Loratadine is a benzocycloheptapyridine that is 6,11-dihydro-5H-benzo[5,6]cyclohepta[1,2-b]pyridine substituted by a chloro group at position 8 and a 1-(ethoxycarbonyl)piperidin-4-ylidene group at position 11. It is a H1-receptor antagonist commonly employed in the treatment of allergic disorders. It has a role as a geroprotector, a H1-receptor antagonist, an anti-allergic agent and a cholinergic antagonist. It is an ethyl ester, a N-acylpiperidine, a tertiary carboxamide, an organochlorine compound and a benzocycloheptapyridine. It is functionally related to a desloratadine.