Desloratadine (Systemic)

Brand Names : Clarinex, Aerius

Before Using This Medicine

In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For desloratadine, the following should be considered:

Allergies - Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to desloratadine. Also tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to any other substances, such as foods, preservatives, or dyes.

Pregnancy - Desloratadine has not been studied in pregnant women. Before taking this medicine, make sure your doctor knows if you are pregnant or if you may become pregnant.

Studies in animals have shown that desloratadine causes a decrease in successful pregnancies and a decrease in the weight of the infant.

Breast-feeding - Small amounts of desloratadine pass into the breast milk. Mothers who are taking this medicine and who wish to breast-feed should discuss this with their doctor.

Children - There is no specific information comparing use of desloratadine in children up to 12 years of age. This medicine has been tested in children 12 years of age and older and, in effective doses, has not been shown to cause different side effects or problems than it does in adults.

Older adults - Desloratadine has been tested in patients 65 years of age and older and has not been shown to cause different side effects or problems in older people than it does in younger adults. However, older patients are more likely to have kidney or liver problems which may make them more sensitive to the effects of desloratadine. Your doctor may give you a different desloratadine dose if you have kidney or liver problems.

Other medicines - Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking desloratadine, it is especially important that your doctor and pharmacist know if you are taking or using any other prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC] medicine.

Other medical problems - The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of desloratadine. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:

• Liver disease or
• Kidney disease - Effects of desloratadine may be increased because of slower removal from the body.