Claritin (Loratadine) Drug Information: Overdosage and Contraindications

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May 26, 2012

Claritin

Hay Fever »

What is hay fever? What are the symptoms and signs?

Hay fever is a misnomer. Hay is not a usual cause of this problem, and it does not cause fever. Early descriptions of sneezing, nasal congestion, and eye irritation while harvesting field hay promoted this popular term. Allergic rhinitis is the correct term used to describe this allergic reaction, and many different substances cause the allergic symptoms noted in hay fever. Rhinitis means "irritation of the nose" and is a derivative of rhino, meaning nose. Allergic rhinitis which occurs during a specific season is called "seasonal allergic rhinitis." When it occurs throughout the year, it is called "perennial allergic rhinitis." Rhinosinusitis is the medical term that refers to inflammation of the nasal lining as well as the lining tissues of the sinuses. This term is sometime used because the two conditions frequently occur together.

Symptoms of allergic rhinitis, or hay fever...

Read the Hay Fever article »

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OVERDOSE

In adults, somnolence, tachycardia, and headache have been reported with overdoses greater than 10 mg with the Tablet formulation (40 mg-180 mg). Extrapyramidal signs and palpitations have been reported in children with overdoses of greater than 10 mg of CLARITIN (loratadine) Syrup. In the event of overdosage, general symptomatic and supportive measures should be instituted promptly and maintained for as long as necessary.

Treatment of overdosage would reasonably consist of emesis (ipecac syrup), except in patients with impaired consciousness, followed by the administration of activated charcoal to absorb any remaining drug. If vomiting is unsuccessful, or contraindicated, gastric lavage should be performed with normal saline. Saline cathartics may also be of value for rapid dilution of bowel contents. Loratadine is not eliminated by hemodialysis. It is not known if loratadine is eliminated by peritoneal dialysis.

No deaths occurred at oral doses up to 5000 mg/kg in mice (approximately 1200 and 1400 times, respectively, the maximum recommended daily oral dose in adults and children on a mg/m²basis). No deaths occurred at oral doses up to 5000 mg/kg in matured rats (approximately 2400 and 2900 times, respectively, the maximum recommended daily oral dose in adults and children on a mg/m²basis). However, lethality occurred in juvenile rats at an oral dose of 125 mg/kg (approximately 100 and 70 times, respectively, the maximum recommended daily oral dose in adults and children on a mg/m²basis). No deaths occurred at oral doses up to 1280 mg/kg in monkeys (approximately 2100 and 1500 times, respectively, the maximum recommended daily oral dose in adults and children on a mg/m²basis).