What is levocetirizine?
Levocetirizine is an antihistamine that reduces the effects of natural chemical histamine in the body. Histamine can produce symptoms of sneezing, itching, watery eyes, and runny nose.
Levocetirizine is used to treat symptoms of year-round (perennial) allergies in adults and children who are at least 6 months old. It is also used to treat symptoms of seasonal allergies in adults and children who are at least 2 years old.
Levocetirizine is also used to treat itching and swelling caused by chronic urticaria (hives) in adults and children who are at least 6 months old.
Levocetirizine may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.
What is the most important information I should know about levocetirizine?
You should not use this medication if you are allergic to levocetirizine or cetirizine (Zyrtec).
Do not take levocetirizine if you have end-stage kidney disease or if you are on dialysis. Any child younger than 12 years old with kidney disease should not take levocetirizine.
Before taking levocetirizine, tell your doctor if you have liver disease, kidney disease, or gallbladder problems.
It is very important not to give a child more than the prescribed dose of this medication. A child's body absorbs twice as much of the same dose size of levocetirizine as an adult's body.
This medication may impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be alert.
Drinking alcohol can increase certain side effects of levocetirizine.
Tell your doctor if you regularly use other medicines that make you sleepy (such as other cold or allergy medicine, narcotic pain medicine, sleeping pills, muscle relaxers, and medicine for seizures, depression, or anxiety). They can add to sleepiness caused by levocetirizine.
Call your doctor if your symptoms do not improve, if they get worse, or if you also have a fever.
What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking levocetirizine?
You should not use this medication if you are allergic to levocetirizine or cetirizine (Zyrtec).
Do not take levocetirizine if you have end-stage kidney disease or if you are on dialysis. Any child younger than 12 years old with kidney disease should not take levocetirizine.
To make sure you can safely take levocetirizine, tell your doctor if you have any of these other conditions:
liver disease;
kidney disease; or
gallbladder problems.
FDA pregnancy category B. Levocetirizine is not expected to harm an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment.
Levocetirizine can pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing baby. You should not breast-feed while you are taking levocetirizine.
Do not give this medication to a child younger than 6 months old.