Cetirizine and Pseudoephedrine (Systemic)
Brand Names : Zyrtec-D 12 hour
Before Using This MedicineIn deciding to use a medicine,
the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will
do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For cetirizine and pseudoephedrine,
the following should be considered:
Allergies - Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual
or allergic reaction to cetirizine or other antihistamines (especially hydroxyzine
[e.g. Atarax]) or pseudoephedrine, or to amphetamine, dextroamphetamine (e.g.,
Dexedrine), ephedrine (e.g., Ephed II), epinephrine (e.g., Adrenalin), isoproterenol
(e.g., Isuprel), metaproterenol (e.g., Alupent), methamphetamine (e.g., Desoxyn),
norepinephrine (e.g., Levophed), phenylephrine (e.g., Neo-Synephrine), phenylpropanolamine
(e.g., Dexatrim), or terbutaline (e.g., Brethine). Also tell your health care
professional if you are allergic to any other substances, such as foods, preservatives,
or dyes.
Pregnancy - The combination of cetirizine and pseudoephedrine
has not been studied in pregnant women. However, studies in animals have shown
that cetirizine and pseudoephedrine causes birth defects. Discuss with your
doctor whether or not you should continue to use this medicine if you become
pregnant.
Breast-feeding - Cetirizine and pseudoephedrine do pass into breast
milk. Use is not recommended since the chances are greater for this medicine
to cause side effects in the nursing baby.
Children - Use is not recommended in infants and children
up to 12 years of age. In children 12 years of age and older, this medicine
is not expected to cause different side effects or problems than it does in
adults.
Older adults - Many medicines have not been studied specifically
in older people. Therefore, it may not be known whether they work exactly
the same way they do in younger adults or if they cause different side effects
or problems in older people. There is no specific information comparing use
of cetirizine and pseudoephedrine in the elderly with use in other age groups.
Other medicines - Although certain medicines should not be used
together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together
even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to
change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking
cetirizine and pseudoephedrine, it is especially important that your doctor
and pharmacist know if you are taking any of the following:
-
Alcohol or
-
Central nervous system (CNS) depressants (medicine that causes drowsiness)
or
-
Tricycylic antidepressants (amitriptyline [e.g. Elavil], amoxapine
[e.g. Asendin], clomipramine [ e.g. Anafranil], desipramine [e.g. Norpramin],
doxepin [e.g. Sinequan], imipramine [ e.g. Tofranil], nortriptyline [e.g.
Aventyl, Pamelor], protriptyline [e.g., Vivactil], trimipramine [e.g. Surmontil]) - Cetirizine
will add to the effects of alcohol and other CNS depressants, including tricyclic
antidepressants, possibly causing drowsiness
-
Digitalis glycosides (heart medicine) - Use with pseudoephedrine
may cause problems with unusual heartbeats.
-
Monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitors (furazolidone [e.g., Furoxone],
isocarboxazid [e.g., Marplan], phenelzine [e.g., Nardil], procarbazine [e.g.,
Matulane], selegiline [e.g., Eldepryl], tranylcypromine [e.g., Parnate]) - If
you are now taking, or have taken within the past 2 weeks, any of the MAO
inhibitors, the side effects of pseudoephedrine may become more severe; these
medicines should not be used together.
Other medical problems - The presence of other medical
problems may affect the use of cetirizine and pseudoephedrine. Make sure you
tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:
-
Kidney disease - Removal of cetirizine and pseudoephedrine from
the body may be reduced
For cetirizine
-
Liver disease - May be worsened by cetirizine
For pseudoephedrine
-
Diabetes or
-
Heart disease or
-
High blood pressure or
-
Inner eye pressure or
-
Narrow-angle glaucoma or
-
Urination difficulties or
-
Prostrate, enlarged or
-
Thyroid problems - May be worsened by pseudoephedrine
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