Description
generic Loratadine: Loratadine is one of the first non-sedating antihistamines.
This means that while it is effective at alleviating the symptoms
of allergies, Loratadine does not produce sedative side effects
such as drowsiness and dizziness that older Loratadine are
notorious for. It also has to be noted that it may be used
for treating headaches.
What is Loratadine? Loratadine is an antihistamine medication. This means
that the way in which it alleviates the symptoms of allergies
is by acting on the histamine receptors found in the body.
By doing so, Loratadine prevents the histamine from causing
allergy symptoms such as runny nose, burning or itchy eyes,
as well as allergic reactions involving skin, such as hives.
Loratadine was developed as one of the first antihistamine
medications that do not affect the central nervous system
like the older antihistamine drugs used to. This means that
Loratadine is much less likely to cause any sedation. In fact,
this happens in extremely rare cases, which was not the cases
previously, with other antihistamines. In addition to its
use in treating allergy symptoms, Loratadine may also be used
in treatment of mild to moderate headaches.
Before taking Loratadine
Loratadine can be bought without prescription today, but this
does not mean that you should not first talk to your doctor
about taking this antihistamine medication. Many people decide
to skip this step, which can be detrimental to their health.
For example, people who are suffering from liver diseases
or whose liver functioning is compromised should definitely
talk with their doctors, as they might be required and better
off with lower doses of Loratadine, doses that will not be
a burden to their compromised liver. People with phenylketonuria
would also talk with their doctors as disintegrating Loratadine
tablets might contain phenylalanine which may be dangerous
for them. Unlike the majority of antihistamine medications,
Loratadine is deemed to be safe for use in pregnancy and while
nursing, but you should still discuss the use of Loratadine
during pregnancy with your physician.
How to properly use Loratadine
Some people think because allergy drugs are not deemed that
powerful, that they can take these medications in any way
they want. This is not the case and any use of Loratadine
that does not correspond to the recommended treatment may
result in side effects or even overdose if too much of the
drug is taken. An overdose on Loratadine is characterized
by pounding heart beats, drowsiness and headaches and needs
to be treated straight away. However, if you take Loratadine
exactly as prescribed, not only will you not be at risk of
any unwanted side effects, but you will experience all the
possible benefits of taking this antihistamine medication.
Depending on the form of Loratadine you are taking, you will
need to observe certain procedures when taking the drug. You
will find all the instructions in the labels that come with
Loratadine, but if you still have any questions, do not hesitate
to inquire with your physician or the pharmacist.
Loratadine side effects and interactions
Loratadine is mostly well tolerated and only a small percentage
of patients experience any side effects. Even when the side
effects occur, these are mostly mild side effects that should
not cause any panic as they will subside on their own. Among
these side effects, you will find such as: nosebleeds, skin
rash, sore throat, blurred vision, dry mouth, red eyes, diarrhea,
drowsiness, stomach pains, tiredness, headaches and nervousness.
More serious side effects of Loratadine are extremely unlikely
and these include jaundice, uneven heart rate, fainting feeling
and convulsions. If you experience any of those, contact your
physician immediately. The most common interactions with Loratadine
include erythromycin, cimetidine and ketoconazole. However,
as there are other substances and medications that might interact
with Loratadine, the best thing to do is to talk to your doctor
or the pharmacist before you introduce any new medications
when taking Loratadine.
