Claritin
Claritin: instructions for use and reviews
- 1. Release form and composition
- 2. Pharmacological properties
- 3. Indications for use
- 4. Contraindications
- 5. Method of application and dosage
- 6. Side effects
- 7. Overdose
- 8. Special instructions
- 9. Application during pregnancy and lactation
- 10. In case of impaired renal function
- 11. For violations of liver function
- 12. Drug interactions
- 13. Analogs
- 14. Terms and conditions of storage
- 15. Terms of dispensing from pharmacies
- 16. Reviews
- 17. Price in pharmacies
Latin name: Claritin
ATX code: R06AX13
Active ingredient: loratadine (loratadine)
Producer: Schering-Plow Labo NV (Belgium)
Description and photo update: 2019-16-08
Prices in pharmacies: from 144 rubles.
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Claritin is an anti-allergic agent, a blocker of histamine H 1 receptors.
Release form and composition
Dosage forms of Claritin:
- Tablets: oval with a uniform structure of white or almost white color, the number "10" and the trademark "Cup and flask" are applied on the side with a dividing line, the second side is smooth (7, 10 or 15 pcs. In blisters, in a cardboard box 1, 2 or 3 blisters);
- Syrup: transparent yellowish or colorless liquid without visible particles (60 or 120 ml in dark glass bottles, in a cardboard box 1 bottle complete with a dosing spoon or a 5 ml graduated syringe).
The active substance is loratadine:
- 1 tablet - 10 mg;
- 1 ml of syrup - 1 mg.
Auxiliary components:
- Tablets: corn starch, lactose monohydrate, magnesium stearate;
- Syrup: glycerol, propylene glycol, artificial flavor (peach), citric acid monohydrate (or citric acid anhydrous), sucrose (granular), sodium benzoate, purified water.
Pharmacological properties
Claritin is characterized by anti-allergic, antihistamines and antipruritic properties.
Pharmacodynamics
Loratadine is a tricyclic compound with a pronounced antihistamine effect, and is a selective blocker of peripheral H 1 -histamine receptors. Antiallergic effect occurs soon after ingestion and lasts long enough. Loratadine begins to act within 30 minutes after oral administration of the drug. The peak phase of the antihistamine effect is observed 8-12 hours after the onset of the drug's action and lasts more than 1 day.
Loratadine does not cross the blood-brain barrier and does not affect the functioning of the central nervous system (central nervous system). During its administration, no sedative or anticholinergic action of clinical significance was revealed, therefore the drug does not provoke drowsiness and does not reduce the speed of psychomotor reactions when used in therapeutic doses. Taking Claritin does not cause prolongation of the QT interval on the ECG.
Long-term therapy was not accompanied by changes in vital signs, electrocardiography, laboratory data, or physical examination results of clinical significance. Loratadine is not characterized by significant selectivity for H 2 -histamine receptors. The substance is not an inhibitor of the reuptake of norepinephrine and practically does not affect the function of the pacemaker or the state of the cardiovascular system.
Pharmacokinetics
Loratadine is well and at a high rate absorbed in the gastrointestinal tract. Its maximum concentration in blood plasma is determined 1–1.5 hours after administration, and the maximum concentration of its pharmacologically active metabolite desloratadine is determined after 1.5–3.7 hours. When Claritin is taken with food, the time to reach the maximum concentration of loratadine and its metabolite increases by about 1 hour, but the bioavailability of the drug does not change. The maximum level of loratadine and desloratadine in the blood does not depend on food intake.
In patients with chronic renal dysfunction, the area under the concentration-time curve (AUC) and the maximum concentration of loratadine and its main metabolite are increased compared with patients with normal renal function. In this case, the half-lives of loratadine and desloratadine are identical to those in healthy patients. In patients with alcoholic liver damage, the maximum concentration and AUC of loratadine and desloratadine increase 2-fold compared with those in patients with normal liver function.
Loratadine has a high degree of binding to plasma proteins (97–99%), while its metabolite exhibits a moderate degree of binding (73–76%).
In the process of metabolism, loratadine is converted to desloratadine using the cytochrome P450 3A4 system and, to a lesser extent, the cytochrome P450 2D6 system. It is excreted through the kidneys (approximately 40% of the oral dose taken) and through the intestine (approximately 42% of the oral dose) for more than 10 days, mainly in the form of conjugated metabolites. About 27% of a dose of loratadine is excreted in the urine within 24 hours after taking Claritin. Less than 1% of loratadine is excreted unchanged in the urine within 24 hours after taking the drug.
The bioavailability of loratadine and desloratadine is directly proportional to the oral dose of Claritin. Their pharmacokinetic profiles in adults and elderly volunteers in good health were found to be almost similar.
The half-life of loratadine is 3–20 hours (on average, 8.4 hours). This indicator for desloratadine is 8.8-92 hours (average 28 hours). In elderly patients, the half-life for the active substance Claritin and its metabolite is 6.7–37 hours (on average 18.2 hours) and 11–39 hours (on average 17.5 hours), respectively. This indicator increases with alcoholic liver damage (determined by the severity of the disease) and remains unchanged in patients with chronic renal failure.
The hemodialysis procedure, which is performed in patients with renal dysfunction, does not affect the pharmacokinetic parameters of loratadine and desloratadine.
Indications for use
- Elimination of symptoms associated with perennial and seasonal allergic rhinoconjunctivitis (itching of the nasal mucosa, sneezing, rhinorrhea, lacrimation, itching and burning sensation in the eyes);
- Skin diseases of allergic origin;
- Chronic idiopathic urticaria.
Contraindications
- Breastfeeding period;
- Hypersensitivity to drug components.
In addition, the use of Claritin is contraindicated:
- Tablets: lactase deficiency or glucose-galactose malabsorption, galactose tolerance disorders; age up to 3 years;
- Syrup: deficiency of sucrase or isomaltase, fructose intolerance, glucose-galactose malabsorption; age up to 2 years.
It is recommended to prescribe the drug with caution to patients during pregnancy and in severe liver dysfunction.
Instructions for the use of Claritin: method and dosage
Claritin syrup and tablets are taken orally 1 time per day at any convenient time, regardless of the meal.
The recommended dosage has age restrictions and depends on the patient's weight:
- Patients over 12 years old: 10 mg each (1 tablet or 10 ml of syrup);
- Children from 2 to 12 years old: with a weight of up to 30 kg - 5 mg each (1/2 tablet or 5 ml of syrup), with a weight of 30 kg and above - 10 mg.
Claritin syrup is recommended for children from 2 to 3 years old.
For patients (adults and children) with severe liver dysfunction, the drug is prescribed every other day in usual doses.
In chronic renal failure and in elderly patients, dose adjustment of Claritin is not required.
Side effects
According to the instructions, Claritin can cause side effects:
- From the nervous system: nervousness (in children), drowsiness, headache, insomnia; very rarely - fatigue, dizziness;
- From the side of the cardiovascular system: very rarely - tachycardia, palpitations;
- From the digestive system: increased appetite (in adults); very rarely - gastrointestinal disorders (nausea, gastritis), dry mouth, abnormal liver function;
- From the side of the skin: very rarely - alopecia;
- Allergic reactions: very rarely - anaphylaxis, rash.
Overdose
An overdose of Claritin can be suspected by symptoms such as headache, tachycardia, drowsiness. In this case, you should immediately consult a doctor. Supportive and symptomatic therapy is usually prescribed as treatment. Gastric lavage and intake of adsorbents are allowed (activated carbon is mixed with water in crushed form).
Loratadine is not excreted by hemodialysis. After providing emergency care, it is necessary to monitor the patient's condition.
special instructions
Antihistamines can distort the results of skin tests, therefore, it is recommended to stop taking Claritin 48 hours before the diagnostic tests of the skin.
Since in some patients, the effect of the drug can cause a state of drowsiness, it is recommended to be careful when driving vehicles and mechanisms during the period of therapy.
Application during pregnancy and lactation
The safety of taking loratadine during pregnancy has not yet been precisely confirmed. Therefore, the use of Claritin is possible only if the likely benefits of treatment for the mother outweighs the potential risks to the fetus.
Loratadine and desloratadine pass into breast milk, therefore, when prescribing a drug during lactation, it is necessary to stop breastfeeding.
With impaired renal function
For patients with renal insufficiency, the starting dose should be 10 mg [1 Claritin tablet or 10 ml (2 teaspoons) of syrup] every other day.
For violations of liver function
In patients with hepatic impairment, the initial dose of the drug should not exceed 10 mg [1 tablet or 10 ml (2 teaspoons) of syrup] every other day.
Drug interactions
With simultaneous use, the effect of Claritin does not increase the effect of alcohol on the nervous system.
When Claritin is combined with erythromycin, ketoconazole or cimetidine, there is a slight increase in the blood plasma concentration of loratadine, but it has no clinical consequences, including also electrocardiographic data.
Analogs
Claritin's analogues are: Loratadin, Loratadin-Akrikhin, Lorahexal, Lomilan, Klarotadin, Claridol, Lotaren, Clarisens, Clarifer, Clarfast, Clarifarm, Klallergin, Klargotil, Alerpriv, Erolin, Erius.
Terms and conditions of storage
Store at temperatures up to 25 ° C. Keep out of the reach of children.
Shelf life: tablets - 4 years, syrup - 3 years.
Terms of dispensing from pharmacies
Available without a prescription.
Reviews about Claritin
On the Internet, there are often reviews of Claritin both in the form of tablets and in the form of syrup, but they are rather contradictory. Many patients report that treatment with the drug has been quite effective. However, some patients had to interrupt the course of treatment, because their allergy symptoms remained the same pronounced. Allergists explain this by the difference in the causes and manifestations of allergic diseases in different people. Claritin as a monotherapy can not always cope with these conditions.
It is noted that, despite the great popularity of Claritin, both the tablets and the syrup are not characterized by such a wide spectrum of action as to instantly eliminate all allergy symptoms. Some patients report the development of adverse reactions, for example, skin rashes, headaches, drowsiness. If they occur, you should immediately contact a specialist. It is strictly contraindicated to take Claritin on your own, without consulting a doctor, since self-medication can provoke an exacerbation of symptoms.
Price for Claritin in pharmacies
Basically, the price of Claritin in tablets ranges from 186 to 233 rubles (for a package containing 10 pieces) or from 503 to 623 rubles (for a package containing 30 pieces). You can order the drug in the form of a syrup for 220-268 rubles (for a 60 ml bottle).
Claritin: prices in online pharmacies
Drug name Price Pharmacy |
Claritin 1 mg / ml syrup 60 ml 1 pc. 144 RUB Buy |
Claritin 10 mg tablets 10 pcs. RUB 180 Buy |
Claritin tablets 10mg 10 pcs. 227 r Buy |
Claritin syrup 5mg / 5ml 60ml 259 r Buy |
Claritin 10 mg tablets 30 pcs. 406 r Buy |
Claritin tablets 10mg 30 pcs. 435 r Buy |
Anna Kozlova Medical journalist About the author
Education: Rostov State Medical University, specialty "General Medicine".
Information about the drug is generalized, provided for informational purposes only and does not replace the official instructions. Self-medication is hazardous to health!