Levocetrizine Dihydrochloride
Indications
Levocetrizine Dihydrochloride is used for:
Allergic rhinitis, Chronic idiopathic urticaria
Adult Dose
Oral
Seasonal allergic rhinitis, Chronic idiopathic urticaria
Adult: 5mg once daily
Child Dose
Oral
Seasonal allergic rhinitis, Chronic idiopathic urticaria
Children 12 years of age and older: 5mg once daily
Children 6 to 11 years of age: 2.5mg (1/2 tablet or 1 teaspoon oral solution) once daily
Children 6 months to 5 years of age: 1.25 mg (1/2 teaspoon oral solution) once daily
Renal Dose
>12 years
CrCl: 50-80 mL/min: 2.5 mg PO qDay
CrCl: 30-50 mL/min: 2.5 PO qODay
CrCl: 10-30 mL/min: 2.5 mg every 3-4 days
CrCl: <10 mL/min, hemodialysis: Contraindicated
Administration
May be taken with or without food.
Contra Indications
Lactation. End-stage renal disease (CrCl <10 ml/min) or haemodialysis patients. Child 6-11 yr with renal impairment.
Precautions
Renal impairment. May impair ability to drive or operate machinery.
Lactation: expected to be excreted in breast milk, avoid
Pregnancy-Lactation
Interactions
Possible additive adverse CNS effects w/ CNS depressants (e.g. sedatives, tranquilizers).
Adverse Effects
Side effects of Levocetrizine Dihydrochloride :
1-10%
Dry mouth,Fatigue,Nasopharyngitis,Pharyngitis
Frequency Not Defined
Somnolence, dizziness, pyrexia, cough, epistaxis, diarrhoea, vomiting, constipation, otitis media, dysuria, urinary retention, blurred vision, angioedema, paraesthesia, dystonia, oculogyric crisis, myoclonus, extrapyramidal symptoms.
Mechanism of Action
Levocetirizine is an active isomer of cetirizine which selectively competes w/ histamine for H1-receptor sites on effector cells in the GI tract, blood vessels and resp tract.