Nightmares with desloratadine

Patients using desloratadine sometimes report nightmares or abnormal dreams. Between 2014 and 2026, the Dutch Pharmacovigilance Centre Lareb recieved twelve reports about nightmares with desloratadine.  

Desloratadine is a medication indicated for allergies and hay fever. The reports show that nightmares start to occur on the first night after use. Furthermore, they resolve in two to three days after discontinuation of desloratadine. 

Nightmares have been reported in both men and women, and in younger as well as elderly patients. About half of the patients used a higher daily dose than recommended, which may have increased the risk of developing this adverse drug reaction. 

The exact frequency of nightmares with desloratadine is unknown. It is currently not listed in the patient leaflet. Hallucinations are listed, with a very low frequency. Desloratadine is a second generation antihistamine with minimal passage of the blood brain barrier and few centrally mediated adverse reactions. Somnolence and drowsiness occur less frequently compared to older antihistamines.

Lareb has informed the Dutch Medicines Evaluation Board (CBG-MEB) about the reports. The topic will be discussed in the European network.