Bilastine
Bilastine is a once-daily antihistamine for hay fever, year-round allergic rhinitis and itchy hives, sold here as Ilaxten tablets in 20mg and 40mg.
What bilastine treats
Bilastine eases two allergic complaints. The first is allergic rhinitis: the sneezing, itching, runny or blocked nose and itchy, watery eyes that start within minutes of meeting pollen, dust mites, pet dander or mould. When pollen sets it off it is usually called hay fever, and the same symptoms can also run all year. The second is urticaria — itchy raised welts on the skin, better known as hives.
How it works
Allergic reactions begin when cells release histamine, which docks onto H1 receptors in the nose, eyes and skin and switches on sneezing, itching and swelling. Bilastine takes those receptor sites first, so histamine has nowhere to land. Very little of it reaches the brain, which is why it is far less likely to make you sleepy than the older antihistamines, and one tablet is enough for a day.
Taking Ilaxten
Adults and adolescents aged 12 and over take 20mg once a day; Ilaxten is sold as 20mg and 40mg tablets. The one rule that matters is the gap around meals. Swallow the tablet with water an hour before you eat or two hours after, since a full stomach and fruit juice, grapefruit above all, hold back some of the bilastine. A hay fever sufferer keeps going while the pollen is out and drops the tablet once the sneezing stops, whereas someone allergic to dust mites may need it all year. If you forget, take it later the same day and skip any idea of doubling up.
Side effects
Headache, drowsiness, stomach pain and tiredness are the effects most often reported, and they are usually mild. Trouble breathing, swelling around the lips or face, or a spreading rash after a dose needs urgent treatment.
Ordering bilastine
Ilaxten is the bilastine product here, and both strengths sit on the same listing, so you choose 20mg or 40mg when you order. Other medicines for hay fever and hives are grouped under Allergies.
Sources
- Ilaxten 20 mg tablets - Summary of Product Characteristics (SmPC) - (emc) — electronic medicines compendium (emc) / Menarini
- Allergic rhinitis - NHS — NHS
Can I order Bilastine online in Hong Kong?
You can order Bilastine online with delivery to Hong Kong. The range is Ilaxten tablets in 20mg and 40mg. A parcel that does not arrive within the delivery window, or arrives damaged, is sent again free, and if that is not possible the order is refunded.
How much does Bilastine cost?
Ilaxten is priced per pack: its page lists every strength and pack size with the current price in HKD or your chosen currency.
Do I need a prescription to order Bilastine?
PockDose does not ask you to upload a prescription when you order bilastine. See the ordering FAQ for details.
What are the other names for bilastine?
Ilaxten is a brand name of bilastine, which is also sold as Bilaford, Bilasure and Blexten. Here, bilastine can be bought online as generic Ilaxten. These are generics, not the original brand.
Can I drink grapefruit juice with bilastine?
Fruit juice, grapefruit especially, reduces how much bilastine the body absorbs, so leave a gap around your dose: take Ilaxten at least an hour before, or two hours after, any juice or meal. Water is the simplest thing to swallow the tablet with.
Does bilastine make you drowsy?
It is much less sedating than older antihistamines such as chlorphenamine, because very little of it gets into the brain. Drowsiness is still listed as a possible effect, so notice how you feel after the first tablet before driving or using machinery.
How long can I keep taking bilastine?
Take it for as long as your trigger is around. Pollen seasons usually run for weeks or a few months and you can stop once symptoms settle; if dust mites, pets or mould are the cause, symptoms can last all year and so does treatment.
Can I take bilastine with other medicines?
The antifungal ketoconazole and the antibiotic erythromycin can raise the amount of bilastine in your blood. Bilastine itself does not appear to change how other medicines behave in the body, so common painkillers and everyday prescriptions are usually taken alongside it without a problem.
Is bilastine the same as cetirizine?
They are different ingredients with the same job: both are once-daily antihistamines for hay fever and hives. Bilastine is sold here as Ilaxten, while cetirizine appears under its own brand names, and cetirizine is more likely to make some people sleepy.