Xylaclear

Levocetirizine hydrochloride.

Each film-coated tablet contains 5 mg levocetirizine hydrochloride.
Excipients/Inactive Ingredients: The other ingredients are microcrystalline cellulose, lactose monohydrate, carboxymethylcellulose calcium, magnesium stearate, hypromellose, polyethylene glycol 400, titanium oxide.

Xylaclear is an antiallergic medication.
For treatment of signs of illness (symptoms) associated with: allergic rhinitis (including persistent rhinitis); nettle rash (urticaria).

Always take Xylaclear exactly as advised by the doctor. The patient should check with the doctor if he/she is not sure.
The usual dose for adults and children aged 6 years and over is one tablet daily.
Special dosage instructions for specific populations: Patients with impaired kidney function may be given a lower dose according to the severity of their kidney disease. Patients who only have impaired liver function should take the usual prescribed dose. Patients who have both impaired liver and kidney function may be given a lower dose depending on the severity of the kidney disease, and in children the dose will also be chosen on the basis of body weight; the dose will be determined by the doctor.
Xylaclear is not recommended for children under 6 years of age.
How and when the patient should take Xylaclear: The tablets should be swallowed whole with water and may be taken with or without food.
If the patient forgets to take Xylaclear: If taking Xylaclear is forgotten, or if a dose lower than that prescribed by the doctor is taken, do not take a double dose to compensate; just wait for the foreseen time for intake of the next dose, and take a normal dose as prescribed by the doctor.
If the patient stops taking Xylaclear: Stopping the treatment with Xylaclear earlier than foreseen should have no detrimental effects, in the sense that the symptoms of the disease should just progressively reappear with a severity not higher than the one experienced prior to treatment with Xylaclear.
If there are any further questions on the use of this product, ask the doctor.

A substantial overdose may cause somnolence in adults. Children may initially show excitation and restlessness followed by somnolence.
If the patient thinks he/she has taken an overdose of Xylaclear, please tell the doctor who will then decide what action should be taken.

Do not take Xylaclear: if allergic (hypersensitive) to levocetirizine hydrochloride or to any of the other ingredients of Xylaclear (see Description); if there is severe impairment of kidney function (severe renal failure with creatinine clearance below 10 ml/min).

Important information about some of the ingredients of Xylaclear: These tablets contain lactose, if the patient has been told by the doctor that he/she has an intolerance to some sugars the patient should contact the doctor before taking them.
Driving and using machines: Some patients being treated with Xylaclear may experience somnolence / drowsiness, tiredness and exhaustion. If the patient is intending to drive, engage in potentially hazardous activities or use machines the patient is therefore advised first to wait and observe his/her response to the medication. However, special tests have revealed no impairment of mental alertness, the ability to react or the ability to drive in healthy test persons after taking levocetirizine in the recommended dosage.
Use in Children: Take special care with Xylaclear: The use of Xylaclear is not recommended in children less than 6 years since the film-coated tablets do not allow for dose adaptation.

Ask the doctor for advice before taking any medicine.
Tell the doctor if pregnant, trying to get pregnant or breast-feeding.

Like all medicines, Xylaclear can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them. Commonly (1% to 10%), mainly mild to moderate side effects such as dry mouth, headache, tiredness and somnolence/drowsiness have been reported. Uncommon (0.1% to 1%), side effects such as exhaustion and abdominal pain have been observed. Other side effects such as palpitations, increased heart rate, convulsions, visual disturbances, oedema, pruritus (itchiness), rash, urticaria (swelling, redness and itchiness of the skin), skin eruption, shortness of breath, weight increase, muscular pain, aggressive or agitated behaviour, hallucination, depression, hepatitis, abnormal liver function, nausea and vomiting have also been reported. At the first signs of a hypersensitivity reaction, stop taking Xylaclear and see the doctor immediately. Hypersensitivity reaction symptoms may include: swelling of the mouth, tongue, face and/or throat, breathing or swallowing difficulties together with hives (angioedema), sudden fall in blood pressure leading to collapse or shock, which may be fatal.
If any of the side effects gets serious, or if any side effects not listed in this monograph is noticed, please tell the doctor.

Taking other medicines: Please tell the doctor if taking or have recently taken any other medicines, including medicines obtained without a prescription.
Taking Xylaclear with food and drink: Caution is advised if Xylaclear is taken at the same time as alcohol.
In sensitive patients, the simultaneous use of cetirizine or levocetirizine and alcohol or other centrally acting agents may have effects on the central nervous system, although the racemate cetirizine has been shown not to increase the effect of alcohol.

Store at room temperature below 30°C.

Antihistamines & Antiallergics

R06AE09 - levocetirizine ; Belongs to the class of piperazine derivatives used as systemic antihistamines.

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