Xyzal

Common use

Xyzal is an antihistamine that reduces the effects of natural chemical histamine in the body. Histamine can produce symptoms such as a runny nose or hives. Xyzal is used to treat symptoms of year-round (perennial) allergies in children who are at least 6 months old. Xyzal is also used to treat itching and swelling caused by chronic urticaria (hives) in adults and children who are at least 6 months old.

Dosage and direction

Take Xyzal exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Xyzal is usually taken in the evening, with or without food.
Do not give a child more than the prescribed dose of this medicine. A child's body absorbs twice as much of the same dose size of levocetirizine as an adult's body.
Usual Adult Dose for Urticaria: 5 mg orally once a day in the evening.
Usual Adult Dose for Allergic Rhinitis: Seasonal Allergic Rhinitis (OTC): 5 mg orally once a day in the evening; some patients may be adequately controlled on 2.5 mg once a day.

Precautions

Before taking Xyzal, tell your doctor if you have liver disease, kidney disease, or gallbladder problems. Drinking alcohol with this medicine can cause side effects.

Contraindications

You should not use Xyzal if you are allergic to levocetirizine or cetirizine (Zyrtec).
You should not take Xyzal if you have end-stage kidney disease or if you are on dialysis. Any child younger than 12 years old with kidney disease should not take levocetirizine.
Tell your doctor if you have ever had: kidney disease; liver disease; urination problems (caused by conditions such as enlarged prostate or spinal cord lesion); or gallbladder problems.
You should not breast-feed while using this medicine.
Xyzal is not approved for use by anyone younger than 6 months old.

Possible side effect

Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction to Xyzal: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
Stop using this medicine and call your doctor at once if you have: worsening allergy or urticaria symptoms; painful or difficult urination; little or no urination; a light-headed feeling, like you might pass out; fever; or signs of an ear infection - ear pain or full feeling, trouble hearing, drainage from the ear, fussiness in a child.
Common Xyzal side effects may include: drowsiness, tiredness; sinus pain; ear infection; cough; fever; nosebleed; vomiting, diarrhea, constipation; dry mouth; or weight gain.

Drug interaction

Using Xyzal with other drugs that make you drowsy can worsen this effect. Ask your doctor before using opioid medication, a sleeping pill, a muscle relaxer, or medicine for anxiety or seizures.
Tell your doctor about all your other medicines, especially: ritonavir; or theophylline.

Missed dose

Take the medicine as soon as you can, but skip the missed dose if it is almost time for your next dose. Do not take two doses at one time.

Overdose

Seek emergency medical attention.

Storage

Store at room temperature away from moisture and heat, away from children and pets.