Common questions about loratadine - Brand name: Clarityn

Loratadine is a type of medicine called an antihistamine.

When you come into contact with something you have an allergy  to, such as pollen, animal hair or fur, house dust or insect bites, your body produces a chemical called histamine.

Usually, histamine is a useful substance but in an allergic reaction it causes unpleasant symptoms including itchy, watery eyes, running or blocked nose, sneezing and skin rashes.

Loratadine blocks the effects of histamine and so reduces these symptoms.

Loratadine is a non-drowsy antihistamine, so it should not make you feel as sleepy as other medicines like it.

You should start to feel better within 1 to 3 hours of taking loratadine.

Loratadine is unlikely to do you any harm if you take it for a long time. However, it's best to take it only for as long as you need to.

Loratadine is known as a non-drowsy antihistamine. That’s because it's less likely to make you feel sleepy than other so-called sedating antihistamines such as Piriton (chlorphenamine).

Most people prefer to take a non-drowsy antihistamine. Sometimes, however, you may want a sedating medicine to make you sleepy – for example, if you have itchy skin that's keeping you awake.

Other non-drowsy antihistamines like cetirizine, desloratadine, fexofenadine and levocetirizine seem to work as well as loratadine.

However, loratadine, desloratadine and fexofenadine seem to be less likely to make you feel sleepy than cetirizine.

Sometimes, doctors recommend that people with a severe, itchy skin rash take 2 different antihistamines together for a few days.

As well as taking a non-drowsy antihistamine like loratadine during the day, your doctor may tell you to take a sedating antihistamine at night if the itching is making it difficult to sleep.

Do not take 2 antihistamines together unless recommended by your doctor.

Yes, it's fine to take loratadine alongside some other types of hay fever treatment. For example, you can use steroid nasal sprays (such as Beconase, Rhinacort Aqua and Flixonase Nasules), or eyedrops, if you’re taking loratadine.

Your doctor might suggest you or your child take a higher dose of loratadine (up to 4 times the usual dose) for severe itchy skin rash or swelling underneath the skin (angioedema).

Taking high doses of loratadine is not suitable for everyone though.

Speak to your doctor if you think loratadine is not working for you.

Loratadine will not affect any type of contraception, including the combined pill and emergency contraception.

Loratadine is classed as a non-drowsy antihistamine but it's still possible to feel sleepy after taking it.

If this happens to you, do not drive a car, ride a bike, or use tools or machinery until you do not feel tired anymore.

It's an offence to drive a car if your ability to drive safely is affected. It's your responsibility to decide if it's safe to drive. If you're in any doubt, do not drive.

Talk to your doctor or pharmacist if you're unsure whether it's safe for you to drive while taking loratadine. GOV.UK has more information on the law on drugs and driving.

It's best not to drink alcohol while you're taking loratadine, as it can make you feel sleepy.

You can eat and drink normally while taking loratadine.

If you have hay fever, it will help if you do not spend too much time outside if when the pollen count is high.

Tips for when you're outside

• Do not cut grass or walk on grass.
• Wear wraparound sunglasses to stop pollen getting into your eyes.
• Put Vaseline around your nostrils to help trap pollen.
• Shower and change your clothes after you've been outside to wash off pollen.

Tips for when you're inside

• Keep windows and doors shut as much as possible.
• Vacuum regularly and dust with a damp cloth.
• Do not keep fresh flowers in the house.
• Do not smoke or be around smoke as it makes hay fever symptoms worse.