Specifically, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved loratadine oral tablet to treat the following symptoms of hay fever and other allergy symptoms in adults and some children:
- sneezing
- runny nose
- itchy nose or throat
- itchy, watery eyes
This article describes possible side effects of loratadine oral tablet. You can explore this overview article to learn more about loratadine, including the drug’s uses, ways to save on cost, and more.
Loratadine oral tablet is a generic version of the brand-name drug Claritin. Loratadine also comes in other solid and liquid forms that you take by mouth, but those forms aren’t described in this article. To learn more about those forms, talk with your doctor.
More common side effects of loratadine
Loratadine oral tablet may cause mild or serious side effects. Below are some of the more common side effects of this medication.
Commonly reported side effects of loratadine oral tablet include:
* To learn more about this side effect, see the “Side effects of loratadine in detail” section below.
Mild side effects of loratadine
Loratadine may cause certain mild side effects. Most often, mild side effects are temporary and can be easily managed. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have side effects that don’t go away or become bothersome.
Mild side effects of loratadine oral tablet include:
* To learn more about this side effect, see the “Side effects of loratadine in detail” section below.
Loratadine oral tablet may cause more mild side effects than those listed above. For details, see the drug facts for this medication.
Serious side effects of loratadine
Loratadine may rarely cause certain serious side effects. If you have any serious side effects from loratadine oral tablet, call your doctor right away. But if you think you’re having a medical emergency or your side effects feel life threatening, take immediate action. Call 911 or a local emergency number, or go to the nearest emergency room.
After the FDA approves a drug, it tracks and reviews side effects of the medication. Visit MedWatch’s website if you’d like to notify the FDA about a side effect you’ve had with loratadine.
Serious side effects of loratadine oral tablet include severe allergic reaction.*
* To learn more about this side effect, see the “Side effects of loratadine in detail” section below.
Download the free Optum Perks Discount Card to save up to 80% on some prescription medications.
Common questions about side effects of loratadine
Here are answers to some common questions about side effects of loratadine oral tablet. If you have other questions, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
Does loratadine cause long-term side effects?
Long-term side effects aren’t expected with loratadine oral tablet. In loratadine’s published drug facts, specific side effects weren’t noted in people who had taken the drug for a long time. Long lasting side effects after treatment ended also weren’t reported.
Talk with your doctor if you have more questions about possible long-term side effects with loratadine.
How do side effects of loratadine compare with those seen with other antihistamines?
Loratadine is a second-generation OTC antihistamine. Similar OTC antihistamines include:
These newer OTC antihistamines are less likely to cause drowsiness (sleepiness) than first-generation OTC antihistamines like diphenhydramine (Benadryl).
Some risk of drowsiness may still exist with newer antihistamines. But loratadine may cause less drowsiness than others. The product labeling for cetirizine oral tablet and levocetirizine oral tablet cautions that drowsiness may occur with these drugs. The labeling for loratadine oral tablet and fexofenadine oral tablet does not include this warning.
Each person may respond differently to a medication. If you have questions about how loratadine compares with other antihistamines, talk with your pharmacist or doctor. They can help you decide which antihistamine is best to treat your symptoms. They can also discuss any possible side effects with you.
Is loratadine safe for older adults?
Yes, in most cases. Loratadine oral tablet is approved for use in many older adults (people age 65 years and older).
But loratadine oral tablet may not be recommended for some older adults. For example, certain kidney problems are more likely in older adults. These problems can reduce how effectively drugs are cleared from your system. Ask a doctor before taking loratadine oral tablet if you have kidney problems or liver problems.
Loratadine and other second- and third-generation antihistamines are considered safer than some antihistamines for older adults.
Guidelines from the American Geriatrics Society recommend older adults should avoid first-generation antihistamines like diphenhydramine (Benadryl) because of the risk of confusion, constipation, and drowsiness among people age 65 years and older taking these drugs. Older adults may also be at a higher risk of falls with first-generation antihistamines.
If you’re an older adult, talk with your doctor or pharmacist before taking loratadine oral tablet. They can discuss whether loratadine is safe for you.
Side effects of loratadine in detail
Below you’ll find details on some of the side effects of loratadine oral tablet.
Drowsiness
Drowsiness (sleepiness) is one of the more common side effects reported in people taking loratadine oral tablet. This side effect is usually mild, but it could be serious if it affects your ability to drive or do other activities.
With drowsiness, you may feel tired or sleepy during the day. You may also have other symptoms, such as falling asleep when you don’t mean to.
Certain factors can raise the risk of drowsiness with loratadine oral tablet. These include taking other medications that can cause drowsiness or having certain medical conditions. And drowsiness may be more likely to occur if you take more of the drug than is recommended on the labeling.
Ways to manage
If you experience symptoms of drowsiness, tell your doctor or pharmacist. They’ll likely ask you some questions, such as how you’re taking loratadine oral tablet or other medications. They may be able to suggest ways to manage this side effect, such as taking the drug at bedtime. Or they may discuss whether other medications may be a better choice to treat your symptoms.
Dry mouth
A possible side effect of loratadine oral tablet is dry mouth. Loratadine is an antihistamine, and dry mouth is a possible side effect with most antihistamines. This side effect is usually mild.
A dry mouth occurs when there isn’t enough saliva to keep your mouth wet. This can be uncomfortable or make you feel parched. Over time, dry mouth can lead to other problems, such as trouble swallowing or tooth decay.
Certain factors can increase the risk of dry mouth with loratadine oral tablet. These include taking other medications that can cause dry mouth, not drinking enough water, and having certain medical conditions.
Ways to manage
If you experience symptoms of dry mouth, tell your doctor. They can evaluate whether loratadine oral tablet or other factors may be leading to your dry mouth. They can also discuss whether a different medication may be a better option to treat your allergy symptoms.
If you continue taking loratadine oral tablet, your doctor may recommend simple ways to manage dry mouth, such as:
- drinking more water
- limiting salty foods, caffeine, or alcohol (if applicable)
- avoiding tobacco (if applicable)
- chewing or sucking on sugar-free gums or candies
- trying an OTC rinse or other product to treat dry mouth
Talk with your doctor or pharmacist if you have questions about dry mouth with loratadine.
For some people, loratadine oral tablet can cause an allergic reaction.
Symptoms can be mild or serious and may include:
- itchiness
- skin rash
- swelling under the skin, usually affecting eyelids, lips, hands, or feet
- swelling of the mouth, tongue, or throat, which can make it hard to breathe
- flushing (temporary warmth, redness, or deepening of skin color)
Ways to manage
For mild allergic reaction symptoms, such as a mild rash, call your doctor right away. They may recommend treatments to help manage your symptoms. They’ll also let you know whether you should keep taking the medication.
For severe allergic reaction symptoms, such as swelling or trouble breathing, call 911 or your local emergency number right away. These symptoms require immediate medical care because they can become life threatening. If you’ve had a serious allergic reaction to loratadine oral tablet, your doctor may recommend taking a different medication instead.
Warnings for loratadine
Below are some factors you may want to discuss with your doctor before taking loratadine oral tablet.
Warnings
It may not be safe for you to take loratadine oral tablet if you have specific health conditions. These are sometimes called drug-condition interactions. Other things may also affect whether loratadine oral tablet is a safe treatment option for you.
Before taking loratadine oral tablet, tell your doctor about your health and medications you take. Things to consider include:
Loratadine and pregnancy
It’s not known whether loratadine oral tablet should be taken during pregnancy. If you’re planning a pregnancy or can become pregnant, talk with your doctor before taking this medication.
Loratadine and breastfeeding
It’s not known whether loratadine oral tablet should be taken while breastfeeding. If you’re currently breastfeeding or planning to do so, talk with your doctor before taking this medication.
Loratadine oral tablet is not known to interact with alcohol. But drowsiness is a possible side effect of loratadine oral tablet, especially if you take more than directed. And alcohol can cause drowsiness. So consuming alcohol along with loratadine oral tablet may make this side effect worse.
If you drink alcohol, talk with your doctor about whether it’s safe to consume it during your treatment with loratadine oral tablet.
What to ask your doctor
This article describes common and serious side effects of loratadine oral tablet. If your doctor prescribes this medication, they can discuss possible side effects with you. Let your doctor know if you have concerns or questions about treatment with this medication.
Here’s a list of some possible questions you may want to ask your doctor:
- Do I have a higher risk of side effects with loratadine oral tablet because of other medications I take?
- Are there other medications with a lower risk of side effects that can treat my allergies?
- How can my dosage of loratadine oral tablet affect the risk of side effects?
Disclaimer: Optum Perks has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.
