Desloratadine and Clopidogrel: Interaction Details
AI-assisted, pharmacist-reviewed · Source data updated Aug 8, 2026 · Sources: FDA labeling, DDInter 2.0, cited literature
Clopidogrel
Desloratadine
How we grade severity & evidence
Severity levels
- Contraindicated: These should generally not be used together.
- Major: Potentially serious — often needs a change or close monitoring.
- Moderate: Can be significant — usually manageable with monitoring.
- Minor: Usually limited clinical impact.
Evidence grades
- Established: Well documented — supported by controlled studies or strong clinical data.
- Probable: Good supporting evidence, though not definitively proven.
- Suspected: Some evidence suggests this interaction, but it is not well established.
- Possible: Limited or conflicting evidence; the interaction may occur.
- Theoretical: Predicted from the drugs' pharmacology; not yet confirmed in people.
Ratings come from the documented interaction literature and are reviewed by a pharmacist. They describe the documented risk of the combination, not what will necessarily happen to you — your dose, timing, and health picture all matter.
What happens
Increased desloratadine exposure
Interaction Deep Dive
Coadministration of clopidogrel, a strong CYP2C8 inhibitor, may increase plasma concentrations of certain CYP2C8 substrates1, such as desloratadine. In a study, coadministration of desloratadine and clopidogrel increased the desloratadine AUC by 280% and Cmax by 165% compared with desloratadine and placebo 2. If coadministration is required, adjust the dosage of the CYP2C8 substrate and monitor appropriately 1.
Why it happens (mechanism)
Inhibition of CYP2C8-mediated metabolism by clopidogrel
Literature reports
1 report — tap to read
a) Coadministration of desloratadine and clopidogrel increased desloratadine AUC(0 to infinity) by 280% (90% CI, 232% to 338%) and Cmax by 165% (90% CI, 133% to 204%) compared with desloratadine and placebo in a randomized crossover study of healthy, nonsmoking volunteers (N=11); half-life was also prolonged from 17 to 26 hours. During the clopidogrel phase of the study, patients received clopidogrel 300 mg on day 3, followed by 75 mg on days 4 and 5, and a single dose of desloratadine 5 mg was administered on day 3. Clopidogrel is a CYP2C8 inhibitor, and the results suggest that the in vivo metabolism of desloratadine to 3-hydroxydesloratadine (metabolite) is highly dependent on CYP2C8 2.
Common questions
Can I take Desloratadine and Clopidogrel together?
Increased desloratadine exposure Always confirm with your pharmacist or prescriber before making any change.
How serious is the Desloratadine and Clopidogrel interaction?
It is rated major. Potentially serious — often needs a change or close monitoring.
How quickly could this interaction happen?
The documented onset is "unspecified". The timing of this interaction is not well characterized.
How strong is the evidence for this interaction?
The evidence is graded "probable". Good supporting evidence, though not definitively proven.
From our Q&A
Real reader questions about these medications, each personally answered by our pharmacist:
Questions for your pharmacist
- Does my dose of Desloratadine or Clopidogrel need adjusting while I take them together?
- What symptoms should prompt me to call you or my prescriber right away?
- Does the timing of my doses matter for this combination?
- Is there a safer alternative to one of these medications for me?
References (2)
- Product Information: PLAVIX(R) oral tablets, clopidogrel bisulfate oral tablets. sanofi-aventis US LLC (per FDA), Bridgewater, NJ, 2022. DailyMed
- Itkonen MK, Tornio A, Neuvonen M, et al: Clopidogrel and gemfibrozil strongly inhibit the CYP2C8-dependent formation of 3-hydroxydesloratadine and increase desloratadine exposure in humans. Drug Metab Dispos 2019; 47(4):377-385. PubMed
Keep reading about Clopidogrel
Keep reading about Desloratadine
These medications also interact with supplements
Prescription drugs aren't the whole picture — herbal and dietary supplements can interact with them too. From the evidence-graded Natural Medicines database:
major · moderate · minor — check everything you take with our drug–supplement interaction checker.
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