1 May 2026Oral drugsSource update: February 2024
Loratadine oral
Loratadine guidance for minor allergic reactions, with reduced-dose use in severe renal or hepatic impairment.
Prescription under medical supervision
This guide page is for structured reference only and does not replace a clinician, pharmacist, or emergency review. Dose choice, route choice, interactions, and safety decisions still need professional judgment.
Therapeutic action
H1 antihistamine.
Indications
Symptomatic treatment of minor allergic reactions such as urticaria and allergic conjunctivitis.
Forms and strengths
- 5 mg/5 ml oral solution.
- 10 mg tablet.
Dose
- Child over 2 years and under 30 kg: 5 mg (5 ml) once daily.
- Child over 30 kg and adult: 10 mg (1 tablet) once daily.
Duration
As short as possible (a few days).
Contra-indications, adverse effects, precautions
- Administer with caution and reduce the dose by giving every other day in patients with severe renal or hepatic impairment.
- May cause headache, dizziness, drowsiness, nervousness, insomnia, increased appetite, and rash.
- Monitor combination with CNS depressants and with erythromycin, fluconazole, fluoxetine, amiodarone, ritonavir, and cimetidine because loratadine concentrations may increase.
- Avoid alcohol during treatment.
- Pregnancy: avoid during the first trimester.
- Breast-feeding: no contra-indication.
Source
MSF Essential drugs practical guidelines (January 2026)
This page reproduces the structured reference information for this batch while leaving out the Storage and Remarks sections.
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