Loratadine
“This page provides important general information for pet owners whose animals have been prescribed Loratadine for pets in Perth during a consultation by Dr Noor.”
Loratadine for pets
(lor-at-eh-deen)
Description:
This medicine is an antihistamine (a type of allergy medicine).
Other Names for this Medication:
- Claritin®
- Alavert®
Common Dosage Forms:
- Animal-specific versions:
- None.
- People versions:
- 5 mg tablets that melt in the mouth
- 5 mg chewable tablets
- 10 mg tablets that melt in the mouth
- 10 mg regular tablets
- 10 mg capsules
- a liquid taken by mouth that contains 5 mg in 5 mL (also written as 1 mg in 1 mL)
This information sheet does not include every piece of information that exists for this medicine. It is meant to answer common questions, but it does not replace medical advice. If you still have questions or need more details about this medicine, contact your veterinarian or pharmacist.
Key Information
- Only use products where loratadine is the only active ingredient. Some people products combine loratadine with other ingredients (for example, pain medicines or “decongestants” used for stuffy noses). Those added ingredients can be poisonous to animals.
- Antihistamines often work best in animals that benefit from them when they are given regularly and continuously. They may work better when started before the animal is around the thing that triggers allergies (such as pollens).
- You can give this medicine with food or without food. If your animal throws up or seems unwell after getting it on an empty stomach, try giving the next dose with food or a small treat. If throwing up keeps happening, contact your veterinarian.
- This medicine is less likely to cause sleepiness than some other allergy medicines, but drowsiness can still happen.
- This medicine is not used often in animals, so the full range of possible side effects is not well understood.
How is this medication useful?
Allergies can cause the body to release histamine, which can lead to itchy skin. Loratadine reduces the effects of histamine, which can lessen itching linked to allergies. It may also be used as an extra treatment for itching connected to certain cancers (for example, mast cell tumors). Like other antihistamines, how well it works can differ a lot from one animal to another and can be hard to predict. Because of this, your veterinarian may test more than one antihistamine to find the one that helps your animal most. Loratadine may also be used together with another antihistamine to increase the overall effect.
This medicine is approved for people, but it is not officially approved for animals. You and your veterinarian can talk about why this medicine is the best option.
What should I tell my veterinarian to see if this medication can be safely given?
Many factors can change how this medicine works in your animal. It is important to review the following with your veterinarian so you can make the best treatment choices together:
- Other medicines can affect loratadine. Tell your veterinarian and pharmacist about everything your animal receives, including medicines, vitamins, supplements, or herbal products. Also share how much you give and when you give each one.
- Tell your veterinarian about any health problems your animal has now or has had before.
- If your animal has been treated before for the same problem, tell your veterinarian what was used and whether it helped or did not help.
- If your animal is pregnant or nursing, discuss the possible risks of using this medicine.
- Tell your veterinarian and pharmacist about any side effects your animal has had from medicines in the past. Examples include allergic reactions, not wanting to eat, vomiting, diarrhea, itching, or hair loss.
How long until I will know if this medication is working, and how long will the effects of this medication last?
You should expect this medicine to start helping within 1 to 2 hours. After that, your animal’s signs should begin to improve. This medicine does not last long in the body, so it usually stops working within 24 hours. However, the helpful effects may last longer if your animal’s kidneys and/or liver are not working well.
When should this medication not be used or be used very carefully?
No medicine is completely safe for every patient. Your veterinarian will talk with you about any specific concerns for your animal.
This drug SHOULD NOT be used in patients with:
- A past allergic reaction to this medicine.
This drug should be used WITH CAUTION in:
- If your animal has any of the situations listed below, talk with your veterinarian about the possible risks compared with the possible benefits.
- Upcoming appointments for allergy testing. Antihistamines can change allergy test results. Ask your veterinarian when you should stop giving this medicine.
- Animals with glaucoma (an eye condition involving pressure in the eye), because this medicine may make it worse.
- Senior animals.
- Working dogs (such as guide dogs, search dogs, hunting dogs, sled dogs, or rescue dogs), because they may become sleepy and not be able to do their work while taking this medicine.
- Nursing mothers.
- Animals that have trouble urinating, an enlarged prostate, thyroid problems, or heart disease.
- Animals with a blockage in the stomach or intestines.
- Animals with serious kidney or liver problems.
What are the side effects of this medication?
Side effects are not common in dogs or cats, but sleepiness may occur. Contact your veterinarian if you see serious side effects or if any problem continues.
If my animal gets too much of this medication (an overdose), what should I do?
Most loratadine overdoses are not severe, but very large overdoses can be dangerous. If you think your animal received too much and you notice signs such as extreme sleepiness or other unusual effects, contact your veterinarian or an animal poison control center right away for guidance.
How should this medication be given?
- Give this medicine exactly the way your veterinarian instructed. It is also smart to read the prescription label each time so you confirm you are giving it correctly.
- This medicine can be given with food or without food. If your animal vomits or seems sick after getting it on an empty stomach, give the next dose with food or a small treat. If vomiting continues, contact your veterinarian.
- If you are using the liquid form, measure it accurately. Your veterinarian or pharmacist can provide special measuring spoons or syringes to help.
- If giving the medicine is difficult, contact your veterinarian or pharmacist for advice on how to dose it and how to make medication time less stressful.
- This medicine may be used for different lengths of time. Make sure you understand how long your veterinarian wants your animal to keep taking it. You may need prescription refills before treatment is finished. Do not stop this medicine without speaking with your veterinarian first, because there may be important reasons to keep using it.
What should I do if I miss giving a dose of this medication?
- If your schedule is twice daily, skip the missed dose and give the next dose at the usual time.
- If your schedule is once daily, give the dose as soon as you remember, and then give the next dose at the normal time the following day.
- Do not give two doses at once and do not give an extra dose.
How should I store this medication?
- Keep this medicine in its original child-resistant prescription container or in an approved dose reminder container (such as a pill organizer).
- Store it at room temperature.
- Do not allow liquid syrups to freeze.
- Store it where children and other animals cannot reach it.
Can handling this medication be hazardous to me, my family, or other animals?
No special handling steps are needed unless you are allergic to this medicine. Wash your hands after you handle any medicine.
How should I dispose of this medication if I don’t use it all?
- Do not put this medicine into the toilet or pour it into a sink drain.
- If your area has a community medicine “take-back” program, use that.
- If there is no take-back option:
- combine the medicine with used coffee grounds or cat litter so it is unattractive to children and animals and not recognizable to someone searching through trash.
- Put that mixture into a sealable plastic bag to prevent leaks, and then place it in the household trash.
- Do not keep leftover medicine to use later, and do not give it to anyone else.
What other information is important for this medication?
- Some animal competitions may not allow the use of this medicine. Check the rules before entering your animal in a competition while your animal is receiving this medicine.
- If you have more questions about this medicine, contact your veterinarian or pharmacist.
“Disclaimer: The information on this page is provided as general educational material only. Every animal’s health situation is unique, and treatment decisions must be based on a full veterinary assessment. Always follow the specific instructions given during your consultation, and contact the prescribing veterinarian if you have any concerns.”