Acrivastine

Acrivastine is suitable for most adults up to 65 years and children 12 years and over, but always check before taking it.

Acrivastine is not suitable for some people. For example, check with your doctor if you have kidney disease or porphyria.

Acrivastine comes as capsules that you usually take 3 times a day. Follow the instructions that come with your medicine.

Common side effects of acrivastine include feeling sleepy, a dry mouth and feeling dizzy. More serious side effects can happen in rare cases.

Most adults up to 65 years, and children 12 years and over, can take acrivastine capsules that you buy from pharmacies and supermarkets.

Acrivastine is not recommended for people over 65 years old because very little research on the medicine has been done in this age group.

Talk to your pharmacist or doctor if you're over 65 and want to take acrivastine.

Acrivastine is not suitable for some people. To make sure it's safe for you, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you:

• have ever had an allergic reaction to acrivastine or any other medicine
• have kidney disease
• have a rare condition called porphyria
• are due to have an allergy test – taking acrivastine may affect the results, so you might need to stop taking it a few days before the test
• are pregnant, trying to get pregnant or breastfeeding

Acrivastine comes in 8mg capsules. The usual dose for adults (up to 65 years) and children aged 12 and over is 1 capsule, taken up to 3 times a day.

When it's mixed with a decongestant, each capsule contains 8mg of acrivastine and 60mg of pseudoephedrine. The usual dose for adults (up to 65 years) and children aged 12 and over is 1 capsule, taken up to 3 times a day.

Do not take more than 3 acrivastine capsules, or 3 acrivastine mixed with pseudoephedrine capsules, in 24 hours.

How to take it

Always take acrivastine capsules with a drink of water, milk or juice (but do not drink grapefruit juice with acrivastine as you may be more likely to get side effects).

Swallow the capsules whole. Do not chew them.

You can take acrivastine with or without food.

The most common side effect of acrivastine is feeling sleepy and tired. This happens in more than 1 in 10 people.

Other common side effects of acrivastine happen in more than 1 in 100 people.

There are things you can do to help cope with them:

Try a different non-drowsy antihistamine. If this does not help, talk to your doctor.

Do not drive, ride a bike or use tools or machinery until you feel better, and fully alert and awake.

Try chewing sugar-free gum or sucking sugar-free sweets.

If acrivastine makes you feel dizzy, stop what you're doing and sit or lie down until you feel better, then get up slowly.

Do not drive, ride a bike or use tools or machinery. Do not drink alcohol, as this can make the symptoms worse.

Speak to your doctor if the dizziness gets worse or does not go away.

Keep taking acrivastine, but talk to your doctor or pharmacist if the advice on how to cope does not help and a side effect is still bothering you or does not go away.

If you take a medicine that contains acrivastine and pseudoephedrine, you might also get some of the side effects of pseudoephedrine.

Acrivastine is not usually recommended during pregnancy because there is very little information about its use in pregnancy. Other antihistamines that we know more about may be more suitable.

If you think you need to take acrivastine in pregnancy, talk to your doctor or pharmacist. They will be able to help you decide, or may suggest other medicines for you.

If your baby is healthy, you can take acrivastine while breastfeeding. However, it's better to only take it occasionally or for a short time. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist first as other medicines might be better.

It's important not to share a bed with your baby while you're taking acrivastine.

We do not know how much acrivastine gets into breast milk but it's only likely to be low levels. It's unlikely to cause any side effects in your baby.

Capsules containing acrivastine that you buy from a pharmacy may also contain pseudoephedrine. Pseudoephedrine is generally not recommended while you're breastfeeding.

It's very rare for breastfed babies to have side effects from medicines you're taking. But it's important to keep monitoring your baby if you're taking any medicine while breastfeeding.

Contact your healthcare professional or call 111 as soon as possible if you notice that your baby:

• is not feeding as well as usual
• seems unusually sleepy
• seems irritable

If your baby has any symptoms that are not listed, or if you're worried about them, you can also call 111 or contact any healthcare professional.

Keep breastfeeding as usual until you've got advice about your baby's symptoms.

Some medicines affect how acrivastine works or can increase the chances of you having side effects.

Check with your pharmacist or doctor if you're taking any other medicines, including:

• erythromycin, an antibiotic
• any medicine that makes you sleepy, gives you a dry mouth, or makes it difficult for you to pee – taking acrivastine might make these side effects worse

Acrivastine mixed with pseudoephedrine (Benadryl Allergy Relief Plus Decongestant) affects lots of medicines. Check with your pharmacist or doctor before you take it.

These are not all the medicines that may cause problems if you take them with acrivastine. For a full list, see the leaflet inside your medicine packet.

Taking acrivastine with painkillers

You can take acrivastine together with painkillers such as paracetamol or ibuprofen.