Levocetirizine Hydrochloride

Levocetirizine Hydrochloride is a second-generation h1 antihistamine medicine available in Bangladesh under many brand names. Below are its uses, dosage, side effects and precautions — and all brands with their current prices.

• Relief of nasal and eye symptoms of seasonal allergic rhinitis.
• Relief of symptoms of perennial allergic rhinitis.
• Treatment of chronic idiopathic urticaria, including itching and wheals/hives.

The usual adult dose of Levocetirizine Hydrochloride is taken once daily, often in the evening. The exact dose and duration should be decided by the prescribing doctor, especially for older adults, children, or people with kidney problems, where dose adjustment or avoidance may be needed.

• Common: sleepiness or drowsiness, tiredness, dry mouth, headache, and dizziness.
• Less common: nausea, abdominal discomfort, sore throat, cough, or nasal symptoms.
• Serious but uncommon: allergic reaction with swelling of the face/lips/tongue, breathing difficulty, severe rash, confusion, palpitations, urinary difficulty, or seizures. Seek urgent medical help if these occur.

Use Levocetirizine Hydrochloride with caution if you have kidney disease, are elderly, have epilepsy or seizure risk, have urinary retention/prostate problems, or need to drive, operate machinery, or do tasks requiring alertness. Avoid alcohol and sedating medicines unless your doctor approves. Use this medicine under the guidance of a registered doctor or pharmacist.

• Alcohol may increase drowsiness and impaired alertness.
• Other sedating medicines, such as sleeping tablets, anxiety medicines, opioids, some antidepressants, and other antihistamines, may increase sleepiness.
• Theophylline may reduce clearance of related antihistamines in some cases; clinical relevance is usually limited but medical advice is recommended.
• Food does not usually reduce the total effect, but it may slow the onset of action.

• Known hypersensitivity to levocetirizine, cetirizine, hydroxyzine, piperazine derivatives, or any tablet ingredient.
• Severe kidney impairment or end-stage renal disease, including patients on dialysis, unless specifically advised by a specialist.

During pregnancy, Levocetirizine Hydrochloride should be used only when clearly needed and recommended by a doctor. It may pass into breast milk and could cause drowsiness or irritability in a breastfed infant; breastfeeding mothers should consult a doctor before use.

Store at room temperature, away from excessive heat, moisture, and direct sunlight. Keep the tablets in the original packaging and out of the reach of children.