Desloratadine Oral Solution
This product contains sodium metabisulfite, a sulfite that may cause allergic-type reactions including anaphylactic symptoms and life-threatening or less severe asthmatic episodes in certain susceptible people. The overall prevalence of sulfite sensitivity in the general population is unknown and probably low. Sulfite sensitivity is seen more frequently in asthmatic than in nonasthmatic people.
Read the Patient Information that comes with desloratadine before you start taking it and each time you get a refill. There may be new information. This leaflet is a summary of the information for patients. Your doctor or pharmacist can give you additional information. This leaflet does not take the place of talking to your doctor about your medical condition or treatment.
What is Desloratadine?
Desloratadine is a prescription medicine that contains the medicine desloratadine (an antihistamine).
Desloratadine is used to help control the symptoms of:
- seasonal allergic rhinitis (sneezing, stuffy nose, runny nose and itching of the nose) in people 2 years of age and older.
- perennial allergic rhinitis (sneezing, stuffy nose, runny nose and itching of the nose) in people 6 months of age and older.
- chronic idiopathic urticaria (long-term itching) and to reduce the number and size of hives in people 6 months of age and older.
Desloratadine is not for children younger than 6 months of age.
Who should not take Desloratadine?
Do not take desloratadine if you:
- are allergic to desloratadine or any of the ingredients in Desloratadine Oral Solution. See the end of this leaflet for a complete list of ingredients.
- are allergic to loratadine (Alavert, Claritin).
Talk to your doctor before taking this medicine if you have any questions about whether or not to take this medicine.
What should I tell my doctor before taking Desloratadine?
Before you take desloratadine, tell your doctor if you:
- have liver or kidney problems.
- have any other medical conditions.
- are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if desloratadine will harm your unborn baby. Talk to your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.
- are breast-feeding or plan to breast-feed. Desloratadine can pass into your breast milk. Talk to your doctor about the best way to feed your baby if you take desloratadine.
Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take, including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins and herbal supplements. Desloratadine may affect the way other medicines work, and other medicines may affect how desloratadine works. Especially tell your doctor if you take:
- ketoconazole (Nizoral)
- erythromycin (Ery-tab, Eryc, PCE)
- azithromycin (Zithromax, Zmax)
- antihistamines
- fluoxetine (Prozac)
- cimetidine (Tagamet)
Know the medicines you take. Keep a list of your medicines and show it to your doctor and pharmacist when you get a new medicine.
How should I take Desloratadine?
- Take desloratadine exactly as your doctor tells you to take it.
- Do not change your dose of desloratadine or take more often than prescribed.
- Desloratadine can be taken with or without food.
- Take Desloratadine Oral Solution with a measuring dropper or oral syringe that can measure 2 mL or 2.5 mL. Ask your pharmacist for a dropper or syringe if you do not have one.
- If you take too much desloratadine, call your doctor or get medical attention right away.
What are the possible side effects of Desloratadine?
Desloratadine may cause serious side effects, including:
- Allergic reactions. Stop taking desloratadine and call your doctor right away or get emergency help if you have any of these symptoms:
- rash
- itching
- hives
- swelling of your lips, tongue, face, and throat
- shortness of breath or trouble breathing
The most common side effects of desloratadine in adults and children 12 years of age and older with allergic rhinitis include:
| • sore throat | • dry mouth | • muscle pain |
| • tiredness | • sleepiness | • menstrual pain |
Increased sleepiness or tiredness can happen if you take more desloratadine than your doctor prescribed to you.
Tell your doctor if you have any side effect that bothers you or that does not go away.
These are not all of the possible side effects of desloratadine. For more information, ask your doctor or pharmacist. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
How should I store Desloratadine?
- Store Desloratadine Oral Solution between 68°F to 77°F (20°C to 25°C). Protect Desloratadine Oral Solution from light.
- Keep Desloratadine Oral Solution and all medicines out of the reach of children.
General information about Desloratadine
Medicines are sometimes prescribed for purposes other than those listed in a patient information leaflet. Do not use desloratadine for a condition for which it was not prescribed. Do not give desloratadine to other people, even if they have the same condition you have. It may harm them.
This Patient Information leaflet summarizes the most important information about desloratadine. If you would like more information, talk with your doctor. You can ask your pharmacist or doctor for information about desloratadine that is written for health professionals.
What are the ingredients in Desloratadine Oral Solution?
Active ingredient: desloratadine
Inactive ingredients: bubble gum flavor, citric acid anhydrous, D&C Red No. 33, noncrystallizing sorbitol solution (70%), propylene glycol, purified water, sodium benzoate, sodium citrate dihydrate, sodium metabisulfite, and sucrose.
Trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
Mfd. by: Taro Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd., Haifa Bay, Israel 2624761
Dist. by: Taro Pharmaceuticals U.S.A., Inc.
Hawthorne, NY 10532
Issued: September 2014
00000-0914-0