Do not take Cetirizine 10 mg Tablets

• if you have a severe kidney disease (severe renal failure with creatinine clearance below 10 ml/min).
• if you are known to be allergic (hypersensitive) to the active substance of Cetirizine 10 mg Tablets or any of the other ingredients of these tablets (these are listed below, in section 6 “Further information”).
• if you are known to be allergic (hypersensitive) to hydroxyzine (closely related active substances of other medicines).
• if you are known to be allergic (hypersensitive) to drugs from the piperazine family, for example buclizine, cyclizine, meclozine, levocetirizine.

Warnings and precautions

Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking Cetirizine 10 mg Tablets.

If you have kidney problems, please ask your doctor for advice; if necessary, you may have to take a lower dose. The new dose will be determined by your doctor.

If you have predisposition factors of urinary retention (eg: spinal cord lesion, prostatic hyperplasia) as cetirizine increases the risk of urinary retention, please ask your doctor for advice.

If you are an epileptic patient or a patient at risk of convulsions, you should ask your doctor for advice.

Children

Do not give this medicine to children below the age of 6 years because the tablet formulation does not allow the necessary dose adjustments.

Other medicines and Cetirizine 10 mg Tablets

Please tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking or have recently taken or might take any other medicines, including medicines obtained without a prescription.

Due to the profile of cetirizine, no interactions with other drugs are expected.

Taking Cetirizine 10 mg Tablets with food and drink

Food does not noticeably affect the absorption of cetirizine.

No interactions having a noticeable impact have been observed between alcohol (at the blood level of 0.5 per mille (g/l) corresponding to one glass of wine) and cetirizine used at the recommended doses. However, as it is the case with all antihistamines, it is recommended to avoid consumption of alcohol while taking this medicine.

Pregnancy and breast-feeding

If you are pregnant or breast-feeding, think you may be pregnant or are planning to have a baby, ask your doctor for advice before taking this medicine.

Cetirizine 10mg Tablets should be avoided in pregnant women.

Accidental use of the drug by a pregnant woman should not produce any harmful effects on the foetus. Nevertheless, the medicine should only be administered if necessary and after medical advice.

Cetirizine passes into breast milk. Side effects associated with cetirizine may be seen in breastfed infants. Therefore, you should not take Cetirizine 10 mg Tablets during breast-feeding unless you have contacted a doctor.

Allergy skin test

If you are going to have an allergy skin test stop taking Cetirizine 10 mg Tablets for three days before the test. This medicine may affect your allergy test results.

Driving and using machines

Clinical studies have produced no evidence of impaired attention, alertness and driving capabilities after taking Cetirizine 10 mg Tablets at the recommended dose.

You should closely observe your response to the drug after you have taken Cetirizine 10 mg Tablets if you are intending to drive, engage in potentially hazardous activities or operate machinery. You should not exceed the recommended dose. If you are a sensitive patient, you may find that the simultaneous use of alcohol or other nervous depressant agents may additionally affect your attention and ability to react.

Cetirizine 10 mg Tablets contains lactose

Cetirizine 10 mg Tablets contain lactose; if you have been told by your doctor that you have an intolerance to some sugars, please contact your doctor before taking this medicinal product.