From the Research
For patients with impaired renal function, the recommended dosage of loratadine (Claritin) is 10 mg once daily, which is the same as for patients with normal renal function, as the disposition of loratadine is not significantly altered in patients with severe renal insufficiency 1. The medication can be taken with or without food, and is available as tablets, rapidly-disintegrating tablets, and oral solution. Some key points to consider when prescribing loratadine to patients with impaired renal function include:
- Loratadine is primarily metabolized in the liver, but some of its metabolites are eliminated through the kidneys.
- In severe renal impairment, these metabolites can accumulate, potentially leading to increased side effects.
- Common side effects include headache, drowsiness, and dry mouth, though loratadine is generally less sedating than older antihistamines.
- Patients should be advised that while the medication typically begins working within 1-3 hours, it may take a few days of regular use to achieve maximum symptom relief for allergic conditions. It's worth noting that the studies provided do not show a significant alteration in the disposition of loratadine in patients with severe renal insufficiency 1, and therefore, no dose adjustment is necessary. However, it's always important to monitor patients with impaired renal function for potential side effects and adjust the treatment plan as needed. The other studies provided 2, 3, 4, 5 are not directly relevant to the question of loratadine dosing in patients with impaired renal function, as they discuss other medications, such as cetirizine and enoxaparin.