Generic Name: desloratadine and pseudoephedrine (DES loe RAT a deen and SOO doe ee FED rin)
Brand Names: Clarinex-D 12 Hour, Clarinex-D 24 Hour
What is desloratadine and pseudoephedrine?
Desloratadine is an antihistamine that reduces the natural chemical histamine in the body. Histamine can produce symptoms of sneezing, itching, watery eyes, and runny nose.
Pseudoephedrine is a decongestant that shrinks blood vessels in the nasal passages. Dilated blood vessels can cause nasal congestion (stuffy nose).
The combination of desloratadine and pseudoephedrine is used to treat sneezing, cough, runny or stuffy nose, itchy or watery eyes, hives, skin rash, itching, and other symptoms of allergies and the common cold.
Desloratadine and pseudoephedrine is for use in adults and children who are at least 12 years old.
Desloratadine and pseudoephedrine may also be used for other purposes not listed in this medication guide.
What is the most important information I should know about desloratadine and pseudoephedrine?
Do not give this medication to a child younger than 2 years old. Always ask a doctor before giving a cough or cold medicine to a child. Death can occur from the misuse of cough and cold medicines in very young children. Do not use any other over-the-counter cold, allergy, or sleep medication without first asking your doctor or pharmacist. If you take certain products together you may accidentally take too much of a certain drug. Read the label of any other medicine you are using to see if it contains an antihistamine or decongestant. Do not use a cough or cold medicine if you have used an MAO inhibitor such as isocarboxazid (Marplan), phenelzine (Nardil), rasagiline (Azilect), selegiline (Eldepryl, Emsam), or tranylcypromine (Parnate) within the past 14 days. Serious, life-threatening side effects can occur if you take cough or cold medicine before the MAO inhibitor has cleared from your body. Desloratadine and pseudoephedrine can cause side effects that may impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be awake and alert. Avoid drinking alcohol. It can increase some of the side effects of this medication.
What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking desloratadine and pseudoephedrine?
Do not use a cough or cold medicine if you have used an MAO inhibitor such as isocarboxazid (Marplan), phenelzine (Nardil), rasagiline (Azilect), selegiline (Eldepryl, Emsam), or tranylcypromine (Parnate) within the past 14 days. Serious, life-threatening side effects can occur if you take cough or cold medicine before the MAO inhibitor has cleared from your body.
Before taking this medication, tell your doctor if you are allergic to desloratadine or pseudoephedrine, or if you have:
- kidney disease;
diabetes;
glaucoma;
heart disease or high blood pressure;
a thyroid disorder;
an enlarged prostate; or
problems with urination.
FDA pregnancy category C. It is not known whether desloratadine and pseudoephedrine is harmful to an unborn baby. Before using this medication, tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment. Desloratadine and pseudoephedrine can pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing baby. Do not use this medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.
How should I take desloratadine and pseudoephedrine?
Take this medication exactly as it has been prescribed by your doctor. Do not use the medication in larger amounts, or use it for longer than recommended. Follow the directions on your prescription label. Cold medicine is usually taken only for a short time until your symptoms clear up.
Do not give this medication to a child younger than 2 years old. Always ask a doctor before giving a cough or cold medicine to a child. Death can occur from the misuse of cough and cold medicines in very young children. Take this medicine with a full glass of water. Do not crush, chew, or break an extended-release tablet. Swallow the pill whole. Breaking the pill may cause too much of the drug to be released at one time. Talk with your doctor if your symptoms do not improve after 7 days of treatment, or if you have a fever with a headache, cough, or skin rash.
If you need to have any type of surgery, tell the surgeon ahead of time if you have taken a cold medicine within the past few days.
This medication can cause you to have unusual results with allergy skin tests. Tell any doctor who treats you that you are taking an antihistamine.
Store the medication at room temperature away from moisture and heat.
See also: Desloratadine and pseudoephedrine dosage (in more detail)
What happens if I miss a dose?
Since cold or allergy medicine is usually taken only as needed, you may not be on a dosing schedule. If you are taking the medication regularly, take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take the medicine at your next regularly scheduled time. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.
What happens if I overdose?
Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have used too much of this medicine.
Overdose symptoms may include feeling restless or nervous, nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, dizziness, drowsiness, dry mouth, warmth or tingly feeling, or seizure (convulsions).
What should I avoid while taking desloratadine and pseudoephedrine?
This medication can cause side effects that may impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be awake and alert. Avoid drinking alcohol. It can increase some of the side effects of this medication.
Avoid taking diet pills, caffeine pills, or other stimulants (such as ADHD medications) without your doctor's advice. Taking a stimulant together with a decongestant can increase your risk of unpleasant side effects.
Do not use any other over-the-counter cold, allergy, or sleep medication without first asking your doctor or pharmacist. If you take certain products together you may accidentally take too much of a certain drug. Read the label of any other medicine you are using to see if it contains an antihistamine or decongestant.
Desloratadine and pseudoephedrine side effects
Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat. Stop using this medication and call your doctor at once if you have a serious side effect such as:
fast, pounding, or uneven heartbeat;
confusion, hallucinations, unusual thoughts or behavior;
severe dizziness, anxiety, restless feeling, or nervousness;
dangerously high blood pressure (severe headache, blurred vision, buzzing in your ears, anxiety, confusion, chest pain, shortness of breath, uneven heartbeats, seizure);
easy bruising or bleeding, unusual weakness, fever, chills, body aches, flu symptoms; or
urinating less than usual or not at all.
Less serious side effects may include:
dry mouth;
nausea, stomach pain, constipation;
mild loss of appetite, stomach upset;
warmth, redness, or tingly feeling under your skin;
sleep problems (insomnia);
feeling restless or excited (especially in children);
skin rash or itching;
dizziness, drowsiness; or
problems with memory or concentration.
This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
Desloratadine and pseudoephedrine Dosing Information
Usual Adult Dose for Allergic Rhinitis:
desloratadine-pseudoephedrine 2.5 mg-120 mg oral tablet, extended release:
one extended release tablet orally twice daily, administered approximately 12 hours apart
desloratadine-pseudoephedrine 5 mg-240 mg oral tablet, extended release:
one extended release tablet orally once daily
Usual Pediatric Dose for Allergic Rhinitis:
12 yrs or older:
desloratadine-pseudoephedrine 2.5 mg-120 mg oral tablet, extended release:
one extended release tablet orally twice daily, administered approximately 12 hours apart
desloratadine-pseudoephedrine 5 mg-240 mg oral tablet, extended release:
one extended release tablet orally once daily
What other drugs will affect desloratadine and pseudoephedrine?
Before using this medication, tell your doctor if you regularly use other medicines that make you sleepy (such as other cold or allergy medicine, sedatives, narcotic pain medicine, sleeping pills, muscle relaxers, and medicine for seizures, depression, or anxiety). They can add to sleepiness caused by desloratadine and pseudoephedrine.
Tell your doctor about all other medications you use, especially:
medicines to treat high blood pressure;
a diuretic (water pill);
medication to treat irritable bowel syndrome;
bladder or urinary medications such as oxybutynin (Ditropan, Oxytrol) or tolterodine (Detrol);
salicylates such as aspirin, Backache Relief Extra Strength, Novasal, Nuprin Backache Caplet, Doan's Pills Extra Strength, Pepto-Bismol, Tricosal, and others;
a beta-blocker such as atenolol (Tenormin, Tenoretic), carvedilol (Coreg), labetalol (Normodyne, Trandate), metoprolol (Lopressor, Toprol), nadolol (Corgard), propranolol (Inderal, InnoPran), sotalol (Betapace), and others;
an antidepressant such as amitriptyline (Elavil), clomipramine (Anafranil), imipramine (Janimine, Tofranil), and others.
This list is not complete and there may be other drugs that can interact with desloratadine and pseudoephedrine. Tell your doctor about all your prescription and over-the-counter medications, vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start a new medication without telling your doctor.
More desloratadine and pseudoephedrine resources
- Desloratadine and pseudoephedrine Side Effects (in more detail)
- Desloratadine and pseudoephedrine Dosage
- Desloratadine and pseudoephedrine Use in Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
- Desloratadine and pseudoephedrine Drug Interactions
- Desloratadine and pseudoephedrine Support Group
- 1 Review for Desloratadine and pseudoephedrine - Add your own review/rating
Compare desloratadine and pseudoephedrine with other medications
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Where can I get more information?
- Your pharmacist can provide more information about desloratadine and pseudoephedrine.
See also: desloratadine and pseudoephedrine side effects (in more detail)
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