ANTIHISTAMINES (Systemic)
Some commonly used brand names are:
In the U.S.?
- Alavert 14
- Allegra 12
- Aller-Chlor 4
- AllerMax Caplets 10
- Aller-med 10
- Atarax 13
- Banophen 10
- Banophen Caplets 10
- Benadryl 10
- Benadryl Allergy 10
- Bromphen 2
- Calm X 9
- Chlo-Amine 4
- Chlorate 4
- Chlor-Trimeton 4
- Chlor-Trimeton Allergy 4
- Chlor-Trimeton Repetabs 4
- Clarinex 7
- Claritin 14
- Claritin Reditabs 14
- Compoz 10
- Contac 12 Hour Allergy 5
- Cophene-B 2
- Dexchlor 8
- Dimetapp Allergy Liqui-Gels 2
- Dinate 9
- Diphen Cough 10
- Diphenhist 10
- Diphenhist Captabs 10
- Dormarex 2 10
- Dramamine 9
- Dramanate 9
- Genahist 10
- Gen-Allerate 4
- Hydrate 9
- Hyrexin 10
- Hyzine-50 13
- Nasahist B 2
- Nervine Nighttime Sleep-Aid 10
- Nolahist 15
- Nytol QuickCaps 10
- Nytol QuickGels 10
- Optimine 1
- PediaCare Allergy Formula 4
- Periactin 6
- Phenetron 4
- Polaramine 8
- Polaramine Repetabs 8
- Siladryl 10
- Sleep-Eze D 10
- Sleep-Eze D Extra Strength 10
- Sominex 10
- Tavist 5
- Tavist-1 5
- Telachlor 4
- Teldrin 4
- Triptone Caplets 9
- Twilite Caplets 10
- Unisom Nighttime Sleep Aid 11
- Unisom SleepGels Maximum Strength 10
- Vistaril 13
- Zyrtec 3
In Canada?
- Aerius 7
- Allegra 12
- Allerdryl 10
- Apo-Dimenhydrinate 9
- Apo-Hydroxyzine 13
- Atarax 13
- Benadryl 10
- Chlor-Tripolon 4
- Claritin 14
- Dimetane 2
- Gravol 9
- Gravol Filmkote 9
- Gravol Filmkote (Junior Strength) 9
- Gravol I/M 9
- Gravol I/V 9
- Gravol L/A 9
- Gravol Liquid 9
- Multipax 13
- Novo-Hydroxyzin 13
- Novo-Pheniram 4
- Optimine 1
- Periactin 6
- PMS-Cyproheptadine 6
- PMS-Dimenhydrinate 9
- Polaramine 8
- Polaramine Repetabs 8
- Reactine 3
- Tavist 5
- Traveltabs 9
- Zyrtec 3
Note: | For quick reference, the following antihistamines are numbered tomatch the corresponding brand names. |
Category
- Antianxiety agent?Hydroxyzine
- Antiasthmatic?Cetirizine; Loratadine
- Antidyskinetic?Diphenhydramine
- Antiemetic?Dimenhydrinate; Diphenhydramine; Hydroxyzine(parenteral)
- Antihistaminic, H 1-receptor?Azatadine; Brompheniramine; Cetirizine; Chlorpheniramine; Clemastine; Cyproheptadine; Desloratadine; Dexchlorpheniramine; Dimenhydrinate; Diphenhydramine; Doxylamine; Fexofenadine; Hydroxyzine; Loratadine; Phenindamine
- Antitussive?Diphenhydramine Syrup
- Antivertigo agent?Dimenhydrinate; Diphenhydramine
- Appetite stimulant?Cyproheptadine
- Sedative-hypnotic?Diphenhydramine; Doxylamine; Hydroxyzine
- Vascular headache suppressant?Cyproheptadine
Description
Antihistamines are used to relieve or prevent the symptoms of hay feverand other types of allergy. They work by preventing the effects of a substancecalled histamine, which is produced by the body. Histamine can cause itching,sneezing, runny nose, and watery eyes. Also, in some persons histamine canclose up the bronchial tubes (air passages of the lungs) and make breathingdifficult.
Some of the antihistamines are also used to prevent motion sickness, nausea,vomiting, and dizziness. In patients with Parkinson's disease, diphenhydraminemay be used to decrease stiffness and tremors. Also, the syrup form of diphenhydramineis used to relieve the cough due to colds or hay fever. In addition, sinceantihistamines may cause drowsiness as a side effect, some of them may beused to help people go to sleep.
Hydroxyzine is used in the treatment of nervous and emotional conditionsto help control anxiety. It can also be used to help control anxiety and producesleep before surgery.
Some antihistamines are used in the treatment of chronic urticaria, whichis a persistent hive-like rash.
Antihistamines may also be used for other conditions as determined by yourdoctor.
Some antihistamine preparations are available only with your doctor's prescription.Others are available without a prescription. However, your doctor may havespecial instructions on the proper dose of the medicine for your medical condition.
These medicines are available in the following dosage forms:
Oral- Azatadine
- Tablets (U.S. and Canada)
- Brompheniramine
- Capsules (U.S.)
- Elixir (U.S. and Canada)
- Tablets (Canada)
- Cetirizine
- Syrup (U.S.)
- Tablets (U.S. and Canada)
- Chlorpheniramine
- Extended-release capsules (U.S.)
- Syrup (U.S. and Canada)
- Tablets (U.S. and Canada)
- Chewable tablets (U.S.)
- Extended-release tablets (U.S. and Canada)
- Clemastine
- Syrup (U.S. and Canada)
- Tablets (U.S. and Canada)
- Cyproheptadine
- Syrup (Canada)
- Tablets (U.S. and Canada)
- Desloratadine
- Tablets (U.S. and Canada)
- Dexchlorpheniramine
- Syrup (U.S. and Canada)
- Tablets (U.S. and Canada)
- Extended-release tablets (U.S. and Canada)
- Dimenhydrinate
- Extended-release capsules (Canada)
- Oral Solution (U.S. and Canada)
- Syrup (U.S. and Canada)
- Tablets (U.S. and Canada)
- Chewable tablets (U.S. and Canada)
- Diphenhydramine
- Capsules (U.S. and Canada)
- Elixir (U.S. and Canada)
- Tablets (U.S.)
- Doxylamine
- Fexofenadine
- Tablets (U.S. and Canada)
- Capsules (U.S. )
- Hydroxyzine
- Capsules (U.S. and Canada)
- Oral suspension (U.S.)
- Syrup (U.S. and Canada)
- Tablets (U.S.)
- Loratadine
- Syrup (U.S. and Canada)
- Tablets (U.S. and Canada)
- Phenindamine
Parenteral- Brompheniramine
- Chlorpheniramine
- Injection (U.S. and Canada)
- Dimenhydrinate
- Injection (U.S. and Canada)
- Diphenhydramine
- Injection (U.S. and Canada)
- Hydroxyzine
- Injection (U.S. and Canada)
Before Using This Medicine
In deciding to use a medicine,the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it willdo. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For antihistamines,the following should be considered:
Allergies?Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual orallergic reaction to antihistamines. Also tell your health care professionalif you are allergic to any other substances, such as foods, preservatives,or dyes.
Diet?Make certain your health care professionalknows if you are on a low-sodium, low-sugar, or any other special diet. Mostmedicines contain more than their active ingredient, and many liquid medicinescontain alcohol.
Pregnancy?Hydroxyzine is not recommended for use in the firstmonths of pregnancy since it has been shown to cause birth defects in animalstudies when given in doses many times higher than the usual human dose. Besure you have discussed this with your doctor.
Desloratadine and fexofenadine have not been studied in pregnant women.However, studies in animals have shown that these medicines cause birth defectsor other problems when given in doses higher than the usual human dose. Beforetaking this medicine, make sure your doctor knows if you are pregnant or ifyou may become pregnant.
Azatadine, brompheniramine, cetirizine, chlorpheniramine, clemastine, cyproheptadine,dexchlorpheniramine, dimenhydrinate, diphenhydramine, doxylamine, and loratadinehave not been studied in pregnant women. However, these medicines have notbeen shown to cause birth defects or other problems in animal studies.
Breast-feeding?Small amounts of antihistamines pass into the breastmilk. Use is not recommended since babies are more susceptible to the sideeffects of antihistamines, such as unusual excitement or irritability. Also,since these medicines tend to decrease the secretions of the body, it is possiblethat the flow of breast milk may be reduced in some patients. It is not knownyet whether cetirizine, desloratadine, or loratadine cause these same sideeffects.
Children?Serious side effects, such as convulsions (seizures),are more likely to occur in younger patients and would be of greater riskto infants than to older children or adults. In general, children are moresensitive to the effects of antihistamines. Also, nightmares or unusual excitement,nervousness, restlessness, or irritability may be more likely to occur inchildren.
Older adults?Elderly patients are usually more sensitive to theeffects of antihistamines. Confusion; difficult or painful urination; dizziness;drowsiness; feeling faint; or dryness of mouth, nose, or throat may be morelikely to occur in elderly patients. Also, nightmares or unusual excitement,nervousness, restlessness, or irritability may be more likely to occur inelderly patients.
Other medicines?Although certain medicines should not be usedtogether at all, in other cases different medicines may be used together evenif an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to changethe dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking antihistaminesit is especially important that your health care professional knows if youare taking any of the following:
- Anticholinergics (medicine for abdominal or stomach spasms or cramps)?Sideeffects, such as dryness of mouth, of antihistamines or anticholinergics maybe more likely to occur
- Erythromycin (e.g., E-Mycin) or
- Ketoconazole (e.g., Nizoral)?Use of these medicines with fexofenadinemay cause an increased amount of fexofenadine in the blood.
- Central nervous system (CNS) depressants (medicines that cause drowsiness)?Effects,such as drowsiness, of CNS depressants or antihistamines may be worsened;also, taking maprotiline or tricyclic antidepressants may cause some sideeffects of either of these medicines, such as dryness of mouth, to becomemore severe
- Monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitor activity (isocarboxazid [e.g.,Marplan], isocarboxazid [e.g., Marplan], phenelzine [e.g., Nardil], procarbazine[e.g., Matulane], selegiline [e.g., Eldepryl], tranylcypromine [e.g., Parnate])?Ifyou are now taking, or have taken within the past 2 weeks, any of the MAOinhibitors, the side effects of the antihistamines, such as drowsiness anddryness of mouth, may become more severe; these medicines should not be usedtogether
Other medical problems?The presence of other medicalproblems may affect the use of antihistamines. Make sure you tell your doctorif you have any other medical problems, especially:
- Enlarged prostate or
- Urinary tract blockage or difficult urination?Antihistaminesmay make urinary problems worse
- Glaucoma?These medicines may cause a slight increase in innereye pressure that may make the condition worse
- Intestinal obstruction or
- Stomach ulcer?Use of cyproheptadine may make these conditionsworse.
- Liver disease or
- Kidney disease?Effects of desloratadine may be increased becauseof slower removal from the body.
Proper Use of This Medicine
Antihistamines are used to relieve or prevent the symptoms of your medicalproblem. Take them only as directed. Do not take more of them and do not takethem more often than recommended on the label, unless otherwise directed byyour doctor. To do so may increase the chance of side effects.
Dosing?The dose of an antihistamine will be differentfor different patients. Follow your doctor's orders orthe directions on the label. The following information includes onlythe average doses of antihistamines. If your dose isdifferent, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so.
The number of capsules or tablets or teaspoonfuls of liquid that you takeor the number of suppositories you use depends on the strength of the medicine.Also, the number of doses you take each day and the timebetween doses depends on whether you are taking a short-acting or long-actingform of antihistamine.
- For use as an antihistamine:
- For azatadine
- For oral dosage form (tablets):
- Adults: 1 to 2 milligrams (mg) every eight to twelve hours as needed.
- Children younger than 12 years of age: Use and dose must be determinedby your doctor.
- Children 12 years of age and older: 0.5 mg to 1 mg two times a dayas needed.
- For brompheniramine
- For regular (short-acting) oral dosageforms (capsules, tablets, or liquid):
- Adults and teenagers: 4 milligrams (mg) every four to six hours asneeded.
- Children 2 to 6 years of age: 1 mg every four to six hours as needed.
- Children 6 to 12 years of age: 2 mg every four to six hours as needed.
- For injection dosage form:
- Adults and teenagers: 10 milligrams (mg) injected into a muscle,under the skin, or into a vein every eight to twelve hours.
- Children younger than 12 years of age: 0.125 mg per kilogram (0.06mg per pound) of body weight injected into a muscle, under the skin, or intoa vein three or four times a day as needed.
- For cetirizine
- For oral dosage forms (syrup and tablets):
- Adults: 5 to 10 milligrams (mg) once a day.
- Children younger than 2 years of age: Use and dose must be determinedby your doctor.
- Children 2 to 6 years of age: 2.5 mg once a day, up to a maximumof 5 mg once a day or 2.5 mg twice a day.
- Children 6 years of age and older: 5 to 10 mg once a day.
- For chlorpheniramine
- For regular (short-acting) oral dosageforms (tablets or liquid):
- Adults and teenagers: 4 milligrams (mg) every four to six hours asneeded.
- Children younger than 6 years of age: Use and dose must be determinedby your doctor.
- Children 6 to 12 years of age: 2 mg three or four times a day asneeded.
- For long-acting oral dosage forms (capsulesor tablets):
- Adults: 8 or 12 milligrams (mg) every eight to twelve hours as needed.
- Children younger than 12 years of age: Use and dose must be determinedby your doctor.
- Children 12 years of age and older: 8 mg every twelve hours as needed.
- For injection dosage form:
- Adults: 5 to 40 milligrams (mg) injected into a muscle, into a vein,or under the skin.
- Children: 0.0875 mg per kilogram (0.04 mg per pound) of body weightinjected under the skin every six hours as needed.
- For clemastine
- For oral dosage forms (tablets or liquid):
- Adults and teenagers: 1.34 milligrams (mg) two times a day or 2.68mg one to three times a day as needed.
- Children younger than 6 years of age: Use and dose must be determinedby your doctor.
- Children 6 to 12 years of age: 0.67 to 1.34 mg two times a day.
- For cyproheptadine
- For oral dosage forms (tablets or liquid):
- Adults and children 14 years of age and older: 4 milligrams (mg)every eight hours. The doctor may increase the dose if needed.
- Children 2 to 6 years of age: 2 mg every eight to twelve hours asneeded.
- Children 6 to 14 years of age: 4 mg every eight to twelve hours asneeded.
- For desloratadine
- For oral dosage form (tablets):
- Adults and children 12 years of age and older: 5 milligrams (mg)once a day.
- Children younger than 12 years of age: Use and dose must be determinedby your doctor.
- For dexchlorpheniramine
- For regular (short-acting) oral dosageforms (tablets or liquid):
- Adults and teenagers: 2 milligrams (mg) every four to six hours asneeded.
- Children 2 to 5 years of age: 0.5 mg every four to six hours as needed.
- Children 5 to 12 years of age: 1 mg every four to six hours as needed.
- For long-acting oral dosage form (tablets):
- Adults: 4 or 6 milligrams (mg) every eight to twelve hours as needed.
- Children: Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.
- For diphenhydramine
- For oral dosage forms (capsules, tablets,or liquid):
- Adults and teenagers: 25 to 50 milligrams (mg) every four to sixhours as needed.
- Children younger than 6 years of age: 6.25 to 12.5 mg every fourto six hours.
- Children 6 to 12 years of age: 12.5 to 25 mg every four to six hours.
- For injection dosage form:
- Adults: 10 to 50 milligrams (mg) injected into a muscle or into avein.
- Children: 1.25 mg per kg (0.6 mg per pound) of body weight injectedinto a muscle four times a day.
- For doxylamine
- For oral dosage form (tablets):
- Adults and teenagers: 12.5 to 25 milligrams (mg) every four to sixhours as needed.
- Children younger than 6 years of age: Use and dose must be determinedby your doctor.
- Children 6 to 12 years of age: 6.25 to 12.5 mg every four to sixhours as needed.
- For fexofenadine
- For oral dosage forms (capsules):
- Adults and teenagers: 60 milligrams (mg) two times a day as neededor 180 mg once a day
- Children 6 to 11 years of age: 30 mg twice a day as needed.
- Children under 6 years of age: Use and dose must be determined byyour doctor.
- For loratadine
- For oral dosage forms (tablets or liquid):
- Adults and children 6 years of age and older: 10 milligrams (mg)once a day.
- Children 2 to 5 years of age: 5 mg once a day.
- For phenindamine
- For oral dosage form (tablets):
- Adults and teenagers: 25 milligrams (mg) every four to six hoursas needed.
- Children younger than 6 years of age: Use and dose must be determinedby your doctor.
- Children 6 to 12 years of age: 12.5 mg every four to six hours asneeded.
- For nausea, vomiting, and vertigo (only dimenhydrinate and diphenhydramineare used for vertigo):
- For dimenhydrinate
- For regular (short-acting) oral dosageforms (tablets or liquid):
- Adults and teenagers: 50 to 100 milligrams (mg) every four to sixhours as needed.
- Children 2 to 6 years of age: 12.5 to 25 mg every six to eight hoursas needed.
- Children 6 to 12 years of age: 25 to 50 mg every six to eight hoursas needed.
- For long-acting oral dosage form (capsules):
- Adults: 1 capsule (contains 25 milligrams [mg] for immediate actionand 50 mg for long action) every twelve hours.
- Children: Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.
- For injection dosage form:
- Adults: 50 milligrams (mg) injected into a muscle or into a veinevery four hours as needed.
- Children: 1.25 mg per kg (0.6 mg per pound) of body weight injectedinto a muscle or into a vein every six hours as needed.
- For suppository dosage form:
- Adults: 50 to 100 milligrams (mg) inserted into the rectum everysix to eight hours as needed.
- Children younger than 6 years of age: Use and dose must be determinedby your doctor.
- Children 6 to 8 years of age: 12.5 to 25 mg inserted into the rectumevery eight to twelve hours as needed.
- Children 8 to 12 years of age: 25 to 50 mg inserted into the rectumevery eight to twelve hours as needed.
- Children 12 years of age and older: 50 mg inserted into the rectumevery eight to twelve hours as needed.
- For diphenhydramine
- For oral dosage forms (capsules, tablets,or liquid):
- Adults: 25 to 50 milligrams (mg) every four to six hours as needed.
- Children: 1 to 1.5 mg per kg (0.45 to 0.7 mg per pound) of body weightevery four to six hours as needed.
- For injection dosage form:
- Adults: 10 milligrams (mg) injected into a muscle or into a vein.Dose may be increased to 25 to 50 mg every two to three hours.
- Children: 1 to 1.5 mg per kg (0.45 to 0.68 mg per pound) of bodyweight injected into a muscle every six hours.
- For hydroxyzine
- For oral dosage forms (capsules, tablets,or liquid):
- Adults: 25 to 100 milligrams (mg) three or four times a day as needed.
- Children younger than 6 years of age: 12.5 mg every six hours asneeded.
- Children 6 years of age and older: 12.5 to 25 mg every six hoursas needed.
For injection dosage form: - Adults: 25 to 100 milligrams (mg) injected into a muscle.
- Children: 1 mg per kg (0.45 mg per pound) of body weight injectedinto a muscle.
- For Parkinson's disease:
- For diphenhydramine
- For oral dosage forms (capsules, tablets,or liquid):
- Adults: 25 milligrams (mg) three times a day when starting treatment.Your doctor may increase the dose gradually later if needed.
- For injection dosage form:
- Adults: 10 to 50 milligrams (mg) injected into a muscle or into avein.
- Children: 1.25 mg per kg (0.6 mg per pound) of body weight four timesa day injected into a muscle.
- For use as a sedative (to help sleep):
- For diphenhydramine
- For oral dosage forms (capsules, tablets,or liquid):
- Adults: 50 milligrams (mg) twenty to thirty minutes before bedtimeif needed.
- For doxylamine
- For oral dosage form (tablets):
- Adults: 25 milligrams (mg) thirty minutes before bedtime if needed.
- Children: Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.
- For hydroxyzine
- For oral dosage forms (capsules, tablets,or liquid):
- Adults: 50 to 100 milligrams (mg).
- Children: 0.6 mg per kg (0.3 mg per pound) of body weight.
- For injection dosage form:
- Adults: 50 milligrams (mg) injected into a muscle.
- For anxiety:
- For hydroxyzine
- For oral dosage forms (capsules, tablets,or liquid):
- Adults: 50 to 100 milligrams (mg).
- Children: 0.6 mg per kilogram (0.3 mg per pound) of body weight.
- For injection dosage form:
- Adults: 50 to 100 milligrams (mg) injected into a muscle every fourto six hours as needed.
- Children: 1 mg per kilogram (0.45 mg per pound) of body weight injectedinto a muscle.
Missed dose?If you are taking this medicine regularly and youmiss a dose, take it as soon as possible. However, if it is almost time foryour next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule.Do not double doses.
For patients taking this medicine by mouth:
- Antihistamines can be taken with food or a glass of water or milkto lessen stomach irritation if necessary.
- If you are taking the extended-release tablet form of this medicine,swallow the tablets whole. Do not break, crush, or chew before swallowing.
For patients taking dimenhydrinate or diphenhydraminefor motion sickness:
- Take this medicine at least 30 minutes or, even better, 1 to 2 hoursbefore you begin to travel.
For patients using the suppository form of this medicine:
- To insert suppository: First remove the foil wrapper and moistenthe suppository with cold water. Lie down on your side and use your fingerto push the suppository well up into the rectum. If the suppository is toosoft to insert, chill the suppository in the refrigerator for 30 minutes orrun cold water over it before removing the foil wrapper.
For patients using the injection form of this medicine:
- If you will be giving yourself the injections, make sure you understandexactly how to give them. If you have any questions about this, check withyour health care professional.
Storage?To store this medicine:
- Keep out of the reach of children, since overdose may be very dangerousin children.
- Store away from heat and direct light.
- Do not store the capsule or tablet form of this medicine in the bathroommedicine cabinet, near the kitchen sink, or in other damp places. Heat ormoisture may cause the medicine to break down.
- Keep the liquid form of this medicine from freezing.
- Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed. Be surethat any discarded medicine is out of the reach of children.
Precautions While Using This Medicine
Beforeyou have any skin tests for allergies, tell the doctor in charge that youare taking this medicine. The results of the test may be affected by thismedicine.
When taking antihistamines on a regular basis, make sure your doctor knowsif you are taking large amounts of aspirin at the same time (as for arthritisor rheumatism). Effects of too much aspirin, such as ringing in the ears,may be covered up by the antihistamine.
Antihistamines will add to the effects of alcohol and other CNS depressants(medicines that slow down the nervous system, possibly causing drowsiness).Some examples of CNS depressants are sedatives, tranquilizers, or sleepingmedicine; prescription pain medicine or narcotics; barbiturates; medicinefor seizures; muscle relaxants; or anesthetics, including some dental anesthetics. Check with your doctor before taking any of the abovewhile you are using this medicine.
This medicine may cause some people to become drowsy or less alert thanthey are normally. Even if taken at bedtime, it may cause some people to feeldrowsy or less alert on arising. Some antihistamines are more likely to causedrowsiness than others. Drowsiness is less likely with cetirizine, and rarewith desloratadine and loratadine. Make sure you knowhow you react to the antihistamine you are taking before you drive, use machines,or do anything else that could be dangerous if you are not alert.
Antihistamines may cause dryness of the mouth, nose, and throat. Some antihistaminesare more likely to cause dryness of the mouth than others . For temporaryrelief of mouth dryness, use sugarless candy or gum, melt bits of ice in yourmouth, or use a saliva substitute. However, if your mouth continues to feeldry for more than 2 weeks, check with your medical doctor or dentist. Continuingdryness of the mouth may increase the chance of dental disease, includingtooth decay, gum disease, and fungus infections.
For patients using dimenhydrinate, diphenhydramine,or hydroxyzine:
- This medicine controls nausea and vomiting. For this reason, it maycover up the signs of overdose caused by other medicines or the symptoms ofappendicitis. This will make it difficult for your doctor to diagnose theseconditions. Make sure your doctor knows that you are taking this medicineif you have other symptoms of appendicitis such as stomach or lower abdominalpain, cramping, or soreness. Also, if you think you may have taken an overdoseof any medicine, tell your doctor that you are taking this medicine.
For patients using diphenhydramine or doxylamine asa sleeping aid:
- If you are already taking a sedative or tranquilizer, do not takethis medicine without consulting your doctor first.
Side Effects of This Medicine
Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects.Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they mayneed medical attention.
Also, check with your doctoras soon as possible if any of the following side effects occur:
Symptoms of overdose
Clumsiness or unsteadiness; convulsions(seizures); drowsiness (severe); dryness of mouth, nose, or throat (severe); feelingfaint; flushing or redness of face; hallucinations (seeing, hearing, or feeling things that are notthere); shortness of breath or troubled breathing; trouble in sleeping
Other sideeffects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effectsmay go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. However,check with your health care professional if any of the following side effectscontinue or are bothersome:
More common
Drowsiness; dry mouth, nose, or throat; gastrointestinal upset, stomach pain, or nausea; headache; increased appetiteand weight gain; thickening of mucus
Less common or rare
Acid or sour stomach; belching; blurred vision or any change in vision; clumsiness or unsteadiness; body aches or pain; confusion (not with diphenhydramine); congestion; constipation; cough; diarrhea; difficultor painful urination; difficulty in moving; difficult or painful menstruation; dizziness (not with brompheniramine or hydroxyzine; drowsiness (with high doses of desloratadine and loratadine); dryness of mouth, nose, or throat; early menstruation; fast heartbeat; fatigue; fever; gastrointestinal upset, stomach pain or nausea; heartburn; hoarseness; increased appetite and weight gain; increased sensitivityof skin to sun; increased sweating; indigestion; loss of appetite; joint pain; muscle aching or cramping; muscle pains or stiffness; nausea; nightmares (not with azatadine, chlorpheniramine,cyproheptadine, desloratadine, hydroxyzine, or loratadine); ringing or buzzing in ears; runny nose; skin rash; swollen joints; stomach discomfort, upset or pain; tender swollen glands in neck; thickening of mucus; tremor; unusual excitement,nervousness, restlessness, or irritability; vomiting
Other side effects notlisted above may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects,check with your health care professional.
Additional Information
Once a medicine has been approvedfor marketing for a certain use, experience may show that it is also usefulfor other medical problems. Although this use is not included in product labeling,cetirizine and loratadine are used in certain patients with asthma togetherwith asthma medicines. The antihistamine is used before and during exposureto substances that cause reactions, to prevent or reduce bronchospasm (wheezingor difficulty in breathing).
Cyproheptadine is used as an appetite stimulant, in adults and children
Cyproheptadine is used for treatment of vascular headaches.
Other than the above information, there is no additional information relatingto proper use, precautions, or side effects for this use.
Revised: 06/05/2003
