Ebatin

Indications

Ebastine is used to relieve allergy symptoms:

• Allergic rhinitis (hay fever), seasonal or all year round: sneezing, runny or blocked nose, and itchy, watery eyes.
• Urticaria (hives): itchy raised rashes on the skin.

How It Works

Ebastine blocks the action of histamine, a chemical the body releases during an allergic reaction. It mostly acts outside the brain, so it causes less drowsiness than older antihistamines.

Dosage and Administration

Adults and children 12 years and older: 10 mg once a day. For severe allergic rhinitis the doctor may advise 20 mg once a day. Children under 12 years: only as prescribed. Take by mouth with or without food, at about the same time each day.

Interactions

• Ketoconazole, Itraconazole, Erythromycin and Clarithromycin can raise ebastine levels and increase the risk of heart rhythm problems.
• Use with care alongside other medicines that affect heart rhythm.
• Rifampicin can make ebastine less effective.
• Avoid large amounts of alcohol.

Contraindications

• Allergy to ebastine or any ingredient of the product.
• Severe liver disease.

Side Effects

Common: headache, dry mouth and drowsiness. Less often: tiredness, stomach upset, nausea, difficulty sleeping and a runny nose or sore throat.

Get urgent medical help if you have a fast or irregular heartbeat, fainting, or swelling of the face, lips or throat with difficulty breathing.

Pregnancy and Lactation

There is limited information on use in pregnancy, so avoid it unless your doctor advises. It is not known whether it passes into breast milk; avoid while breastfeeding unless a doctor recommends it.

Precautions and Warnings

• Tell your doctor if you have a heart rhythm problem (such as long QT), low potassium, or liver or kidney disease.
• Although drowsiness is uncommon, check how it affects you before driving.
• Stop taking it a few days before an allergy skin test, as advised by the doctor.

Overdose

Overdose may cause drowsiness and heart rhythm changes. Seek medical help; the heart may need to be monitored.

Therapeutic Class

Second-generation (non-sedating) antihistamine.

Storage

Store below 30°C in a dry place, away from light and out of the reach of children.