Levocetirizine+Phenylephrine

When should one not use Levocetirizine+Phenylephrine

• If you are allergic to phenylephrine, levocetirizine or any other ingredients of Levocetirizine+Phenylephrine.
• If you have severe kidney failure (kidneys not able to work properly).
• If you are taking medicines or took monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) within the last 14 days.
• If you have high blood pressure, hyperthyroidism or an enlarged prostate gland.

Common side effects of this drug are:

• Sleepiness
• Weakness
• A dry mouth
• Fever
• Abdominal pain
• Increased blood pressure
• Nausea
• Vomiting

Other General Warnings

• You have heart problems or aneurysms (weakness and bulging of the wall of the artery).
• You have high blood pressure.
• You have diabetes mellitus or any of its complications.
• You have glaucoma (increased pressure in the eyes).
• You have inflammation of the liver (hepatitis) or pancreas (pancreatitis).
• You have liver disease.

How Does It Work?

• Histamine is one of the main chemicals which gets released in the body and produces allergic symptoms. Levocetirizine blocks the effect of histamine and improves the symptoms related to allergy, like sneezing, redness and watering from the eyes.
• Phenylephrine being a decongestant medicine constricts the blood vessels of the nose and throat and helps in relieving redness, throat pain and stuffiness.
• A combination of these medicines controls the symptoms related to allergic rhinitis.

Interactions with other medicines

• Concomitant use of Levocetirizine+Phenylephrine and MAO inhibitors such as selegiline, rasagiline used for mental illness can cause a life-threatening condition that can occur rapidly, thus should be avoided.
• Other sympathomimetic or decongestant medicines should not be used together with this medicine, as they increase the chances of heart-related side effects.
• The use of digoxin and other medicines used in heart problems increases the risk of irregular heartbeats and heart attack when used together with Levocetirizine+Phenylephrine.
• Concomitant use of Levocetirizine+Phenylephrine and ergot alkaloids used in migraine, increases the chances of sudden increases in blood pressure. Hence, they should be avoided.
• Some medicines can affect the way Levocetirizine+Phenylephrine works or Levocetirizine+Phenylephrine itself can reduce the effectiveness of other medicines taken at the same time.
• Tell your doctor about all the medicines, supplements or herbals you are currently taking or might take to avoid any possible interactions.

Overdose

Missed a Dose