About Astemizole?

• Astemizole is an antihistamine. Antihistamines prevent a sneezing, runny nose, itching and watering of eyes and other allergic symptoms.

• Astemizole is used to treat allergies, hives (urticaria), and more allergic inflammatory conditions.

• Astemizole is not sold in the United States.

• Astemizole can also be used for purposes other than those listed in the medication guide.

You cannot take Astemizole if you are taking the following medicines:

• an antifungal drugs including ketoconazole (Nizoral) or itraconazole (Sporanox);

• antibiotics including erythromycin (E.E.S., E-Mycin, Ery-Tab), clarithromycin (Biaxin), or troleandomycin (TAO);

• malaria medicine quinine (Quinamm); or

• the medicine nefazodone (Serzone).

A dangerous side effect involving irregular heartbeats could occur if you take Astemizole with any of the medicines listed above.

Before taking Astemizole, tell your doctor if you have:

• asthma or another lung disease;

• low potassium levels in your blood;

• urinary retention or an enlarged prostate;

• kidney disease;

• liver disease; or

• heart disease, especially an irregular heartbeat.

You may not be able to take Astemizole, or you may require a dosage adjustment or special monitoring during treatment if you have any of the conditions listed above.

Astemizole is in the FDA pregnancy category C. This means that it is not known whether Astemizole will harm an unborn baby. Do not take this medication without first talking to your doctor if you are pregnant.