Desloratadine

Indications

Desloratadine is used for: Itching, Sneezing, Watery eyes, Allergic conditions, Runny nose, Hives, Skin rash, Common cold

Adult Dose

Oral Allergic conditions Adult: 5 mg once daily. Hepatic Impairment: Initially, 5 mg every other day.

Child Dose

Oral Allergic conditions Child: 12 years or over : 5 mg once daily. Child 6-11 years : 2.5 mg once daily. Child 12 months-5 years : 1.25 mg (2.5 ml syrup) once daily. Child 6 months-11 months : 1 mg (2 ml syrup) once daily.

Renal Dose

Initially, 5 mg every other day.

Administration

May be taken with or without food.

Contra Indications

Hypersensitivity.

Precautions

Severe renal or hepatic failure; children <6 mth, elderly, epilepsy, pregnancy and lactation. Lactation: excretion in milk unknown/not recommended

Pregnancy-Lactation

Pregnancy The limited available data in pregnant women are not sufficient to inform a drug-associated risk for major birth defects and miscarriage; there are no adequate and well-controlled studies in pregnant women Reproductive potential There are no data available on human infertility associated with desloratadine Female: There were no clinically relevant effects of desloratadine on female fertility in rats Male: A male specific decrease in fertility occurred at an oral desloratadine dose of ?12 mg/kg in rats (approximately 65 times the RHD); male fertility was unaffected at a desloratadine dose of 3 mg/kg (approximately 10 times the RHD) Lactation Desloratadine and pseudoephedrine both pass into breast milk; there are no sufficient data on effects of desloratadine on breastfed infant or effects of desloratadine on milk production The decision should be made whether to discontinue nursing or to discontinue drug, taking into account developmental and health benefits of breastfeeding, the nursing mother’s clinical need, and any potential adverse effects on breastfed infant from therapy or from underlying maternal condition

Interactions

Potential increase in plasma concentrations w/ drugs affecting hepatic microsomal enzymes (e.g. azithromycin, cimetidine, erythromycin, fluoxetine, ketoconazole).

Side Effects

Side effects of Desloratadine : >10% Headache (14%), Fever (12%), Irritability (12%), Diarrhea (15%), Upper respiratory infection (11%), Cough (11%) 1-10% Dizziness (4%), Somnolence (2%), Dizziness (4%), Fatigue (2%), Erythema (2%), Macupopular rash (3%), Dysmenorrhea (2%), Urinary tract infection (4%), Bronchitis (6%), Epistaxis (3%)

Mode of Action

Desloratadine is a long-acting, tricyclic, non-sedating, selective peripheral histamine H1-receptor antagonist which inhibits the release of pro-inflammatory mediators from human mast cells and basophils.