Dosing and uses of Clarinex, Clarinex RediTabs (desloratadine)
Adult dosage forms and strengths
tablet
- 5mg
tablet, oral disintegrating
- 2.5mg
- 5mg
oral syrup
- 0.5mg/mL
Allergic Rhinitis & Urticaria
5 mg PO qDay
Chronic Idiopathic Urticaria
Indicated for relief of pruritus and hives associated with chronic iodiopathic urticaria
5 mg PO qDay
Dosage modifications
Renal impairment: 5 mg PO every other day
Hepatic impairment: Not studied
Pediatric dosage forms and strengths
tablet
- 5mg
tablet, oral disintegrating
- 2.5mg
- 5mg
oral syrup
- 0.5mg/mL
Perennial Allergic Rhinitis, Chronic Idiopathic Urticaria
<6 months: Safety and efficacy not established
6-12 months: 1 mg PO qDay
1-5 years: 1.25 mg PO qDay
6-12 years: 2.5 mg PO qDay
12 years or older: 5 mg PO qDay
Allergic Rhinitis & Urticaria
2-5 years: 1.25 mg PO qDay
6-12 years: 2.5 mg PO qDay
Dosage modifications
Use in renal or hepatic impairment not studied in children
Clarinex, Clarinex RediTabs (desloratadine) adverse (side) effects
Varies in incidence & severity with the individual drug; also individual patients vary in susceptibility
>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%)
Postmarketing Reports
Tachycardia, palpitation
Hypersensitivity reactions, rare (eg, rash, pruritus, urticaria, edema, dyspnea, and anaphylaxis)
Psychomotor hyperactivity, movement disorders (including dystonia, tics, and extrapyramidal symptoms), seizures
Elevated liver enzymes including bilirubin, hepatitis (rare)
Warnings
Contraindications
Documented hypersensitivity to desloratidine or loratidine
Preemies & neonates
Nursing women
Cautions
Caution in narrow angle glaucoma, slow metabolizers, prostatic hypertrophy, stenosing peptic ulcer, pyloroduodenal obstruction, or bladder neck obstruction
Use with caution in hepatic/renal impairment
Pregnancy and lactation
Pregnancy category: C
Lactation: excretion in milk unknown/not recommended
Pregnancy categories
A: Generally acceptable. Controlled studies in pregnant women show no evidence of fetal risk.
B: May be acceptable. Either animal studies show no risk but human studies not available or animal studies showed minor risks and human studies done and showed no risk.
C: Use with caution if benefits outweigh risks. Animal studies show risk and human studies not available or neither animal nor human studies done.
D: Use in LIFE-THREATENING emergencies when no safer drug available. Positive evidence of human fetal risk.
X: Do not use in pregnancy. Risks involved outweigh potential benefits. Safer alternatives exist.
NA: Information not available.
Pharmacology of Clarinex, Clarinex RediTabs (desloratadine)
Mechanism of action
Long-acting antihistamine (H1 receptor antagonist)
Pharmacokinetics
Half-Life: 27 hr
Onset: 1 hr
Duration: 24 hr
Peak Plasma Time: 3 hr
Protein Bound: 82-87%
Metabolism: Liver
Metabolites: 3-hydroxydesloratadine
Excretion: Urine 50%, feces 50%
