Adult: Extended-release tab: Loratadine 5 mg and pseudoephedrine 120 mg
For relief of symptoms (e.g. watery eyes, sneezing, rhinorrhoea, nasal congestion, itching of eyes, nose or throat): 1 tab bid. Max: 2 tabs daily.
Loratadine 10 mg and pseudoephedrine 240 mg
For relief of symptoms (e.g. watery eyes, sneezing, rhinorrhoea, nasal congestion, itching of eyes, nose or throat): 1 tab once daily. Max: 1 tab daily.
Oral solution: Loratadine 5 mg and pseudoephedrine 60 mg per 5 mL
For relief of symptoms (e.g. watery eyes, sneezing, rhinorrhoea, nasal congestion, itching of eyes, nose or throat): 5 mL bid. Child: Extended-release tab: Loratadine 5 mg and pseudoephedrine 120 mg Loratadine 10 mg and pseudoephedrine 240 mg
For relief of symptoms (e.g. watery eyes, sneezing, rhinorrhoea, nasal congestion, itching of eyes, nose or throat): >12 years Same as adult dose.
What are the brands available for Loratadine + Pseudoephedrine in Singapore?
Loratadine + Pseudoephedrine extended-release: May be taken with or without food. Swallow whole, do not break, chew or dissolve.
Contraindications
Severe hypertension, severe coronary artery disease, urinary retention, narrow-angle glaucoma; history of dysphagia, known upper gastrointestinal narrowing or abnormal oesophageal peristalsis (extended-release tab). Concomitant use or within 14 days of discontinuing MAOIs.
Special Precautions
Patient with ischaemic heart disease, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, increased IOP, stenosing peptic ulcer, pyloroduodenal obstruction, prostatic hypertrophy or bladder neck obstruction, thyroid disease. Renal and hepatic impairment. Children and elderly. Pregnancy and lactation.
Adverse Reactions
Significant: CNS stimulation, excitability, convulsions or CV collapse with hypotension; drug abuse or dependence; acute generalised exanthematous pustulosis (AGEP). Rarely, mechanical upper gastrointestinal tract obstruction (particularly when extended-release tab is used in patients with history of dysphagia, known upper gastrointestinal narrowing, or abnormal oesophageal peristalsis). Cardiac disorders: Tachycardia, palpitations. Gastrointestinal disorders: Dry mouth, nausea, vomiting, abdominal distress, dyspepsia. General disorders and administration site conditions: Fatigue, thirst. Metabolism and nutrition disorders: Anorexia. Nervous system disorders: Headache, somnolence, dizziness, paraesthesia, tremor. Psychiatric disorders: Insomnia, anxiety, confusion, irritability, nervousness. Renal and urinary disorders: Urinary retention. Respiratory, thoracic and mediastinal disorders: Nasal congestion or irritation, cough, pharyngitis, dyspnoea. Skin and subcutaneous tissue disorders: Rash, pruritus, urticaria. Vascular disorders: Hypertension.
Patient Counseling Information
This drug may cause drowsiness, if affected, do not drive or operate machinery.
Overdosage
Symptoms: CNS depression (e.g. sedation, apnoea, decreased mental alertness, cyanosis, coma, CV collapse) to CNS stimulation (e.g. insomnia, hallucination, tremors, convulsions); excitement, euphoria, palpitations, tachycardia, thirst, perspiration, nausea, dizziness, tinnitus, ataxia, blurred vision, and hypertension or hypotension. Management: Symptomatic and supportive treatment. Induce emesis using ipecac syrup (except in patients with impaired consciousness), followed by administration of activated charcoal for the adsorption of any remaining drug in the stomach. Perform gastric lavage if vomiting is contraindicated or unsuccessful. May use vasopressors to treat hypotension. Diazepam, short-acting barbiturates, or paraldehyde may be given to control seizures. Provide ventilatory support for apnoea.
Drug Interactions
Loratadine: Elevated plasma concentrations with ketoconazole, erythromycin and cimetidine.
Pseudoephedrine: Increased ectopic pacemaker activity with digitalis. May reduce the antihypertensive effect of methyldopa, mecamylamine, reserpine and veratrum alkaloids. Increased rate of absorption with antacids. Potentially Fatal: Pseudoephedrine: Increased risk of hypertensive crisis with MAOIs.
Food Interaction
Loratadine: Food delays time to peak plasma concentration and increases bioavailability.
Pseudoephedrine: Onset of effect may be delayed with food.
Lab Interference
Loratadine: May diminish the wheal and flare reactions to skin test antigens.
Pseudoephedrine: May cause false-positive results with urine detection of amphetamine.
Action
Description: Mechanism of Action: Loratadine, a piperidine derivative, is a long-acting, non-sedating tricyclic antihistamine with no significant antimuscarinic activity. It acts as a competitive and selective peripheral H1-receptor antagonist.
Pseudoephedrine is a direct- and indirect-acting sympathomimetic agent. It directly activates α-adrenergic receptors of the respiratory mucosa, leading to vasoconstriction. Additionally, pseudoephedrine directly stimulates β-adrenergic receptors, resulting in bronchial smooth muscle relaxation and increased heart rate and contractility. Onset: Loratadine: 1-3 hours.
Pseudoephedrine: Decongestant: 30 minutes. Duration: Loratadine: >24 hours. Pharmacokinetics: Absorption: Loratadine: Rapidly and well absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract. Food delays time to peak plasma concentration and increases bioavailability. Time to peak plasma concentration: 1.3 hours.
Pseudoephedrine: Readily and rapidly absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract. Food may delay the onset of effect. Distribution: Enters breast milk.
Loratadine: Volume of distribution: 119 L/kg. Plasma protein binding: 97-99% (loratadine); 73-76% (descarboethoxyloratadine).
Pseudoephedrine: Volume of distribution: 2.64-3.51 L/kg. Metabolism: Loratadine: Extensively metabolised in the liver mainly by CYP3A4 and to a lesser extent by CYP2D6 to form descarboethoxyloratadine (active metabolite); undergoes first-pass metabolism.
Pseudoephedrine: Metabolised in the liver via N-demethylation into norpseudoephedrine. Excretion: Loratadine: Via urine (approx 40%) and faeces (40%), mainly as metabolites. Elimination half-life: Loratadine: 8.4 hours (range: 3-20 hours). Descarboethoxyloratadine: 28 hours (range: 8.8-92 hours).
Pseudoephedrine: Via urine (43-96% as unchanged drug, 1-6% as norpseudoephedrine). Elimination half-life: 3-6 hours (pH of 5); 9-16 hours (pH of 8).
Chemical Structure
Loratadine Source: National Center for Biotechnology Information. PubChem Compound Summary for CID 3957, Loratadine. https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/Loratadine. Accessed May 28, 2025.
Pseudoephedrine Source: National Center for Biotechnology Information. PubChem Compound Summary for CID 7028, Pseudoephedrine. https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/Pseudoephedrine. Accessed July 26, 2024.
Storage
Store between 20-25°C. Protect the tab from light.
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