Claritin is a drug that eliminates allergy symptoms during attacks. The drug can also be used as a prophylactic agent to prevent relapses of chronic diseases, in the pathogenesis of which allergic inflammation plays a leading role (for example, bronchial asthma). Claritin is classified as a selective histamine receptor blocker (antihistamine), which acts only on the cellular structures involved in the allergic reaction, but does not affect other organs. It is thanks to the selectivity of action on histamine receptors that the drug effectively relieves allergy symptoms and does not cause drowsiness or dry mucous membranes.
Claritin - what is it?
Claritin is an antiallergic drug, a blocker of histamine H1 receptors. Has three effects:
- antiallergic (can be used to treat allergies);
- antipruritic;
- antihistamine (saves during an acute allergic attack).
In humans (child, adult), allergies are caused by the substance histamine. It is “activated” when an allergen, for example, plant pollen, enters the body.
It is histamine that causes symptoms such as redness of the skin, inflammation, swelling of the mucous membrane, runny nose, and severe itching. Claritin tablets (the loratadine they contain) block histamine.
New symptoms do not appear, and those that are already disturbing quickly pass. The drug begins to act within half an hour. The achieved effect lasts throughout the day.
Important! The main advantage of Claritin tablets is the fact that they do not have a negative effect on the central nervous system, which means that after taking the medicine you will not feel sleepy.
| Latin name | Claritin |
| ATX code | R06AX13 |
| Active substance | Loratadine |
| Manufacturer | Schering-Plough Labo NV (Belgium) |
| Price | 191 rub. |
Claritin - first aid for allergies
Claritin tablets and syrup are the result of many years of work by American scientists at Schering Plow. They presented their development to the world more than 20 years ago, and during this period of time the drug received extremely high reviews from both patients and doctors. Of course, it has analogues, the price of some of them is lower, but alternative drugs do not always fully compensate for the patient’s needs.
The action of the drug is based on the ability to block histamine receptors. When coming into contact with an allergen, the cells of the human body try to reject the detected foreign body and produce a special biogenic substance for this - histamine. And Claritin and analogues with the same active ingredient act as antihistamines - H1 receptor blockers. Earlier versions of antiallergy drugs also neutralized H1 receptors, but simultaneously affected other nerve endings, causing drowsiness, lethargy, and sometimes complete disability. To relieve allergic symptoms, they had to be taken several times a day.
Active scientific research has contributed to the emergence of a new generation of antihistamines, which include Claritin. They have a number of advantages:
- for sustainable relief of the condition, tablets or syrup are enough to be taken once a day;
- modern drugs are not able to overcome hematoencephalic protection, therefore they do not have a sedative effect unless the recommended dose is exceeded;
- when taking such antihistamines, other types of receptors are not affected;
- Claritin and its analogues begin to act in a matter of minutes, bringing long-awaited relief to a person and reliably neutralizing H1 receptors.
The effectiveness of Claritin is ensured by the active ingredient loratadine, which is another unique development by specialists from the American company Schering Plow. Analogues of the drug are also based on loratadine, but with different additional components. Reviews from allergists and patients who have used tablets or syrup indicate the positive effect of the drug in eliminating typical allergic symptoms: skin rashes and itching, swelling of the mucous membranes and extremities. It also has a membrane-stabilizing effect and prevents bronchospasm from developing.
The effect of the drug begins a maximum of 25-35 minutes after oral administration, the duration of the antihistamine effect is at least 24 hours.
Release form and packaging
Dosage forms of Claritin:
- Tablets: oval-shaped with a uniform structure of white or almost white color, on the side with a separating line the number “10” and the trademark “Cup and Flask” are printed, the other side is smooth (7, 10 or 15 pieces each 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, 1 bottle in a cardboard box, complete with a dosing spoon or a 5 ml graduated syringe).
Pharmacological properties
Claritin is characterized by antiallergic, antihistamine and antipruritic properties.
Pharmacodynamics
Loratadine is a tricyclic compound with a pronounced antihistamine effect and is a selective blocker of peripheral H1-histamine receptors. The antiallergic effect occurs soon after administration and lasts quite a long time. 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 (CNS). During its administration, no sedative or anticholinergic effects of clinical significance were detected, 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 associated with changes in vital signs, electrocardiography, laboratory data, or physical examination findings of clinical significance. Loratadine is not characterized by significant selectivity towards H2-histamine receptors.
Pharmacokinetics
Loratadine is well and rapidly absorbed into 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 taking Claritin with food, the time to reach the maximum concentration of loratadine and its metabolite increases by approximately 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 to patients with normal renal function. However, the half-lives of loratadine and desloratadine are identical to those in healthy patients.
Loratadine is highly bound to plasma proteins (97–99%), while its metabolite exhibits moderate binding (73–76%).
During metabolism, loratadine is converted to desloratadine using the cytochrome P450 3A4 system and, to a lesser extent, the cytochrome P450 2D6 system. Its excretion occurs through the kidneys (approximately 40% of the oral dose) and intestines (approximately 42% of the oral dose) for more than 10 days, mainly in the form of conjugated metabolites.
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 almost similar.
The half-life of loratadine is 3–20 hours (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 (average 18.2 hours) and 11-39 hours (average 17.5 hours), respectively.
The hemodialysis procedure, which is carried out in patients with renal dysfunction, does not affect the pharmacokinetic parameters of loratadine and desloratadine.
The drug is produced by the largest American pharmaceutical company. Claritin quickly and effectively fights the signs of allergies - sneezing, increased lacrimation, itching and swelling of the nasal mucosa, and skin rashes. However, it does not penetrate the blood-brain barrier and does not depress the central nervous system.
Long-term use of Claritin in children does not lead to changes in vital signs. The medicine begins to act within 30 minutes after administration. The maximum therapeutic effect is achieved after 8-12 hours and lasts for 24 hours. Detailed information about the release forms of Claritin prescribed to children is presented in the table.
| Sign | Release form of the drug | |
| Pills | Syrup | |
| Appearance | Pressed white or almost white powder. One side of the oval pill has a dividing strip, an imprint of the number "10" and the trademark in the form of a cup and flask. | A transparent solution without color or with a yellowish tint with a pleasant peach aroma and a sweetish taste. |
| Packing | Blister foil packaging of 7, 10 and 15 tablets. The drug is packaged in a rectangular cardboard box of 1, 2 or 3 blisters. | Glass bottles with volumes of 60 and 120 mg/ml with a screw-on plastic cap. The medicine is packaged in thick cardboard packaging. Each box is equipped with a plastic measuring spoon or a 5 ml plastic syringe. |
| Active substance | Loratadine (more details in the article: instructions for using Loratadine syrup for children) | |
| Additional components | Lactose monohydrate, corn starch, food emulsifier E572. | Food additives E1520 and E330, glycerin, preservative E211, sucrose, “Peach” flavoring. |
We suggest you read: How to treat pharyngitis in children - medications and folk remedies
Pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics
This antihistamine is a selective blocker of peripheral H1-histamine receptors, exhibiting a rapid and long-lasting antiallergic effect. Usually the drug works within 30 minutes. The antihistamine effect is observed after 8-12 hours and lasts for at least 24 hours. At the same time, the active substance of the drug does not penetrate the blood-brain barrier, does not affect the nervous system, does not exhibit anticholinergic and sedative effects and does not affect the development of psychomotor reactions. Treatment with Claritin does not prolong the QT interval on the ECG.
Once inside the body, the drug undergoes rapid absorption in the gastrointestinal tract. The maximum concentration of the component in the blood plasma is achieved within 1.5-2.5 hours. As a result of metabolism, the substance desloratadine is formed. The drug is excreted from the body in urine and bile in metabolites and unchanged within 6-92 hours. The rate at which the drug is eliminated from the body depends on the age, presence of diseases and other characteristics of the patient.
What does it consist of?
The tablets contain the active component loratadine. In addition to it, the tablets contain additional components:
- Lactose monohydrate.
- Vegetable starch.
- Magnesium stearate.
There are many more components in syrup. In addition to the main substance, there is lemon leaf in the form of monohydrate, flavoring, water, glycerol and propylene glycol. The taste of the syrup is sweet and pleasant. Instructions for use of Claritin syrup for children recommend this remedy as the main one in the treatment of allergies.
Indications for use: what does it help with?
The most important indication is allergic reactions. The medicine enhances the body's ability to resist allergies, increasing its protective properties.
List of indications for use of the drug:
- Redness, itching, burning in the eyes;
- Inflammation of the eyelids, conjunctivitis;
- The appearance of swelling;
- lacrimation;
- The occurrence of a runny nose;
- Itching and skin rash;
- Psoriasis;
- Dermatitis;
- Quincke's edema;
- Allergic reactions to insect bites;
- Inflammation of the mucous membranes of the respiratory organs;
- Food allergies.
This is a basic (not exhaustive) list of indications for the use of Claritin. In addition, the medicine is also used in the complex treatment of gastritis, tonsillitis, adenoids, and tracheitis resulting from allergies.
Claritin: instructions for use and dosage of tablets for adults
Claritin syrup and tablets are taken orally 1 time per day at any convenient time, regardless of meals.
The recommended dosage has age restrictions and depends on the patient’s weight:
- Patients over 12 years of age: 10 mg (1 tablet or 10 ml syrup);
- Children from 2 to 12 years old: weighing up to 30 kg - 5 mg (1/2 tablet or 5 ml of syrup), weighing 30 kg and above - 10 mg.
- Children aged 2 to 3 years are recommended to use Claritin in the form of syrup.
For patients (adults and children) with severe liver dysfunction, the drug is prescribed every other day in normal doses.
In chronic renal failure and in elderly patients, no dose adjustment of Claritin is required.
Rules for taking Claritin
Appearance of Claritin tablets
Adults and adolescents, starting from 12 years of age, take Claritin in the form of tablets at a dosage of 10 mg, once a day. A dose of 10 ml corresponds to one tablet or two measuring spoons of syrup. If a person suffers from liver pathology or kidney failure, then one should start taking Claritin at a dosage of 10 mg, once every two days - that is, one tablet or two tablespoons of syrup every other day. The use of Claritin 10 mg every other day for renal failure is indicated when the filtration coefficient (FC) is less than 30 ml/min, based on the Rehberg test. For this category of patients, you can change the dosage regimen of the drug and take half a tablet or one spoon of syrup every day, once a day.
Children aged 2 to 12 years should receive Claritin in an individual dosage, which depends on body weight. If the child's weight is less than 30 kg, then the dosage of Claritin is 5 mg (half a tablet) or 5 ml (1 spoon of syrup), once a day. In this case, it is better to use syrup, since the dosage of the drug will be more accurate than when breaking off half a tablet. If the child’s body weight exceeds 30 kg, then the dosage is 10 mg (1 tablet) or 10 ml (2 tablespoons of syrup) once a day.
If skin allergy testing is necessary, you should stop using Claritin at least 2 days before the procedure to avoid false negative results.
Drug interactions
The drug does not enhance the effect of alcohol (ethanol) on the central nervous system. The effectiveness of the drug is not affected by food intake.
When taking Claritin simultaneously with erythromycin, cimetidine or ketoconazole, an increase in the plasma concentration of loratadine was observed, but this increase was not clinically significant, incl. according to electrocardiogram data.
When used simultaneously, the effect of Claritin does not enhance the effect of alcohol on the nervous system.
When Claritin is combined with erythromycin, ketoconazole or cimetidine, a slight increase in the plasma concentration of loratadine occurs, but it has no clinical consequences, including electrocardiographic data.
