies found increased loratadine exposure with ketoconazole, erythromycin or cimetidine, without clinically important ECG or safety changes in the studied volunteers. Review these combinations clinically, especially with organ impairment; there is no universal adjustment established by those studies.

Check allergy/cold medicines for duplicate loratadine or additional active ingredients. Claritin-D contains a separate decongestant and needs its own interaction review. The selected chewable’s phenylalanine content matters to people with phenylketonuria.

The Drug Facts advise asking a health professional before use during pregnancy or breastfeeding. MotherToBaby’s February 2026 review finds no expected increase in birth-defect risk based on available studies; behavior/learning outcomes have not been studied. Milk transfer is small and loratadine is a preferred breastfeeding antihistamine, but monitor infant sleepiness and discuss possible effects on milk supply. These observations do not make every pregnancy or combination product risk-free.

Use the formulation-specific age chart. Liquid and selected 5 mg chewables provide directions from age 2; selected 10 mg tablets/RediTabs direct those under 6 to a doctor. The current OTC labels provide no separate geriatric dose. Consider comorbidities and the complete medicine list.

Ask a doctor before use with kidney or liver disease. Historical PK studies show increased exposure in renal impairment and alcoholic liver disease; this explains the need for individualized review but does not supply current product-specific OTC adjustment instructions.

Loratadine selectively antagonizes peripheral histamine H1 receptors. It is metabolized to the active compound desloratadine.

Historical FDA data describe rapid oral absorption, metabolism mainly through CYP3A4 and partly CYP2D6, and urinary/fecal elimination of metabolites. Mean half-lives were about 8.4 hours for loratadine and 28 hours for its active metabolite, with considerable variability. These historical parameters support pharmacology context, not new formulation or organ-disease dosing.

Assess allergy-symptom response, sleepiness and hypersensitivity. Recheck concentration, age and the entire OTC/prescription list. The selected Drug Facts do not require a routine laboratory-monitoring schedule; liver/kidney disease requires clinician-directed assessment.

Use the selected age-specific once-daily dose, keep the measuring cup with the liquid and open RediTabs only when ready to take them. Ask about pregnancy/breastfeeding or organ disease. Stop and seek immediate medical help for an allergic reaction.

Obtain medical help or contact Poison Control immediately after an overdose. Do not use historical emesis or gastric-lavage instructions from an archived prescription label as home treatment.

Appearance

White, round tablet

Imprint

458 · Claritin10

Strength and route

Loratadine 10 mg · oral

Labeler

Bayer HealthCare LLC

Selected products are 10 mg tablets, 10 mg RediTabs, 5 mg chewables and 5 mg/5 mL oral solution. The selected liquid has 6 mg sodium per 5 mL; the selected chewable has 1.9 mg phenylalanine per tablet. Other OTC products can differ in strength, excipients and directions. Combination products are outside this profile.

Store the selected products at 20–25°C. Protect the selected tablet blister from excessive moisture; do not use a bottle with a missing/broken printed foil seal. Do not use open/torn RediTabs or chewable blisters, or liquid with a broken/missing carton tamper seal. Open a RediTab’s individual blister immediately before use. Keep out of children’s reach.