Levocetirizine

Description

Levocetirizine is an antihistamine medicine used widely to relieve allergic symptoms like runny nose, sneezing, redness of the nose, watery eyes, itching, rash and hives. It stops the action of a natural substance called histamine produced in your body during an allergic reaction. Levocetirizine is available as a tablet and oral solution on prescription. Levocetirizine is generally safe to use. However, it may cause some side effects like drowsiness, dry mouth, headache, and tiredness. These symptoms are mild and go away with time. It is recommended to take Levocetirizine in the evening. The dose and duration will depend on what you are taking it for. Do not increase the dose or take this medicine more often than prescribed. Consult your doctor if you do not see any improvement in your symptoms after the treatment. Before taking Levocetirizine, tell your doctor if you have any medical condition like liver, kidney or heart disease. Your doctor should also be aware of any other medications that you are taking because many of them may reduce or alter the efficacy of this medicine. If you are pregnant or nursing, you should consult your doctor before using this medication.

Side effects

Major & minor side effects for Levocetirizine

  • Headache
  • Dry mouth
  • Diarrhoea
  • Nausea or Vomiting
  • Increased heart rate
  • Nose bleed
  • Weight gain

Uses of Levocetirizine

What is it prescribed for?

  • Allergic Rhinitis
  • Utricaria
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Concerns

Commonly asked questions

  • Onset of action
    The effect of Levocetirizine can be observed within an hour of taking it.
  • Duration of effect
    The effect of Levocetirizine may last for about 1 to 2 days.
  • Safe with alcohol?
    You should avoid or limit the consumption of alcohol if you have taken Levocetirizine as it may increase the risk of dizziness, drowsiness and difficulty in concentrating.
  • Is it habit forming?
    No habit-forming tendencies were reported.
  • Usage in pregnancy?
    Levocetirizine is generally safe in pregnancy to treat allergic symptoms. It is not known to cause any harm to your foetus. However, you should only use it on your doctor's recommendation.
  • Usage while breast-feeding?
    Levocetirizine can pass into breast milk. Hence, you should only use this medication if your doctor recommends it. Prolonged use or higher dose treatment may cause drowsiness and other side effects in your baby, as well as a reduction in milk supply.

Allergy

Avoid using Levocetirizine if you are allergic to it. Seek an immediate medical attention if you notice any symptoms of allergic reactions such as skin rash, itching/swelling (especially of the face/tongue/throat), severe dizziness, breathing difficulties, etc.

Kidney Disease

Do not take Levocetirizine if you have severe kidney disease (creatinine clearance less than 10 ml/min). This medicine is excreted out from your body through kidneys, and impaired kidney functions may lead to severe adverse effects.
Warnings for special population

Pregnancy

Levocetirizine is generally safe in pregnancy to treat allergic symptoms. It is not known to cause any harm to your foetus. However, you should only use it on your doctor's recommendation.

Breast-feeding

Levocetirizine can pass into breast milk. Hence, you should only use this medication if your doctor recommends it. Prolonged use or higher dose treatment may cause drowsiness and other side effects in your baby, as well as a reduction in milk supply.
General warnings

Other Medicines

Levocetirizine may raise the risk of drowsiness and impaired thinking when used with a sedative (sleep-inducing) medicine. Before beginning treatment with this medicine, you should inform your doctor about all of your current medications, including any herbs or supplements.

Infants

Levocetirizine is not recommended for use in infants younger than 6 months of age. The safety and effectiveness of this medicine are not clinically established. The tablet form of levocetirizine is not recommended for use in children younger than 6 years of age.

Urinary retention

Urinary retention is a condition where you cannot empty all the urine from the bladder (the organ in which urine is stored). This is a common symptom of prostatic hyperplasia [prostate gland (carries sperm containing fluid) enlargement]. You should take Levocetirizine with caution if you have such conditions or problems. This medicine may cause urination difficulty which can worsen your condition.

Seizures

If you are at risk of experiencing seizures/fits, consult your doctor before taking Levocetirizine. This medicine may aggravate seizures, thus can worsen your condition.

Driving or operating machinery

Levocetirizine may cause dizziness, sleepiness, or difficulty in concentrating to some extent. Do not drive vehicles or operate machines after taking this medicine

Missed Dose

If you missed a dose of Levocetirizine at a given time, then take it as soon as you remember. If it is almost the time for your next dose, skip the missed dose. Do not double your dose to make up for the missed dose.

Overdose

Never take more than the prescribed dose of Levocetirizine. If you suspect that you might have taken an overdose of this medicine, go to the emergency department of your local hospital.
All drugs interact differently for person to person. You should check all the possible interactions with your doctor before starting any medicine.
Interaction with Alcohol

Description

N/A

Instructions

You should avoid or limit the consumption of alcohol if you have taken Levocetirizine as it may increase the risk of dizziness, drowsiness and difficulty in concentrating.
Interaction with Medicine

Alprazolam

Codeine

Phenytoin

Phenobarbital

Disease interactions

Disease

Information not available.
Food interactions
Information not available.
Lab interactions
Information not available.
Take Levocetirizine with or without food. Do not take in larger amounts than advised/prescribed. Consult your doctor if you experience any undesirable side effects. Ensure that the course of treatment is completed. Do not stop the use of this medicine without consulting your doctor. Stop taking Levocetirizine at least three days before an allergy test, because it may affect the findings.
Miscelleneous

Can be taken with or without food, as advised by your doctor

To be taken as instructed by doctor

Causes sleepiness

How it works
Levocetirizine works by blocking the action of a natural substance produced in your body called histamine which is responsible for causing allergic symptoms.
Legal Status

Approved

Approved

Approved

Approved

Classification

Category

Antihistamines

Schedule

Schedule H

Pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. 2021. Levocetirizine. [online] Available at: < [Accessed 31 May 2021].

https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/1549000>

Drugs, H., 2021. Levocetirizine: MedlinePlus Drug Information. [online] Medlineplus.gov. Available at: < [Accessed 31 May 2021].

https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a607056.html>

Medicines.org.uk. 2021. Levocetirizine 5 mg film-coated tablets - Summary of Product Characteristics (SmPC) - (emc). [online] Available at: < [Accessed 31 May 2021].

https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/product/9917/smpc>

Accessdata.fda.gov. 2021. [online] Available at: < [Accessed 31 May 2021].

https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2008/022064s009lbl.pdf>

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Information on this page was last updated on 30 Aug 2021

Disclaimer

We’ve made all possible efforts to ensure that the information provided here is accurate, up-to-date and complete, however, it should not be treated as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Practo only provides reference source for common information on medicines and does not guarantee its accuracy or exhaustiveness. The absence of a warning for any drug or combination thereof, should not be assumed to indicate that the drug or combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for any given patient. Practo does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information provided above. If you have any doubts about your medication then we strongly recommend that you consult with your doctor, nurse or healthcare provider. See detailed T&C here.