Abstract: Stable pharmaceutical compositions for oral administration are provided comprising an anti-allergic effective amount of descarbonylethoxy-loratadine or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, a lactose-based excipient and a pharmaceutically acceptable filler wherein the composition is substantially free of a pharmaceutically acceptable basic salt and wherein the composition contains less than about 1% by weight of N-formyl descarbonylethoxyloratadine after storage at a temperature of from about 25° C. to about 40° C. and a relative humidity of about 60% to about 75% for at least 1 month.