Fexlora

Fexlora is a mint chewable tablet holding 10 mg of loratadine per tablet, made by SPS Medical Co., Ltd. in Thailand. A box holds 1 strip of 10 chewable tablets.

Loratadine is an antihistamine that blocks histamine, the substance behind allergy symptoms. People who find whole tablets hard to swallow may be interested in a chewable form. Chew it as the box directs.

Drug facts here are for loratadine 10 mg in general (MedlinePlus, NHS, UK SmPC, the US Claritin RediTabs label), not a Fexlora leaflet, because none was found online. Product details (10 mg strength, chewable, mint, 10 tablets, maker) come from the box. Read the leaflet in the box too.

What is loratadine 10 mg for? Going by documents for loratadine in general, it eases these symptoms.

• Sneezing and a runny nose
• An itchy nose or throat
• Red, itchy or watery eyes
• Itching and redness from hives (MedlinePlus)
• Reactions to insect bites and stings (NHS)

The US label says it temporarily relieves hay fever or other upper respiratory allergy symptoms. The Fexlora box lists respiratory allergy (sneezing, runny nose, itchy nose, itchy or sore eyes), chronic hives and skin allergy.

Follow the directions on the box and a pharmacist's advice. General information for loratadine 10 mg:

• Forms — loratadine comes as a liquid, tablet, chewable tablet, capsule and rapidly disintegrating tablet, taken once a day (MedlinePlus).
• Adults — 10 mg once a day (NHS, UK SmPC).
• How to chew — not given in the documents read, and there is no Fexlora document. Chew it as the box directs; do not guess.
• Severe liver impairment — 10 mg every other day (UK SmPC). The NHS says a lower dose or every other day.

For a missed dose, food and children's doses, see the FAQ below.

For loratadine in general, from the UK SmPC, NHS and MedlinePlus.

• Common — sleepiness is the most common, in more than 1 in 100 people (NHS). The NHS calls it a non-drowsy antihistamine, though some people still feel slightly sleepy. MedlinePlus lists headache, drowsiness and tiredness.
• Figures from adult and adolescent trials (10 mg daily, in excess of placebo) — sleepiness 1.2%, headache 0.6%, increased appetite 0.5%, insomnia 0.1%, 2% overall.
• Children aged 2-12 — headache 2.7%, nervousness 2.3%, fatigue 1%.

Stop and get medical help for a rash, hives, itching, trouble breathing or swallowing, or swelling of the eyes, face, lips, tongue or throat. The NHS says a serious allergic reaction is rare.

• Allergy — do not use with an allergy to loratadine or any ingredient (UK SmPC, US label).
• Tell a doctor or pharmacist first (NHS) — with allergies to other medicines, an allergy to food additives, severe liver failure, epilepsy or a risk of seizures.
• Pregnancy — the UK SmPC says over 1,000 exposed pregnancies showed no malformation in the baby, but as a precaution it is preferable to avoid it. The US label says to ask a health professional first.
• Breastfeeding — the UK SmPC says the medicine passes into breast milk and is not recommended.
• Phenylketonuria (PKU) — MedlinePlus says chewable tablets may contain aspartame, which forms phenylalanine. It is not known whether Fexlora does, so check the ingredients on the box.

• Z-Deen (Loratadine 10 mg) — the same drug as Fexlora, loratadine 10 mg, but a plain tablet that is swallowed. Pick it when you prefer a swallow tablet.
• Aerius (Desloratadine) — a desloratadine tablet. Desloratadine is the active metabolite the body makes from loratadine (UK SmPC).
• Zyrtec (Cetirizine) — a tablet with cetirizine, a different antihistamine from loratadine.
• Alerest (Cetirizine) — another cetirizine tablet brand.
• Fenafex (Fexofenadine) — a tablet with fexofenadine, yet another antihistamine.

The documents read do not compare loratadine with cetirizine or fexofenadine directly, so this page does not say which suits you better.

In short: for loratadine 10 mg as a chewable, look at Fexlora; for a swallow tablet, Z-Deen; for another antihistamine, Aerius, Zyrtec, Alerest or Fenafex. If unsure, ask a pharmacist first.

• Ketoconazole, erythromycin, cimetidine — raised loratadine blood levels in controlled trials, without clinically significant changes, including on the ECG (UK SmPC).
• CYP3A4 or CYP2D6 inhibitors — a possible interaction that may increase side effects (UK SmPC).
• Other antihistamines — the documents read say nothing. Ask a pharmacist before taking them together.

Tell a pharmacist or doctor about every medicine, supplement and herb you take before you start.

• Starts to feel better — within 1-3 hours of a dose (NHS, UK SmPC).
• Peak blood level — loratadine 1-1.5 hours, and its active metabolite desloratadine 1.5-3.7 hours.
• Peak antihistamine effect on the skin — 8-12 hours.
• Half-life — loratadine 8.4 hours (range 3-20), desloratadine 28 hours (range 8.8-92).
• Duration — more than 24 hours after a single 10 mg dose, which is why it is taken once a day.

The UK SmPC read is for a plain tablet, not a chewable, and no Fexlora-specific figures were found. It differs from person to person. If you see no improvement, ask a pharmacist or doctor.

Where can you buy Fexlora?

Order online from Intimo Life, shipped across Thailand in 1-3 working days. Packed discreetly for privacy, with no product name on the parcel.