Loratadine for Cat Allergies

Cat allergies cause sneezing, itching, watery eyes and breathing problems. You can avoid cat allergies by not owning cats. However, if you can't part from your furry friend or can't avoid the person in your life who has a furry friend, medications like loratadine can help.

Function

Loratadine is an oral antihistamine that relieves cat allergy symptoms, including swelling, runny nose, itchy or watery eyes, and hives.

Types

Loratadine comes in pill form and can be purchased under the generic name loratadine or the brand name Claritin.

Side Effects

Side effects of loratadine include headache, fatigue, dry mouth or nose, thirst, and hoarseness.

Considerations

Using loratadine can alter the results of an allergy test, so it should not be taken for several days prior to testing for cat allergies.

Warning

While loratadine helps alleviate cat allergies, it may aggravate kidney or liver conditions. Loratadine should not be used by the elderly, pregnant women or nursing women.

References

• NetDoctor: Pet Allergies
• MayoClinic.com: Allergy Medications: Know Your Options
• MedicineNet.com: Loratadine