Xyzal

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Treatment & Uses
Side Effects
Treating Overdose
Safety Information
Before Using

Generic Name: levocetirizine (LEE voe se TIR a zeen)
Brand Names: Xyzal

What is Xyzal?

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Xyzal (levocetirizine) is an antihistamine that reduces the natural chemical histamine in the body. Histamine can produce symptoms of sneezing, itching, watery eyes, and runny nose. Xyzal works by blocking the actions of histamine.

Xyzal is used to treat symptoms of year-round (perennial) allergies in adults and children who are at least 6 months old. Xyzal is also used to treat symptoms of seasonal allergies in adults and children who are at least 2 years old.

Xyzal is also used to treat itching and swelling caused by chronic urticaria (hives) in adults and children who are at least 6 months old.

Important information about Xyzal

You should not use Xyzal 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 under 12 with kidney disease should not take Xyzal.

Before taking Xyzal, tell your doctor if you are allergic to any drugs, or if you have kidney or liver 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 Xyzal as an adult's body. This medicine can cause side effects that may impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be awake and alert. Avoid drinking alcohol. It can increase some of the side effects of Xyzal. 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 Xyzal. Call your doctor if your symptoms do not improve, if they get worse, or if you also have a fever.

Before taking Xyzal

You should not use Xyzal if you are allergic to levocetirizine or cetirizine (Zyrtec). Do not take this medicine if you have end-stage kidney disease or if you are on dialysis. Any child under 12 with kidney disease should not take levocetirizine.

Before taking Xyzal, tell your doctor if you are allergic to any drugs, or if you have:

kidney disease;
liver disease; or
gallbladder problems.

If you have any of these conditions, you may need a dose adjustment or special tests to safely take Xyzal.

FDA pregnancy category B. This medication is not expected to be harmful to an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment. Xyzal can pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing baby. Do not use this medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby. Do not give Xyzal to a child younger than 6 months old.

How should I take Xyzal?

Take Xyzal exactly as directed on the label, or as prescribed by your doctor. Do not use it in larger amounts or for longer than recommended. Follow the directions on your prescription label.

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 Xyzal as an adult's body.

You may take this medication with or without food. Xyzal is usually taken once per day, in the evening.

Measure liquid medicine with a special dose-measuring spoon or cup, not a regular table spoon. If you do not have a dose-measuring device, ask your pharmacist for one.

Call your doctor if your symptoms do not improve, if they get worse, or if you also have a fever. Store Xyzal at room temperature away from moisture and heat.

What happens if I miss a dose?

Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, wait until then to take the medicine and skip the missed dose. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.

What happens if I overdose?

Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have used too much of this medicine.

Overdose symptoms may include feeling restless or agitated, and then feeling drowsy.

What should I avoid while taking Xyzal?

Xyzal can cause side effects that may impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be awake and alert. Avoid drinking alcohol. It can increase some of the side effects of Xyzal. 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 Xyzal.

Xyzal side effects

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction to Xyzal: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat. Stop using this medication and call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:

feeling like you might pass out;
nosebleed (especially in a child);
confusion, hallucinations, unusual thoughts;
numbness or tingling around your lips or mouth;
jaundice (yellowing of your skin or eyes);
dark-colored urine, foul-smelling stools; or
fever, stomach pain, loss of appetite.

Less serious Xyzal side effects may include:

drowsiness, weakness;
stuffy nose, sinus pain, sore throat, cough;
tired feeling;
dry mouth; or
weight gain.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Tell your doctor about any unusual or bothersome side effect. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

What other drugs will affect Xyzal?

Before you take Xyzal, tell your doctor if you also take ritonavir (Norvir, Kaletra).

There may be other drugs that can interact with Xyzal. Tell your doctor about all your prescription and over-the-counter medications, vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start a new medication without telling your doctor.

Where can I get more information?

Your pharmacist can provide more information about Xyzal.

Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed.
Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.