In the article, we consider the instructions for use and reviews about "Xizal". It is a blocker of histamine H1 receptors, the enantiomer of cetirizine, is one of the competitive histamine antagonists.
Description
Xizal acts on the histamine-dependent stage of allergic reactions, reduces eosinophil migration, reduces vascular permeability, and limits the release of inflammatory mediators. It also prevents the formation and facilitates the course of allergies, has antipruritic and antiexudative effects, and has almost no antiserotonin and anticholinergic effects. Almost no sedative effect in therapeutic doses. The instructions for use with Ksizal are very detailed, so there should not be any problems with taking such a drug.
Release form
Available in the following forms:
- coated tablets of 7 or 10 pieces, which are packaged in blister packs - a cardboard pack includes them in the amount of one or two pieces;
- oral drops of ten milliliters in dark glass bottles with a dropper - one bottle in a cardboard bundle.
Pharmacological features
According to the instructions for use, "Xizal" is a drug that has a pronounced anti-allergic and antihistamine effect. The main active ingredient of the drug is levocetirizine. This is the R-enantiomer of cetirizine, which blocks H1-histamine receptors. At the same time, its pharmacological activity is almost twice as high as that of cetirizine.
The drug "Xizal" has an effect on the histamine-dependent stage of an allergic reaction. In addition, the active component reduces eosinophilic migration and reduces the permeability of blood vessels. Xizal to some extent slows down the release of inflammatory mediators and cytokines.
The drug has an antiexudative and antipruritic effect, facilitates the course and prevents the occurrence of allergic reactions. Levocetirizine has almost no effect on serotonin and cholinergic receptors, and also does not have a strong sedative effect.
The drug is well absorbed after oral administration in the intestine. Taking the drug along with food does not cause changes in the rate of levocetirizine absorption and bioavailability. The highest concentration of the main component is observed within an hour after consumption. Plasma equilibrium concentrations are observed on the second day after treatment. This confirms the instructions for use for the Xizal preparation.
The level of binding of levocetirizine to plasma proteins is 90%, when taken orally, the bioavailability is such an indicator as 100%.
The body is metabolized to a small extent. Mostly excreted by the kidneys through glomerular filtration and channel secretion. About 13% of the main component is excreted through the intestines. The half-life of the drug is carried out in a period of six to ten hours, which depends on the specifics of the patient's body. The same period in children is shorter.
In patients who have impaired renal function, an increase in the half-life is observed. With hemodialysis, the main active substance is almost not excreted. The active component of the drug passes into the milk of a nursing mother.
Indications for use
The drug “Xizal” is used in the symptomatic treatment of patients who suffer from seasonal and year-round forms of rhinitis and allergic conjunctivitis, accompanied by swelling of the nasal mucosa, sneezing, rhinorrhea, lacrimation, hyperemia of the membrane and conjunctiva. Xizal is also prescribed for people with a chronic type of idiopathic urticaria, hay fever, allergic dermatoses, angioedema, accompanied by itching and a rash on the epidermis.
Method of using tablets
What else does the instruction manual for Xizal tell us? Coated tablets. The product is intended for oral administration. It is undesirable to chew or grind the tablet. Xizal is taken regardless of the time of meal. It is washed down with a small amount of water. The duration of the therapeutic course and levocetirizine dosage is determined by the attending physician. Children after six years and adults are most often prescribed one tablet per day.
Dosage adjustment
For patients younger than six, it is advisable to take the drug in the form of oral drops. If the kidneys do not work well, you need to make a dosage adjustment:
- with a creatinine clearance index of 30 to 50 ml per minute, they most often drink one tablet once every two days;
- from 10 to 30 ml per minute - one tablet once every three days;
- less than 10 ml per minute (people on hemodialysis) do not use levocetirizine.
If the kidneys in patients with impaired liver function and in the elderly function normally, then dosage adjustments are not necessary. The duration of therapy ranges from a week to six months, which is determined by the nature of the pathology. In some cases, the course lasts up to a year under medical supervision. This is indicated by the instructions for use with the Xizal tablets.
Drops for oral administration
They are taken orally, regardless of the time of meal. If necessary, the required amount of medicine can be diluted in a small amount of water (volume - not more than ten milliliters). The duration of administration and dosage features are determined by the doctor. Such information contains instructions for use with Ksizal.
Children from six years of age and adults are most often prescribed 20 drops per day. It is best to take a daily dose at a time. Children from 2 to 6 years, as a rule, are prescribed five drops of the drug twice a day. The maximum recommended dose for children from six years of age and adults per day is 5 milligrams. For babies aged 2 to 6 years - half as much.
Instructions for use with Xizal drops describes the dosage in detail, however, before taking the drug, you should consult your doctor.
For patients with impaired renal activity, the levocetirizine dosage should be selected taking into account the creatinine clearance values:
- from 30 to 50 ml per minute - 20 drops once every two days;
- from 10 to 30 ml per minute - 20 drops once every three days;
- those on hemodialysis are not prescribed levocetirizine.
Elderly people, as well as those who have problems associated with the liver, with normal kidney function, do not need a dosage adjustment.
The duration of treatment most often ranges from one week to six months. In some cases, under strict medical supervision, the therapeutic course can last up to a year and a half.
Side effects
Xizal in most cases, patients tolerate well. During the course of treatment, some people experience the following undesirable symptoms:
- Organs of the central nervous system and senses: decreased visual acuity, high fatigue, drowsiness, attacks of aggression, headache, depression, asthenia. In isolated cases, convulsions and hallucinations may develop.
- Hepatobiliary system and gastrointestinal tract: pain and discomfort in the epigastric region, dry oral mucosa, hepatitis, diarrhea, increased liver enzymes, nausea. In isolated cases, the weight of the patient changed.
- Allergic reactions: rash and itching of the epidermis, urticaria, angioedema, anaphylactic shock.
- Other symptoms: dyspnea, palpitations with a higher frequency, muscle pain, shortness of breath.
Contraindications
According to the instructions for use, Xizal (5 mg) is not prescribed for those who are distinguished by individual high sensitivity to the main component and piperazine derivatives.
Coated tablets are undesirable for a patient with glucose-galactose malabsorption syndrome, lactase deficiency and galactosemia.
Levocetirizine can not be prescribed to those who have severe renal failure (creatinine clearance below 10 ml per minute).
Xizal is undesirable to prescribe during pregnancy, as well as during breastfeeding.
Children under 6 years of age are not treated with tablets. Oral drops are not used for therapeutic purposes in the treatment of patients younger than two years of age.
You should be very careful when prescribing a similar drug to patients with impaired kidney function, chronic alcoholism, and the elderly.
Those who drive a vehicle or operate mechanisms that pose a potential danger should be especially careful during treatment with Xizal and analogues.
Instructions for use also report possible symptoms of an overdose. If they occur, you should consult a doctor.
Overdose
When using large doses of the drug, unreasonable anxiety, drowsiness, or agitation may develop. In addition, the severity of side symptoms can increase.
There is no special antidote. When taking the drug in a large dose, you need to immediately rinse the stomach and start drinking enterosorbents. If there is a need, then treatment is carried out that is aimed at eliminating signs of intoxication.
The implementation of hemodialysis is ineffective in case of an overdose of the active active ingredient. We reviewed the instructions for use with Xizal tablets for adults and drops for children. But what do the reviews say about the drug?
Reviews
The drug is distinguished by its advantages and disadvantages in comparison with the first and second generation antihistamines.
The undoubted advantages of it are the following.
- The duration of the therapeutic effect. The drug is used only once a day.
- High efficiency of its antihistamine effect. "Xizal" copes with the main symptoms of most allergic pathologies.
- Low likelihood of side effects. The drug does not affect the patient's performance and does not negatively affect the activity of his nervous system.
- The therapeutic effect occurs quite quickly.
- The medicine can be used for several months.
This is confirmed not only by the instructions for use with Xizal tablets - reviews also contain similar information. According to reviews, the main disadvantage of the drug is a rather high price. Some patients also report drowsiness during treatment. It is because of this that the medicine is contraindicated for use by those people whose activities are in any way connected with complex mechanisms.
Conclusion
The drug "Xizal" is one of the most effective antihistamine type drugs that is used in the treatment of certain allergic diseases. However, in order for it to become useful and not cause unwanted symptoms, only a qualified specialist should prescribe it.