Bilastine Tablet: Uses, Dosage, Side Effects, Precautions and Alternates

Quick overview

Bilastine Tablet (generic name: Bilastine) is a Histamine H1-Receptor Antagonist taken by mouth to relieve allergy symptoms such as hayfever and hives in adults and adolescents 12 years of age and older. It works by blocking histamine, the substance your body releases during an allergic reaction. It is taken on an empty stomach and should be used exactly as prescribed by your doctor or pharmacist.

What is Bilastine Tablet

Bilastine is an antihistamine tablet taken by mouth. It is used by adults and adolescents 12 years of age and older to relieve allergy symptoms such as hayfever and hives.

Bilastine Tablet uses

• Relief of nasal and non-nasal symptoms of seasonal allergic rhinitis (hayfever) in patients 12 years of age and older
• Relief of symptoms associated with chronic spontaneous urticaria (hives and itching) in patients 12 years of age and older

Benefits of Bilastine Tablet

• Relieves sneezing, itchy, runny, and blocked-up nose, and red and watery eyes caused by hayfever
• Relieves hives and itching caused by chronic spontaneous urticaria
• Does not cause more sleepiness than placebo at the recommended dose in clinical studies

How Bilastine Tablet works

Bilastine is an antihistamine. It blocks the action of histamine, a substance your body releases during an allergic reaction, which relieves symptoms like a runny nose, itchiness, and hives.

Bilastine Tablet dosage

Swallow the tablet with water. Take it on an empty stomach, one hour before eating or drinking, or two hours after eating, since food and fruit juice can lower the amount of medicine available to treat your symptoms. Do not take more than your healthcare professional has told you to. If your symptoms do not improve, talk to your healthcare professional. This medicine is not suitable for use by children under 12 years of age. If you miss a dose, take it as soon as possible and then go back to your regular schedule; do not take a double dose to make up for a missed one. No dosage adjustments are needed for people over 65 years of age.

Use exactly as prescribed by your doctor or pharmacist.

Available forms and strengths

• Tablets, 20 mg

Side effects of Bilastine Tablet

Common

• Headache
• Sleepiness
• Dizziness
• Stomach pain

Serious

• Heart problems: heart racing or slowing, cold sweats, feeling faint, feeling your heart beat, light headed, nausea, shortness of breath
• Allergic reactions: difficulty in breathing, swelling of your face, lips, tongue or throat, and/or swelling and redness of the skin

Warnings and precautions

• Do not use this medicine if you are allergic to bilastine or any ingredient in the tablet, or if you have a history of irregular heartbeat or a heart rhythm condition called QT prolongation.
• This medicine has been linked to a heart rhythm change called QT prolongation, which in rare cases can lead to a dangerous irregular heartbeat. Tell your doctor if you have heart rhythm problems, low potassium or magnesium levels, a very slow heartbeat, or a family history of sudden cardiac death, or if you take other medicines that affect heart rhythm.
• Do not take this medicine with certain antifungal medicines, certain antibiotics, cyclosporine, or ritonavir, as these may raise the levels of this medicine in your blood and increase the risk of side effects.
• Avoid grapefruit juice and other fruit juices close to the time you take this medicine, as they can reduce how well the medicine works.
• This medicine is not recommended for children under 12 years of age, and should not be given to children under 4 years of age or weighing under 16 kg.
• There is not enough information to know if this medicine is safe during pregnancy. It should generally be avoided unless your doctor advises otherwise.
• It is not known if this medicine passes into human breast milk. Your doctor will help you weigh the benefits of breastfeeding and of your treatment before deciding whether to use this medicine while breastfeeding.
• No dose adjustment is needed for people with kidney problems, but tell your doctor if you have kidney problems because certain other medicines combined with this one may increase the amount of this medicine in your blood.
• This medicine has not been specifically studied in people with liver problems, but because it is mainly removed from the body by the kidneys rather than processed by the liver, no dose change is expected to be needed.
• Taking this medicine with alcohol affects your body's reactions in a similar way to alcohol alone, so normal precautions around alcohol use should be followed.
• This medicine usually does not affect your ability to drive, but in rare cases it can cause drowsiness. If you feel tired, do not drive or use machines.

Storage

• Store between 15°C - 30°C
• Do not use after the expiry date, which is stated on the bottle and blister after EXP; the expiry date refers to the last day of that month
• Medicines should not be disposed of via wastewater or household waste; ask your pharmacist how to dispose of medicines no longer required
• Keep out of reach and sight of children

When to see a doctor

• Get immediate medical help if you have signs of a heart problem, such as a racing or slowing heartbeat, cold sweats, feeling faint, feeling your heart pounding, feeling light-headed, nausea, or shortness of breath.
• Stop taking this medicine and get immediate medical help if you have signs of a severe allergic reaction, such as difficulty breathing, swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat, or swelling and redness of the skin.
• If you think you or someone you are caring for has taken too much of this medicine, contact a healthcare professional, hospital emergency department, or your regional poison control centre right away, even if there are no symptoms.

Alternatives

• Amitriptyline
• Nortriptyline
• Imipramine