From the Guidelines
Loratadine is not typically associated with tremors as a side effect, and if experienced, it may indicate an unusual reaction to the medication. Loratadine is a second-generation antihistamine commonly used to treat allergy symptoms, and it generally has fewer central nervous system effects compared to older antihistamines 1. The most recent evidence suggests that loratadine, when used at recommended doses, does not cause sedative properties compared with placebo, and it is not typically associated with tremors 1. If you experience tremors while taking loratadine, you should contact your healthcare provider, as this could indicate an unusual reaction to the medication. More common side effects of loratadine include:
- Headache
- Drowsiness
- Fatigue
- Dry mouth The standard adult dose is 10 mg once daily, and it's typically taken for as long as allergy symptoms persist. Loratadine works by blocking histamine receptors, preventing histamine from causing allergy symptoms. Since it doesn't cross the blood-brain barrier as readily as first-generation antihistamines, it usually causes fewer neurological side effects, which is why tremor would be considered unusual and worth reporting to your doctor 1.
From the Research
Loratadine Side Effects
- Loratadine is a non-sedating antihistamine that penetrates the brain poorly, reducing the risk of central effects such as sedation and tremors 2.
- However, loratadine is not entirely free from central effects, and individual sensitivity, disease-induced sedation, or drug interactions may cause sedating effects 2.
- Studies have shown that loratadine is well-tolerated and effective in treating allergic rhinitis and chronic urticaria, with a lower incidence of sedation compared to other antihistamines 3, 4.
Tremor as a Side Effect
- One study compared the side effects of loratadine plus pseudoephedrine sulfate repetabs tablets with loratadine plus pseudoephedrine tablets in treating allergic rhinitis and found that the incidence of tremor was significantly higher in the loratadine plus pseudoephedrine tablet group (39% vs 10.7%, p-value = 0.03) 5.
- This suggests that loratadine may be associated with a lower risk of tremor compared to other antihistamine combinations 5.
- However, there is limited information available on the specific risk of tremor associated with loratadine, and more research is needed to fully understand this potential side effect 2, 6.