Drug Mechanism: How does Claritin work?

Generic Claritin 10 mg/Loratadine is a long-acting antihistamine.

Histamine is a chemical that causes many of the signs that are part of allergic reactions, for example, swelling of tissues. Histamine is released from histamine-storing cells (mast cells) and attaches to other cells that have receptors for histamine. The attachment of the histamine to the receptors causes the cell to be \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\"activated,\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\" releasing other chemicals which produce the effects that we associate with allergy.

Generic Claritin 10 mg (Loratadine) blocks one type of receptor for histamine (the H1 receptor) and thus prevents activation of cells by histamine.

Unlike most other antihistamines, Generic Claritin 10 mg (loratadine) does not enter the brain from the blood and, therefore, does not cause drowsiness.