This medicine is available without prescription to treat minor conditions. However, you still need to take it carefully to get the best results from it.

• Keep this leaflet, you may need to read it again
• Ask your pharmacist if you need more information or advice
• You must contact a pharmacist or doctor if your symptoms worsen or do not improve

• If you are allergic to any of the ingredients (see “What is in this medicine”)
• If you are allergic to other antihistamines
• If you have kidney failure
• If you have an intolerance to some sugars, unless your doctor tells you to (this medicinal product contains lactose)
• If you are pregnant or breastfeeding

• If you have other kidney problems - your doctor or pharmacist may advise you to take a lower amount of this medicine
• If you have epilepsy or are prone to fits
• If you are more likely to have difficulty passing urine (e.g. spinal cord injury, you are a man with prostate problems) as this medicine may increase the risk of this happening

If you are having any allergy tests, stop taking this medicine 72 hours before the test.

Driving and using machines: In clinical trials cetirizine has not been shown to affect attention, alertness and driving if taken at the recommended amount. However some people may be more sensitive to the side effects and should not drive or use machines if affected by drowsiness or dizziness. If this is the first time you are taking this medicine, check how you react first.

Do not drink alcohol (wine, beer, spirits) whilst taking this medicine.

This medicine is not expected to affect any other medicines that you may be taking. If you are unsure about interactions with any medicines, talk to your pharmacist. This includes medicines prescribed by your doctor and medicine you have bought for yourself, including herbal and homeopathic remedies.

• Difficulty in breathing, swelling of the face, lips, tongue or other parts of the body (severe allergic reaction)
• Other allergic reactions such as itching, rash or hives on the skin
• Bleeding or bruising easily
• Convulsions (fits)
• In some very rare cases people have thought about committing suicide and if you feel this way then stop taking this medicine and see your doctor.

Common side effects (affecting 1 in 100 people to 1 in 10 people):

• Tiredness, drowsiness, dizziness, headache, runny nose
• Stomach upset, feeling sick, diarrhoea
• Dry mouth, sore throat

Uncommon side effects (affecting 1 in 1,000 people to 1 in 100 people):

• Stomach pain
• Extreme tiredness, generally feeling unwell
• Pins and needles or numb limbs
• Agitation
• Skin rash, itchy skin

Rare side effects (affecting 1 in 10,000 people to 1 in 1,000 people):

• Fast heart rate
• Swelling due to water retention
• Aggression, confusion, depression, hallucinations (seeing or hearing things that are not real), difficulty sleeping
• Raised, red itchy skin
• Other allergic reactions
• Weight gain
• Changes in the way your liver works – this may show up in a blood test

Very rare side effects (affecting less than 1 in 10,000 people):

• Difficulty focusing, blurred vision, involuntary upward movement of the eye
• Fainting, tremors, change or loss in taste, tics (involuntary body movements)
• Unusual bruising and an increase in the number of infections that you get e.g. sore throats – this may be a sign of very rare changes in the blood
• Pain when passing urine, bed wetting

Other side effects (where the frequency of affecting people is not known):

• Memory loss, or impairment
• Nightmares
• Increased appetite
• Feeling dizzy (vertigo)
• Difficulty in passing urine

If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. You can also report side effects directly via the Yellow Card Scheme at: www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard or search for MHRA Yellow Card in the Google Play or Apple App Store. By reporting side effects you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.