levocetirizine

What is the most important information I should know about levocetirizine?

Follow all directions on your medicine label and package. Tell each of your healthcare providers about all your medical conditions, allergies, and all medicines you use.

What is levocetirizine?

Levocetirizine is an antihistamine that reduces the effects of natural chemical histamine in the body. Histamine can produce symptoms such as a runny nose or hives.

Levocetirizine is used to treat symptoms of year-round (perennial) allergies in children who are at least 6 months old.

Levocetirizine is also used to treat itching and swelling caused by chronic urticaria (hives) in adults and children who are at least 6 months old.

Levocetirizine may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.

What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking levocetirizine?

Tell your doctor if you have ever had:

• kidney disease;
• liver disease;
• urination problems (caused by conditions such as enlarged prostate or spinal cord lesion); or
• gallbladder problems.

Levocetirizine is not expected to harm an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant.

How should I take levocetirizine?

Follow all directions on your prescription label and read all medication guides or instruction sheets. Use the medicine exactly as directed.

A child's dose of levocetirizine is based on the age of the child. Follow your doctor's dosing instructions very carefully.

Taking more of this medication will not make it more effective, and may cause severe drowsiness.

Levocetirizine is usually taken in the evening, with or without food.

Measure liquid medicine carefully. Use the dosing syringe provided, or use a medicine dose-measuring device (not a kitchen spoon).

What happens if I miss a dose?

Take the medicine as soon as you can, but skip the missed dose if it is almost time for your next dose. Do not take two doses at one time.

What happens if I overdose?

What should I avoid while taking levocetirizine?

What are the possible side effects of levocetirizine?

• worsening allergy or urticaria symptoms;
• painful or difficult urination;
• little or no urination;
• a light-headed feeling, like you might pass out;
• fever; or
• signs of an ear infection --ear pain or full feeling, trouble hearing, drainage from the ear, fussiness in a child.

Common side effects may include:

• drowsiness, tiredness;
• sinus pain;
• ear infection;
• cough;
• fever;
• nosebleed;
• vomiting, diarrhea, constipation;
• dry mouth; or
• weight gain.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

What other drugs will affect levocetirizine?

Tell your doctor about all your other medicines, especially:

• ritonavir; or
• theophylline.

This list is not complete. Other drugs may affect levocetirizine, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Not all possible drug interactions are listed here.

Where can I get more information?

Your pharmacist can provide more information about levocetirizine.

Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed.

Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.

Copyright 1996-2023 Cerner Multum, Inc. Version: 5.01. Revision date: 4/25/2018.