Astemizole
About Astemizole
Astemizole belongs to the class of medications called ‘antihistamines’ used in the treatment of allergic rhinitis and urticaria. Allergic rhinitis (hay fever) is characterized by a runny nose, sneezing, and red, watery, itchy, and swollen eyes occurring due to exposure to allergens. Urticaria (hives) is an itchy skin reaction due to triggers such as food, drugs or other irritation.
Astemizole contains ‘Astemizole’, which acts as an antihistamine. It blocks the action of histamines (chemicals causing allergic symptoms) and reduces the allergic reaction. It provides quick relief from allergic symptoms. Astemizole is widely used to treat hay fever (an allergy caused by pollen or dust), conjunctivitis (red, itchy eye), eczema (dermatitis), hives (red, raised patches or dots), reactions to insect bites and stings, and some food allergies.
Take Astemizole as prescribed by your doctor. You are advised to take Astemizole for as long as your doctor has prescribed it for you, depending upon your medical condition. You may sometimes experience headaches, dry mouth, dry skin and itchiness. Most of these side effects of Astemizole do not require medical attention and gradually resolve over time. However, if the side effects persist or worsen, please consult your doctor.
You should not take Astemizole if you are allergic to Astemizole or any other medicines in the past. Before taking this medicine, inform your doctor if you are taking any prescription or non-prescription medicines, including dietary or herbal supplements. Inform your doctor if you are previously diagnosed with seizures (fits) and asthma, heart problems, or liver or kidney failure. If you have a history of or ongoing cardiovascular disease, Astemizole have been associated with adverse reactions, tachycardia, cardiac arrest, QT prolongation and palpitations. Inform your doctor if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant and breastfeeding. Astemizole should be cautiously used in children when only the doctor advises. Avoid alcohol while taking Astemizole, since it can worsen the side effects like dizziness and sleepiness. Use caution when driving, operating machinery or performing other hazardous activities. Astemizole may cause dizziness or drowsiness. If you experience dizziness or drowsiness, avoid these activities.
Uses of Astemizole
Medicinal Benefits
Astemizole contains Astemizole an antihistamine (anti-allergy) that blocks the effects of a chemical messenger (histamine) naturally involved in allergic reactions. Thus it helps provide relief from allergy symptoms such as sneezing, running nose, watery eyes, itching, swelling, congestion or stiffness. Astemizole is widely used to treat adults and children (aged 12 years and above) who have hay fever (seasonal allergic rhinitis), round-the-year dust or pet allergies (perennial allergic rhinitis), and urticaria (swelling, redness, and itchiness of the skin). In short, it helps to relieve the discomfort and unpleasant symptoms that occurred due to allergic conditions, like blocked/runny/itchy nose, red/watery eyes, and skin rashes.
Directions for Use
Storage
Side Effects of Astemizole
- Headache
- Nervousness
- Dry mouth
- Dry skin
- Itchiness
Drug Warnings
Before taking Astemizole, tell your doctor if you have asthma or another lung disease, low potassium levels in your blood, urinary retention or an enlarged prostate, kidney disease, liver disease or heart disease, dose adjustment might be required; the doctor will do it depending upon your disease's condition. Patients with a history of or ongoing cardiovascular disease should be warned that antihistamines, as a medicine class, have been associated with adverse reactions, tachycardia, and palpitations. Astemizole isn't normally recommended during pregnancy and breastfeeding. Talk to your doctor about the benefits and possible harms of taking Astemizole while pregnant and breastfeeding. Your doctor will weigh the benefits and any potential risks before prescribing it to you. It will also depend on how many weeks pregnant you are and why you need to take Astemizole. Concurrent use of Astemizole with alcohol or other antidepressants should be avoided as it can reduce mental alertness.
Drug Interactions
Drug-Drug Interaction: Astemizole have interactions with medicine to treat fungal infections (ketoconazole, itraconazole, fluconazole, miconazole), an antibiotic (erythromycin, clarithromycin, troleandomycin, rifampicin, moxifloxacin), antimalarial (quinine, hydroxychloroquine) medicines used to treat HIV infection (ritonavir, saquinavir, atazanavir, lopinavir), and indigestion remedies containing (magnesium hydroxide), a medication used to treat excessive sleepiness (pitolisant).
Drug-Food Interaction: Consuming large amounts of alcohol and fruit juices, including grapefruit, orange, and apple, may decrease the levels of Astemizole in your body.
Drug-Disease Interaction: Astemizole is contraindicated in asthma, liver or kidney disease, heart problems, and epilepsy (fits).
Drug-Drug Interactions Checker List:
Safety Advice
Alcohol
unsafeAlcohol may worsen the health condition. So, do not take alcohol while using Astemizole.
Pregnancy
cautionAstemizole is a category C medicine. It may cause toxic effects to the fetus. It should be used in pregnant women only if needed. Please consult your doctor. Your doctor will weigh the benefits and any potential risks before prescribing it to you.
Breast Feeding
cautionDo not use Astemizole in breastfeeding mothers unless prescribed by your doctor. Your doctor will weigh the benefits and any potential risks before prescribing it to you. Please consult your doctor.
Driving
cautionAstemizole may not cause drowsiness. However, refrain from driving or operating heavy machinery while taking this medicine.
Liver
cautionAstemizole to be taken with caution, especially if you have a history of Liver diseases/conditions. The dose may have to be adjusted by your doctor.
Kidney
cautionAstemizole to be taken with caution, especially if you have a history of Kidney diseases/conditions. The dose may have to be adjusted by your doctor.
Children
cautionFor children above 12 years of age, dose adjustments may be necessary if prescribed.
Habit Forming
Diet & Lifestyle Advise
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Some anti-inflammatory compounds in ginger can relax membranes in the airways, which could reduce coughing.
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Staying hydrated is vital for those with a cough or cold. Drinking liquids at room temperature can alleviate cough, runny nose, and sneezing.
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The immune system is affected by stress and raises the risk of being sick. An individual can exercise regularly, meditate, do deep breathing and try progressive muscle relaxation techniques to relieve stress.
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Try to sleep 7-9 hours each night to stay fit and safe.
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It is advised to avoid contact with known allergens (allergy-causing agents) such as pollen, dust, etc. Certain food items are known to cause allergies to you.
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Maintain personal hygiene and keep your surroundings clean.
Special Advise
- Please take Astemizole as long as the doctor prescribed it. Exceeding the recommended dose of Astemizole causes serious cardiovascular adverse events, including cardiac arrest, QT prolongation and other ventricular arrhythmias and death.
- Patients should be advised not to increase the dose of Astemizole in an attempt to accelerate the onset of action as it may lead to heart problems.
Patients Concern
Disease/Condition Glossary
Allergic rhinitis: It is also called hay fever. It occurs when the immune system responds to foreign elements that are typically not harmful to your body. These foreign elements are known as allergens. Symptoms include itching, watery eyes, swelling around the eyes, runny nose, and sneezing.
Urticaria: It is also called hives. It is characterized by red, itchy and swollen bumps on the skin due to triggers such as food, drugs or other irritants.
FAQs
Astemizole blocks the action of histamines, chemicals that are responsible for causing an allergic reaction. This medicine is effectively used to treat runny nose, sneezing, itching of the skin, watery eyes.
No, you should not take Astemizole along with high blood pressure (hypertension) medication, leading to a further rise in blood pressure. Please inform your doctor if you have high blood pressure before starting Astemizole. Astemizole is contraindicated in patients with heart problems.
No, Astemizole will not help in reducing general fever. Astemizole is an antiallergic and primarily helps in reducing allergic reactions which includes seasonal allergies known as 'hay fever'.
You are not recommended to stop taking Astemizole without consulting your doctor as it may worsen the infection or cause recurring symptoms. Therefore, take Astemizole for as long as your doctor has prescribed it, and if you experience any difficulty while taking Astemizole, please consult your doctor.
Astemizole should be used with caution in patients suffering from fits as it may cause recurring fits. Therefore, please inform your doctor if you have or are at risk of having fits.
Astemizole may not cause drowsiness when taken in recommended doses. However, consult your doctor immediately if you develop any abnormal effects while using this medicine.
Hay fever is an allergy caused due to outdoor or indoor allergens, such as pollen, dust mites or tiny flecks of skin and saliva shed by cats, dogs and other animals with fur or feathers (pet dander). It leads to cold-like symptoms (running nose, watery eyes).