DESEBLOK 5 mg tablets contain the active ingredient desloratadine. DESEBLOK 5 mg is used for the relief of seasonal hay fever and for the relief of symptoms associated with hives (a skin condition).
1. What DESEBLOK 5 mg is and what it is used for
2. What you need to know before you take DESEBLOK 5 mg
Do not take DESEBLOK 5 mg if you are hypersensitive (allergic) to desloratadine or any of the other ingredients of DESEBLOK 5 mg (listed in section 6).
Warnings and precautions
Tell your doctor or health care provider before being given DESEBLOK 5 mg: Special care should be taken with DESEBLOK 5 mg if you have poor kidney function. if you have a medical or familial history of seizures. Safety has not been established in children younger than 6 years of age. Do not take DESEBLOK 5 mg for a period exceeding 4 weeks.
Other medicines and DESEBLOK 5 mg
Always tell your healthcare provider if you are taking any other medicine (this includes all complementary or traditional medicines). Please consult your healthcare provider for advice if you are taking the following medicines:
- Azithromycin
- Norfloxetine
- Fluoxetine
DESEBLOK 5 mg with food, drink and alcohol: Use with caution when taking DESEBLOK 5 mg with alcohol.
Pregnancy and breastfeeding
If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, think you may be pregnant or are planning to have a baby, please consult your doctor, pharmacist or other healthcare provider for advice before taking DESEBLOK 5 mg. Do not take DESEBLOK 5 mg if you are breastfeeding your baby. Please consult your doctor, pharmacist, or other health care provider for advice.
Driving and using machines
DESEBLOK 5 mg may impair your ability to drive and use machinery. Do not drive a vehicle, operate machinery, or do anything else that could be dangerous until you know how you will react to DESEBLOK 5 mg.
3. How to take DESEBLOK 5 mg
Do not share medicines prescribed for you with any other person. Always take DESEBLOK 5 mg exactly as your doctor or pharmacist has told you. Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure. DESEBLOK 5 mg is for oral use only. The usual dose for adults and adolescents (12 years of age and older) is one DESEBLOK 5 mg tablet once a day. Do not take DESEBLOK 5 mg for a period exceeding 4 weeks (see Take special care with DESEBLOK 5 mg). DESEBLOK 5 mg can be taken with or without food. DESEBLOK 5 mg can be swallowed with water.
If you take more DESEBLOK 5 mg than you should: In the event of overdosage, consult your doctor or pharmacist immediately. If neither is available, contact the nearest hospital or poison control centre. Always take the labelled medicine package with you, whether there are any DESEBLOK 5 mg tablets left or not.
If you forget to take DESEBLOK 5 mg: If you have missed your dose by only a few hours, take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take DESEBLOK 5 mg at the next regularly scheduled time. Do not take a double dose to make up for forgotten individual doses.
4. Possible side effects
DESEBLOK 5 mg can have side effects. Not all side effects reported for DESEBLOK 5 mg are included in this leaflet. Should your general health worsen or if you experience any untoward effects while taking DESEBLOK 5 mg, please consult your doctor, pharmacist or other healthcare provider for advice.
If any of the following happens, stop taking DESEBLOK 5 mg and tell your doctor immediately or go to the casualty department at your nearest hospital:
- swelling of the hands, feet, ankles, face, lips and mouth or throat, which may cause difficulty in swallowing and breathing
- rash or itching
- fainting.
These are all very serious side effects. If you have them, you may have had a serious reaction to DESEBLOK 5 mg. You may need urgent medical attention or hospitalisation.
Tell your doctor immediately or go to the casualty department at your nearest hospital if you notice any of the following: Side effects with an unknown frequency:
- changes in the way your heart beats, for example, if you notice it beating faster and/or pauses,
- liver failure, liver damage and yellowing of your skin and eyes (jaundice), inflammation of your liver.
These are all serious side effects. You may need urgent medical attention. Tell your doctor if you notice any of the following: Less frequent side effects:
- headache
- dry mouth, unusual tiredness or weakness
- muscle pain.
Side effects with an unknown frequency:
- dizziness
- drowsiness
- difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep
- stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, heartburn, diarrhoea, indigestion.
If you notice any side effects not mentioned in this leaflet, please inform your doctor or pharmacist.
Reporting of side effects: If you get side effects, talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse. You can also report side effects to SAHPRA via the “6.04 Adverse Drug Reaction Reporting Form”, found online under SAHPRA’s publications: http://www.sahpra.org.za/Publications/Index/8. By reporting side effects, you can help provide more information on the safety of DESEBLOK 5 mg.
5. How to store DESEBLOK 5 mg
Store at or below 30 °C, in the original package, protected from light. Do not remove blisters from the carton until required for use.
STORE ALL MEDICINES OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN. Do not use DESEBLOK 5 mg after the expiry date which is stated on the carton. The expiry date refers to the last day of that month. Return all unused medicine to your pharmacist. Do not dispose of unused medicine in drains or sewerage systems (e.g. toilets).