Claritin (Loratadine) Dosing for an 11-Year-Old
For an 11-year-old child, the recommended dose of loratadine (Claritin) is 10 mg once daily.
Standard Pediatric Dosing
- Children aged 6 years and older weighing more than 30 kg should receive 10 mg once daily 1
- The typical 11-year-old falls into this weight category and should receive the standard adult dose of 10 mg daily 1
Weight-Based Considerations
If the child weighs less than 30 kg (which would be unusual for an 11-year-old):
- The dose should be 5 mg once daily 1
- This can be administered as loratadine syrup for easier dosing 1
Formulation Options
- Tablets: 10 mg tablets are the standard formulation for children this age 2, 3
- Syrup: 5 mg/5 mL syrup is available if the child has difficulty swallowing tablets 1
Key Pharmacologic Features
- Onset of action: Within 1 hour of administration 2
- Duration: At least 24 hours, supporting once-daily dosing 2
- Peak plasma concentration: Reached in 1-2 hours 2
- Timing: Can be taken at any time of day, but consistent daily timing is recommended 3
Safety Profile
- Sedation risk: Minimal compared to older antihistamines; similar to placebo 3, 4, 5
- Common side effects: Somnolence, fatigue, and headache occur at rates similar to placebo at the 10 mg dose 4
- No cardiac concerns: Unlike some second-generation antihistamines, serious ventricular arrhythmias have not been observed with loratadine 4
- Excellent tolerability: No adverse reactions were recorded in pediatric studies using this dosing 1
Clinical Pitfalls to Avoid
- Do not exceed 10 mg daily in children, as higher doses do not improve efficacy but may increase side effects 3, 4
- Do not use weight-based dosing of 5 mg/kg as seen with some other medications—loratadine uses fixed dosing based on age and weight thresholds 1
- Tachyphylaxis has not been reported with loratadine, so dose escalation is not necessary with chronic use 2