NURSING MOTHERS:Desloratadine passes into breast milk and should therefore be used with caution in nursing mothers.
IN A MOVE to block generic over-the-counter (OTC) competition for its $3.2 billion antihistamine Claritin (loratadine) and lock-in sales of Clarinex (desloratadine), a newly launched successor, Schering-Plough Corp. (SHP) has filed separate suits against divisions of Johnson & Johnson (J&J) and American Home Products Corp. (AHP).
Desloratadine blocks one type of receptor for histamine (the H1 receptor) and thus prevents activation of H1 receptor-containing cells by histamine. Desloratadine does not readily enter the brain from the blood and, therefore, causes less drowsiness (sedation). It is a member of a small family of non-sedating antihistamines which includes loratadine (Claritin), cetirizine (Zyrtec), and azelastine (Astelin). Desloratadine was approved by the FDA in December, 2001.
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