Dazit is desloratadine, a once-daily antihistamine. It is used for hay fever, year-round allergic rhinitis and hives — sneezing, runny nose, itchy eyes and itchy skin. It comes as a 5 mg tablet and as a syrup for children.
What is Dazit?
Dazit contains desloratadine. The South African Medicine Price Registry lists two presentations, both Schedule 2 — available from a pharmacy without a prescription:
| Product | Form | Strength |
|---|---|---|
| Dazit | Tablet | Desloratadine 5 mg |
| Dazit Syrup | Syrup | Desloratadine 2.5 mg / 5 ml |
(The register spells the tablet ingredient “desloratidine” — a typographical variant of desloratadine, not a different substance.)
One thing to clear up first. Dazit is an allergy medicine, not a digestive one. It appears in this section of the site because of how the source catalogue was organised, but nothing about desloratadine acts on the stomach or bowel. If you were given it for indigestion, nausea, reflux or cramping, check the pack — something has been mixed up. The digestive and stomach medicines hub covers the medicines that genuinely belong to that group.
Desloratadine is a second-generation antihistamine, and it is the active breakdown product of loratadine. When you take loratadine, your liver converts it into desloratadine, which does the work. Taking desloratadine directly skips that step — which is why it is given at 5 mg where loratadine is given at 10 mg, and why it is somewhat less dependent on liver function.
It blocks H1 histamine receptors. Histamine, released by mast cells during an allergic reaction, produces the swelling, itching, sneezing and mucus that follow; blocking its receptors interrupts that.
Being second-generation, it barely enters the brain, so it is among the least sedating antihistamines available — less so than cetirizine, and comparable to loratadine.
What is Dazit commonly used for?
- Hay fever and seasonal allergic rhinitis — sneezing, runny nose, nasal itching, itchy and watery eyes.
- Year-round allergic rhinitis from dust mites, pets, mould or cockroach allergen.
- Chronic urticaria (hives) and allergic itching.
- Itchy skin in allergic rashes and some eczema flares.
- Insect bite reactions.
- Allergic conjunctivitis.
- Mild allergic reactions, alongside — never instead of — proper emergency treatment for anything severe.
It usually works within an hour and lasts a full day, so it is taken once daily.
Two limits worth knowing:
It does not treat colds or flu. Those are viral. Fever and body aches point away from allergy entirely.
It does little for nasal congestion. Antihistamines handle sneezing, itching and running well and blockage poorly. Persistent congestion generally responds better to a steroid nasal spray.
For seasonal allergy, taking it regularly through the season works considerably better than waiting for symptoms to build.
How Dazit fits into this medicine category
Dazit belongs among the allergy medicines, and this is how they compare:
| Group | Examples | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Second-generation antihistamines | Desloratadine (Dazit), loratadine, cetirizine, fexofenadine | Once daily; least sedating |
| First-generation antihistamines | Chlorphenamine, promethazine | Effective but markedly sedating |
| Steroid nasal sprays | Fluticasone, mometasone | Best for persistent nasal allergy and congestion |
| Decongestants | Pseudoephedrine | Blockage only; short-term; blood pressure cautions |
| Leukotriene blockers | Montelukast | Allergic rhinitis with asthma |
For contrast, the medicines that actually treat the digestive tract work quite differently — antispasmodics such as hyoscine (Hyospasmol) relax gut muscle for cramping, and prokinetics such as metoclopramide (Adco-Contromet) treat nausea and slow stomach emptying. Neither has anything in common with an antihistamine for allergy.
What to check before using Dazit
Speak to a pharmacist or doctor if you:
- Have kidney disease or reduced kidney function — the dose may need adjusting.
- Have liver disease.
- Have epilepsy or a history of seizures.
- Are pregnant or breastfeeding.
- Are already taking another antihistamine, including one hidden inside a cold and flu remedy. Doubling up adds side effects without adding benefit, and it happens easily.
- Are buying for a child. The syrup is dosed by age and weight; adult tablets are not suitable for young children.
- Have phenylketonuria or another reason to check the syrup’s excipients.
Practical points:
- Take it once daily at the same time, with or without food.
- Measure the syrup with the device supplied, not a kitchen spoon.
- Take it regularly through an allergy season rather than only on bad days.
- Although it rarely causes drowsiness, find out how it affects you before driving.
- If you are due for allergy skin prick testing, antihistamines interfere with the results and usually need stopping several days beforehand. Ask before booking.
Possible cautions and when to ask a pharmacist or doctor
Desloratadine is very well tolerated. The commonest effects are headache, tiredness, dry mouth and occasionally nausea. Drowsiness is uncommon at the standard dose. In children, restlessness or irritability is sometimes seen.
Get emergency help immediately for signs of a severe allergic reaction — swelling of the lips, tongue or throat, difficulty breathing or swallowing, widespread hives with faintness, or collapse. Anaphylaxis is treated with adrenaline. An antihistamine tablet is not adequate treatment for it, and taking one instead of calling for help wastes time that matters.
Contact a doctor if:
- Symptoms are not controlled after a week or two of regular use.
- You need an antihistamine most days for months — a steroid nasal spray, allergy testing or immunotherapy may serve you better.
- Hives last more than six weeks, or come with joint pain, fever or weight loss.
- You have wheezing, chest tightness or breathlessness. Allergy and asthma frequently travel together, and asthma needs its own treatment.
- A child becomes unusually agitated or unwell on it.
- You are taking it for digestive symptoms. It will not help, and whatever is causing them has not been treated.
Related medicine guides
Frequently asked questions
What are Dazit tablets used for? Allergies — hay fever, year-round allergic rhinitis, hives, allergic itching and allergic eye symptoms. It contains desloratadine 5 mg.
Is Dazit a stomach medicine? No. It is an antihistamine for allergy and has no effect on the stomach or bowel.
Is it the same as loratadine? Desloratadine is what your body converts loratadine into. Dazit delivers it directly, which is why 5 mg matches loratadine 10 mg.
Will it make me drowsy? Rarely. It is among the least sedating antihistamines, though a small number of people still feel tired on it.
How quickly does it work? Usually within an hour, lasting about a day, so it is taken once daily.
Will it unblock my nose? Not much. For congestion, a steroid nasal spray usually works better.
Can I give the syrup to my child? Yes, at the dose for their age and weight. Check with a pharmacist and use the supplied measuring device.
Do I need a prescription? No. It is Schedule 2 — available from a pharmacy without one.