Antihistamines are common constituents of paediatric medications and contained in many medicines for itch, colic, sleep, car sickness, vomiting, and cough mixtures.
Common antihistamines in the UK
Sedating Antihistamines
| Official Name | Trade Names |
|---|---|
| Alimemazine | Trimeprazine, Vallergan, Vallergan Forte |
| Chlorphenamine (formerly chlorpheniramine | Allerief, Galpseud Plus, Haymine, Piriton, Pollenase, Unichem Allergy Relief |
| Clemastine | Tavegil |
| Cyproheptadine | Periactin |
| Hydroxyzine | Atarax, Ucerax |
| Promethazine | Avomine, Phenergan |
Non-sedating Antihistamines
| Official Name | Trade Names |
|---|---|
| acrivastine | Semprex, Benadryl |
| cetirizine | Zirtec, Zyrtec |
| desloratadine | Neoclarityn |
| fexofenadine | Telfast 120, Telfast 180, Allegra |
| loratadine | Clarityn, Clarityne, Boots Antihistamine Tablets, Claritin |
| mizolastine | Mizollen, Mistamine |
Common Allergy & Asthma medications used in the USA/UK
| Allergy Medications | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Generic name | Brand Name | Class | Use | Dosage | Tips |
| Acrivastine | Semprex-D Capsules | Antihistamine, Decongestant, Rx | Allergic rhinitis | Age 12 and above, one capsule every 4 to 6 hours. | Do not take if you have high blood pressure or narrow angle glaucoma. May cause sedation. Pregnancy Category C |
| Brompheniramine | This generic medication appears in several combination products under a variety of different names. | Antihistamine, OTC | Allergic rhinitis and other allergies | Read package label or discuss the proper dosing with your physician. Children under 6: discuss use with physician. | Available by itself as well as in combination with decongestants. May cause sedation. Pregnancy Category C |
| carbinoxamine | Palgic 4mg Tablets, Palgic Liquid (4mg/5 mL) | Antihistamine | Seasonal and perennial allergic rhinitis, Other allergies | Tablets: Adults:1 to 2 tablets, 3 to 4 times a day Age 6 to adult: 1 to 1½ tablets; 3 to 4 times a day Liquid: Adults: 1-2 teaspoons; 3 to 4 times a day. Children older than 6: 1 to 1 ½ teaspoons; 3 to 4 times a day. Ask physician for dose under 6. Do not use under age 2. |
Palgic Web site Pregnancy Category C May cause sedation. Be careful about carbinoxamine in combination products: FDA and Carbinoxamine. |
| Cetirizine | Adults:Zyrtec Children: Zyrtec Allergy Syrup Zyrtec Chewable 5mg Zyrtec Chewable 10mg Zyrtec Hives Relief Syrup | Antihistamine OTC | Seasonal and perennial allergic rhinitis Chronic urticaria | Children: 6 to 12 months: 1/2 tsp. (2.5 mg) once a day. 1 to 5 years: 1/2 tsp. [2.5 mg] Once or twice a day. 6 to 11 years: 1 or 2 tsp. [5 or 10 mg] Once a day. | May cause mild sedation. With or without food. Zyrtec Web site Pregnancy Category B |
| Also appears as the generic cetirizine tablets and syrup as well as store brands of cetirizine. | 12 and older: 5 or 10 mg once a day. | ||||
| Zyrtec-D 12 Hour | Antihistamine Decongestant OTC | Seasonal and perennial allergic rhinitis | Age 12 and older: One tablet twice daily. | Combination of antihistamine (cetirizine) and a decongestant (pseudoephedrine). Zyrtec-D Package Insert Pregnancy Category C Not to be used by people with high blood pressure or narrow angle glaucoma. | |
| Chlorpheniramine | Sold as Chlor-Trimeton and under various store brand names or in combination products. | Antihistamine OTC | Allergic rhinitis and other allergies | Discuss proper adult dosing with your physician. Under age 6: Discuss use with physician. | This is available by itself as well as in combination with decongestants. May cause sedation. Pregnancy Category C |
| Clemastine | Generic 1.34 Tab Generic 2.68 Tab Generic Syrup 0.5mg/5 mL Tavist Allergy | Antihistamine OTC (Syrup and 1.34mg tab) Rx (2.68 tab) | Allergic rhinitis Urticaria | Children: 1 tsp twice a day. Adults: 1.34 to 2.68 one to three times daily. | May cause sedation. Tavist can appear as a part of several combination products. Pregnancy Category B |
| Cyproheptadine | Generic Syrup 2mg/5mL | Antihistamine Rx | Allergic rhinitis Urticaria | Children: 2 to 6 years old: 0.25 mg/kg/day increasing to total of 2mg every 8 to 12 hours. Age 7 to 14: Can increase to 4 mg every 8 to 12 hours. | May cause sedation. Weight gain is side-effect. Has anti-serotonin action besides antihistamine effect. Pregnancy Category B |
| Generic tablets 4 mg | Adults: Allergic rhinitis 4 mg up to 3 times a day. Urticaria: 4 mg/3 times a day up to 0.5 mg/kg/day. | ||||
| Desloratadine | Clarinex 5mg Tablets Clarinex 5mg Reditab Clarinex 2.5mg Reditab Clarinex 2.5mg/5 mL Syrup | Antihistamine Rx | Seasonal allergic rhinitis: Age 2 and older Perennial allergic rhinitis: 6 months and older Chronic urticaria: 6 months and older | Age 12 and older: 5 mg daily. Age 6 to 11: 2.5mg daily. Age 6 to 11 months: 2 mL = 1.0 mg daily. | Non-sedating. Clarinex Web site Desloratadine is a refined version of loratadine (Claritin). Pregnancy Class C |
| Clarinex-D 12 Hour Clarinex-D 14 Hour | Antihistamine/decongestant Rx | Seasonal allergic rhinitis age 12 and older | Age 12 and older: Clarinex-D 12 Hour: 1 tablet every 12 hours. Clarinex-D 24 Hour: 1 tablet once a day. | This is an extended release tablet of a combination of Clarinex with pseudoephedrine so that nasal congestion is reduced. Caution with conditions such as heart disease, high blood pressure and glaucoma. Pregnancy Category C Clarinex and Clarinex D Web site | |
| diphenhydramine | Available as: Generic Benadryl Various combination products | Antihistamine OTC Rx (50mg) | Seasonal allergic rhinitis Urticaria Motion sickness Insomnia | Age 2 to 6: Under physician’s supervision. Age 6 to 12: 12.5 to 25 mg every 4 to 6 hours. Adults: 25 to 50 mg every 4 to 6 hours. | May cause sedation. Found in many combination products. Pregnancy Category B Benadryl Web site |
| fexofenadine | Allegra 30, 60 and 180 mg tablets Allegra ODT 30 mg Allegra Oral Suspension 30mg/5ml Fexofenadine (generic) 30, 60 and 180 mg tablets | Antihistamine Rx | Seasonal allergic rhinitis Chronic urticaria | Allegra Tablets: Seasonal allergic rhinitis Chronic urticaria 12 and older 60 mg twice daily or 180 mg once a day Age 6 to 11: 30 mg twice a day Allegra ODT: Seasonal allergic rhinitis Chronic urticaria: Age 6 to 11: One 30 mg ODT twice a day Allegra Oral Suspension: Seasonal allergic rhinitis Age 2 to 11: 30 mg twice a day Chronic urticaria Age 6 months to 2 years: 15 mg twice a day Age 2 to 11: 30 mg twice a day | Non-sedating Allegra Web site Avoid taking Allegra with fruit juices such as apple, orange and grapefruit. Best taken with water. Allegra ODT can be taken without water. Pregnancy Category C |
| Allegra-D 12 Hour Allegra-D 24 hour | Antihistamine Decongestant Rx | Seasonal allergic rhinitis | Age 12 and older: One tablet twice a day The 24-hour tablet is one a day. | Non-sedating Allegra-D Package Insert Not to be used by people with high blood pressure or narrow angle glaucoma. Pregnancy Category C | |
| Hydroxyzine | Hydroxyzine HCl: Tablets: 10,25 and 50 mg Hydroxyzine HCl Syrup: 10 mg/5 ml Hydroxyzine pamoate and Vistaril: Capsules 10, 25 and 50 mg Oral Suspension: 25 mg/5 Ml | Antihistamine Rx | Itching associated with skin allergies | Under 6: Discuss with physician. Ages 6 to 12: 12.5 to 25 mg every 6 to 8 hours. Age 12 and older: 25 to 50 mg every 6 to 8 hours. | Very sedating Also used for anxiety, nausea, sedation, insomnia. Atarax = hydroxyzine HCl Vistari = hydroxyzine pamoate Vistaril Information from Pfizer No pregnancy category, discuss with physician. |
| levocetirizine | Xyzal 5mg Tablet Xyzal Oral Solution (2.5mg = 5 mL) | Antihistamine Rx | Seasonal and perennial allergic rhinitis Chronic urticaria | Age 6 to 11: 1 teaspoon (5 mL) or ½ tablet once a day in PM. Age 12 and older: 2 teaspoons (10mL) or 1 tablet each PM. | Xyzal is a refined version of cetirizine (Zyrtec). Sedating Pregnancy Category B Xyzal Web site Adjust dose with kidney disease. |
| Loratadine | Alavert Tablets Claritin Tablets Claritin RediTabs Claritin Syrup Generic versions | Antihistamine OTC | Allergic rhinitis Chronic urticaria | Age 2 to 6: 5 mg daily. Age 7 and above: 10 mg daily. | Non-sedating Alavert Web site Claritin Web site Pregnancy Category B |
| Claritin-D 12 Hour Claritin-D 24 Hour | Antihistamine Decongestant OTC | Allergic rhinitis | Claritin D12 Hour: Age 12 and above, one tablet twice daily. Claritin D24 Hour: One tablet daily in the AM. | These are combinations of loratadine with pseudoephedrine. Do not take if you have high blood pressure. Claritin-D Information Pregnancy Category C | |
| Montelukast | Singulair 4 mg Chewable 4 mg Oral Granules 5 mg Chewable 10 mg Tablet | Leukotriene antagonist | Seasonal allergic rhinitis (age 2 and older). Perennial allergic rhinitis (age 6 months and older). | Age 6 to 23 months: Use granules, 4mg daily. Age 2 to 5: One oral granule packet or 4 mg chewable tablet once a day. Age 6 to 14: One 5 mg tablet once Daily. Age 15 and above: One 10 mg tablet once daily. | Oral granules to be mixed with applesauce, carrots, rice or ice cream. 4 and 5 mg tablets are chewable. This is the same medication that is also approved for asthma control. Singulair Web site Pregnancy Category B |
Immunotherapy product we commonly use include Grazax, Ituluzax and Acarizax. Allergy immunotherapy has come a long way since it was first discovered. These tablet-based treatments have been tested in multiple clinical trials involving more than 20,000 people and have the largest evidence-base of any form of AIT treatment.
Grazax and Ituluzax are a type of immunotherapy used to treat hay fever (allergic rhinitis) caused by grass pollen and tree pollen respectively. They are a tablet that contains an extract of thepollen and is taken orally once daily. The purpose of taking the medicine is to desensitize the immune system to grass pollen, thus reducing the symptoms of hay fever when exposed to grass pollen. It is a prescription medication which will be administred under our strict care and supervision.
Acarizax is also a type of immunotherapy used to treat allergies such as asthma and rhinitis caused by house dust mites. It is a sublingual (under the tongue) tablet that contains an extract of house dust mite allergens and is taken once daily. The purpose of taking Acarizax is to desensitize the immune system to house dust mite allergens, thus reducing the symptoms of allergies when exposed to dust mite allergen. It is a prescription medication that will be administered under our strict guidance.