Desloratadine 5mg

What is Desloratadine?

Desloratadine is a prescription-only medicine (POM) used to treat the symptoms of allergic rhinitis, which is a condition caused by an allergy such as hay fever or dust mites. This causes inflammation of the nasal passages.

Desloratadine is a non-drowsy antihistamine medicine that effectively relieves the symptoms of allergic rhinitis by blocking your histamine receptors. It is suitable for adults and children over the age of 12 years old.

To buy Desloratadine, it must be prescribed by a doctor. 

What is Desloratadine used to treat?

Desloratadine is a fast-acting antihistamine medicine that works to relieve unpleasant symptoms caused by allergic rhinitis and other allergic conditions. 

Some of the main symptoms of allergic rhinitis include:

• Itchy or watery eyes
• Sneezing
• Skin rash
• Blocked or runny nose

These tablets can also be prescribed to relieve the symptoms of urticaria, which is a skin condition caused by an allergy. The symptoms of this problem include hives and itching.

Why is Desloratadine recommended for allergic rhinitis?

Desloratadine has been tested and found to be well tolerated and effective at treating allergic rhinitis. It has been shown to effectively treat nasal congestion and improve quality of life in sufferers.

Furthermore, Desloratadine is a non-drowsy antihistamine, meaning it is unlikely to make you feel tired.

How does Desloratadine work?

Desloratadine works to block the release of a naturally occurring chemical in the body called histamine.

Your body will normally release histamine when it detects something harmful like an infection. In most cases, histamine is a beneficial substance to the body; it makes the blood vessels expand and causes the skin to swell, which helps your body to fight off harmful infections and illnesses.

However, if you are allergic to substances like pollen or animal fur, your body mistakes these substances for a threat and creates histamine. This causes an allergic reaction and brings on allergy symptoms. By blocking the release of histamine, these symptoms are avoided or reduced.

Who can take Desloratadine?

Desloratadine is not suitable for everyone to use.

Do not take these tablets if you are allergic to desloratadine or any of the other ingredients contained in this medicine (please refer to the Ingredients tab for full information).

Speak to your doctor or pharmacist before taking Desloratadine if any of the below apply to you:

• You have a medical or family history of seizures (fits)
• You have a poor kidney function
• You are pregnant or breastfeeding

This medicine should not be taken by anyone who has not been prescribed it. This medication is not suitable for children under the age of 12 years old.

This information is not exhaustive. Always read the patient information leaflet, which will come with your medicine, for full details on precautions.

Can you buy Desloratadine over the counter?

No, Desloratadine 5mg is not available to buy over the counter. You must be prescribed this medicine by a doctor.

Can you buy Desloratadine online in the UK?

Yes, you can buy Desloratadine from Medicine Direct’s online pharmacy. This is a prescription-only medicine (POM), so you will first need to complete an online consultation. You can do this by filling out our online questionnaire for a registered doctor or pharmacist to review. This is to make sure that Desloratadine is an appropriate medicine for you and your specific condition.

Order by 2pm and you will receive your medicine the next day.

For your own safety, you should never order any type of medication online unless it is from a fully regulated UK pharmacy, like Medicine Direct.

Desloratadine alternatives

Unfortunately, you cannot cure allergies like allergic rhinitis. However, with the right medication you can control your symptoms and lead a full and active life, unhindered by your condition. 

At Medicine Direct, we have several effective antihistamine medicines for sale. Other antihistamines we stock include Loratadine, Levocetirizine and Cetirizine, which is also available as a liquid solution. These medicines will work in the same way as Desloratadine to provide comprehensive relief from your symptoms.

Corticosteroid nasal sprays like Flixonase and Rhinolast can also be ordered. Corticosteroids work by reducing inflammation in the nose, which helps to stop excessive mucus production. By doing this, the other symptoms of allergic rhinitis will also be relieved.

Desloratidine indications and dose

Our pharmacists and prescribers follow NICE guidelines when prescribing Desloratadine tablets.

Adults and children over 12 years old

The recommended dose is one tablet once a day, which can be taken with or without food.

This medicine is for oral use only.

How to take Desloratadine

Swallow Desloratadine tablets whole with a drink of water. Do not crush or chew them.

Take one 5mg tablet at around the same time each day. For the most effective defence against your allergies, take Desloratadine every day.

If you miss a dose, do not take a double dose to make up for it.

Desloratidine side effects

Like all medicines, Desloratadine comes with the risk of certain side effects, although these will not bother everyone who takes it.

Common adverse effects may include:

• Dry mouth
• Fatigue
• Headache

The following side effects may occur in an unknown frequency:

• Weight gain
• Increased appetite
• Yellowing of the skin or eyes
• Increased skin sensitivity to the sun
• Abnormal behaviour
• Aggression
• Changes in your heartbeat
• Unusual weakness

Speak to your doctor if any of these side effects bother you or do not go away. 

Serious Side Effects

Children may suffer from the following side effects:

• Slow heartbeat
• Aggression
• Abnormal behaviour
• Changes in how the heart beats

Rare side effects can include:

• Fast heartbeat
• Stomach aches
• Seizures
• Hallucinations
• Sleeping problems
• Dizziness
• Diarrhoea
• Drowsiness
• Vomiting
• Feeling sick or being sick
• Muscle pain
• Upset stomach
• Abnormal liver function test results
• Inflammation of the liver
• Feeling restless with increased body movement
• Rash

Seek medical attention if any of the above side effects bother you.

Always read the patient information leaflet for comprehensive details on side effects. If you have any concerns, please discuss these with your doctor.

Warnings and Drug Interactions

Before taking Desloratadine, inform your doctor or pharmacist if you are currently taking any other medication. This includes prescribed and non-prescribed medication, vitamins, herbal remedies or supplements. There are some known interactions of Desloratadine with other medication.

Desloratadine is a non-drowsy antihistamine. However, in rare cases it can cause drowsiness. If this does happen, you are advised to not drive, operate machinery or cycle until this effect has worn off.

Do not give this medicine as a treatment for hay fever or any other condition to children un 12 years old.

Always read the patient information leaflet thoroughly before you start taking Desloratadine. If you have any questions or concerns, we strongly advise you to discuss these with your doctor.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

Desloratidine use in pregnancy is not known to cause any major birth defects when compared to other antihistamines that are commonly used during pregnancy such as Loratadine.

Speak to your doctor or pharmacist for guidance before using this medicine if you are currently pregnant, think you might be pregnant, are trying to get pregnant, or are breastfeeding.

Desloratadine Ingredients

The main active ingredient within this medicine is: Desloratadine.

For a full list of the inactive ingredients, please read the Summary of Product Characteristics.