page214
BNF for Children
,
2–5 years 2.5 mg 3–4 times daily,
5–12 years 5 mg 3–4 times daily
. Premedication,
CHILD
2–7 years up to 2 mg/kg 1–2
hours before operation
Alimemazine
(Non-proprietary) A
Tablets
, alimemazine tartrate 10 mg, net price 28-tab
pack = £4.28.
Label:
2
Syrup
,
alimemazine tartrate 7.5 mg /5 mL,
net price
100 mL = £6.83;
30 mg/5 mL,
100 mL = £7.55.
Label:
2
CHLORPHENAMINE MALEATE
(Chlorpheniramine maleate)
Indications
symptomatic relief of allergy such as hay
fever,
urticaria; emergency treatment of anaphylactic
reactions (section 3.4.3)
Cautions
see notes above
Contra-indications
see notes above
Hepatic impairment
see notes above
Pregnancy
see notes above
Breast-feeding
see notes above
Side-effects
see notes above;
also exfoliative
dermatitis and tinnitus reported; injections may cause
transient hypotension or CNS stimulation and may be
irritant
Dose
. By mouth,
4 mg every 4–6 hours, max.
24 mg daily
(
ELDERLY
max.
12 mg daily);
CHILD
under 1 year see
BNF for Children
,
1–2 years 1 mg twice daily; 2–6
years 1 mg every 4–6 hours,
max.
6 mg daily;
6–12
years 2 mg every 4–6 hours,
max.
12 mg daily
. By intramuscular injection
or
by intravenous injection
over 1 minute, 10 mg, repeated if required up to max.
4 doses in 24 hours;
CHILD
under 6 months 250 micr-
ograms/kg (max.
2.5 mg);
6 months–6 years 2.5 mg;
6–12 years 5 mg;
these doses may be repeated if
required up to max.
4 doses in 24 hours
Chlorphenamine
(Non-proprietary)
Tablets
, chlorphenamine maleate 4 mg, net price 28 =
£1.01.
Label:
2
Dental
prescribing on NHS
Chlorphenamine tablets
may be
prescribed
Oral solution
,
chlorphenamine maleate 2 mg/5 mL,
net price 150 mL = £2.51.
Label:
2
Note
Sugar-free versions are available and can be ordered by
specifying ‘sugar-free’
on the prescription
Dental
prescribing on NHS
Chlorphenamine oral
solution may
be prescribed
Injection
A
1
,
chlorphenamine maleate 10 mg/mL,
net price 1-mL amp = £1.79
1.
A restriction does not apply where administration is for
saving life in emergency
Piriton
c
(GSK Consumer Healthcare)
Tablets
,
yellow,
scored,
chlorphenamine maleate
4 mg,
net price 28 = £1.62.
Label:
2
Syrup
, chlorphenamine maleate 2 mg/5 mL, net price
150 mL = £2.39.
Label:
2
CLEMASTINE
Indications
symptomatic relief of allergy such as hay
fever,
urticaria
Cautions
see notes above
Contra-indications
see notes above
Hepatic impairment
see notes above
Pregnancy
see notes above
Breast-feeding
see notes above
Side-effects
see notes above
Dose
. 1 mg twice daily,
increased up to 6 mg daily if
required;
INFANT
under 1 year not recommended,
CHILD
1–3 years 250–500 micrograms twice daily; 3–6
years 500 micrograms twice daily;
6–12 years 0.5–
1 mg twice daily
Tavegil
c
(Novartis Consumer Health)
Tablets
,
scored,
clemastine (as hydrogen fumarate)
1 mg.
Net price 60-tab pack = £2.35.
Label:
2
CYPROHEPTADINE HYDROCHLORIDE
Indications
symptomatic relief of allergy such as hay
fever,
urticaria
Cautions
see notes above
Contra-indications
see notes above
Hepatic impairment
see notes above
Pregnancy
see notes above
Breast-feeding
see notes above
Side-effects
see notes above
Dose
. Allergy,
usual dose 4 mg 3–4 times daily; usual range
4–20 mg daily, max. 32 mg daily;
INFANT
under 2 years
not recommended,
CHILD
2–6 years 2 mg 2–3 times
daily,
max. 12 mg daily; 7–14 years 4 mg 2–3 times
daily,
max. 16 mg daily
Periactin
c
(MSD)
Tablets
,
scored,
cyproheptadine hydrochloride 4 mg,
net price 30-tab pack = 86p.
Label:
2
HYDROXYZINE HYDROCHLORIDE
Indications
pruritus
Cautions
see notes above; also susceptibility to QT-
interval prolongation
Contra-indications
see notes above
Hepatic impairment
reduce daily dose by one-third;
see also notes above
Renal impairment
reduce daily dose by half
Pregnancy
toxicity in
animal
studies with high doses;
see also notes above
Breast-feeding
manufacturer advises avoid; see also
notes above
Side-effects
see notes above
Dose
. Pruritus, initially 25 mg at night increased if necessary
to 25 mg 3–4 times daily;
CHILD
1–6 years initially 5–
15 mg at night increased if necessary to 50 mg daily in
3–4 divided doses;
6–12 years initially 15–25 mg at
night increased if necessary to 50–100 mg daily in 3–4
divided doses;
CHILD
under 1 year see
BNF for Chil-
dren
Atarax
c
(Alliance) A
Tablets
,
both f/c,
hydroxyzine hydrochloride 10 mg
(orange), net price 84-tab pack = £2.18; 25 mg (green),
28-tab pack = £1.17.
Label:
2
Ucerax
c
(UCB Pharma) A
Tablets
D,
f/c,
scored,
hydroxyzine hydrochloride
25 mg,
net price 25-tab pack = £1.22.
Label:
2
Syrup
,
hydroxyzine hydrochloride 10 mg/5 mL, net
price 200-mL pack = £1.78.
Label:
2
194
3.4.1 Antihistamines
BNF 61
3
Respiratory system