May 20, 2019
Chuck asked
My 13-year-old takes prescription levocetirizine dihydrochloride oral solution (2.5mg/5ml) each day for severe allergies during April and May. They take 10 milliliters once a day. This liquid medication works well. Is it safe for a 13-year-old to be taking this medicine every day for up to 10 to 12 weeks during the height of allergy season in Spring?
At a glance
- The side effects of Xyzal are similar for both short-term and long-term use (clinical trials up to 6 months in length have been completed). They are generally mild, with the most commonly reported being fatigue and somnolence (sleepiness).
Answer
Yes, the long-term use of Xyzal (levocetirizine), a 'third-generation" antihistamine, is considered to be safe for most people.
In fact, the side effect profile for Xyzal with long-term use is very similar to its side effect profile with short-term use. The prescribing information for the drug states this explicitly:[1]
References
- ^ Xyzal Prescribing Information. ClinicalKey
- ^ Pharmacology of Antihistamines. PubMed
- ^ Cardiovascular safety of antihistamines. PubMed
- ^ Association of prescription H1 antihistamine use with obesity: Results from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. PubMed
- ^ Paradoxical excitation on diphenhydramine may be associated with being a CYP2D6 ultrarapid metabolizer: three case reports. Natural Standard
