Levocetirizine
Levocetirizine is a once-daily antihistamine for hay fever, year-round allergic rhinitis and itchy hives, sold as Xyzal tablets in 5mg and 10mg strengths.
Sneezing fits, streaming eyes and the itch of hives all come down to histamine, and levocetirizine is one of the antihistamines that blocks it. It is sold here as Xyzal tablets in 5mg and 10mg, taken once a day.
What it is used for
Allergic rhinitis is the main use: the runny nose, sneezing, itchy eyes and sinus pressure that pollen, dust mites or pet dander set off. Hives (urticaria) are the other — raised, itching welts that can come and go for weeks or months. Some people need a tablet only through their pollen season, while others take one all year for triggers indoors. Both uses sit in the Allergies category.
How levocetirizine works
When the immune system mistakes something harmless for a threat, it releases histamine, the chemical behind the sneezing, swelling and itch. Levocetirizine attaches to the H1 receptor that histamine would otherwise use, so the signal never lands. Older antihistamines such as chlorphenamine pass into the brain and make people sleepy; levocetirizine largely stays out of it, so drowsiness is milder and less common, though it can still happen. One tablet is intended to cover a full day, which is why it is dosed once.
How and when to take it
One 5mg tablet in the evening, with or without a meal, is the adult routine. Putting it at night means any sleepiness is spent in bed instead of at your desk. It works from the first tablet, with no loading period, and you keep going until the pollen season or the hives are over. Sneezing and a runny, itchy nose respond better than a nose that is fully blocked.
Side effects
Dry mouth, headache, tiredness, sore throat and drowsiness are the effects reported most often, and they usually ease as the body gets used to the medicine. A few people feel sick or get an unsettled stomach. Alcohol, sleeping tablets and other sedating medicines can sharpen the drowsiness. A rare allergic reaction that swells the face or throat, or makes breathing difficult, needs urgent treatment.
Strengths on this page
This page carries Xyzal tablets, the branded form of levocetirizine, in 5mg and 10mg. The 5mg tablet is the standard once-daily adult strength; the 10mg holds twice as much in a single dose. Both are film-coated tablets taken the same way. Keep them in a cool, dry spot out of direct sunlight.
Sources
- Allergic rhinitis - NHS — NHS
- Hay fever (allergic rhinitis) - symptoms, treatments and causes - Healthdirect — Healthdirect Australia
Can I order Levocetirizine online in Hong Kong?
Levocetirizine can be ordered online with delivery to Hong Kong. The product sold is generic Xyzal, also sold as Levocetirizine tablets, in 5mg and 10mg. Every order ships in plain, unbranded packaging with nothing on the outside about the contents.
How much do Levocetirizine products cost in Hong Kong?
The levocetirizine product has its own price per pack, shown on its page in HKD or your selected currency; larger packs usually cost less per unit.
Do I need a prescription to order Levocetirizine?
PockDose does not ask you to upload a prescription when you order levocetirizine. See the ordering FAQ for details.
What are the brand names for levocetirizine?
Xyzal is a brand name of levocetirizine, which is also sold as Levocet, Teczine and Lecet. Here, levocetirizine can be bought online as generic Xyzal. These are generics, not the original brand.
How quickly does levocetirizine work?
Most people feel sneezing and itching ease within an hour of a tablet, and the effect is meant to last a full day. A dose taken at dinner therefore keeps working overnight and into the following morning.
Is levocetirizine the same as cetirizine?
They are close relatives. Cetirizine is a mix of two mirror-image molecules, and levocetirizine is the half that does the antihistamine work, which is why it comes as a 5mg tablet while cetirizine is usually 10mg. Both are used for the same allergy symptoms.
Can I drink alcohol with levocetirizine?
Alcohol can add to any drowsiness levocetirizine causes, so a couple of drinks may leave you sleepier or slower to react than usual. The combination is not dangerous in itself, but the effect on alertness is worth knowing about before you drive.
Should I take levocetirizine in the morning or at night?
Evening is the usual slot: one tablet with your dinner or shortly before bed, so any sleepiness lands while you are asleep rather than during the day. Since it is a once-a-day medicine, the routine is easy to keep to.
What is the difference between the 5mg and 10mg tablets?
They hold the same medicine in different amounts. 5mg is the standard once-daily adult strength; the 10mg tablet delivers twice as much levocetirizine in a single dose. Both come as film-coated tablets under the Xyzal name.