page213
Pregnancy
see notes above
Breast-feeding
see notes above
Side-effects
see notes above
Dose
. Seasonal allergic rhinitis, 120 mg once daily;
CHILD
6–
12 years, 30 mg twice daily
. Chronic idiopathic urticaria,
ADULT
and
CHILD
over 12
years, 180 mg once daily
Fexofenadine
(Non-proprietary) A
Tablets
,
f/c,
fexofenadine hydrochloride 120 mg,
net
price 30-tab pack = £2.95;
180 mg,
30-tab pack =
£3.68.
Label:
5,
counselling,
driving
Telfast
c
(Sanofi-Aventis) A
Tablets
,
f/c,
peach,
fexofenadine hydrochloride
30 mg,
net price 60-tab pack = £5.46;
120 mg,
30-tab
pack = £5.99;
180 mg,
30-tab pack = £7.58.
Label:
5,
counselling,
driving
LEVOCETIRIZINE HYDROCHLORIDE
Note
Levocetirizine is an isomer of cetirizine
Indications
symptomatic relief of allergy such as hay
fever,
urticaria
Cautions
see notes above
Contra-indications
see notes above
Renal impairment
5 mg on alternate days if eGFR 30–
50 mL/minute/1.73 m
2
;
5 mg every 3 days if eGFR
10–30 mL/minute/1.73 m
2
;
avoid if eGFR less than
10 mL/minute/1.73 m
2
Pregnancy
see notes above
Breast-feeding
see notes above
Side-effects
see notes above;
very rarely
weight gain
Dose
.
ADULT
and
CHILD
over 6 years, 5 mg once daily;
CHILD
2–6 years 1.25 mg twice daily
Xyzal
c
(UCB Pharma) A
Tablets
,
f/c,
levocetirizine hydrochloride 5 mg,
net
price 30-tab pack = £4.39.
Counselling,
driving
Oral solution
, sugar-free, levocetirizine hydrochloride
2.5 mg/5 mL,
net price 200 mL = £6.00.
Counselling,
driving
LORATADINE
Indications
symptomatic relief of allergy such as hay
fever,
chronic idiopathic urticaria
Cautions
see notes above
Contra-indications
see notes above
Hepatic impairment
reduce dose frequency to alter-
nate days in severe impairment
Pregnancy
see notes above
Breast-feeding
see notes above
Side-effects
see notes above
Dose
.
ADULT
and
CHILD
over 12 years 10 mg once daily;
CHILD
2–12 years, body-weight under 30 kg, 5 mg once daily;
body-weight over 30 kg, 10 mg once daily
Loratadine
(Non-proprietary)
Tablets
,
loratadine 10 mg,
net price 30-tab pack =
£1.20.
Counselling,
driving
Dental
prescribing on NHS
Loratadine 10 mg may be
prescribed
Syrup
,
loratadine 5 mg/5 mL,
net price 100 mL =
£2.65.
Counselling,
driving
Excipients
may include propylene glycol (see Excipients, p.
2)
MIZOLASTINE
Indications
symptomatic relief of allergy such as hay
fever,
urticaria
Cautions
see notes above
Contra-indications
see notes above;
also susceptibil-
ity to QT-interval prolongation (including cardiac
disease and hypokalaemia)
Hepatic impairment
manufacturer advises avoid in
significant impairment
Pregnancy
see notes above
Breast-feeding
see notes above
Side-effects
see notes above;
weight gain;
anxiety,
asthenia;
less commonly
arthralgia and myalgia
Dose
.
ADULT
and
CHILD
over 12 years,
10 mg once daily
Mizollen
c
(Sanofi-Aventis) A
Tablets
, m/r, f/c, scored, mizolastine 10 mg, net price
30-tab pack = £5.77.
Label:
25,
counselling,
driving
RUPATADINE
Indications
symptomatic relief of allergic rhinitis,
chronic idiopathic urticaria
Cautions
see notes above; also susceptibility to QT-
interval prolongation (including cardiac disease and
hypokalaemia);
elderly
Hepatic impairment
manufacturer advises avoid—no
information available
Renal impairment
manufacturer advises avoid—no
information available
Pregnancy
manufacturer advises caution—limited
information available; see also notes above
Breast-feeding
manufacturer advises caution; see
also notes above
Side-effects
see notes above;
also asthenia;
less
commonly
pyrexia,
irritability,
increased appetite,
arthralgia, and myalgia
Dose
.
ADULT
and
CHILD
over 12 years,
10 mg once daily
Rupafin
c
(GSK) T A
Tablets
,
pink,
rupatadine (as fumarate) 10 mg,
net
price 30-tab pack = £5.00.
Counselling,
driving
Sedating antihistamines
Driving
Drowsiness may affect performance of skilled
tasks
(e.g.
driving);
sedating
effects
enhanced
by
alcohol.
ALIMEMAZINE TARTRATE
(Trimeprazine tartrate)
Indications
urticaria and pruritus, premedication
Cautions
see notes above; see also section 4.2.1
Contra-indications
see notes above;
see also section
4.2.1
Hepatic impairment
see notes above
Renal impairment
avoid
Pregnancy
see notes above
Breast-feeding
see notes above
Side-effects
see notes above;
see also section 4.2.1
Dose
. Urticaria and pruritus, 10 mg 2–3 times daily, in severe
cases up to max. 100 mg daily has been used;
ELDERLY
10 mg 1–2 times daily;
CHILD
under 2 years,
see
BNF 61
3.4.1 Antihistamines
193
3
Respiratory system