Desloratadine
Encyclopedia
Desloratadine is a drug used to treat allergies
. It is marketed under several trade names such as NeoClarityn, Claramax, Clarinex, Larinex, Aerius, Dazit, Azomyr and Delot. It is an active metabolite
of loratadine
, which is also on the market.
In Colombia (South America) it is marketed under Dexio from Laboratorios Bussié, as tablets and as syrup to children.
, which has a selective and peripheral H1-antagonist action. It is an antagonist at histamine H1 receptors, and an antagonist at all subtypes of the muscarinic acetylcholine receptor. It has a long-lasting effect and in moderate and low doses, does not cause drowsiness because it does not readily enter the central nervous system
.
. There are no head-to-head randomised controlled trials of the two drugs. A survey of patients dissatisfied with loratadine published in August 2003 reported equal or better satisfaction with desloratadine, concluding:
A November 2003 article published in the journal American Family Physician
about the safety, tolerability, effectiveness, price, and simplicity of desloratadine concluded the following:
In Canada
, desloratadine is available without a prescription, and as a generic. Prices are comparable to those of loratadine.
Allergy
An Allergy is a hypersensitivity disorder of the immune system. Allergic reactions occur when a person's immune system reacts to normally harmless substances in the environment. A substance that causes a reaction is called an allergen. These reactions are acquired, predictable, and rapid...
. It is marketed under several trade names such as NeoClarityn, Claramax, Clarinex, Larinex, Aerius, Dazit, Azomyr and Delot. It is an active metabolite
Metabolite
Metabolites are the intermediates and products of metabolism. The term metabolite is usually restricted to small molecules. A primary metabolite is directly involved in normal growth, development, and reproduction. Alcohol is an example of a primary metabolite produced in large-scale by industrial...
of loratadine
Loratadine
Loratadine is a second-generation H1 histamine antagonist drug used to treat allergies. Structurally, it is closely related to tricyclic antidepressants such as imipramine, and distantly related to the atypical antipsychotic quetiapine. It is marketed by Schering-Plough under several trade names...
, which is also on the market.
Available forms
Desloratadine is available as tablets (including orally disintegrating and extended release) and as syrup.In Colombia (South America) it is marketed under Dexio from Laboratorios Bussié, as tablets and as syrup to children.
Mechanism of action
Desloratadine is a tricyclic antihistamineAntihistamine
An H1 antagonist is a histamine antagonist of the H1 receptor that serves to reduce or eliminate effects mediated by histamine, an endogenous chemical mediator released during allergic reactions...
, which has a selective and peripheral H1-antagonist action. It is an antagonist at histamine H1 receptors, and an antagonist at all subtypes of the muscarinic acetylcholine receptor. It has a long-lasting effect and in moderate and low doses, does not cause drowsiness because it does not readily enter the central nervous system
Central nervous system
The central nervous system is the part of the nervous system that integrates the information that it receives from, and coordinates the activity of, all parts of the bodies of bilaterian animals—that is, all multicellular animals except sponges and radially symmetric animals such as jellyfish...
.
Side effects
Most common side-effects are fatigue, dry mouth, headache, and gastrointestinal disturbances.Desloratadine vs. loratadine
Desloratadine is the major metabolite of loratadineLoratadine
Loratadine is a second-generation H1 histamine antagonist drug used to treat allergies. Structurally, it is closely related to tricyclic antidepressants such as imipramine, and distantly related to the atypical antipsychotic quetiapine. It is marketed by Schering-Plough under several trade names...
. There are no head-to-head randomised controlled trials of the two drugs. A survey of patients dissatisfied with loratadine published in August 2003 reported equal or better satisfaction with desloratadine, concluding:
When severity of disease was controlled for in the analysis, a pattern emerged suggesting greater levels of satisfaction amongst loratadine dissatisfied patients who converted to desloratadine. Point estimates suggest a consistent pattern favoring desloratadine patient satisfaction, with statistically significant results reported for sum of adverse effects, nighttime awakening due to symptoms, symptom severity just prior to the next dose, and overall satisfaction (p < 0.05).
A November 2003 article published in the journal American Family Physician
American Family Physician
American Family Physician is a semimonthly, peer-reviewed medical journal of the American Academy of Family Physicians. AFP’s chief objective is to provide high-quality continuing medical education for more than 190,000 family physicians and other primary care clinicians...
about the safety, tolerability, effectiveness, price, and simplicity of desloratadine concluded the following:
Desloratadine is similar in effectiveness to fexofenadineFexofenadineFexofenadine is an antihistamine drug used in the treatment of hayfever and similar allergy symptoms...
and would be expected to produce results similar to loratadine and other nonsedating antihistamines. There is no clinical advantage to switching a patient from loratadineLoratadineLoratadine is a second-generation H1 histamine antagonist drug used to treat allergies. Structurally, it is closely related to tricyclic antidepressants such as imipramine, and distantly related to the atypical antipsychotic quetiapine. It is marketed by Schering-Plough under several trade names...
to desloratadine. However, it may be an option for patients whose medical insuranceHealth insuranceHealth insurance is insurance against the risk of incurring medical expenses among individuals. By estimating the overall risk of health care expenses among a targeted group, an insurer can develop a routine finance structure, such as a monthly premium or payroll tax, to ensure that money is...
no longer covers loratadine if the co-pay is less than the cost of the over-the-counter product.
In Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, desloratadine is available without a prescription, and as a generic. Prices are comparable to those of loratadine.