Levocetirizine 5mg Tablets

What is Levocetirizine?

Levocetirizine 5mg tablets are an anti-allergic treatment for allergies, particularly allergic rhinitis. This medicine is suitable for adults and children who are at least 6 years old.

Levocetirizine belongs to a group of medicines known as antihistamines, which work to block the action of a chemical that causes allergy symptoms, called histamine.

You must have a prescription to buy Levocetirizine. 

What is Levocetirizine used to treat?

Levocetirizine is a prescription medicine to ease the symptoms of allergy. Allergies can be triggered by a number of things, including animal fur, pollen and dust mites.

The main symptoms allergy include:

• Itchy or watery eyes
• Stuffy or runny nose
• Sneezing and coughing
• Loss of smell
• Headaches

Allergies in most cases cannot be cured, but they can be controlled with medications such as this one. You should take one tablet each day you are bothered by allergens.

Why is Levocetirizine recommended for hay fever?

Clinical studies have found Levocetirizine to be very well tolerated by the people who take it, meaning there is a minimal risk of side effects. 

Studies have also shown this medicine to effectively and swiftly treat hay fever. 

How does Levocetirizine work?

Levocetirizine 5mg tablets contain the active ingredient levocetirizine dihydrochloride, which eases the symptoms of allergic rhinitis (hay fever) by blocking the body's histamine receptors.

Histamine is released by your body to protect it from a foreign invader, such as an infection or virus. In most cases, this chemical works in a beneficial way for the body. However, when you come into contact with an allergy trigger, such as pollen, your body mistakes this for a foreign invader and releases histamine anyway. This triggers allergy symptoms like sneezing and itchy eyes.

Levocetirizine stops histamine from being released, thus helping to relieve your allergy symptoms.

Levocetirizine dihydrochloride will generally begin to work after one hour of the medicine being taken.

Who can take Levocetirizine?

Levocetirizine is not a suitable medicine for everyone to take.

This medicine is not suitable for children who are under 6 years old.

Do not take Levocetirizine tablets if:

• You are allergic to levocetirizine dihydrochloride or any of the other ingredients contained in this medicine (please see the Ingredients tab for full details)
• You have a severely impaired kidney function

Please speak to your doctor or pharmacist before you start taking this medicine if:

• You are likely to not be able to empty your bladder
• You have epilepsy or are at risk of suffering convulsions
• You are booked in to have an allergy test
• You are pregnant or breastfeeding

These tablets contain lactose. If your doctor has told you that you are intolerant to certain sugars, speak to them before you start to take Levocetirizine.

This list is not exhaustive. Always read the patient information leaflet for a complete list of warnings.

Can you buy Levocetirizine over the counter?

No, Levocetirizine is not available over the counter. You must have a prescription to be able to buy this medicine.

Can you buy Levocetirizine online in the UK?

This is a prescription-only medicine (POM). To buy Levocetirizine online in the UK, you should only order it from a regulated pharmacy like Medicine Direct. All you need to do to order from our online pharmacy is complete an online questionnaire on our site. One of our registered doctors or pharmacists will review your answers to make sure that this medicine is suitable for you to take.

Next day delivery is available if your order is placed by 2pm.

Levocetirizine alternatives

While there is no cure for allergies like allergic rhinitis, there are many medicines available to combat the symptoms that come with this condition. If Levocetirizine is not suitable for you to take, Medicine Direct stocks several antihistamine medicines that will work to alleviate symptoms in the same way.

We also stock effective antihistamines like Loratadine and Cetirizine, which can be ordered after you have filled out an online questionnaire. Antihistamines can come as tablets or liquid solutions. Nasal sprays containing antihistamine medicines can also be bought from our online pharmacy.

Additionally, we have a number of corticosteroid nasal sprays available. Corticosteroids are a form of steroid medicine and have anti-inflammatory properties; they effectively reduce swelling in the nasal passages to relieve inflammation and decrease mucus production, which helps to lessen other allergy symptoms.

Levocetirizine Indications and Dose

Our pharmacists and prescribers follow NICE guidelines when prescribing levocetrizine. 

Each packet contains 30 tablets.

The recommended dose for adults and children aged 6 and over is one tablet every day.

How to take Levocetirizine

Levocetirizine tablets can be taken with or without food.

Swallow the tablets whole with a drink of water. Do not crush or chew them.

Always follow your doctor’s instructions. Read the patient information leaflet for comprehensive instructions.

Levocetirizine Side Effects

Common Levocertirizine side effects

Like all medicine, Levocetirizine may cause side effects, although not everyone will get them.

Common side effects include:

• Dry mouth
• Tiredness
• Headache
• Drowsiness

Uncommon side effects may include abdominal pain and exhaustion.

Speak to your doctor if any of these reactions bother you or do not go away.

Serious allergic reaction

In rare cases, it is possible to have a serious allergic reaction to Levocetirizine, which may require you to be treated in hospital.

Call 999 or go to A&E immediately if:

• You have tightness in your throat or chest
• You have swelling in your face, mouth, throat, lips or tongue
• You are wheezing
• You are finding it hard to speak or breathe
• You develop a skin rash that may have red, itchy, swollen, blistered or peeling skin

Always read the patient information leaflet for comprehensive details on side effects. Speak to your doctor or pharmacist if you need more information.

Warnings

Before you start to take Levocetirizine, inform your doctor or pharmacist if you are currently taking any other medicine, whether it is for allergic rhinitis or not. This includes any prescription or non-prescription treatments, herbal remedies, supplements or vitamins as some medicines can interact with levocetrizine.

Drowsiness is a side effect of Levocetirizine, although not everybody will experience this. If you take an extra dose of Levocetirizine, you may experience drowsiness. Speak to your doctor if this reaction does not go away.

Always read the patient information leaflet for details on warnings and drug interactions. Speak to your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions or concerns.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

Please talk to your doctor or pharmacist before using Levocetirizine if you are currently pregnant, think you might be pregnant, are trying to get pregnant or are breastfeeding.

At present, there is not enough controlled evidence to suggest that Levocertirizine is harmful or non-harmful when taken during pregnancy.

Levocetrizine Ingredients

The main active ingredient within this medicine is: Levocetirizine dihydrochloride.

For a full list of the inactive ingredients, please read the Summary of Product Characteristics.