INTRODUCTION

BELTAS 20MG TABLET contains Bilastine which belongs to the group of medicines called Antihistamines. It is used to relieve the symptoms of hay fever (such as sneezing, itching, runny and stuffy nose and red or watery eyes) and other forms of allergic rhinitis, which is usually caused by an allergen such as pollen, dust, mold or flakes of skin from certain animals.

It is also used to treat itchy skin rashes (hives or urticaria). Hives is a skin rash that may result from allergy which is triggered by reaction to food, medicine or other irritants.

BELTAS 20MG TABLET is not recommended for use in patients having a history of irregular heartbeat. Before taking BELTAS 20MG TABLET, inform your doctor if you have moderate or severe renal impairment or personal and family history of heart problems.

BELTAS 20MG TABLET should not be used during pregnancy as a precautionary measure and it should be used with caution in breast-feeding women. Consult your doctor before taking this medicine.

BELTAS 20MG TABLET is not recommended for use in children (less than 12 years of age). The most common side effects of taking BELTAS 20MG TABLET are headache, drowsiness, nasal irritation and stomach pain. Consult your doctor if any of the side effects worsens.

USES OF BELTAS 20MG TABLET

It is used to:

• relieve symptoms of hay fever (such as sneezing, itching, runny, blocked-up nose and red or watery eyes) and other forms of allergic reactions.  
• treat itchy skin rashes (hives or urticaria)

HOW BELTAS 20MG TABLET WORKS

BELTAS 20MG TABLET works by stopping the binding of histamine (a chemical that is produced by the immune system) to its receptor in the body and in severe cases it prevents the initiation of an allergic reaction.

DIRECTIONS FOR USE

Take BELTAS 20MG TABLET as advised by your doctor. Swallow the medicine with enough water. Do not crush or chew the medicine. Try to take BELTAS 20MG TABLET daily at the same time in the evening. Your doctor will decide the correct dose and duration of BELTAS 20MG TABLET for you depending upon your age, body weight and disease condition.

SIDE EFFECTS OF BELTAS 20MG TABLET

HOW TO MANAGE SIDE EFFECTS

Headache:  

Drink ample amount of water and avoid skipping meals. Get adequate rest. Try to be relaxed and stress free. Apply pain relieving balm on your forehead if necessary. Consult your doctor if the symptom does not improve.

Dry Mouth:

Sip water regularly and other sugar free liquids. Do not use mouthwashes that contain alcohol because they can make your mouth dry, use mouthwash that is used only for dry mouth. Limit your caffeine intake. Avoid smoking or using tobacco products. Consult your doctor if the symptom does not improve.

Nausea:

Stick to simple meals while taking this medicine. Avoid eating oily rich, fried or spicy foods. Do not lie down or sleep immediately after eating. Consult your doctor if the symptom does not improve.

Diarrhea:

Drink lot of fluids, such as water to keep yourself hydrated. Avoid eating high-fat or spicy foods. Try to avoid taking any medicine on your own to treat diarrhea and consult your doctor if the symptom gets worse.

Stomach pain:

Try to rest and relax. Eat and drink slowly or try to have smaller meals more frequently. Keep a heat pad on your stomach. If the symptom does not improve, consult your doctor.

WARNING & PRECAUTIONS

INTERACTIONS

A. Drug-Drug interactions:

Before taking BELTAS 20MG TABLET, inform your doctor if you are taking any of the following medicines:   

• ketoconazole (used to treat fungal infections)
• medicines used to treat bacterial infections (Ex. erythromycin, rifampicin)
• diltiazem (used to treat angina)
• cyclosporine (used to suppress the immune system to avoid organ rejection after transplantation)
• ritonavir (used to treat HIV infection)  

B. Drug - Food interactions:

Avoid taking BELTAS 20MG TABLET with food or with grapefruit juice or other fruit juices, as this will decrease the effect of this medicine.

Overdosage:

If you or anyone else accidentally takes too much of BELTAS 20MG TABLET, consult your doctor immediately or visit the nearby hospital. Symptoms of overdose may include dizziness, headache and nausea.

SYNOPSIS

MORE INFORMATION

• Keep BELTAS 20MG TABLET out of reach of children
• Store at room temperature

FAQs ABOUT BELTAS 20MG TABLET

Can BELTAS 20MG TABLET be used to reduce allergic symptoms?

Yes, BELTAS 20MG TABLET is used to relieve the symptoms of hay fever (such as sneezing, itchy, runny, blocked-up nose and red and watery eyes) and other forms of allergic rhinitis, which is usually caused by an allergen such as pollen, dust, mold or flakes of skin from certain animals. It is also used to treat itchy skin rashes (hives or urticaria).

Can BELTAS 20MG TABLET be used in pregnant women?

BELTAS 20MG TABLET should not be used during pregnancy as a precautionary measure. Consult your doctor for advice before taking BELTAS 20MG TABLET if you are pregnant or planning to get pregnant.

Is BELTAS 20MG TABLET safe to use in patients with kidney impairment?

BELTAS 20MG TABLET should be used with caution in patients suffering from moderate to severe kidney impairment. Your doctor may regularly monitor your kidney function test during treatment with this medicine Consult your doctor before taking BELTAS 20MG TABLET.

What are the common side effects of BELTAS 20MG TABLET?

The most common side effects of taking BELTAS 20MG TABLET are headache, drowsiness, nasal rhinitis (nasal irritation), allergic conjunctivitis (eye irritation) and stomach pain. Consult your doctor if any of the side effects worsens.

Can I drive or operate any machines after taking BELTAS 20MG TABLET?

BELTAS 20MG TABLET does not affect the driving performance in adults. Consult your doctor if you feel any side effect during treatment with BELTAS 20MG TABLET that may stop you from driving or using machines.

REFERENCES

1. Dan L. Longo, Anthony S. Fauci, Dennis L. Kasper, Stephen L. Hauser, J. Larry Jameson, Joseph Loscalzo. Allergy, Clinical Immunology, and Rheumatology. Harrison’s Manual of Medicine. 18th edition. Page- 1064.

2. Aranjit Singh Randhawa, Norhayati Mohd Noor, Mohd Khairi Md Daud and Baharudin Abdullah. Efficacy and Safety of Bilastine in the Treatment of Allergic Rhinitis: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Frontiers in Pharmacology. January 2022 [Accessed on 27th July 2022] https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphar.2021.731201/full

3. Martin K, Marysia Tiongco-Recto, Erminia Ridolo and Zoltan Novak. Bilastine: a lifetime companion for the treatment of allergies. Journal of Current Medical Research Opinion. October 2019. [Accessed on 27th July 2022] https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/03007995.2019.1681134

4. Menarini Manufacturing Logistics and Services S.r.l. Electronic Medicines Compendium (EMC). [Revised in December 2020] [Accessed on 27th July 2022] https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/files/pil.4551.pdf

5. Aralez Pharmaceuticals Trading DAC. Blexten (Bilastine 20 mg tablet). [Revised in July 2018] [Accessed on 27th July 2022] https://pdf.hres.ca/dpd_pm/00046279.PDF

USEFUL DIAGNOSTIC TESTS

• Absolute Eosinophil Count
• Peripheral Smear Examination
• Total IgE test