Claritin

Loratadine

Clinical data
Trade names	Claritin, Claratyne, others
AHFS/Drugs.com	Monograph
MedlinePlus	a697038
Pregnancy category	AU: B1 US: B (No risk in non-human studies)
Routes of administration	by mouth
ATC code	R06AX13 (WHO)
Legal status
Legal status	CA: OTC UK: General sales list (GSL, OTC) US: OTC
Pharmacokinetic data
Bioavailability	almost 100%
Protein binding	97–99%
Metabolism	liver (CYP2D6- and 3A4-mediated)
Biological half-life	8 hours, active metabolite desloratadine 27 hours
Excretion	40% as conjugated metabolites into urine Similar amount into the feces
Identifiers
IUPAC name Ethyl 4-(8-chloro-5,6-dihydro-11H-benzo[5,6]cyclohepta[1,2-b]pyridin-11-ylidene)-1-piperidinecarboxylate
CAS Number	79794-75-5 Y
PubChem CID	3957
IUPHAR/BPS	7216
DrugBank	DB00455 N
ChemSpider	3820 Y
UNII	7AJO3BO7QN
KEGG	D00364 Y
ChEMBL	CHEMBL998 Y
ECHA InfoCard	100.120.122
Chemical and physical data
Formula	C22H23ClN2O2
Molar mass	382.88 g/mol
3D model (Jmol)	Interactive image
SMILES O=C(OCC)N4CC/C(=C2/c1ccc(Cl)cc1CCc3cccnc23)CC4
InChI InChI=1S/C22H23ClN2O2/c1-2-27-22(26)25-12-9-15(10-13-25)20-19-8-7-18(23)14-17(19)6-5-16-4-3-11-24-21(16)20/h3-4,7-8,11,14H,2,5-6,9-10,12-13H2,1H3 Y Key:JCCNYMKQOSZNPW-UHFFFAOYSA-N Y
NY (what is this?)

Loratadine, sold under the brand name Claritin among others, is a medication used to treat allergies. This includes allergic rhinitis (hay fever) and hives. It is also available in combination with pseudoephedrine, a decongestant, known as loratadine/pseudoephedrine. It is taken by mouth.

Common side effects include sleepiness, dry mouth, and headache. Serious side effects are rare and include allergic reactions, seizures, and liver problems. Use during pregnancy appears to be safe but has not been well studied. It is not recommended in children less than two years old. It is in the second-generation antihistamine family of medication.

Loratadine was discovered in 1981 and came to market in 1993. It is on the World Health Organization's List of Essential Medicines, the most effective and safe medicines needed in a health system. Loratadine is available as a generic medication. The wholesale cost in the developing world is about 0.01 to 0.08 USD per dose. In the United States it is available over the counter.

Loratadine is indicated for the symptomatic relief of allergy such as hay fever (allergic rhinitis), urticaria (hives), chronic idiopathic urticaria, and other skin allergies. For allergic rhinitis (hay fever), loratadine is effective for both nasal and eye symptoms: sneezing, runny nose, itchy or burning eyes.