Desloratadine 5mg tablets

The image is for illustration purposes only. The brand supplied may vary. Start Free Online Consultation ℞ Prescription Only Medicine (POM) Buy Desloratadine 5mg Tablets Online Pack size: 30 tablets Desloratadine 5mg is a prescription-only, non-drowsy antihistamine (the active form of loratadine, sold under the brand name Neoclarityn). It is used to ease the symptoms of hay fever (allergic rhinitis) and hives (urticaria) in adults and young people aged 12 and over. In the UK you cannot buy desloratadine over the counter. Start a short online consultation and our pharmacist prescriber will check whether it is right for you before it is supplied. Start Free Consultation Dispensed by our GPhC-registered UK pharmacy in Gorleston, Norfolk, after a quick suitability check reviewed by our pharmacy team. Registered & regulated. GPhC . NHS DSP . LegitScript approved number10 Complete consultationFree · takes 3 minutes number11 Prescriber reviewsOur independent prescriber checks your answers number12 Pharmacy dispensesGPhC-registered pharmacy prepares your order number13 Delivered to your doorDiscreet tracked delivery UK-wide What is desloratadine 5mg? Desloratadine is a type of medicine called an antihistamine. It blocks histamine, the natural substance your body makes during an allergic reaction. This helps ease itching, sneezing, a runny or blocked nose and watery eyes. It is a second-generation, “non-drowsy” antihistamine, so it is much less likely to make you feel sleepy than older antihistamines. Some people may still feel a little tired, especially at first. Desloratadine is the active form (metabolite) of loratadine and is also sold under the brand name Neoclarityn. Why is desloratadine prescription-only in the UK? In the UK, desloratadine 5mg tablets are a Prescription-Only Medicine (POM). This means you cannot buy them over the counter in a shop. A prescriber must decide it is safe and suitable for you first. At Online Chemist you can do this through a quick online consultation. What it is used for Hay fever (allergic rhinitis): sneezing, itchy or runny nose, a blocked nose and itchy, watery eyes caused by things like pollen, dust or pet hair. Hives (urticaria): an itchy, raised rash that can come and go. It is for adults and young people aged 12 and over. How our online consultation works You fill in a short, private health questionnaire. Our pharmacist prescriber reviews your answers. If desloratadine is safe and suitable for you, it is prescribed. Your medicine is dispensed by our GPhC-registered pharmacy and delivered to your door. If it is not the right choice for you, our pharmacist will tell you and can suggest what to do next. Who it may suit It may suit adults and young people aged 12 and over who have hay fever or hives and want a once-a-day, non-drowsy option. It is not suitable for everyone — please read the cautions below and answer the consultation questions honestly. How it is taken The usual dose is one 5mg tablet once a day, with or without food. Take it at about the same time each day. If you have kidney or liver problems, your prescriber may advise a different schedule. Always follow the advice on your prescription and read the patient information leaflet (PIL) inside the pack. Who should not use it / cautions Tell our pharmacist or your doctor if any of these apply. Do not start desloratadine if: You are allergic to desloratadine, loratadine, or any of the other ingredients. You are under 12 years old (this 5mg tablet strength is for ages 12 and over). Use with caution, and only if advised, if you: Are pregnant or trying to get pregnant — the manufacturer advises avoiding desloratadine in pregnancy unless a doctor decides the benefit is greater than the risk. Are breastfeeding — the manufacturer advises avoiding it. Have kidney or liver problems — you may need a different dose. Drink alcohol — take care, as some people have reported alcohol affecting them more strongly. Have a rare inherited sugar problem — some tablets contain lactose (check the leaflet for your pack). When to seek help Call 999 or go to A&E if you have signs of a serious allergic reaction, such as swelling of the lips, face, mouth or throat, a tight chest, or trouble breathing. Speak to your pharmacist or doctor if your symptoms do not improve after a few days, get worse, or if you have any side effect that worries you. Desloratadine service summary Detail Information Service Online consultation for desloratadine 5mg tablets (prescription-only) What it covers Assessment and, if suitable, treatment of hay fever (allergic rhinitis) and hives (urticaria) Who it is for Adults and young people aged 12 and over How it works Short online questionnaire → pharmacist prescriber review → prescribed if suitable → dispensed and delivered Active ingredient Desloratadine 5mg (a non-drowsy antihistamine; brand name Neoclarityn) Prescriber GPhC-registered pharmacist prescriber Dispensed by Online Chemist — GPhC-registered NHS distance selling pharmacy Delivery Discreet UK home delivery after the prescription is approved Important safety information This information does not replace advice from your pharmacist or doctor. Always read the patient information leaflet that comes with your medicine. If you are unsure whether desloratadine is right for you, speak to our pharmacist before starting. Alternative products available to buy Desloratadine is prescription-only, so it needs a consultation. If you would rather buy a similar non-drowsy antihistamine without a prescription, these options are available over the counter in the UK. They work in a similar way for hay fever and hives. If you are not sure which one suits you, our pharmacists are here to help. Loratadine 10mg tablets — a once-a-day, non-drowsy antihistamine (brand name Clarityn). Desloratadine is the active form of loratadine. Cetirizine 10mg tablets — a once-a-day, non-drowsy antihistamine (brand names include Piriteze and Zirtek). It often starts to work quickly. Fexofenadine 120mg tablets — a once-a-day, non-drowsy antihistamine for hay fever (brand name Allevia). The 120mg strength can be bought over the counter; the 180mg strength is prescription-only. Do not take more than one antihistamine at a time unless a pharmacist or doctor has told you to. Always read the patient information leaflet. .oc-rel{–blue:#005eb8;–navy:#0e2540;–cream:#f8f7f2;–border:#e3e0d8;–radius:14px;font-family:inherit;color:var(–navy);box-sizing:border-box;background:var(–cream);border:1px solid var(–border);border-radius:var(–radius);padding:24px 22px} .oc-rel *{box-sizing:border-box} .oc-rel h2{font-size:20px;margin:0 0 14px} .oc-rel .grp{margin:0 0 14px} .oc-rel .grp:last-child{margin:0} .oc-rel .lbl{font-size:12px;text-transform:uppercase;letter-spacing:.4px;color:var(–blue);font-weight:700;margin:0 0 6px} .oc-rel p{margin:0;font-size:15px;line-height:1.6} .oc-rel a{color:var(–blue);font-weight:600;text-decoration:none} .oc-rel a:hover{text-decoration:underline} Related hay fever & hives treatments Other prescription antihistamine Levocetirizine 5mg Over-the-counter antihistamines Cetirizine 10mg · Loratadine 10mg · Fexofenadine 120mg Add for nasal symptoms Beconase steroid nasal spray Browse by condition Hay fever treatments · Hives (urticaria) treatments References electronic Medicines Compendium (emc). Desloratadine 5 mg film-coated tablets – Summary of Product Characteristics. [accessed 27 July 2026]. Available from: medicines.org.uk. electronic Medicines Compendium (emc). NeoClarityn – Summary of Product Characteristics. [accessed 27 July 2026]. Available from: medicines.org.uk. NICE. Desloratadine. British National Formulary. [accessed 27 July 2026]. Available from: bnf.nice.org.uk. NHS. Antihistamines. [accessed 27 July 2026]. Available from: nhs.uk. Written & reviewed by our qualified team​ Content written by: Ayub Ali, BPharm, MPharm Pharmacy Manager Content written: July 2026 Next review: July 2028 View full profile ↗ Content reviewed by: Obaidullah Zaman, MRCPharm, IP, PGDip, MPharm Superintendent Pharmacist and Independent Prescriber GPhC number: 2083409 Date reviewed: July 2026 View full profile ↗ Frequently asked questions Is desloratadine prescription-only in the UK? Yes. Desloratadine 5mg tablets are a Prescription-Only Medicine in the UK, so you cannot buy them over the counter. A prescriber must confirm it is suitable for you first, which you can do through our online consultation. Can you buy desloratadine over the counter? No. It is not available over the counter in the UK. It is supplied only after an online consultation reviewed by our pharmacist prescriber. What is desloratadine used for? It is used to ease the symptoms of hay fever (allergic rhinitis) and hives (urticaria), such as sneezing, itching, a runny or blocked nose and watery eyes. How long does desloratadine take to work? It usually starts to work within about an hour, and one dose can help for up to 24 hours. Is desloratadine non-drowsy? It is classed as a non-drowsy (non-sedating) antihistamine. Even so, a small number of people may feel a little tired, especially when they first start it. What is the difference between desloratadine and loratadine? Desloratadine is the active form (metabolite) of loratadine. They work in a similar way. You should not take both together unless a doctor has told you to. What are the side effects of desloratadine? The most common side effects are tiredness, dry mouth and headache. Most are mild. Read the patient information leaflet for the full list, and report any that worry you to your pharmacist or doctor. Can I take desloratadine during pregnancy? The manufacturer advises avoiding desloratadine in pregnancy and while breastfeeding unless a doctor decides the benefit is greater than the risk. Always tell our pharmacist if you are pregnant, trying to conceive, or breastfeeding. Start Free Online Consultation Frequently bought together Advice & Guides