Allegra and Claritin Dosing for an 85-Pound Child
Both Allegra (fexofenadine) and Claritin (loratadine) are safe and effective for an 85-pound child (approximately 38.6 kg), with Allegra dosed at 30 mg twice daily and Claritin at 10 mg once daily.
Allegra (Fexofenadine) Dosing
For children aged 6-11 years weighing 85 pounds, the recommended dose is 30 mg twice daily 1, 2. This dosing has been extensively studied and proven both safe and effective in this age group 2.
Key Safety and Efficacy Data:
- Fexofenadine 30 mg twice daily demonstrated statistically significant improvement in all seasonal allergic rhinitis symptoms including sneezing, rhinorrhea, itchy nose/mouth/throat/ears, itchy/watery/red eyes, and even nasal congestion 2
- The adverse event profile in children aged 6-11 years was similar to placebo, with headache being the most common side effect (7.2% vs 6.6% placebo) 1
- No cardiac effects or sedation occur even at doses up to 240 mg/day, as fexofenadine does not cross the blood-brain barrier and does not affect cardiac potassium channels 3
Administration Details:
- Give one 30 mg tablet in the morning and one in the evening 1
- Can be taken with or without food 1
- Onset of symptom relief occurs within 2 hours 3
Claritin (Loratadine) Dosing
For children weighing 85 pounds (over 30 kg), the standard adult dose of 10 mg once daily is appropriate 4, 5.
Key Safety and Efficacy Data:
- Loratadine 10 mg once daily is well-established as safe and effective for seasonal allergic rhinitis in children over 30 kg 4
- The once-daily dosing improves compliance compared to twice-daily regimens 6
- Adverse events are comparable to placebo 4
Administration Details:
Comparative Effectiveness
If choosing between the two medications, consider that fexofenadine may provide slightly superior symptom relief based on head-to-head comparison data showing greater reduction in total symptom scores with loratadine initially, but fexofenadine demonstrated better response in patients who failed initial loratadine therapy 4. However, both are considered first-line, equally appropriate options 3.
Common Pitfalls to Avoid
- Do not underdose: An 85-pound child requires the full pediatric dose (30 mg twice daily for fexofenadine, 10 mg once daily for loratadine), not a reduced dose 1, 2
- Do not combine with other sedating antihistamines as this provides no additional benefit and increases side effect risk 3
- If nasal congestion is the predominant symptom, consider that neither medication provides robust decongestant effects alone; fexofenadine combined with pseudoephedrine may be more effective in this scenario 5
- Avoid switching medications too quickly: Allow at least 2 weeks of consistent use before determining treatment failure, as some patients respond better to one antihistamine over another 4