Clarinex (Desloratadine) Contraindications and Precautions
- infants
- neonates
- asthma
- breast-feeding
- children
- driving or operating machinery
- hepatic disease
- pregnancy
- renal disease
- renal failure
- renal impairment
Clarinex (Desloratadine) Contraindications/Precautions
The anticholinergic activity of H1-antagonists may result in thickened bronchial secretions in the respiratory tract thereby aggravating asthma or an asthmatic attack. However, these anticholinergic effects do not preclude the use of H1-antagonists in all asthmatic patients, particularly if the upper respiratory symptom is not a primary component of the illness. Because desloratadine possesses only weak anticholinergic properties, it would not be expected to adversely affect the respiratory status of most asthmatic patients.
Desloratadine dosage adjustments are recommended for patients with hepatic disease resulting in impairment of any severity, or in patients with renal impairment associated with renal disease or renal failure. The serum concentrations of desloratadine are increased in these patients. Whether or not these increased desloratadine plasma levels are associated with adverse reactions is not known.
The safety and effectiveness of desloratadine in children < 12 years of age have not been established. Antihistamines generally should not be used in neonates due to the possibility of paradoxical CNS stimulation. Infants, particularly those that are premature, are at higher risk for adverse effects.
Desloratadine is classified as FDA pregnancy risk category C. No teratogenic or mutagenic effects were observed in animal trials with desloratadine. No adequate, well controlled studies exist in pregnant women. Caution should be exercised when desloratadine is used during pregnancy.
Desloratadine is distributed into breast milk. Concentrations in the breast milk and maternal serum are equivalent. Infants, particularly those that are premature, are at higher risk for adverse effects. Therefore, the decision whether or not a woman should continue breast-feeding her infant should take into account the importance of the drug to the mother.
Desloratadine may cause drowsiness or somnolence in individual patients; therefore, patients receiving desloratadine should be advised to avoid driving or operating machinery until the effects of the drug are known.
[ Last revised: 12/29/2002 8:39:00 PM ]
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