Package leaflet: Information for the user CIA79732B

Allergy Solution

1 mg/ml oral solution

Cetirizine dihydrochloride

What is in this leaflet:

1.    What Zirtek Allergy Solution is and what it is used for

2.    What you need to know before you take Zirtek Allergy Solution

3.    How to take Zirtek Allergy Solution

4.    Possible side effects

5.    How to store Zirtek Allergy Solution

6.    Contents of the pack and other information

1. What Zirtek Allergy Solution is and what it is used for

Cetirizine dihydrochloride is the active ingredient of Zirtek Allergy Solution.

Zirtek Allergy Solution is an antiallergic medication.

In adults and children aged 2 years and above, Zirtek Allergy 1 mg/ml oral solution is indicated

•    for the relief of nasal and ocular symptoms of seasonal and perennial allergic rhinitis.

•    for the relief of urticaria.

2. What you need to know before you take Zirtek Allergy Solution

Do not take Zirtek Allergy Solution

•    if you have a severe kidney disease (severe renal failure with creatinine clearance below 10 ml/min);

•    if you are allergic to cetirizine dihydrochloride, to any of the other ingredients (listed in section 6), to hydroxyzine or to any piperazine derivatives (closely related active ingredients of other medicines).

Warnings and precautions

If you are a patient with renal insufficiency, please ask your doctor for advice; if necessary, you will take a lower dose. The new dose will be determined by your doctor.

If you have problems passing urine (like spinal cord problems or prostate or bladder problems), please ask your doctor for advice.

If you are an epileptic patient or a patient at risk of convulsions, you should ask your doctor for advice.

No clinically significant interactions have been observed between alcohol (at the blood level of 0.5 per mille (g/l) corresponding to one glass of wine) and cetirizine used at the recommended doses. However, there are no data available on the safety when higher doses of cetirizine and alcohol are taken together. Therefore, as it is the case with all antihistamines, it is recommended to avoid taking Zirtek Allergy Solution with alcohol.

If you are scheduled for allergy testing, ask your doctor if you should stop taking Zirtek Allergy Solution for several days before testing. This medicine may affect your allergy test results.

Other medicines and Zirtek Allergy Solution

Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking, have recently taken or might take any other medicines.

Zirtek Allergy Solution with food and drink

Food does not affect absorption of Zirtek Allergy Solution.

Pregnancy and breast-feeding

If you are pregnant or breast-feeding, think you may be pregnant or are planning to have a baby, ask your doctor for advice before taking this medicine.

Zirtek Allergy Solution should be avoided in pregnant women. Accidental use of the drug by a pregnant woman should not produce any harmful effects on the foetus. Nevertheless, the medicine should only be administered if necessary and after medical advice.

Cetirizine passes into breast milk. Therefore, you should not take Zirtek Allergy Solution during breast-feeding unless you have contacted a doctor.

Driving and using machines

Clinical studies have produced no evidence of impaired attention, alertness and driving capabilities after taking Zirtek Allergy Solution at the recommended dose.

You should closely observe your response to the drug after you have taken Zirtek Allergy Solution if you are intending to drive, engage in potentially hazardous activities or operate machinery. You should not exceed the recommended dose.

Zirtek Allergy Solution contains sorbitol; if you have been told by your doctor that you have an intolerance to some sugars, please contact your doctor before taking this medicinal product.

Zirtek Allergy Solution contains methylparahydroxybenzoate (E 218), propylparahydroxybenzoate (E 216) that may cause allergic reactions (possibly delayed).

3. How to take Zirtek Allergy Solution

Always take this medicine exactly as described in this leaflet or as your doctor or pharmacist has told you. Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure.

The solution can be swallowed as such

Adults and adolescents above 12 years old:

The recommended dose is 10 mg once daily as 10 ml oral solution (2 full measuring spoons)

Use in children between 6 and 12 years old:

The recommended dose is 5 mg twice daily as 5 ml (one full measuring spoon) twice daily.

Use in children between 2 and 6 years old

The recommended dose is 2.5 mg twice daily as 2.5 ml oral solution (a half-measuring spoon) twice daily

Patients with renal impairment

Patients with moderate renal impairment are recommended to take 5 mg once daily.

If you suffer from severe kidney disease, please contact your doctor or pharmacist who may adjust the dose accordingly.

If your child suffers from kidney disease, please contact your doctor or

pharmacist who may adjust the dose according to your child’s needs.

If you feel that the effect of Zirtek Allergy Solution is too weak or too strong, please consult your doctor.

Duration of treatment

The duration of treatment depends on the type, duration and course of your complaints. Please ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice.

If you take more Zirtek Allergy Solution than you should

If you think you have taken an overdose of Zirtek Allergy Solution please inform your doctor.

Your doctor will then decide what measures, if any, should be taken.

After an overdose, the side effects described below may occur with increased intensity. Adverse effects such as confusion, diarrhoea, dizziness, tiredness, headache, ailing, dilating of pupil, itching, restlessness, sedation, somnolence, stupor, abnormal rapid heart rate, tremors and urinary retention have been reported.

If you forget to take Zirtek Allergy Solution

Do not take a double dose to make up for a forgotten dose.

If you stop taking Zirtek Allergy Solution

Rarely, pruritus (intense itching) and/or urticaria may return if you stop taking Zirtek Allergy Solution.

If you have any further questions on the use of this medicine, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

4. Possible side effects

Like all medicines, this medicine can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.

The following side effects are rare or very rare, but you must stop taking the medicine and speak to your doctor straight away if you notice them:

•    Allergic reactions, including severe reactions and angioedema (serious allergic reaction which causes swelling of the face or throat).

These reactions may start soon after you first take the medicine, or it might start later.

Common side effects (may affect up to 1 in 10 patients)

•    Somnolence (sleepiness)

•    Dizziness, headache

•    Pharyngitis, rhinitis (in children)

•    Diarrhea, nausea, dry mouth

•    Fatigue

Uncommon side effects (may affect up to 1 in 100 patients)

•    Agitation

•    Paraesthesia (abnormal feelings of the skin)

•    Abdominal pain

•    Pruritus (itchy skin), rash

•    Asthenia (extreme fatigue), malaise

Rare side effects (may affect up to 1 in 1,000 patients)

•    Allergic reactions, some severe (very rare)

•    Depression, hallucination, aggression, confusion, insomnia

•    Convulsions

•    Tachycardia (heart beating too fast)

•    Liver function abnormal

•    Urticaria (hives)

•    Oedema (swelling)

•    Weight increased

Very rare side effects (may affect up to 1 in 10,000 patients)

•    Thrombocytopenia (low levels of blood platelets)

•    Tics (habit spasm)

•    Syncope, dyskinesia (involuntary movements), dystonia (abnormal prolonged muscular contractions), tremor, dysgeusia (altered taste)

•    Blurred vision, accommodation disorder (difficulty focusing), oculogyration (eyes having uncontrolled circular movements)

•    Angioedema (serious allergic reaction which causes swelling of the face or throat), fixed drug eruption

•    Abnormal elimination of urine (bed wetting, pain and/or difficulty passing water)

Not known frequency of side effects (frequency cannot be estimated from the available data)

•    Increased appetite

•    Amnesia, memory impairment

•    Vertigo (sensation of rotation or movement)

•    Urinary retention (inability to completely empty the urinary bladder)

•    Pruritus (intense itching) and/or urticaria upon discontinuation

In very rare cases people have thought about committing suicide and if you feel this way then stop taking the oral solution and see your doctor. Reporting of side effects

If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor or pharmacist. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. You can also report side effects directly via the national reporting system listed below:

The Yellow Card Scheme

Website: 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 Zirtek Allergy Solution

Keep this medicine out of the sight and reach of children.

Do not use this medicine after the expiry date which is stated on the box and bottle. The expiry date refers to the last day of that month.

Do not use after 3 months of first opening the bottle.

This medicine does not require any special storage conditions.

6.    Contents of the pack and other information

What Zirtek Allergy Solution contains

•    The active substance is cetirizine. 10 ml (equals to 2 measuring spoons) contain 10 mg of cetirizine dihydrochloride.

•    The other ingredients are sorbitol (E 420), glycerol, propylene glycol, saccharin sodium, methylparahydroxybenzoate (E 218), propylparahydroxybenzoate (E 216), banana flavor 54.330/A (Firmenich), sodium acetate, glacial acetic acid, purified water.

•    10 ml Zirtek Allergy Solution (=2 measuring spoons) contain: 3.15 g glucose equivalents (sorbitol).

What Zirtek Allergy Solution looks like and contents of the pack Clear and colorless liquid with slightly sweet taste and a banana flavor. Pack with a bottle containing volumes of 60, 75, 100, 150, or 200 ml solution.

Not all pack sizes may be marketed.

Marketing Authorisation Holder and Manufacturer

UCB Pharma Ltd 208 Bath Road Slough Berkshire SL1 3WE

This leaflet was last revised in 06/2016.

If this leaflet is difficult to see or read or you would like it in a different format, please contact UCB Pharma Ltd, UK

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