Maximum Recommended Dose of Loratadine for Adults and Children Over 6 Years
The maximum recommended dose of loratadine for adults and children 6 years and older is 10 mg once daily. 1, 2
Dosing Guidelines by Age
- For adults and children 6 years and older: 10 mg once daily; do not exceed 10 mg in 24 hours 1, 2
- For children 2-5 years: 5 mg once daily; do not exceed 5 mg in 24 hours 1
- For patients with liver or kidney disease: Consult a doctor for appropriate dosing adjustments 2
Clinical Considerations
Efficacy and Safety Profile
- Loratadine is a second-generation H1-receptor antagonist with minimal sedative effects at recommended doses 1
- Unlike first-generation antihistamines, loratadine does not cause significant sedation or performance impairment when used at recommended doses 1
- Onset of action occurs within 1 hour and duration of effect lasts at least 24 hours, making once-daily dosing appropriate 3
Potential Side Effects
- Possible sedation may occur with higher than usual doses 1
- Other occasional side effects include mucosal dryness and urinary retention 1
- Loratadine has sedative properties when dosed at higher than recommended doses, which is why exceeding the maximum dose is not advised 1
Special Populations
- For patients with severe renal impairment: Use with caution 1
- For patients with hepatic impairment: Use with caution 1
- For elderly patients: Standard adult dosing (10 mg daily) is generally appropriate 1
Important Cautions
- Exceeding the recommended dose can increase the risk of sedation and other adverse effects 1
- A case report of a 6-year-old child who ingested 300 mg of loratadine (30 times the recommended dose) resulted in minor elevations in blood pressure and heart rate 4
- While it has become common practice in some clinical settings to increase antihistamine doses above manufacturer's recommendations for patients who do not respond to standard doses, this should be done with caution and only when potential benefits outweigh risks 1
Comparison with Other Antihistamines
- Loratadine, fexofenadine, and desloratadine do not cause sedation at recommended doses, unlike cetirizine and intranasal azelastine which may cause sedation even at recommended doses 1
- Loratadine has been shown to be effective for allergic rhinitis symptoms, comparable to other second-generation antihistamines 5
- For patients who require additional symptom relief, particularly for nasal congestion, combination therapy with pseudoephedrine may be considered rather than increasing the loratadine dose 6