Cetam (elfin)

Uses

• • Acute and chronic diseases of respiratory tracts associated with viscid mucus including acute and chronic bronchitis
• • Productive cough
• • Inflammatory diseases of Rhinopharyngeal tract (e.g. Laryngitis, Pharyngitis, Sinusitis and Rhinitis) associated with viscid mucus
• • Asthmatic bronchitis, Bronchial asthma with difficult departure of mucus
• • Bronchiectasis
• • Chronic pneumonia.

Cetirizine is used for the treatment of seasonal allergic rhinitis and conjunctivitis, perennial allergic rhinitis, pruritus and urticaria. It is also used in allergen induced asthma.

Cetam (elfin) is also used to associated treatment for these conditions: Airway secretion clearance therapyChronic Idiopathic Urticaria, Flu caused by Influenza, Perennial Allergic Rhinitis (PAR), Pollen Allergy, Respiratory Allergy, Seasonal Allergic Rhinitis

How Cetam (elfin) works

Ambroxol is a mucolytic agent. Excessive Nitric oxide (NO) is associated with inflammatory and some other disturbances of airways function. NO enhances the activation of soluble guanylate cyclase and cGMP accumulation. Ambroxol has been shown to inhibit the NO-dependent activation of soluble guanylate cyclase. It is also possible that the inhibition of NO-dependent activation of soluble guanylate cyclase can suppress the excessive mucus secretion, therefore it lowers the phlegm viscosity and improves the mucociliary transport of bronchial secretions.

Cetirizine, a metabolite of hydroxyzine, is an antihistamine drug. Its main effects are achieved through selective inhibition of peripheral H1 receptors. The antihistamine activity of cetirizine has been shown in a variety of animal and human models. In vivo and ex vivo animal models have shown insignificant anticholinergic and antiserotonergic effects. In clinical studies, however, dry mouth was found to be more frequent with cetirizine than with a placebo. In vitro receptor binding studies have demonstrated no detectable affinity of cetirizine for histamine receptors other than the H1 receptors. Studies with radiolabeled cetirizine administration in the rat have demonstrated insignificant penetration into the brain. Ex vivo studies in the mouse have shown that systemically administered cetirizine does not occupy cerebral H1 receptors significantly .

Dosage

Cetam (elfin) dosage

Average daily dose (preferably after meal):Pediatric Drops:

• 0-6 months: 0.5 ml 2 times a day
• 6-12 months: 1 ml 2 times a day
• 1-2 years: 1.25 ml 2 times a day

Syrup:

• 2-5 years: 2.5 ml (1/2 teaspoonful) 2-3 times a day
• 5-10 years: 5 ml (1 teaspoonful) 2-3 times a day
• 10 years and adults: 10 ml (2 teaspoonful) 3 times a day.

Sustained release capsule:

• Adult and children over 12 years old: 1 capsule once daily

Specific application features: Ambroxol may be prescribed to patients suffering from diabetes mellitus.

Tablet:

• Adults and children over 6 years: 1 tablet (10 mg) once daily or ½ tablet twice daily.
• Children 2-6 years: ½ tablet once daily.

Syrup:

• Adults and children over 6 years: 2 teaspoonful (10 mg) once daily or 1 teaspoon (5 mg) twice daily.
• Children 2-6 years: 1 teaspoonful once daily or ½ teaspoon twice daily.

Side Effects

Gastrointestinal side-effects like epigastric pain, gastric fullness may occur occasionally. Rarely allergic responses such as eruption, urticaria or angioneurotic edema may occur.

Cetirizine dihydrochloride is well tolerated. Lower incidence of sedation, headache, dry mouth, and gastrointestinal disturbances may occur. It does not produce anticholinergic effects.

Toxicity

Oral LD50 (rat): 365 mg/kg; Intraperitoneal LDLO (mouse): 138 mg/kg; Oral TDLO (rat): 50 mg/kg; Oral TDLO (mouse): 0.1 mg/kg .

Carcinogenesis and mutagenesis: In a 2-year carcinogenicity study in rats, cetirizine was not shown to be carcinogenic at dietary doses up to 20 mg/kg (approximately 15 times the maximum recommended daily oral dose in adults). In a 2-year carcinogenicity study in mice, cetirizine administration lead to an incidence of benign liver tumors in males at a dietary dose of 16 mg/kg (approximately 6 times the maximum recommended daily oral dose in adults). The clinical significance of these findings during long-term use of cetirizine is unknown at this time .

Cetirizine was not mutagenic in the Ames test, and not clastogenic in the human lymphocyte assay, the mouse lymphoma assay, and in vivo micronucleus test in rats .

Impairment of fertility

In a fertility and reproduction study in mice, cetirizine did not negatively impact fertility at an oral dose of 64 mg/kg (approximately 25 times the maximum recommended daily oral dose in adults) .

Pregnancy Category B:

In mice, rats, and rabbits, cetirizine was not teratogenic at oral doses up to 96, 225, and 135 mg/kg, respectively (approximately 40, 180 and 220 times the maximum recommended daily oral dose in adults). There are no adequate and well-controlled studies in pregnant women. Because animal studies are not always predictive of human response, cetirizine should be used in pregnancy only if clearly needed .

Use in breastfeeding/nursing

Cetirizine has been reported to be excreted in human breast milk. The use of cetirizine in nursing mothers is not recommended .

Precaution

Ambroxol should be given cautiously to patients with gastric and duodenal ulceration or convulsive disorders. Patients with hepatic and renal insufficiency should take it with caution.

Caution should be exercised when driving a car or operating a heavy machinery. Concurrent use of cetirizine with alcohol or other CNS depressants should be avoided because additional reduction in alertness and CNS performance may occur.

Interaction

Ambroxol has no interaction with cardioactive glycosides, corticosteroids, bronchodilators, diuretics and antibiotics (normally used in the treatment of bronchopulmonary affections). But Ambroxol should not be taken simultaneously with antitussives (e.g. Codeine) because mucus, which has been liquefied by Ambroxol, might not be expectorated.

No clinically significant drug interactions have been found with theophylline, azithromycin, pseudoephedrine, ketoconazole or erythromycin and with some other drugs.

Volume of Distribution

Apparent volume of distribution: 0.44 +/- 0.19 L/kg .

Elimination Route

Rapid and almost complete.

Cetirizine was rapidly absorbed with a time to maximum concentration (Tmax) of about 1 hour after oral administration of tablets or syrup formulation in adult volunteers . Bioavailability was found to be similar between the tablet and syrup dosage forms. When healthy study volunteers were given several doses of cetirizine (10 mg tablets once daily for 10 days), a mean peak plasma concentration (Cmax) of 311 ng/mL was measured .

Effect of food on absorption

Food had no effect on cetirizine exposure (AUC), however, Tmax was delayed by 1.7 hours and Cmax was decreased by 23% in the fed state .

Half Life

7-12 hours

Plasma elimination half-life is 8.3 hours .

Clearance

Apparent total body clearance: approximately 53 mL/min .

Cetirizine is mainly eliminated by the kidneys , . Dose adjustment is required for patients with moderate to severe renal impairment and in patients on hemodialysis .

Elimination Route

Mainly eliminated in the urine , .

Between 70 – 85% of an orally administered dose can be found in the urine and 10 – 13% in the feces .

Pregnancy & Breastfeeding use

Pregnancy: Teratogenic and fetal toxicity studies have shown no harmful effect of Ambroxol. However, it is advised not to use during pregnancy, especially in the 1st trimester.

Lactation: Safety during lactation has not been established.

Pregnancy category B. There are no adequate and well controlled studies in pregnant women. Cetirizine should be used during pregnancy only if clearly needed. Cetirizine has been reported to be excreted in human breast milk. As large amount of drugs are excreted in human milk, use of Cetirizine in nursing mother is not recommended.

Contraindication

Contraindicated in known hypersensitivity to Ambroxol or Bromhexine.

Cetirizine Dihydrochloride is contraindicated in those patients with a known hypersensitivity to it or any of its ingredients or hydroxyzine.

Acute Overdose

Symptoms: Confusion, dizziness, fatigue, headache, malaise, restlessness, sedation, somnolence, diarrhoea, mydriasis, pruritus, stupor, tachycardia, tremor, and urinary retention.

Management: Symptomatic and supportive treatment. Gastric lavage may be done shortly following ingestion.

Storage Condition

Store between 20-25°C. Syrup: Store between 2-8°C.

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