Cetirizine Hydrochloride 5mg/5ml Oral Solution
PATIENT INFORMATION LEAFLET
Cetirizine Hydrochloride 5 mg/5 ml Oral Solution Cetirizine hydrochloride
Read all of this leaflet carefully because it contains important information for you.
This medicine is available without prescription; however, you still need to take your medicine carefully to get the best results from it.
- Keep this leaflet. You may need to read it again.
- Ask your pharmacist if you need more information or advice.
- You must contact a doctor if your symptoms worsen or do not improve after a few days.
- If any of the side effects gets serious, or if you notice any side effects not listed in this leaflet, please tell your doctor or pharmacist.
In this leaflet:
1. What Cetirizine Hydrochloride is and what it is used for
2. Before you take Cetirizine Hydrochloride
3. How to take Cetirizine Hydrochloride
4. Possible side effects
5. How to store Cetirizine Hydrochloride
6. Further information
1. What Cetirizine Hydrochloride is and what it is used for
Cetirizine Hydrochloride 5mg/5ml Oral Solution (’’Cetirizine Hydrochloride”) belongs to a group of medicines called antihistamines.
It works by counteracting the effects of histamine which is produced naturally by your body’s defence system, but may be over-produced in allergic reactions.
Cetirizine Hydrochloride is used to relieve the symptoms of hay fever (seasonal rhinitis) in adults and children over the age of 2 years, which include:
• sneezing
• irritated, runny or blocked nose
• itchy, red and watering eyes
It is used to relieve the symptoms of other allergies in adults and older children (over the age of 6 years), including:
• runny and itchy nose (non-seasonal rhinitis)
• pet or house mite allergies
• skin allergies such as rash, itching and urticaria (hives)
2. Before you take Cetirizine Hydrochloride
DO NOT TAKE Cetirizine Hydrochloride if you:
• are allergic to cetirizine hydrochloride, hydroxyzine or any of the other ingredients of Cetirizine Hydrochloride, or to any piperazine derivatives (see Section 6 and end of Section 2).
• are breast-feeding, as cetirizine hydrochloride can pass into breast milk.
• have severe kidney failure (creatinine clearance less than 10 ml/min).
Take special care with Cetirizine Hydrochloride if:
• you have kidney problems. Your dose should be adjusted as recommended by a doctor.
• you are pregnant.
• you suffer from epilepsy or are at risk of convulsions.
• you have hereditary intolerance to some sugars.
• your symptoms persist, you should get advice from your doctor or pharmacist
• you are due to have an allergy test, as this medicine may affect your allergy test result.
Taking other medicines
Please tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking or have recently taken any other medicines, including medicines obtained without a prescription.
Especially tell your doctor if you are taking:
• theophylline which is taken for some heart conditions or breathing disorders like asthma or bronchitis.
• central nervous system depressants e.g. barbiturates which are used as sedatives or anaesthetics.
Taking Cetirizine Hydrochloride with food and drink
You must avoid excessive alcohol consumption while you are taking this medicine, as with all antihistamine medicines.
Pregnancy and breast-feeding
Ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice before taking any medicine during pregnancy.
• Do not take Cetirizine Hydrochloride if you are breast-feeding.
• Only take this medicine during pregnancy if advised to do so by your doctor.
Driving and using machines
Cetirizine Hydrochloride does not usually cause drowsiness at the recommended dose. However, individuals react differently, so do not drive or operate machinery until you know how it affects you.
Important information about some of the ingredients of Cetirizine Hydrochloride Cetirizine hydrochloride contains:
• sorbitol (E420): if you have been told by your doctor that you have an intolerance to some sugars, contact your doctor before taking this medicine.
• propylene glycol, which may cause alcohol-like symptoms.
• methyl parahydroxybenzoate (E218) and propyl parahydroxybenzoate (E216) which may cause allergic reactions (possibly delayed).
• This medicinal product contains small amounts of ethanol (alcohol), less than 100mg per 10 ml.
3. How to take Cetirizine Hydrochloride
Always take this medicine exactly as your doctor has told you. You should check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure. Cetirizine Hydrochloride is to be taken only by mouth, and is not to be taken by children aged under 2 years.
The measuring spoon provided is double-ended. The larger spoon holds 5 ml of your medicine, and the smaller spoon holds 2.5 ml.
Each 5 ml spoonful of solution contains 5 mg cetirizine hydrochloride. The usual dose is:
Adults, the elderly and children aged 12 Two 5 ml spoonfuls once daily (to a maximum years and above: of 10 mg daily).
Children aged 6 to 11 years: Either two 5 ml spoonfuls once daily, or one 5
ml spoonful twice daily to a maximum of 10 mg daily)
Children aged 2 to 5 years: Either one 5 ml spoonful once daily or one 2.5
ml spoonful twice daily (to a maximum of 5 mg daily).
If you have kidney problems, your dose should be adjusted as recommended by a doctor.
If you take more Cetirizine Hydrochloride than you should:
If you or your child may have taken too much of this medicine, talk to a doctor or pharmacist immediately. You or the child may feel drowsy or dizzy. In children, agitation or restlessness may occur before drowsiness.
If you forget to take Cetirizine Hydrochloride
If you forget to take a dose, take it as soon as you remember, but wait at least 24 hours before taking the next dose.
If you have any further questions on the use of this product, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
4. Possible side effects
Like all medicines, Cetirizine Hydrochloride can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.
The following side effect is very rare, but you must stop taking the medicine and speak to your doctor immediately if you notice these symptoms:
• A severe allergic reaction including rash, itchiness and fever, swollen throat, face, eyelids or lips. This reaction may start soon after you first take the medicine, or it might start later.
• In very rare cases people have thoughts about committing suicide and if you feel this way then stop taking the tablets and see your doctor.
The following side effects have also been reported.
Common side effects (affects less than 1 in 10 people)
• Tiredness, feeling sleepy
• Headache
• Nausea
• Pain in the abdomen
• Sore throat
• Dry mouth
• Diarrhoea
• Dizziness
• Cold-like symptoms of the nose
Uncommon side effects (affects less than 1 in 100 people)
• Itching and rash
• Feeling weak or generally unwell
• Feeling agitated
• Tingling in the hands and feet
Rare side effects (affects less than 1 in 1000 people)
• Fast heart beat
• Oedema (generalised swelling due to water retention)
• Abnormal liver function test results
• Convulsions
• Increased weight
• Urticaria (hives)
• Aggression, confusion, depression, hallucination (hearing or seeing things), sleeplessness
Very rare side effects (affects less than 1 in 10,000 people)
• Blurred vision, difficulty focussing
• Rotation of the eyes
• Fainting
• Unusual bleeding or bruising
• Recurring rash
• Bad taste in the mouth
• Bed wetting, pain and/or difficulty passing water
• Tremor, tics
• Involuntary movements and/or jerking of the limbs
• Muscle spasms in the neck and shoulders
• Swelling of the skin particularly around the face
Not Known (frequency cannot be estimated from the available data)
• Anaemia
• Photosensitivity (allergic reaction caused by the sun)
• Bronchospasm (difficulty breathing)
• Anorexia
• Lack of coordination
• Palpitations (feeling your heartbeat)
• Vomiting
• Constipation
• Alopecia (hair loss)
Reporting of side effects
If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. You can also report side effects directly via the Yellow Card Scheme at www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard.
By reporting side effects you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.
5. How to store Cetirizine Hydrochloride
Keep this medicine out of the sight and reach of children and do not store above 25°C. Do not use Cetirizine Hydrochloride after the expiry date which is stated on the label. The expiry date refers to the last day of that month. Use within 6 months after opening.
Medicines should not be disposed of via wastewater or household waste. Ask your pharmacist how to dispose of medicines no longer required. These measures will help to protect the environment.
6. FURTHER INFORMATION
What Cetirizine Hydrochloride contains
• The active ingredient is cetirizine hydrochloride: 5 mg in each 5 ml of solution.
• The other ingredients are: liquid sorbitol (E420), glycerol, propylene glycol, sodium acetate, acetic acid, saccharin sodium, methyl parahydroxybenzoate (E218), propyl parahydroxybenzoate (E216), banana flavour and purified water.
What Cetirizine Hydrochloride looks like and contents of the pack
Cetirizine Hydrochloride 5 mg/5 ml Oral Solution is a clear or almost clear colourless solution, with the taste and smell of banana. It is available in pack sizes of 60 ml, 70 ml, 80 ml, 100 ml, 150 ml and 200 ml amber glass bottles, and includes a combined 5ml / 2.5ml measuring spoon. Not all pack sizes may be marketed.
Marketing Authorisation Holder and Manufacturer
Pinewood Laboratories Ltd., Ballymacarbry, Clonmel, Co. Tipperary, Ireland.
PL 04917/0140
This leaflet was last updated in: November 2015