Pseudoephedrine/loratadine (trade names Claritin-D, Clarinase, Clarinase Repetabs, Lorinase, Rhinos SR, Allerclear-D) is an orally administered

combination drug A combination drug or a fixed-dose combination (FDC) is a medicine that includes two or more active ingredients combined in a single dosage form. Terms like "combination drug" or "combination drug product" can be common shorthand for a FDC prod ...

used for the treatment of

allergic rhinitis Allergic rhinitis, of which the seasonal type is called hay fever, is a type of inflammation in the nose that occurs when the immune system overreacts to allergens in the air. Signs and symptoms include a runny or stuffy nose, sneezing, red, ...

and the

common cold The common cold or the cold is a viral infectious disease of the upper respiratory tract that primarily affects the respiratory mucosa of the nose, throat, sinuses, and larynx. Signs and symptoms may appear fewer than two days after exposur ...

. This drug can be bought "over the counter" in some countries (United States, Hong Kong), but it is restricted to prescription in others (Czech Republic, Israel). * Pseudoephedrine, one of the naturally occurring alkaloids of ephedra, is a

sympathomimetic Sympathomimetic drugs (also known as adrenergic drugs and adrenergic amines) are stimulant compounds which mimic the effects of endogenous agonists of the sympathetic nervous system. Examples of sympathomimetic effects include increases in hea ...

used as a

decongestant A decongestant, or nasal decongestant, is a type of pharmaceutical drug that is used to relieve nasal congestion in the upper respiratory tract. The active ingredient in most decongestants is either pseudoephedrine or phenylephrine (the latter of ...

. It produces a decongestant effect that is facilitated by the

vasoconstriction Vasoconstriction is the narrowing of the blood vessels resulting from contraction of the muscular wall of the vessels, in particular the large arteries and small arterioles. The process is the opposite of vasodilation, the widening of blood vesse ...

in the mucosal capillaries of the upper respiratory areas. * Loratadine is a long-acting

antihistamine Antihistamines are drugs which treat allergic rhinitis, common cold, influenza, and other allergies. Typically, people take antihistamines as an inexpensive, generic (not patented) drug that can be bought without a prescription and provides r ...

(H₁ histamine antagonist) that is less

sedating Sedation is the reduction of irritability or agitation by administration of sedative drugs, generally to facilitate a medical procedure or diagnostic procedure. Examples of drugs which can be used for sedation include isoflurane, diethyl ether, ...

than older substances of its type.

Medical uses

Pseudoephedrine/loratadine are indicated for the relief of symptoms associated with allergic rhinitis and the common cold including nasal congestion,

sneezing A sneeze (also known as sternutation) is a semi-autonomous, convulsive expulsion of air from the lungs through the nose and mouth, usually caused by foreign particles irritating the nasal mucosa. A sneeze expels air forcibly from the mouth and ...

, rhinorrhea,

pruritus Itch (also known as pruritus) is a sensation that causes the desire or reflex to scratch. Itch has resisted many attempts to be classified as any one type of sensory experience. Itch has many similarities to pain, and while both are unpleasant ...

and

lacrimation Tears are a clear liquid secreted by the lacrimal glands (tear gland) found in the eyes of all land mammals. Tears are made up of water, electrolytes, proteins, lipids, and mucins that form layers on the surface of eyes. The different types of ...

Composition

Clarinase Repetabs

A Clarinase Repetab tablet contains 5 mg loratadine in the tablet coating and 120 mg pseudoephedrine sulfate equally distributed between the tablet coating and the barrier-coated core. The two active components in the coating are quickly liberated; release of pseudoephedrine in the core is delayed for several hours.

Interactions, adverse effects and contraindications

Interactions, adverse effects and contraindications are described in more detail in the articles about pseudoephedrine and loratadine.

Interactions

When sympathomimetics are given to patients receiving monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAO inhibitors), hypertensive reactions, including

hypertensive crises Severely elevated blood pressure (equal to or greater than a systolic 180 or diastolic of 120—sometimes termed malignant or accelerated hypertension) is referred to as a hypertensive crisis, as blood pressure at this level confers a high risk ...

may occur.

Adverse effects

During controlled clinical studies with the recommended dosage, the incidence of adverse effects was comparable to that of placebo, with the exception of insomnia and dry mouth, both of which were commonly reported.

Contraindications

Clarinase is contraindicated in patients receiving

MAO inhibitor Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) are a class of drugs that inhibit the activity of one or both monoamine oxidase enzymes: monoamine oxidase A (MAO-A) and monoamine oxidase B (MAO-B). They are best known as effective antidepressants, espec ...

therapy or within 14 days of discontinuing such treatment and in patients with narrow angle

glaucoma Glaucoma is a group of eye diseases that result in damage to the optic nerve (or retina) and cause vision loss. The most common type is open-angle (wide angle, chronic simple) glaucoma, in which the drainage angle for fluid within the eye rem ...

, urinary retention, severe hypertension, severe coronary artery disease and hyperthyroidism.

References

* Drugs.com
Claritin-D
* Israel Ministry of Health
Clarinase Repetabs
* {{DEFAULTSORT:Pseudoephedrine loratadine H1 receptor antagonists Decongestants Combination drugs