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INTRODUCTION
HICET contain Levocetirizine which belongs to a group of medicine called antihistamines. It is used for the relief of symptoms of hay fever and other allergic conditions such as sneezing, runny or itchy nose or for skin rashes such as chronic nettle rash, idiopathic urticaria in adult and children over 6 years of age. It works by blocking the effects of histamine, which may be overproduced in allergic reactions which causes unpleasant symptoms such as itchy or watery eyes, running or blocked nose, sneezing and skin rashes.
Always take HICET exactly as your doctor has told you. This medicine must be taken with or without food. This medicine is strictly not recommended for use in children aged less than 6 years. Before taking this medicine tell your doctor if you have ever had kidney disease, heart disease, liver problems. Pregnant and breastfeeding women should consult their doctor before taking this medicine. The common side effects are somnolence (sleepiness), dizziness, headache, diarrhoea, nausea, dry mouth, fatigue, pharyngitis, cold-like symptoms of the nose (children only).
USES OF HICET
- Relieve the symptoms of hay fever and other allergic conditions such as sneezing, runny or itchy nose or for skin rashes such as chronic nettle rash, idiopathic urticaria
HOW HICET WORKS
HICET works by blocking the effects of histamine, which may be overproduced in allergic reactions which causes unpleasant symptoms such as itchy or watery eyes, running or blocked nose, sneezing and skin rashes.
DIRECTIONS FOR USE
Always take HICET exactly as your doctor has told you. This medicine must be taken with or without food. Try to take this medicine at the same time each day. It should be swallowed whole with water. Do not crush or chew the medicine.
SIDE EFFECTS OF HICET
SERIOUS
- allergic reactions (including sudden wheeziness, difficulty in breathing, rash itchiness and fever), swollen throat, face, eyelids or lips(angioedema)
- convulsions (fits)
- thoughts about committing suicide
- bruising or bleeding more easily than normal
COMMON
- Somnolence (sleepiness)
- dizziness, headache
- diarrhoea, nausea, dry mouth
- fatigue
- pharyngitis, cold-like symptoms of the nose (children only)
RARE
- depression, hallucination (hearing or seeing thing), aggression, confusion, sleeplessness
- tachycardia
- abnormal liver function test results
- urticaria (hives)
- oedema (generalised swelling due to water retention)
- weight increased
HOW TO MANAGE SIDE EFFECTS
Dizziness:
Get up and move around to feel awake, take small naps to edge off the sleepiness. Give your eyes a break to avoid fatigue and eat a healthy food to boost energy.
Headache:
Apply hot or cold-water bag on your head. Take rest in a quiet and dark room. Drink tea or coffee.
Diarrhoea:
Drink lot of fluid such as water or squash, to avoid dehydration. Do not take any other medicines without talking to a doctor.
Nausea:
Try taking this medicine with, or just after, a meal or snack and stick to simple meals and do not eat rich or spicy food.
WARNING & PRECAUTIONS
PREGNANCY
HICET is not recommended for use in pregnant women unless necessary. Discuss the risks and benefits with your doctor.
BREASTFEEDING
HICET is not recommended for use in breastfeeding women unless necessary. Discuss the risks and benefits with your doctor.
DRIVING AND USING MACHINES
Do not drive or operate machinery while taking this medicine, since it may cause drowsiness.
ALCOHOL
Consumption of alcohol is not recommended during treatment with HICET.
KIDNEY
HICET is not recommended in patients with active kidney diseases. Before taking this medicine consult your doctor. Consult your doctor for advice.
LIVER
HICET should be used with caution in patients suffering from liver function impairment or active liver diseases. Consult your doctor for advice.
ALLERGY
Do not take HICET if you are allergic (hypersensitive) to cetirizine or any other ingredients in this medicine.
OTHERS
Tell your doctor if you have or had a condition such as,
- problems passing urine (such as spinal cord problems or prostate or bladder problems)
- an epileptic patient or a patient at risk of convulsion
- scheduled for allergy testing
- rare hereditary problems of galactose intolerance, the lapp lactase deficiency or glucose-galactose malabsorption
INTERACTIONS
Tell your doctor about all the medicines you use, including prescription and non-prescription medicines, and herbal supplements.
SYNOPSIS
| Drug | : | Levocetirizine |
| Pharmacological Category | : | Antihistamines |
| Therapeutic Indication | : | Hay fever and allergic reactions |
| Dosage Forms | : | Tablet, Capsule, Syrup |
MORE INFORMATION
Store below 20-25°C and keep out of reach of children.
FAQs ABOUT HICET
Can HICET lower immune system?
No, this medicine does not influence the immune response.
Can HICET cause dizziness?
Yes, this medicine may cause dizziness in some individuals. Get up and move around to feel awake, take small naps to edge off the sleepiness. Give your eyes a break to avoid fatigue and eat a healthy food to boost energy.
Can I take HICET during breast feeding?
No, it can pass into breast milk. It is not recommended for use in breastfeeding women unless necessary. Discuss the risks and benefits with your doctor.
REFERENCES
1. KD Tripathi. Histamine and Antihistaminics. Essentials of Medical Pharmacology. Seventh Edition,2013. Page-166-167.
2. Briggs GG, Freeman RK, editors. A Reference Guide to Fetal and Neonatal Risk: Drugs in Pregnancy and Lactation. 10th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Wolters Kluwer Health; 2015. Page-708-711.
3. Monique P Curran 1, Lesley J Scott, Caroline M Perry. Cetirizine: a review of its use in allergic disorders. NIH: National Library of Medicine, National center of biotechnology Information Pubmed.gov.2004. [Accessed 26 Dec 2020] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/14977391/
4. Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories (UK) Ltd; Electronic Medicines Compendium (EMC); Revised on Jan 2019] [Accessed 26 Dec 2020] https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/files/pil.3474.pdf
5. Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories (UK) Ltd; Electronic Medicines Compendium (EMC); [Revised on May 2013] [Accessed 26 Dec 2020] https://www.drreddys.com/media/109804/cetirizine-10-pil.pdf
USEFUL DIAGNOSTIC TESTS
- Absolute Eosinophil Count
- Peripheral Smear Examination
- Total IgE
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