Hayfever is quite common in Australia, and the most common medicines in use for this are the Telfast and Zyrtec tablets.
Telfast is common in the 180mg size whilst Zyrtec is common in the 10mg size.
This brings me to the point of this post. Someone asked if the 180mg dose was safe when there normal one was only 10mg.
An interesting question, which needed clarification, rather than guesswork.
- Telfast 180mg tablets contain 180mg of the active ingredient fexofenadine hydrochloride, which is a type of medicine called a non-sedating antihistamine.
- Zyrtec 10mg contain 10mg of the antihistamine called cetirizine hydrochloride.
Two different drugs.
Claratyne is another option, with 10mg of the active ingredient Loratadine.
However, this investigation brought up more interesting, and maybe money saving information.
- Zodac 10mg tablets contain 10mg of the antihistamine called cetirizine hydrochloride, the same drug as found in Zyrtec.
- Xergic 180 tablets contain 180 mg of fexofenadine hydrochloride
And of course these brands are cheaper, being classed as generic.
A quick check on current prices (Jan 2011) gave me this:
Zyrtec by Johnson & Johnson – 10mg of Cetirizine hydrochloride
- 10mg 10 Tablets $9.69
- 10mg 30 Tablets $19.99
- 10mg 50 Tablets $35.00
- 10mg 70 Tablets $42.99
Zodac by Genepharm – 10mg of Cetirizine hydrochloride
- 10mg 30 Tablets $12.95
Telfast by Sanofi Aventis / Aventis Pharma – 180mg of Fexofenadine hydrochloride
- 180mg 10 Tablets $10.99
- 180mg 30 Tablets $20.39
- 180mg 70 Tablets $34.99
Xergic by Alphapharm – 180mg of Fexofenadine hydrochloride
- 180mg 30 Tablets $17.99
Claratyne by Schering-Plough – 10mg of Loratadine.
- 10mg 10 Tablets $9.99
- 10mg 30 Tablets $23.39
- 10mg 50 Tablets $36.99
Of the above brands that offer the 180mg dosage, they also offer smaller dosages of 60mg and 120mg.
The Drowsy versions:
(These state: Caution – may cause drowsiness)
Useful for taking at night 🙂
Polaramine by Schering-Plough – 2mg dexchlorpheniramine maleate
2mg 20 Tablets $6.99