Pollenshield Hayfever Relief
Cetirizine Hydrochloride 10mg Tablets
Read all of this leaflet carefully before you start taking this medicine.
• Keep this leaflet. You may need to read it again.
• If you have any further questions, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
• Do not pass this medicine on to others. It may harm them, even if their symptoms are the same as yours.
Index
1. What Cetirizine Tablets are and what they are used for
2. Before you take
3. How to take
4. Possible side effects
5. How to store
6. Further information
1. What Cetirizine Tablets are and what they are used for
Cetirizine Tablets contain cetirizine hydrochloride which belongs to a group of medicines called antihistamines.
Cetirizine Tablets is used to relieve:
• long-term runny nose and watery eyes
• hayfever (runny and blocked-up nose, sneezing, watery eyes)
• a skin reaction with pale or red irregular raised patches and severe itching.
2. Before you take
Do not take Cetirizine Tablets if you:
• are allergic (hypersensitive) to cetirizine, hydroxyzine, any piperazine derivatives or any of the other ingredients in Cetirizine Tablets (see section 6).
• have severe kidney problems.
Check with your doctor or pharmacist before taking Cetirizine Tablets if you:
• have epilepsy.
• have difficulty in passing water or any risk factors associated with this.
Taking other medicines
• Please tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking or have recently taken any other medicines, obtained with or without a prescription.
Pregnancy and breast-feeding
If you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant or are breastfeeding, speak to your doctor before taking any medicine.
Driving and using machines
Drinking alcohol or taking other medicines which slow down the nervous system (CNS depressants) may impair your performance and cause you to become less alert. Make sure you are not affected before you drive or operate machinery.
Sugar intolerance
If you have been told you have an intolerance to some sugars, contact your doctor before taking this medicine, as it contains a type of sugar called lactose.
3. How to take
Speak to your doctor before drinking alcohol with Cetirizine Tablets, alcohol may impair your performance and cause you to become less alert.
Swallow the tablets with water.
Doses:
Adults (including the elderly) and children aged 12 years old and over: One 10mg tablet a day.
Children aged 6 to 12 years old: Half a tablet (5mg) twice a day.
Children aged under 6 years old: Not recommended.
Patients with impaired kidney function or having dialysis
If you have impaired kidney function or you are having dialysis, your doctor will give you a lower dose.
If you take more than you should
If you (or someone else) swallow a lot of tablets at the same time, or you think a child may have swallowed any contact your nearest hospital casualty department or tell your doctor immediately. Signs of an overdose include confusion, diarrhoea, dizziness, tiredness, headache, a feeling of general discomfort or illness, abnormal dilation of the pupil of the eye, itching, restlessness, sedation, sleepiness or drowsiness, near unconsciousness with no apparent mental activity and reduced ability to respond (stupor), fast heart beat, involuntary shakiness (tremor), difficulty in passing water.
If you forget to take the tablets
Do not take a double dose to make up for a forgotten dose. If you forget to take a dose take it as soon as you remember it and then take the next dose at the right time.
4. Possible side effects
Like all medicines, Cetirizine Tablets can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.
Contact your doctor immediately if you notice signs of:
• an allergic reaction: swelling of the face, lips, tongue or throat, narrowing of the airways causing difficulty breathing or swallowing (anaphylactic shock), rash, itching..
Tell your doctor if you notice any of the following side effects or notice any other effects not listed:
• Uncommon (occurs in less than 1 in 100 users): diarrhoea, ‘pins and needles’ or tingling, agitation, itching, rash, weakness or loss of strength, feeling of general discomfort or illness.
• Rare (occurs in less than 1 in 1,000 users): fast heart beat, fluid retention causing swelling, weight increase, abnormal liver function (seen in tests), fits or seizures, movement disorders, aggression, confusion, depression, hallucination, difficulty sleeping, pale or red irregular raised patches with severe itching (hives).
• Very rare (occurs in less than 1 in 10,000 users): reduction in platelets in the blood, impaired ability of the eye to focus, blurred vision, abnormal eye movements, taste disturbance, fainting or passing out, painful or involuntary urination, involuntary movements, tremors, muscle spasm.
• Not Known: increased appetite, loss of memory, memory impairment, feeling of dizziness or spinning (vertigo), difficulty passing water (urinary retention).
In very rare cases people have thought about committing suicide and if you feel this way then stop taking the tablets and see your doctor.
If you notice any side effects, they get worse, or if you notice any not listed, please tell your doctor or pharmacist.
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
Keep out of the reach and sight of children.
Do not store above 25 °C.
Store in the original package.
Do not use Cetirizine Tablets after the expiry date stated on the label/carton/bottle. The expiry date refers to the last day of that month.
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 Tablets contain
• The active substance (the ingredient that makes the tablets work) is cetirizine hydrochloride. Each tablet contains 10mg of the active substance.
• The other ingredients are microcrystalline cellulose (E460), lactose monohydrate, crospovidone, colloidal anhydrous silica, magnesium stearate, hypromellose (E464), macrogol stearate, propylene glycol, titanium dioxide (E171).
What Cetirizine Tablets look like and contents of the pack
Cetirizine Tablets are film-coated, white or almost white convex, elliptical tablets.
Pack size is 30.
Marketing Authorisation Holder and Manufacturer
Actavis, Barnstaple, EX32 8NS, UK.
This leaflet was last revised in June 2015