Index
It is a drug in the family of antihistamines used to treat or relieve the symptoms of allergies.
These symptoms usually manifest as:
- Nasal and eye itching.
- Runny nose.
- Crying eyes.
- Sneezing, sometimes chronic.
Its function is generated by blocking the histamine that the body causes during an allergic reaction.
This medicine does not prevent or treat severe allergies such as anaphylaxis; if the patient is being treated with Epinephrine, it should not be substituted for Levocetirizine.
Levocetirizine Administration
This medicine is prescribed to combat mild allergies. The usual thing is that it is used once a day; it is recommended to be at night with or without food.
If the patient is using the liquid formula, the dose should be measured with a unique spoon to ingest the appropriate amount to ensure the effectiveness of the treatment. The household or food consumption spoons do not correctly calculate the dose that the patient should consume.
The amount of medicine to be consumed is proportional to the weight of the person affected, the health condition, and the response that your body is giving to the treatment.
Side effects
Levocetirizine can generate various side effects that are not usually harmful to health; among the symptoms are:
- Excessive tiredness
- Dry mouth
- Drowsiness.
In some cases, children using this medicine may develop a dry cough and fever when starting treatment.
This medicine does not usually cause severe allergic reactions, but if the patient has the following symptoms, he should contact his doctor immediately and stop treatment:
- Swelling of the face, tongue, and throat.
- Redness on the cheekbones of the beginning.
- Acne.
- Rash on the extremities of the body.
- Severe dizziness
- Elevated body temperature
- Difficulty breathing.
- Cardiac arrhythmia.
There have been no cases where this drug generates severe overdoses. However, anyone who has the following symptoms should immediately contact their doctor and stop treatment:
- Excessive sweating.
- Decay.
- Cardiac arrhythmia.
- Disorientation.
- Hallucinations
- Dizziness or vomiting
- Fainting.
- Difficulty focusing on objects in the short or long term.
- Body tremor
- The rise in body temperature
Levocetirizine Precautions
The patient should notify his doctor if he is allergic to cetirizine or hydroxyzine since this medicine may possess these components in an inactive form.
Levocetirizine tends to cause drowsiness after being ingested, so alcoholic beverages should be avoided, which increases their effect if the patient is performing activities requiring concentration and attention.
Anyone treated with Levocetirizine should not drive or use heavy machinery or machinery that requires attention until the effects of the medicine wear off and can do so safely.
The union between Levocetirizine and marijuana can produce or cause uncontrollable sleep, so the patient must tell his doctor before starting treatment if he is consuming this drug,
People with diabetes should not use the liquid version of this medicine, as it contains sugar or aspartame, which could be harmful to their health.
Women who are pregnant should use this medicine when strictly necessary to avoid any complications in the development of the unborn.
Levocetirizine passes into breast milk, so it is not recommended that women in the gestation period use it unless their doctor indicates it.
Interactions
The patient should notify his doctor if he is being treated with another medicine that causes drowsiness before starting to use Levocetirizine so that he can evaluate the side effects that the ingestion of these two medicines may cause.
Some of these medications can be:
- Analgesics: hydrocodone, and codeine, among others.
- Medications for anxiety or sleep: lorazepam, alprazolam, and zolpidem, among others.
- Antihistamines: promethazine, and diphenhydramine, among others.
- Muscle relaxants: cyclobenzaprine, carisoprodol, among others.
This medicine cannot be used with another antihistamine because it may increase the risk of suffering a side effect or reaction unfavorable to health.
Storage
Levocetirizine should be stored in places at room temperature. It should not be near moisture, sunlight, or heat, and refrigeration is unnecessary.
