Levocetirizine: Uses, Dosage, Side Effects & Safety

Levocetirizine is the generic name of an antihistamine used for allergy symptoms. It is a prescription medicine in India, sold under many brand names as tablets and as a syrup.

Those products are made by many different companies. The active ingredient is the same across them, but strength, form, pack size and price are not.

What is levocetirizine?

Levocetirizine is an antihistamine. MedlinePlus^[1] explains that it works by blocking the action of histamine, a substance in the body that causes allergic symptoms.

The NHS^[2] describes antihistamines as medicines used to relieve the symptoms of allergies such as hay fever, hives, conjunctivitis and reactions to insect bites or stings. That page covers the antihistamine class and does not name levocetirizine.

Its status in India is set by the Drugs Rules, 1945^[3]. Levocetirizine appears at entry 285 in Schedule H, the schedule of prescription drugs. Rule 97 requires the pack to carry the symbol Rx and a warning against retail sale without a doctor’s prescription.

What are the main levocetirizine uses?

Levocetirizine is used for allergy symptoms. MedlinePlus lists sneezing, a runny nose, itching of the nose or throat, and red, itchy or watery eyes. It also lists the symptoms of urticaria, or hives.

DailyMed’s prescribing information^[4] sets out three approved indications. They are relief of symptoms of seasonal allergic rhinitis, relief of symptoms of perennial allergic rhinitis, and treatment of the uncomplicated skin manifestations of chronic idiopathic urticaria.

Those indications sit on a United States label. They do not describe the approved indications of any Indian product.

Popular brands containing levocetirizine

Several levocetirizine brands are sold in India. The company names below are those shown on the Medkart listing for each pack.

Brand Name	Active Ingredient	Available Strengths / Forms*	Manufacturer / Company
Vozet	Levocetirizine	5 mg tablets	Dr Reddy’s Laboratories Limited
Levorid	Levocetirizine	5 mg tablets	Cipla Pharmaceutical Company Limited
Lecope	Levocetirizine	5 mg tablets	Mankind Pharma Limited
Xevor	Levocetirizine	5 mg tablets	Abbott Health Care Private Limited
Zipcet	Levocetirizine	5 mg tablets	Zydus Lifesciences Limited
Levocet	Levocetirizine	5 mg tablets	Hetero Drugs Limited

Examples of listed strengths and forms, not a complete catalogue. Product ranges can change.

Availability and pack size differ between products. The range sold under any one brand can change.

Levocetirizine composition and available strengths

Levocetirizine tablets are commonly sold at a strength of 5 mg. DailyMed’s prescribing information describes a 5 mg tablet scored so that a 2.5 mg amount can be given. DailyMed’s oral solution label^[5] describes a strength of 2.5 mg per 5 ml.

A strength such as levocetirizine 5 mg describes the amount of active ingredient in that product. It is product information, not a dosing instruction.

Medkart’s listings for levocetirizine 5 mg and levocetirizine 2.5 mg per 5 ml show tablets and syrups from a range of manufacturers.

Also Read: Montek LC Tablet: Indications, Dosage Guide & Safety Precautions

How is levocetirizine dosage decided?

There is no one dose that applies to every levocetirizine prescription. Age and kidney function both come into it.

DailyMed’s prescribing information gives 5 mg once daily in the evening for adults and children aged 12 and over, and notes that some patients are controlled on 2.5 mg. It gives 2.5 mg once daily in the evening for children aged 6 to 11 years.

The oral solution label gives 1.25 mg once daily in the evening for children aged 6 months to 5 years. The prescribing information also sets lower amounts for adults and adolescents whose kidney function is reduced, worked out from creatinine clearance.

MedlinePlus advises taking levocetirizine at the same time every day, and says it should be taken exactly as directed. What applies to one person is a decision for the prescriber.

What are the common levocetirizine side effects?

Sleepiness is the most commonly reported side effect. DailyMed’s prescribing information reports somnolence in 6 per cent of adults and adolescents aged 12 and over.

The same source reports nasopharyngitis in 4 per cent, fatigue in 4 per cent, dry mouth in 2 per cent and pharyngitis in 1 per cent. For children aged 6 to 12 years it reports fever in 4 per cent, cough in 3 per cent, somnolence in 3 per cent and nosebleeds in 2 per cent.

MedlinePlus lists sleepiness and tiredness as its common effects. It lists other effects that call for a doctor straight away, including:

Hives
Rash
Itching
Swelling of the arms, hands, feet, ankles or lower legs

DailyMed advises against hazardous work needing full mental alertness, such as driving or operating machinery.

Who should be careful with levocetirizine?

Kidney function is what most often changes the picture. DailyMed’s prescribing information states that levocetirizine is substantially excreted by the kidneys, so the risk of adverse reactions is greater where kidney function is impaired.

Why kidney function matters

Because the kidneys do most of the clearing, reduced kidney function leaves more of the medicine in the body. DailyMed lists end-stage renal disease, at a creatinine clearance below 10 ml per minute, and treatment by haemodialysis among its contraindications. It also contraindicates use in children aged 6 months to 11 years whose kidney function is impaired.

The over-the-counter Xyzal Allergy 24HR label^[6] is stricter still for self-treatment. It says the product should not be used at all by anyone with kidney disease.

Situation	What to do
Reduced kidney function	DailyMed’s prescribing information sets lower amounts based on creatinine clearance. MedlinePlus says to tell the doctor about any past or present kidney disease.
End-stage renal disease or dialysis	DailyMed lists both among its contraindications, so the medicine is not given in those circumstances.
A previous reaction to cetirizine	DailyMed lists known hypersensitivity to levocetirizine or to cetirizine as a contraindication. The Xyzal Allergy 24HR label says the product should not be used by anyone who has reacted to an antihistamine containing cetirizine.
Trouble passing urine	The Xyzal Allergy 24HR label says to ask a doctor before use if there has ever been trouble urinating or emptying the bladder, and to stop use if that difficulty occurs.
Pregnancy or breastfeeding	MedlinePlus says to tell the doctor about pregnancy or plans to become pregnant, and advises against breastfeeding while taking levocetirizine. The Xyzal Allergy 24HR label says the same about breastfeeding and directs anyone pregnant to ask a health professional.
Adults aged 65 and over	The Xyzal Allergy 24HR label directs adults aged 65 and over to ask a doctor before use.

The NHS adds that people who are pregnant or breastfeeding, older people, and people with heart, liver or kidney disease or epilepsy should check before taking an antihistamine.

Generic levocetirizine vs brand-name levocetirizine

Generic and branded levocetirizine contain the same active ingredient. The US FDA[7] states that a generic medicine matches the brand-name medicine on active ingredient, strength, dosage form and route of administration, and is bioequivalent to it.

The FDA adds that approved generics provide the same clinical benefit and risks as their brand-name counterparts. That is the U.S. FDA standard, and an India-specific regulatory source is needed before making the same claim about an Indian product.

Products can still differ in manufacturer, inactive ingredients, appearance and price. The same active ingredient and strength alone do not prove that two products are interchangeable. A doctor or pharmacist should confirm any switch between brands.

Buy or compare levocetirizine tablets on Medkart

Medkart sells levocetirizine products online in several brands and forms, and lists them as prescription items. Medkart states that the medicines it sells are sourced from WHO-GMP certified manufacturers.

Medkart’s medicine comparison tool places products side by side, and the medicines index lists what is in stock. The details a reader can compare include:

Active ingredient
Strength
Dosage form
Manufacturer
Pack size
Current price

Any suggested alternative should be discussed with a doctor or pharmacist before changing a prescribed medicine.

Key takeaways

Levocetirizine is an antihistamine that works by blocking the action of histamine.
Its approved uses include seasonal allergic rhinitis, perennial allergic rhinitis and chronic idiopathic urticaria.
Levocetirizine is listed at entry 285 in Schedule H of India’s Drugs Rules, 1945, which makes it a prescription drug.
A strength such as levocetirizine 5 mg is product information, not an instruction about how much to take.
Labelling gives 5 mg once daily in the evening for adults and children aged 12 and over, with smaller amounts for younger children.
Somnolence is the most commonly reported side effect, at 6 per cent in adults and adolescents.
Levocetirizine is substantially excreted by the kidneys, so reduced kidney function changes what is appropriate.
Generic and branded levocetirizine share the same active ingredient, but two individual products are not automatically interchangeable.

FAQs: Common Questions About Levocetirizine

Q. How is levocetirizine different from cetirizine?

The sources used for this article do not compare the two directly. What the labelling does show is that they are treated as closely linked. DailyMed lists a known reaction to either one as a reason not to take levocetirizine. A doctor or pharmacist is the right person to ask which of the two suits a particular case.

Q. What happens if a dose of levocetirizine is missed?

It depends on how close the next dose is. MedlinePlus says a missed dose should be taken as soon as it is remembered, but skipped if it is almost time for the next one. It advises returning to the regular schedule after that rather than taking two doses close together.

Q. Can levocetirizine be taken with food?

Yes. MedlinePlus says levocetirizine can be taken with or without food. It also says to take it at the same time each day, which matters more for keeping the schedule steady than any particular meal does.

Q. Is it safe to drink alcohol while taking levocetirizine?

It is better avoided. DailyMed advises against using alcohol or other central nervous system depressants alongside levocetirizine. The Xyzal Allergy 24HR label adds that alcohol, sedatives and tranquillisers increase drowsiness, which is the reason the combination is discouraged.

Q. Can levocetirizine be taken for a long time?

That is a decision for the prescriber. MedlinePlus says levocetirizine should be taken exactly as directed, and not in larger amounts or more often than prescribed. It also notes that severe itching can develop after the medicine is stopped, particularly where it has been taken regularly for months or years.

Q. What should someone do if too much levocetirizine is taken?

Get medical help. The Xyzal Allergy 24HR label says that in an overdose, medical help should be sought or a poison control centre contacted straight away. That instruction names a United States helpline, so in India the step is to contact a doctor, a pharmacist or a hospital.

References

Medical disclaimer: This article provides general information and does not replace advice from a doctor or pharmacist. Levocetirizine is an antihistamine listed in Schedule H of India’s Drugs Rules, 1945, so levocetirizine products in India are prescription medicines. Brands with the same composition should only be substituted under the guidance of a healthcare professional or pharmacist because product details and approved indications can differ.

Levocetirizine: Uses, Dosage, Side Effects and Precautions