Ap-Loratadine is loratadine, a once-daily antihistamine for allergies. It treats hay fever, year-round allergic rhinitis, hives and allergic itching. The registered South African product is a syrup at 5 mg per 5 ml; loratadine tablets are 10 mg.
What is Ap Loratadine?
The South African Medicine Price Registry lists Ap-Loratadine as a Schedule 1 syrup containing loratadine 5 mg per 5 ml — available from a pharmacy without a prescription.
Searches often mention 10 mg, which is the standard adult tablet strength of loratadine. The syrup is the paediatric form, dosed by a child’s age and weight; two 5 ml spoonfuls of syrup is the same 10 mg as one adult tablet, but children should be dosed by the pack instructions, not by matching an adult tablet.
Loratadine is a second-generation antihistamine. It blocks H1 histamine receptors. Histamine, released by mast cells when the immune system reacts to something harmless, causes the swelling, itching, sneezing and mucus of an allergic reaction; blocking its receptors interrupts that.
Being second-generation, loratadine barely crosses into the brain, so it is among the least sedating antihistamines available — noticeably less so than cetirizine, and comparable to fexofenadine. That makes it a common choice for people who need to drive, work or study.
It is converted by the liver into desloratadine, which does much of the work — the same substance sold in its own right as Dazit and Clarex.
Loratadine works within about an hour and lasts a full day.
What is Ap Loratadine 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.
- Hives (urticaria) 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.
Three practical limits:
It does not treat colds or flu. Those are viral. It may dry a runny nose slightly, but fever and body aches point away from allergy entirely.
It does little for a blocked nose. Antihistamines handle sneezing, itching and running well and congestion poorly. Persistent blockage responds better to a steroid nasal spray, which acts on the inflammation directly.
Regular use beats reactive use. For a predictable allergy season, taking it daily from the start works considerably better than waiting until symptoms have built.
How Ap Loratadine fits into this medicine category
| Group | Examples | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Second-generation antihistamines | Loratadine (Ap-Loratadine), cetirizine (Austell Cetirizine), desloratadine, fexofenadine | Once daily; least sedating |
| First-generation antihistamines | Chlorphenamine (Rhineton), promethazine | Effective but markedly sedating |
| Steroid nasal sprays | Fluticasone, mometasone | Best for persistent nasal allergy, especially congestion |
| Decongestants | Pseudoephedrine, oxymetazoline | Blockage only; short-term; blood pressure cautions |
| Leukotriene blockers | Montelukast | Allergic rhinitis with asthma |
| Eye drops | Antihistamine or cromoglycate drops | Eye symptoms specifically |
Among the second-generation antihistamines, loratadine is generally the least sedating, cetirizine the most effective for some people but more sedating, and desloratadine somewhere between. Individual response varies, and trying a different one is reasonable if the first does not suit. See the allergy, cold and flu medicines hub.
What to check before using Ap Loratadine
Speak to a pharmacist or doctor if you:
- Have liver disease. This matters more with loratadine than with most antihistamines, because the liver converts it into its active form and clears it — the dose is usually reduced in liver impairment.
- Have kidney 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 is common and adds side effects without adding benefit.
- Are buying for a child. Use the syrup at the dose for their age and weight — and note that many children’s cold remedies already contain an antihistamine.
- Are elderly.
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 — kitchen teaspoons vary widely.
- Take it regularly through an allergy season rather than only on bad days.
- Although drowsiness is uncommon, 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
Loratadine is very well tolerated. Common effects are headache, tiredness, dry mouth and occasionally nausea. Drowsiness is uncommon at the standard dose. In children, restlessness or irritability is sometimes seen instead of sedation.
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 is not adequate treatment for it, and giving 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 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, drowsy or unwell on it, or a child’s symptoms are not settling.
- You have liver problems and have not had the dose checked.
Related medicine guides
- Browse Allergy, Cold & Flu Medicines guides
- Read: Austell Cetirizine used for
- Read: Rhineton used for
Frequently asked questions
What is Ap-Loratadine used for? Allergies — hay fever, year-round allergic rhinitis, hives, allergic itching and allergic eye symptoms. It contains loratadine.
What is Ap-Loratadine 10 mg used for? The same conditions. 10 mg is the standard adult tablet strength of loratadine; the registered Ap-Loratadine product here is a 5 mg per 5 ml syrup.
Will it make me drowsy? Rarely. Loratadine is among the least sedating antihistamines, which is why it suits people who need to drive or work.
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. Use the measuring device supplied, and check that no cold remedy they are taking already contains an antihistamine.
Can I take it for a cold? It will not treat a cold. Colds are viral, and fever and aches point away from allergy.
Is it the same as cetirizine? Both are second-generation antihistamines doing the same job. Loratadine is less sedating; some people find cetirizine more effective. Either is a reasonable choice.