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Loratadine is a second generation H1 antihistamine taken once daily for hay fever and hives; most of its effect comes from desloratadine, the metabolite it is converted into.
- Least sedating of the oral antihistamines
- Once daily cover for hay fever and hives
- Converts to long acting desloratadine in the body
- P-glycoprotein pumps it straight back out of the brain
- Daytime clarity for anyone who cannot be dulled
- Cheap, everywhere and available over the counter
Mechanism
CYP3A4 and CYP2D6 convert loratadine to desloratadine, a long acting peripheral H1 inverse , so the parent behaves largely as a . It is among the least sedating oral antihistamines at label dose partly because it is a P-glycoprotein substrate and is pumped back out of the brain.
Safetyrisks and cautions, not medical advice
Loratadine is a single molecule in the antihistamine class. A full adverse effect profile has not been compiled for this entry yet, so nothing here should be read as evidence that it is well tolerated; the absence is missing work rather than a finding. What is documented is what the compound is and what it is used for.
Subjective profileweighing the evidence above
Among the second generation antihistamines this is the least likely to cause drowsiness and the least likely to impress anyone with its strength, and being pumped back out of the brain by P-glycoprotein is why both are true. It behaves largely as a prodrug for desloratadine, so the effect builds rather than arrives and the CYP route matters more than the label suggests. For daytime hay fever in someone who cannot afford to be dulled it is the right trade; for stubborn urticaria it is usually the wrong one.
Where to buy
Suppliers
Vendors carrying Loratadine, with live product details and codes. Links are affiliate links that support the wiki at no cost to you.
RUPharma🌐
Loratadine