From the Guidelines
I strongly advise you to consult your healthcare provider before stopping loratadine, as abruptly stopping medications can lead to a return of symptoms. Loratadine (brand names include Claritin) is a non-sedating antihistamine commonly used to treat allergy symptoms. While tremors are not among the common side effects of loratadine, any medication can cause unexpected reactions in some individuals. The typical recommended dose is 10 mg once daily, not twice daily (BID) as you mentioned, according to the study 1. Taking more than the recommended dose might increase the risk of side effects. Common side effects of loratadine include headache, drowsiness, and dry mouth. If you've experienced tremors that you believe are related to the medication, it's essential to consult with your healthcare provider who can evaluate whether the tremors are indeed caused by loratadine, suggest an alternative antihistamine, or adjust your dosing. Your provider might recommend trying a different antihistamine such as cetirizine (Zyrtec) or fexofenadine (Allegra) if loratadine isn't well tolerated, as mentioned in the study 1. Some key points to consider:
- Second-generation antihistamines, such as loratadine, are generally preferred over first-generation antihistamines due to their lower risk of adverse effects, as stated in the study 1.
- Fexofenadine, loratadine, and desloratadine do not cause sedation at recommended doses, but loratadine and desloratadine may cause sedation at doses exceeding the recommended dose, according to the study 1.
- Among the newer, nonsedating antihistamines, no single agent has been conclusively found to achieve superior overall response rates, as mentioned in the study 1. It's crucial to discuss your concerns and any side effects with your healthcare provider to determine the best course of action for your specific situation, considering the information from the studies 1.
From the Research
Loratadine Side Effects
- The patient has stopped taking loratadine 10 mg BID due to concerns about side effects, specifically tremors.
- According to the study 2, loratadine is well tolerated, and at dosages of 10 mg daily, commonly reported adverse events were somnolence, fatigue, and headache.
- The study 2 does not mention tremors as a common side effect of loratadine.
Comparison with Other Antihistamines
- The study 3 discusses the variations among non-sedating antihistamines, including loratadine, and mentions that while they are not entirely free from central effects, they have a narrower safety margin compared to sedating antihistamines.
- The study 4 compares the efficacy and tolerability of loratadine versus fexofenadine in the treatment of seasonal allergic rhinitis and finds that loratadine provides significantly better therapeutic response than fexofenadine in patients who failed to respond to initial therapy with the other drug.
- The study 5 compares the effect of loratadine with other antihistamines, including cetirizine, desloratadine, fexofenadine, and levocetirizine, on the histamine-induced skin reaction and skin blood flow, and finds that loratadine reduces the histamine-induced wheal, flare, and LDF index, but its effect is weaker compared to some other antihistamines.
- The study 6 compares the potency, onset, and duration of action of levocetirizine, fexofenadine, and desloratadine using the histamine wheal suppression test and finds that fexofenadine has the earliest onset of action, while levocetirizine shows maximum inhibition of wheal response after three and six hours.
Tremors as a Side Effect
- None of the studies provided directly address tremors as a side effect of loratadine.
- However, the study 2 mentions that loratadine is well tolerated, and its common side effects do not include tremors.
- It is possible that the patient may be experiencing a rare or unusual side effect, but this would require further investigation and consultation with a healthcare professional.