Tavegil Tablets

How does it work?

Tavegil tablets contain the active ingredient clemastine, which is a type of medicine called a sedating antihistamine. It works by preventing the actions of histamine.

Histamine is a substance produced by the body as part of its defence mechanisms. It is stored in cells called mast cells, in almost all tissues of the body. When the body reacts to a foreign substance (known as an allergen, eg flower pollen, pet fur, dust mites), the mast cells are stimulated by the allergen and release their stores of histamine.

The released histamine then binds to its receptors (H1 receptors), causing a chain reaction that results in allergic symptoms. It causes an increase in blood flow to the area of the allergy, and the release of other chemicals that add to the allergic response.

All this results in the symptoms of an allergic reaction. In hayfever, this causes inflammation of the nose, eyes, skin or airways and results in itchy watery eyes, a runny nose, sneezing and nasal congestion. Histamine is also responsible for the symptoms of allergic and itchy rashes, and allergic reactions to foods, medicines or insect bites. It can also cause more severe allergic reactions such as angioneurotic oedema, which involves severe swelling of the eyes, lips, tongue or throat.

Clemastine works by blocking histamine H1 receptors. It doesn't prevent the actual release of histamine from mast cells, but prevents it binding to its receptors. This in turn prevents the release of other allergy chemicals and increased blood supply to the area, and provides relief from the symptoms of allergies.

Clemastine is called a sedating antihistamine because it enters the brain in significant quantities and causes drowsiness.

What is it used for?

• Allergic conditions such as hayfever, nettle rash (urticaria) and reactions to insect bites.

Warning!

• This medicine may cause drowsiness, blurred vision or dizziness. If affected do not drive or operate machinery. Children should avoid potentially hazardous activities such as riding bikes or climbing trees if affected. Alcohol should be avoided.
• If you are due to have any skin prick tests to diagnose allergies you should stop taking your antihistamines at least 48 hours before the tests. This is because antihistamines can prevent or lessen the skin reactions that indicate an allergy, and so can make the test results unreliable.
• If symptoms persist despite treatment, seek medical advice from your doctor or pharmacist.

Use with caution in

• Elderly people
• Liver disease
• Kidney disease
• Epilepsy
• Glaucoma
• Enlarged prostate gland (prostatic hypertrophy)
• Difficulty in passing urine (urinary retention)
• Obstruction of the gut.

Not to be used in

• Children under one year of age
• Hereditary blood disorders called porphyrias.

This medicine should not be used if you are allergic to one or any of its ingredients. Please inform your doctor or pharmacist if you have previously experienced such an allergy.If you feel you have experienced an allergic reaction, stop using this medicine and inform your doctor or pharmacist immediately.

Pregnancy and Breastfeeding

Certain medicines should not be used during pregnancy or breastfeeding. However, other medicines may be safely used in pregnancy or breastfeeding providing the benefits to the mother outweigh the risks to the unborn baby. Always inform your doctor if you are pregnant or planning a pregnancy, before using any medicine.

• The safety of this medicine during pregnancy has not been established. It should be avoided during pregnancy, unless the potential benefits to the mother outweigh any possible risk to the developing baby. This is particularly important during the first and third trimesters. As with all medicines, seek medical advice from your doctor before using this medicine if you are pregnant.
• This medicine passes into breast milk and could be harmful to a nursing baby. It should not be taken by breastfeeding mothers unless considered essential by your doctor. Seek further medical advice from your doctor.

Label warnings

• This medication may cause drowsiness. If affected do not drive or operate machinery. Avoid alcoholic drink.

Side effects

Medicines and their possible side effects can affect individual people in different ways. The following are some of the side effects that are known to be associated with this medicine. Because a side effect is stated here, it does not mean that all people using this medicine will experience that or any side effect.

• Drowsiness
• Headache
• Blurred vision
• Dry mouth
• Disturbances of the gut such as diarrhoea, constipation, nausea, vomiting or abdominal pain
• Difficulty passing urine
• Dizziness
• Awareness of your heart beat (palpitations)
• Confusion
• Tremor
• Disturbed sleep
• Depression

The side effects listed above may not include all of the side effects reported by the drug's manufacturer.For more information about any other possible risks associated with this medicine, please read the information provided with the medicine or consult your doctor or pharmacist.

How can this medicine affect other medicines?

If you are already taking any medicines, including those bought without a prescription and herbal medicines, it is important to check with your doctor or pharmacist before taking this medicine. Similarly, check with your doctor or pharmacist before taking any new medicines while taking this one, to ensure that the combination is safe.

There may be an increased risk of drowsiness and sedation if this medicine is taken with any of the following (which can also cause drowsiness):

• alcohol
• antipsychotic medicines, eg haloperidol, chlorpromazine
• barbiturates, eg phenobarbital, amobarbital
• benzodiazepines, eg diazepam, temazepam
• monoamine oxidase inhibitor antidepressants (MAOIs), eg phenelzine, tranylcypromine
• other sedating antihistamines, eg hydroxyzine, promethazine, chlorphenamine
• sleeping tablets, eg zopiclone
• strong opioid painkillers, eg morphine, codeine, dihydrocodeine
• tricyclic antidepressants, eg amitriptyline.

There may be an increased risk of side effects such as dry mouth, blurred vision, urine retention and constipation if this medicine is taken with anticholinergic medicines that can cause these type of side effects, such as the following:

• anticholinergic medicines for Parkinson's symptoms, eg procyclidine, orphenadrine, trihexiphenidyl
• anticholinergic medicines for urinary incontinence, eg tolterodine, oxybutynin
• antipsychotics, eg chlorpromazine, clozapine
• antispasmodics, eg hyoscine, atropine
• monoamine oxidase inhibitor antidepressants (MAOIs), eg phenelzine, tranylcypromine
• tricyclic antidepressants, eg amitriptyline, imipramine.

Other medicines containing the same active ingredient

There are currently no other medicines available in the UK that contain clemastine as the active ingredient.

   This Product is Pharmacy Only [P] and can only be sold under the supervison of a pharmacist.

   You will be required to answer a few basic questions during the checkout process which be reviewed by our pharmacist to ensure that the product is suitable for use.

We are a UK Registered Pharmacy regulated by the GPhC - General Pharmecutical Council.  

PLEASE NOTE: Regulations Prohibit the sale of Pharmacy Only Items Outside of the UK.

Some products marked as pharmacy only items may be subject to age restrictions and may not be suitable for use by everyone.

Always read the label or patient information leafet before taking any medication and if you are unsure speak to your pharmacist.

Delivery Information

Standard Delivery (2 to 5 Working Days) Royal Mail - £2.95*

Orders dispatched using Standard Delivery can take between 2 to 5 working days to arrive.

Standard Delivery orders are dispatched using the Royal Mail Tracked Service.

This is a priority service with a tracking number so you can follow the progress of you order on its journey to you. You will be required to sign for the parcel so please ensure that you are available at you delivery address between 9am and 5pm on your expected delivery day. (see Tracking My order)

*Standard Delivery is FREE for orders over £50.

*For orders of less than £50 there will be a delivery charge of £2.95

Next Day Delivery (Next Working Day)* Starting at £6.95

This service has a tracking number for your parcel so you can follow the progress of your order on its journey to you (see Tracking My Order). You will be required to sign for the parcel so please ensure that you are available at your delivery address between 9am and 5pm on you expected delivery day.          

Delivery Terms and Conditions

If your order is returned to us by Royal Mail because either you have failed to collect or re-arrange delivery for you item or you have provided us with an inaccurate delivery address, a handling charge of £2.95 may be payable.

Next Day Delivery Prices

Order Tracking

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