Topical antihistamine (nasal)
Levocabastine is a topically applied antihistamine for the nose, indicated for allergic rhinitis (seasonal and perennial). It acts locally to relieve sneezing, runny nose and nasal itching. Like other antihistamines, it can cause drowsiness and local irritation. It is contraindicated in pregnancy.
Also known as: Levocabastina, Livostin
Prontuário Terapêutico do INFARMED (11th ed., 2012) — Levocabastine, 14.1.3 (LIVOSTIN, 0.5 mg/ml). Drug discontinued in US/UK/CA — no active FDA, EMC or Health Canada label
Prontuário Terapêutico do INFARMED (11th ed., 2012) — Levocabastine, 14.1.3 (LIVOSTIN, 0.5 mg/ml)
No documented drug–drug interactions for this medicine.
No documented food or drink interactions.
Prontuário 14.1.3: "Use with caution in patients with renal impairment" — levocabastine elimination is predominantly renal, so renal impairment may increase systemic exposure and adverse effects (drowsiness).
Use with caution and monitor for signs of systemic effects (drowsiness, fatigue) in patients with renal impairment.
Prontuário Terapêutico do INFARMED (11th ed., 2012) — Levocabastine, 14.1.3
Prontuário 14.1.3: "Contraindications and precautions: allergy to levocabastine and pregnancy" — pregnancy is an explicit contraindication of topical nasal levocabastine.
Contraindicated in all trimesters.
Unknown whether it is excreted in breast milk; the contraindication in pregnancy and the limited safety profile discourage use during breastfeeding.
Effective contraception recommended in women of childbearing potential using the drug.
Prontuário Terapêutico do INFARMED (11th ed., 2012) — Levocabastine, 14.1.3
Clinical and educational support tool. The information does not replace a medical prescription or the opinion of a qualified healthcare professional.
Second-generation H1 antihistamine for topical nasal use, with rapid onset of action (minutes) and prolonged local effect; the systemic component is limited but not negligible (possible mild drowsiness).
Competitive, selective antagonism of histamine H1 receptors in the nasal mucosa, relieving the itching, sneezing and rhinorrhoea of allergic rhinitis.
Topical nasal drug with limited systemic absorption through the nasal mucosa; the local profile predominates, but the absorbed fraction is enough for mild systemic effects (drowsiness). The Prontuário monograph does not quantify absorption — value not documented in the source.
Hepatic metabolism with renal excretion; elimination is predominantly renal (hence the caution in renal impairment recorded in the Prontuário).
Half-life not documented in the Prontuário monograph (only available source — drug discontinued in US/UK/CA).
Medicines from the same therapeutic group (ATC classification) or the same pharmacological class.
