ABSTRACT
Loratadine, 4-(8-Chloro-5,6-dihydro-11H-benzo[5,6]cyclohepta[1,2-b]pyridin-11-ylidene)-1-piperidinecarboxylic acid ethyl ester, is an antihistamine drug with long-acting effects and has limited selectivity for peripheral H1 receptors. It is widely used for the prevention of allergic diseases such as rhinitis chronic urticaria, and asthma. This chapter discusses, by a critical extensive review of the literature, the description of loratadine in terms of its names, formulae, elemental composition, appearance, methods of preparation. The profile contains physicochemical properties of Loratadine, including pKa value, solubility and X-ray powder diffraction. In addition, it involves Fourier transform infrared spectrometry, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and mass spectroscopy for functional groups and structural confirmation of. The chapter also includes methods of analysis of the drug such as compendial, titrimetric, electrochemical, spectroscopic, chromatographic and capillary electrophoretic methods. The chapter also covers clinical applications of the drug such as its uses, doses, ADME profiles and mechanism of action.
