CLARATYNE(R)
Loratadine
Consumer Medicine Information
What is in this leaflet
This leaflet answers some common questions about CLARATYNE.
It does not contain all of the available information.
It does not take the place of talking to your doctor or pharmacist.
All medicines have risks and benefits. Your doctor or pharmacist has weighed the risks of you taking CLARATYNE against the benefits they expect it will have for you.
If you have any concerns about taking this medicine, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
Keep this leaflet with the medicine.
You may need to read it again.
What CLARATYNE is used for
CLARATYNE relieves symptoms associated with allergic rhinitis (hayfever), such as sneezing, runny or itchy nose, and burning or itchy eyes.
CLARATYNE may also be used to relieve symptoms associated with a skin condition called chronic urticaria (also called hives); these symptoms include itching, redness and lumps on the skin.
CLARATYNE can be used in adults and children.
CLARATYNE belongs to a class of medicines known as antihistamines.
Antihistamines help reduce allergic symptoms by preventing the effects of a substance called histamine. Histamine is produced by the body in response to foreign substances which the body is allergic to.
Your doctor or pharmacist, however, may prescribe CLARATYNE for another purpose.
Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions about why CLARATYNE has been prescribed for you.
There is no evidence that CLARATYNE is addictive.
Before you take CLARATYNE
When you must not take it
Do not take CLARATYNE if:
Some of the symptoms of an allergic reaction may include skin rash, difficulty in breathing or faintness.
Do not take CLARATYNE if you are pregnant or breastfeeding unless you and your doctor or pharmacist have discussed the risks and benefits involved.
Do not give CLARATYNE to children less than 1 year old.
Do not take CLARATYNE after the expiry date printed on the pack.
Do not take CLARATYNE if the packaging is torn or shows signs of tampering.
Before you start to take it
You must tell your doctor or pharmacist:
Taking other medicines
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking any other medicines, including medicines that you buy without a prescription from a pharmacy, supermarket or health food shop.
How to take CLARATYNE
How much to take
Adults and children over 12 years:
One CLARATYNE tablet or one CLARATYNE Effervescent tablet once daily.
Children 2-12 years of age:
Over 30 kg – 10 mL of CLARATYNE syrup once daily
Less than 30 kg – 5 mL of CLARATYNE syrup once daily.
Children 1-2 years of age:
2.5 mL of CLARATYNE syrup once daily.
Be sure to take CLARATYNE exactly as your doctor or pharmacist has told you to.
It does not matter if you take CLARATYNE before or after food.
If you do not follow their instructions, you may not get relief from your symptoms.
How to take it
Tablets and Syrup:
Take it with a glass of water.
Effervescent Tablets:
Dissolve the tablet in one glass of water at time of dose.
If you forget to take it
If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the dose you missed and take your next dose when you are meant to.
Otherwise, take it as soon as you remember, and then go back to taking your medicine as you would normally.
Do not take a double dose to make up for the dose you missed.
If you take too much (overdose)
Immediately telephone your doctor, pharmacist or Poisons Information Centre (13 11 26) for advice, or go to casualty at your nearest hospital, if you think that you or anyone else may have taken too much CLARATYNE. Do this even if there are no signs of discomfort or poisoning. You may need urgent medical attention. Keep telephone numbers for these places handy.
While you are taking CLARATYNE
Things you must do
Tell all doctors, dentists and pharmacists who are treating you that you are taking CLARATYNE.
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you become pregnant while you are taking CLARATYNE.
Things you must not do
Do not give CLARATYNE to anyone else, even if their symptoms seem similar to yours.
Do not use it to treat any other complaints unless your doctor or pharmacist says to.
Things to be careful of
Make sure you know how you react to CLARATYNE before you drive a car or operate machinery.
CLARATYNE is unlikely to make you drowsy. If you are drowsy, do not drive a car or work with machinery.
Stop taking CLARATYNE 48 hours before you have any skin tests.
Antihistamines may interfere with the results of skin tests.
Side effects
Tell your doctor or pharmacist as soon as possible if you do not feel well while you are using CLARATYNE.
CLARATYNE helps most people with allergies, but it may have unwanted effects in a few people.
Like other medicines, CLARATYNE can cause some side effects. If they occur, they are most likely to be minor and temporary.
However, some may be serious and need medical attention.
Ask your doctor or pharmacist any questions you may have.
The most commonly reported unwanted events were:
Tablets:
Syrup:
Rare instances of hair loss was also reported.
Other unwanted effects may occur in some people taking CLARATYNE.
After taking CLARATYNE
Storage
Keep your tablets in the blister pack or the aluminium tube in a dry place until it is time to take them.
If you take your tablets out, they will not keep well.
Keep your syrup in the bottle until it is time to take it.
Keep your tablets/syrup in a cool dry place where the temperature stays below 30 degree C (25 degree C for the effervescent tablets).
Do not leave it in the car on hot days or on window sills.
Keep it where children cannot reach it.
Disposal
If your doctor or pharmacist tells you to stop taking CLARATYNE or the medicine has passed the expiry date, ask your pharmacist what to do with any that are left over.
Product description
CLARATYNE tablets and syrup can be bought without a doctor`s prescription.
What it looks like
There are three forms of CLARATYNE – CLARATYNE tablets, CLARATYNE Effervescent tablets and CLARATYNE syrup.
Ingredients
CLARATYNE tablets contain:
They do not contain sucrose or gluten.
CLARATYNE Effervescent tablets contain:
They do not contain sucrose or gluten.
CLARATYNE syrup contains:
It does not contain lactose or gluten.
Manufacturer
Australian Registration Numbers
Tablets, 10`s, 30`s and 50`s
Effervescent Tablets, 10`s
Syrup, 100 mL and 200 mL
Date of Preparation
2 June 2003