iVillage

HealthDay ON Aug 25, 2009 at 12:00AM

Aug. 25 (HealthDay News) -- The antihistamine Xyzal (levocetirizine dihydrochloride) has been approved for children aged six months and older for indoor allergies and hives, drug makers UCB and Sanofi-Aventis said.

The medication, available as a liquid or pill, had been approved previously for people aged six years and older. The expanded approval also sanctions the drug's use to treat outdoor allergies in children aged two years and older.

Side effects of the medication may include fatigue, sore throat and dry mouth. Younger children may have additional adverse effects including fever, diarrhea, vomiting, ear infections and constipation, the drug makers said in a news release.

Chime In

More to Explore

Are antihistamines safe during pregnancy? According to 'Maternal-Fetal Toxicology' by Koren, 'most of the antihistamine compounds available over-the-counter have not been implicated in fetal or pregnancy problems.' A large study of exposure in pregnancy showed that MORE

Breastfeeding: Are antihistamines safe for the nursing mom? Very few medications are contraindicated for use during lactation. Though it is true most medications do pass into breastmilk, it is almost always in an amount less than one percent of the adult dose.(Hale 2000) Still, it is wise for you to be cautiou MORE

Breastfeeding: Suffering from pollen allergies - iVillage I am breastfeeding my eight-month-old ...short period of time, while nursing your baby. You mentioned antihistamines. ... are not the best choice for nursing moms ... MORE

Asthma: Flovent, Proventil and Claritin when breastfeeding - iVillage Claritin (loratadine) is one of the newer, long-acting antihistamines. If an antihistamine is needed, it would be wise to discuss the possibility of choosing a shorter ... MORE

Pregnancy: Is robitussin safe during pregnancy? Guaifenesin (Robitussin) is a Class B drug, which means that there appears to be no genetic or pregnancy risk associated with its use. In pregnancy, care providers tend to recommend one-ingredient medications, whenever possible, rather than co MORE

Sudafed (Pseudoephedrine): Safe During Pregnancy? Let's start with the bottom line: It is best to abstain from the use of all medications, drugs, smoking and alcohol during pregnancy. In a pregnant woman with no medical complications, the common cold is rarely a problem. However, lack MORE