Side Effects of Levocetrizine
Q: I am 26 years old male. I was suffering with fever, running nose and weakness a few days back. I have sinusitis since a long time and cough throughout the year. Then I took levocetrizine 5 mg, three pills in two days. I ended up with dizziness, heaviness in head and dry nose and mouth. Am I sensitive to levocetrizine? Please tell me what can be the remedy to get over this prolonged dizziness and heaviness.
Reply:
These are normal side effects of this medicine. It is not that you are particularly more sensitive to it.
Cetrizine is an antihistaminic drug. It is prescribed to ease such symptoms, as you have, since these symptoms are assumed to have some allergic component too.
Levocetrizine is a more active form of the original cetrizine. Chemically, it is an enantiomer of the original cetrizine molecule.
Usual Side Effects of Cetrizine
- Dryness of mucosa- mouth, nose and throat
- Drowsiness
- Blurred vision
- Stomach aches
- Urinary retention
- Nightmares
This drug crosses the blood brain barrier to a small extent. So drowsiness is felt when this drug is taken.
The side effects will start tapering off as soon as you stop taking the medicine.
You may consider taking some other antihistamic medicine, which is non-sedating, like Fexofenadine (Allegra).
Also try taking steam inhalation. Take them at least twice a day, once in the morning and once before bedtime. This would aid in recovery.
Take Care,
Buddy M.D.
