Allergic reactions are called a disease of the century. And this is not surprising. Every year, more and more people in the world feel the influence of environmental factors and the inability of the body to cope with the consequences of these effects. And if in 2012 there were more than 40 percent of such patients, now almost every second one. Therefore, scientists pay great attention to the search for drugs that help eliminate the effects of allergic reactions and prevent their manifestations.
What is an allergy?
This is an exorbitant, very strong reaction to irritating factors coming from outside. For some reason, the body begins to perceive hitherto ordinary substances as foreign and threatening.
Various inflammatory processes, both acute and chronic, contribute to these reactions. The impetus for their development can be any stress, both psychological and physical: hypothermia or severe overheating of the body.
Causes of Allergies
They depend on the predisposition of a particular person to the influence of a particular factor, but in different climatic zones they have different manifestations.
In the middle latitudes it is plant pollen, insect bites. In the south, they are joined by the sun's rays, which can cause extensive skin reactions.
Northern latitudes threaten the development of allergies to low temperatures and infectious diseases.
Views
Types of allergies:
- skin;
- medicinal;
- respiratory ( pollen of some plants or dust acts as an allergen );
- infectious
- insect (from bee stings and other insects).
Usually, a person reacting to one of the types of allergens is also susceptible to others. Therefore, it is so important to have a medicine that would help in any case.
All allergic reactions, whether itching, swelling, or redness, are caused by the biologically active substance histamine. In addition, he is involved in various inflammatory processes.
Loratadin
Loratadine is a substance that helps to cope with the manifestations of an allergic reaction of various origins. But its basis created a number of drugs, the most famous of which are Claritin and Loratadin. They relate to second-generation drugs. In fact, this is one and the same medicine, but from different manufacturers. Claritin is produced by the Belgian enterprises of the company Sharing Plow. Loratadine is the generic equivalent of Claritin. Its price is much less.
They block histamine, reducing swelling of tissues, remove smooth muscle spasms, and make capillaries less permeable. Half an hour after taking the medicine, the result is already noticeable. The drug is effective for a day, but the maximum effect occurs 10 hours after administration. The advantage of the drug is that it is not addictive, therefore, it can be used for a long time. But it’s better to change it to an analogue, “Loratadin,” after a while.
It is excreted through the kidneys.
Release form
Tablets containing 10 mg of the active substance, 10 pieces in a blister or 20 pieces in a plastic jar.
Syrup in bottles of 100 ml.
Side effects
Among the side effects of loratadine-based drugs, headache was noted in 12%, drowsiness was noted in 8%, fatigue was reported in 4%, and attention concentration, dizziness, nervousness, and tremor were disturbed in 2%.
3% of users have dry mouth, 2% - increased appetite, toothache, constipation or diarrhea, nosebleeds, bronchitis and other symptoms.
Seizures, liver necrosis, alopecia are very rare.
Contraindications
To whom is Loratadin contraindicated? Tablets (including analogues) are not prescribed if the patient has personal intolerance to the components during pregnancy or breastfeeding. Possible disruption of the liver, vomiting. It is not advised to use it at a time when the patient is driving, because a decrease in attention is possible.
For patients with liver problems, the drug is given in a reduced dosage (half the norm).
Analogues of "Loratadin"
Among similar drugs, several groups can be distinguished. The first are substitutes for "Loratadine" analogues with the same active substance.
- "Claritin", which has already been talked about.
- "Loratadin Teva" of the Hungarian company "Teva". It is slightly cheaper than Claritin.
- "Laura Geksal" - tablets of the German company "Salutas". Cheaper than Claritin.
- "Lominal" of the Slovenian company "Lek". Available in the form of tablets, syrup and suspension.
- Alerpriv, Argentinean pills.
- Erolin, tablets of the Hungarian company Etis.
- "Loratidin Stoma" (Ukraine).
- “Clarotadine”, “Clarinase”, “Claridol” and others with the first syllables “Clari-” or “Claro”. These are Russian drugs produced in the form of tablets, suspensions or syrups.
- "Cetirizine" - quickly penetrates the body and eliminates allergies to the skin. But it can cause serious consequences: aggression, hallucinations, thrombocytopenia, hepatitis, even suicidal behavior.
All of these drugs have the same weight of the active substance and the tablets themselves, as well as the percentage of components. The price depends on the availability of a patent and the funds spent on advertising.
Using non-proprietary products, you can buy drugs made with a violation of technology. Therefore, doctors, caring for the health of patients, do not advise replacing Claritin with similar medicines. But often these are high-quality medicines with the same effect as the original. Usually the patient, weighing all the pros and cons, makes his choice in favor of analogues.
Third-generation drugs are Desloratidine, Cetrin, and Zirtek. Only the first of them is based on loratadine. Preparations that belong to the second generation are sometimes capable of causing arrhythmia. Especially if you use them with antidepressants or grapefruit juice. The same reaction is observed in violation of the liver.
But a comparison of Loratadine and Desloratadine showed no differences in their toxicity.
The last two antihistamines, Cetrin and Zyrtec, contain desloratadine as the active substance. They have fewer side effects. But their price is much higher than for Loratadin.
Cheap counterpart
These are first-generation drugs. It is believed that the strength of their action is lower, and the consequences are noted more often. Cheaper than Loratadin analogues are Tavegil, Ketotifen, Suprastin, known to everyone as Diphenhydramine, Pipolfen, Clemastine. As already noted, these drugs are weaker, but a lower price often makes the patient choose them.
Storage conditions
"Loratadine", analogues and substitutes for this product are stored in a dry place at a temperature of 16-20 degrees. Avoid contact with blisters and bottles of sunlight.
It is very important, before starting treatment, read the instructions for use of a particular tool. The medicine we are considering, as well as the substitutes for Loratadin, are no exception.
Instructions for use
Tablets are prescribed for adults or children over 12 years old, before or after a meal, 1 tablet 1 time per day.
Children from 3 to 12 years old need to consider body weight. If it is more than 30 kg, then prescribe the medicine, as an adult. If less, give 0.5 tablets once a day or syrup. This is how Loratadine is used (instructions). Analogs are prescribed in the same dosage.
Apply "Loratadine" should be no more than 3 weeks. Then it is replaced with other drugs of this series. Usually doctors advise Tsetrin or Erius. You can do this in reverse order. This is because the effectiveness of the drug is reduced. In parallel, it is necessary to carry out treatment with enterosorbents, for example, Enterosgel. After drinking it for two weeks, take a break for a month. If the disease does not go away by this time, repeat the course again.
Treating children
For children, the drug we are considering is prescribed only from 3 years. Prior to this, you can use the syrup "Erius" - an analogue of "Loratadin." He is prescribed one scoop (comes with the medicine) once a day. Usually, the course of treatment lasts from 5 to 10 days. If the child does not respond well to it, then you can make the medicine less concentrated by diluting it with boiled water.
Price
If Claritin costs 250-300 rubles, then Loratadin will cost 10 times cheaper: it can be purchased for 25-30 rubles.
Reviews
What does Loratadin collect reviews? Claritin analogs are popular with consumers primarily at an affordable price. People note a good result when using this tool. Some patients did not like Loratadin Syrup. They indicate that it is too sweet and cloying. That is why doctors advise diluting it with boiled water.
Consumers talk about the effective treatment of allergies to animal hair. A week after the start of therapy with the indicated remedy, swelling under the eyes, itching, runny nose disappear.
The analogue of “Loratadin” helps, and the drug itself is allergic to drugs and cosmetics, such as peeling with a bodysuit. Users are advised to take the medicine immediately after the first signs of the disease appear. And for those who are prone to allergic reactions, drink a tablet immediately after contact with an allergen, without waiting for unpleasant sensations.
Among the side effects are the feeling of "goosebumps" and dehydration, and most often - dry mouth. It is noted in the most reviews.
Some patients complain of lower back pain in the kidneys. After stopping the antihistamine, they passed, and the condition stabilized.
Therefore, before you start using the drug for allergies, whether it is the original "Claritin" or its analogue "Loratadine", you need to consult a doctor.