Index
It is indicated in the symptomatic treatment of urticaria and allergic rhinitis in people older than 12 years.
Applications
Alleviate the symptoms of nasal allergies ( allergic rhinitis ) such as hay fever in adults and adolescents over 12 years of age.
Alleviate the symptoms of an allergic skin rash called urticaria or nettle rash in adults and adolescents over 12 years of age.
Mechanism of action
Rupafin tablets contain the active ingredient rupatadine, a type of medication called a non-sedating antihistamine. It works by preventing the actions of histamine.
Histamine is a substance produced by the body as part of its defense mechanisms. It is stored in cells called mast cells in almost all body tissues.
When the body reacts to a foreign substance (known as an allergen, for example, flower pollen), the mast cells stimulated by the allergen release their reserves of histamine.
Released histamine binds to its receptors (H1 receptors), causing a chain reaction that produces allergic symptoms. It causes an increase in blood flow to the area of allergy and the release of other chemicals that add to the allergic response.
All this results in the symptoms of an allergic reaction. In hay fever, histamine causes inflammation of the nose, eyes, and respiratory tract and causes itchy eyes, runny nose, sneezing, and nasal congestion.
Rupatadine works by blocking histamine H1 receptors.
It does not prevent the actual release of histamine from mast cells but prevents it from binding to its receptors. This, in turn, prevents the release of other allergy chemicals and reduces the blood supply to the area, relieving the typical symptoms of hay fever.
Rupatadine can also relieve the symptoms of an allergic skin rash called hives. This is an itchy skin rash, also known as nettle rash. Blocking the actions of histamine relieves itching and reduces the inflammation associated with this condition.
Rupatadine is a non-sedating antihistamine because it does not enter the brain and is unlikely to cause drowsiness. However, some people may experience mild drowsiness.
Administration
Adults and adolescents older than 12 years should take a tablet once a day when necessary to relieve allergy symptoms.
You can continue taking one tablet a day to relieve your symptoms while exposed to the allergen, for example, during the pollen season. Follow the instructions given by your doctor.
Rupafin tablets should be swallowed with a drink of water. They can be taken with or without food.
It would help if you did not take Rupafin with grapefruit juice since grapefruit juice can affect the metabolism of rupatadine and could increase the amount of medication in the blood, which increases the risk of side effects.
Warning!
Although rupatadine is a non-sedating antihistamine, some people may experience drowsiness, affecting their ability to drive or operate machinery. You should know how this medicine affects you before doing potentially dangerous activities.
If you find that this medication makes you feel numb, you should avoid drinking alcohol or taking other medicines that make you drowsy, as this may cause you to be sleepy or your alertness less.
If you have to have a skin test or a patch to diagnose allergies, you should stop taking your antihistamines at least 48 hours before the tests.
This is because antihistamines can prevent or reduce skin reactions and unreliable test results indicate an allergy.
Use with caution in:
- People over 65 years
- People with heart diseases
- People with irregular heartbeats ( arrhythmia ).
- People with a type of abnormal heart rhythm are seen in a follow-up cardiac monitoring (ECG) as a “prolonged QT interval.”
- People with a very slow heartbeat (bradycardia).
- People with low levels of potassium in the blood ( hypokalemia ).
Do not use in:
Children under 12 years old.
Rare hereditary problems of galactose intolerance, Lapp lactase deficiency, or glucose-galactose malabsorption (Rupafin tablets contain lactose).
This medication is not recommended for people who have problems with their liver or kidney function since the manufacturer has not studied its effects in these conditions.
This medicine should not be used if you are allergic to any ingredients. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have already experienced the allergy.
If you have experienced an allergic reaction, stop using this medicine and immediately inform your doctor or pharmacist.
Pregnancy and lactation
Certain medications should not be used during pregnancy or breastfeeding. However, other drugs can be used safely during pregnancy or breastfeeding, as long as the benefits to the mother outweigh the risks to the fetus.
Before using any medication, always inform your doctor if you are pregnant or planning a pregnancy.
The safety of this medication for use during pregnancy has not been fully established. It should be used with caution by pregnant women if the benefits outweigh any possible risk to the developing baby. Find more medical advice from your doctor.
It is not known if this medication passes into breast milk. It should be used with caution by women who are breastfeeding their babies. Find more medical advice from your doctor.
Side effects
Medicines and their possible side effects can affect individual people in different ways. The following are some of the side effects associated with this medication.
A side effect indicated here does not mean that all people who use this medication experience that or any side effect.
Common (affects between 1 in 10 and 1 in 100 people):
- Drowsiness.
- Headache.
- Fatigue.
- Dizziness.
- Dry mouth.
- Sensation of weakness
Uncommon (affect between 1 in 100 and 1 in 1000 people):
- Increased appetite
- Weight gain.
- Irritability.
- Difficult to focus.
- Eruption.
- Nasal hemorrhages.
- Dry nose and throat
- Sore throat.
- Tos.
- Bowel disorders include diarrhea, constipation, indigestion, nausea, vomiting, or abdominal pain.
- Pain in the muscles or joints.
- Fever.
- Alterations in liver function.
The side effects mentioned above may not include all the side effects reported by the medicine manufacturer.
To learn more about other possible risks associated with this medication, read the information provided with the medicine or consult your doctor or pharmacist.
Interactions
It is important to tell your doctor or pharmacist what medicines you are taking, including those you buy without a prescription and herbal medicines, before you begin treatment with this medication.
Similarly, check with your doctor or pharmacist before taking any new medication while taking it, to make sure the combination is safe.
The antibiotic erythromycin and the antifungal ketoconazole can increase the amount of rupatadine in the blood. Rupafin tablets should be used with caution in people taking erythromycin or ketoconazole.
This medication should be used with caution in people taking statin medications to reduce cholesterol levels, for example, simvastatin and rosuvastatin.
Rupatadine may also oppose the effect of betahistine (used to treat Ménière’s disease).
