Patient leaflet - Desloratadine 5 mg film-coated tablets
1. WHAT DESLORATADINE IS AND WHAT IT IS USED FOR
Desloratadine tablets contain the active substance desloratadine which is an antihistamine. How Desloratadine works
Desloratadine is an antiallergy medicine that does not make you drowsy. It helps control your allergic reaction and its symptoms.
When Desloratadine should be used
Desloratadine relieves symptoms associated with allergic rhinitis (inflammation of the nasal passages caused by an allergy, for example, hay fever or allergy to dust mites) in adults and adolescents 12 years of age and older. These symptoms include sneezing, runny or itchy nose, itchy palate, and itchy, red or watery eyes.
Desloratadine is also used to relieve the symptoms associated with urticaria (a skin condition caused by an allergy). These symptoms include itching and hives.
Relief of these symptoms lasts a full day and helps you to resume your normal daily activities and sleep
2. WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW BEFORE YOU TAKE DESLORATADINE
Do not take Desloratadine
if you are allergic to desloratadine, or any of the other ingredients of this medicine (listed in section 6) or to loratadine.
Warnings and precautions
Talk to your doctor or pharmacist or nurse before taking Desloratadine: if you have poor kidney function.
if you have medical or familial history of seizures.
Children and adolescents
Do not give this medicine to children less than 12 years of age.
Other medicines and Desloratadine
There are no known interactions of Desloratadine with other medicines. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking, have recently taken or might take any other medicines.
Desloratadine with food, drink and alcohol
Desloratadine may be taken with or without a meal.
Use caution when taking Desloratadine with alcohol.
Pregnancy, breast-feeding and fertility
If you are pregnant or breast-feeding, think you may be pregnant or are planning to have a baby, ask your doctor, or pharmacist for advice before taking this medicine. Taking Desloratadine is not recommended if you are pregnant or nursing a baby. There is no data available on male/female fertility.
Driving and using machines
At the recommended dose, this medicine is not expected to affect your ability to drive or use machines. Although most people do not experience drowsiness, it is recommended not to engage in activities requiring mental alertness, such as driving a car or operating machinery until you have established your own response to the medicine.
Desloratadine contains lactose
Desloratadine contains lactose (a type of sugar). If you have been told by your doctor that you have an intolerance to some sugars contact your doctor before taking this medicine.
3. HOW TO TAKE DESLORATADINE
Always take this medicine exactly as your doctor or pharmacist has told you. Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure.
Use in adults and adolescents 12 years of age and over
The recommended dose is one tablet once a day with water, with or without food. This medicine is for oral use.
Swallow the tablet whole.
Regarding the duration of treatment, your physician will determine the type of allergic rhinitis you are suffering from and will determine for how long you should take Desloratadine. If your allergic rhinitis is intermittent (presence of symptoms for less than 4 days per week or for less than 4 weeks), your physician will recommend you a treatment schedule that will depend on the evaluation of the history of your disease.
If your allergic rhinitis is persistent (presence of symptoms for 4 days or more per week and for more than 4 weeks), your physician may recommend you a longer term treatment. For urticaria, the duration of treatment may be variable from patient to patient and therefore you should follow the instructions of your physician.
If you take more Desloratadine than you should
Take Desloratadine only as it is prescribed for you. No serious problems are expected with accidental overdose. However, if you take more Desloratadine than you were told to, tell your doctor, pharmacist or nurse immediately.
If you forget to take Desloratadine
If you forget to take your dose on time, take it as soon as possible and then go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not take a double dose to make up for a forgotten dose. If you stop taking Desloratadine
If you have any further questions on the use of this medicine, ask your doctor, pharmacist or nurse.
4. POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS
Like all medicines, this medicine can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them. During the marketing of Desloratadine, cases of severe allergic reactions (difficulty in breathing, wheezing, itching, hives and swelling) have been reported very rarely. If you notice any of these serious side effects, stop taking the medicine and seek urgent medical advice straight away.
(Continued overleaf)
As stated in design
Package leaflet
TBA
TW271762 (MAT) UK
All
NA
TBA
9 pts (Reg text)
NA 24/06/2026
Black C
In clinical studies in adults, side effects were about the same as with a dummy tablet. However, fatigue, dry mouth and headache were reported more often than with a dummy tablet. In adolescents, headache was the most commonly reported side effect. In clinical studies with Desloratadine, the following side effects were reported as: Common: the following may affect up to 1 in 10 people
fatigue
dry mouth
headache
During the marketing of Desloratadine, the following side effects were reported as: Very rare: the following may affect up to 1 in 10,000 people
severe allergic reactions
rash
pounding or irregular heartbeat
fast heartbeat
stomach ache
feeling sick (nausea)
vomiting
upset stomach
diarrhoea
dizziness
drowsiness
inability to sleep
muscle pain
hallucinations
seizures
restlessness with increased body movement
liver inflammation
abnormal liver function tests
Not known: frequency cannot be estimated from the available data unusual weakness
yellowing of the skin and/or eyes
increased sensitivity of the skin to the sun, even in case of hazy sun, and to UV light, for instance to UV lights of a solarium
changes in the way the heart beats
abnormal behaviour
aggression
weight increased, increased appetite
Children
Not known: frequency cannot be estimated from the available data slow heartbeat
change in the way the heart beats
abnormal behaviour
Reporting of side effects
If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor or pharmacist. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. You can also report side effects directly via the Yellow Card Scheme website: www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard or search for MHRA Yellow Card in the Google Play or Apple App Store.
By reporting side effects you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.
5. HOW TO STORE DESLORATADINE
Keep this medicine out of the sight and reach of children.
Do not use this medicine after the expiry date which is stated on the carton and the blister after EXP. The expiry date refers to the last day of that month.
This medicinal product does not require any special storage conditions. Do not throw away any medicines via wastewater or household waste. Ask your pharmacist how to throw away medicines you no longer use. These measures will help protect the environment.
6. CONTENTS OF THE PACK AND OTHER INFORMATION
What Desloratadine contains
The active substance is desloratadine
Each tablet contains 5 mg desloratadine
The other ingredients are
Tablet core: calcium hydrogen phosphate dihydrate, microcrystalline cellulose, maize starch, talc, zinc stearate.
Film coating: Opadry II Blue (33B505002) containing: lactose monohydrate, hypromellose (E464), titanium dioxide (E171), macrogol (E1521), Indigo Carmine Aluminum Lake (E132)). What Desloratadine looks like and contents of the pack
Desloratadine film-coated tablets 5 mg are presented as light blue to blue, round biconvex, film coated tablets debossed with “5” on one side and plain on other side. Desloratadine 5 mg film-coated tablets are packed in Alu hard tempered foil – Alu plain cold formable foil blister pack.
Desloratadine 5 mg film-coated tablets are available in packs containing 30 tablets. Marketing Authorisation Holder
Tillomed Laboratories Limited
220 Butterfield, Great Marlings
Luton, LU2 8DL, United Kingdom
Manufacturer
Manx Healthcare Ltd
Unit 2, Bosworth Avenue, Tournament Fields, Warwick, CV34 6UQ, UK Other formats
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This leaflet was last revised in June 2026
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