Antihistamine tablets and liquids are available over the counter from a pharmacy without the need for a prescription. Antihistamine nasal sprays are only available on prescription. Antihistamines can be used on their own for mild cases of hay fever, or with other products. Your GP or pharmacist can advise you on what treatments are most suitable for you. Different medications, including antihistamines used to treat hay fever, can be problematic when taken together, so it’s better to be safe than sorry.

allacan was not mutagenic in the Ames test, and not clastogenic in the human lymphocyte assay, the mouse lymphoma assay, and in vivo micronucleus test in rats . Instances of abnormal hepatic function with elevated hepatic enzymes accompanied by elevated bilirubin have been reported. Mostly this resolves upon discontinuation of the treatment with cetirizine dihydrochloride. If you remember more than 4 hours after, do not give the missed dose. Instead, wait until the next dose and carry on as normal. Cetirizine comes as tablets and capsules (10mg) and as a liquid medicine (labelled either 5mg/5ml or 1mg/1ml). Own-brand or generic antihistamines are typically the cheapest option, often at least half the price of big-brand versions.If you don’t take your doctor’s advice, you could accidentally take too much of the same antihistamine which could make you seriously ill. Talk to your GP or pharmacist for more information about the best time to start taking action to help ease your hay fever symptoms. Urticaria is a condition where an itchy skin rash develops. The rash can be triggered by an allergy to a substance such as a soap or a detergent. A lot of the non-drowsy antihistamines are newer medications that have been designed to reduce the chances of making you feel sleepy, whereas drowsy antihistamines are typically older. You can take cetirizine with or without food, but always take the tablets or capsules with a drink of water, milk or squash. Swallow them whole. Do not chew them.

The extent of absorption of cetirizine is not reduced with food, although the rate of absorption is decreased. The extent of bioavailability is similar when cetirizine is given as solutions, capsules or tablets. Patients on hemodialysis (creatinine clearance less than 7 ml/min) given a single oral 10 mg dose of cetirizine had a 3-fold increase in half-life and a 70 % decrease in clearance compared to normals. Cetirizine was poorly cleared by haemodialysis. Dosing adjustment is necessary in patients with moderate or severe renal impairment (see section 4.2). Allacan tablets provides fast and effective 24-hour relief in adults from the annoying symptoms of hayfever and /or indoor allergies: Loratadine is a non-drowsy antihistamine, whereas Piriton contains Chlorphenamine, a drowsy antihistamine.

Most hay fever medication works best when you take it before the pollen is in the air and your symptoms develop. You could also try a decongestant nasal spray. These tend to be cheaper than steroid sprays, but they're only designed for temporary use. Instead of reducing inflammation, they work best to relieve congestion. Depending on their age, children may take Cetirizine twice a day. In this case, try to space the doses 10 to 12 hours apart. In addition to the adverse reactions reported during clinical studies and listed above, the following undesirable effects have been reported in post-marketing experience.

Always take cetirizine tablets or capsules with a drink of water, milk or juice. Swallow them whole. Do not chew them. The allergen is either injected directly into the skin or is taken as a tablet that dissolves under the tongue.In terms of treatments, there is a range of solutions such as eye drops, nasal sprays and antihistamine tablets or syrups to treat symptoms. If you are looking for an alternative treatment, try using the LloydsPharmacy Allergy Reliever along with your usual allergy medicines. Your local pharmacist will be able to help advise you on the best treatments as most people require a multi-method approach for hay fever." 3. Avoid going out too early or too late If your doctor decides that two antihistamines are the best choice for you, they may suggest that you should take two different types of antihistamines for the best results. In a fertility and reproduction study in mice, cetirizine did not negatively impact fertility at an oral dose of 64 mg/kg (approximately 25 times the maximum recommended daily oral dose in adults) . Tablets should be swallowed with a glass of liquid. Adults: 1 tablet daily. Children 6-12 years: half a tablet twice daily. Children under 6 years: not to be given.