RespiCare 4mg Sachet 1 ‘S

Description

About

RespiCare 4mg Sachet 1 ‘S belongs to a class of drugs called “leukotriene receptor antagonists”. (leukotriene is a chemical messenger) These drugs prescribed for obstructive airway diseases are used to treat and prevent the risk of developing asthma and seasonal allergies.

Asthma is a condition characterised by narrowing and swelling up of your airways that may produce excess mucus leading to breathing difficulties, coughing, wheezing (indicated by a whistling sound) and shortness of breath. RespiCare 4mg Sachet 1 ‘S is usually prescribed when asthma is mild and it can help in preventing the progression of the condition.

It can also help asthmatic patients that face breathing difficulties while exercising or seasonal allergies like sneezing, itchiness and blocked or runny nose (allergic rhinitis). At times {{product}} is prescribed to nonasthmatic patients for the treatment of hives (urticaria) lasting more than 6 weeks. 

RespiCare 4mg Sachet 1 ‘S is available on prescription, as non chewable tablets, chewable tablets and granules. It is prescribed to prevent asthma and relieve symptoms of allergies by reducing the inflammation in the airways. Common side effects of this medication are nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, stomach ache, headache and flu-like symptoms. Dosage of RespiCare 4mg Sachet 1 ‘S depends on age, severity of condition, patient’s response to medicine and their comorbidities.

Indications

RespiCare 4mg Sachet 1 ‘S is prescribed to adults and children from above 6 months of age.

It is used in the treatment of:

• Add-on therapy in mild to moderate asthma inadequately controlled by inhaled corticosteroids and short-acting beta-2 agonists. 
• Exercise-induced broncho-constriction (abnormal contraction of airways – narrowing)

 

How does RespiCare 4mg Sachet 1 ‘S work?

It is a leukotriene receptor antagonist that works by reducing the inflammation in the airways to prevent asthma and relieve symptoms of allergies like sneezing, itchiness and blocked or runny nose.  

 

How to use RespiCare 4mg Sachet 1 ‘S?

RespiCare 4mg Sachet 1 ‘S is available in the following forms

• Non chewable tablets: to be taken with or without food and swallowed whole with a glass of water, juice or milk.

• Chewable tablets: to be taken 1-2 hours before food to ensure proper absorption of the medicine into the body. They can be chewed or sucked.
• Granules: available in sachets containing 4mg of RespiCare 4mg Sachet 1 ‘S. It can be directly put on your child’s tongue or could be given with cold, soft food like yogurt or ice cream. Make sure RespiCare 4mg Sachet 1 ‘S is taken immediately or within 15 minutes. Do not dissolve it in a drink to give it to your child.

 

Dosage

Form and strength:

tablet

• 10mg

tablet, chewable

• 4mg
• 5mg

oral granules

• 4mg/packet

 

• RespiCare 4mg Sachet 1 ‘S is usually prescribed once a day, to be taken in the evening 
• If you have exercise induced asthma your doctor will ask you to take it 2 hours prior to exercise
• Do not take more than 1 dose a day.
• The usual dose is for prophylaxis (prevention) of asthma is:
• Adults and children aged 15 years and above: 10mg tablet once daily
• Children aged 6-14 years: 5mg chewable tablet once a day
• Children from 6 months old to 5 years of age: 4mg (granules or chewable tablet) 
• The usual dose for symptomatic relief of seasonal allergic rhinitis in asthmatic patients is:
• Adults and children above 15 years of age: 10mg tablet once daily 

Dosage is completely dependent on the age, severity of condition, patient’s response to medicine and their comorbidities. Your doctor may vary your dosage to regulate your blood sugar levels.

 

Pregnancy use and lactation

If you are pregnant, think you may be pregnant or are planning to have a baby, please consult your doctor before using RespiCare 4mg Sachet 1 ‘S.

If you are breastfeeding, please consult your doctor before taking RespiCare 4mg Sachet 1 ‘S. 

 

Contraindications

Please inform your doctor if you have a history of any before using RespiCare 4mg Sachet 1 ‘S:

• Allergic reaction to RespiCare 4mg Sachet 1 ‘S – indicated by skin rash, swelling around face area, wheezing, chest tightness and breathing difficulty
• Rare hereditary problem of galactose intolerance (including Lapp lactase deficiency or glucose-galactose malabsorption)

 

Precautions

Please tell your doctor about any of the following conditions while using RespiCare 4mg Sachet 1 ‘S:

• Do not substitute abruptly for inhaled or oral steroid therapy. 
• Do not use it for relief of acute symptoms
• Discontinue if symptoms of Churg-Strauss syndrome (disease characterised by inflammation of blood vessels) appear. 
• Phenylketonuria with chewable tablets (contain aspartame)

 

Interaction with other medications

Certain medications could interact with RespiCare 4mg Sachet 1 ‘S, hence, in that case your doctor might alter your dosage and make sure to monitor blood sugar levels more closely.

Please inform your doctor about the use of the following before taking RespiCare 4mg Sachet 1 ‘S:

• Phenobarbital (for epilepsy)
• Phenytoin (for epilepsy)
• Rifampicin (for tuberculosis)
• Other enzyme inducers
• Gemfibrozil (for high cholesterol)

 

Adverse effects

Like most medicines, RespiCare 4mg Sachet 1 ‘S has some side effects which include:

Common:

• Nausea 
• Indigestion (stomach ache)
• Vomiting 
• Diarrhoea 
• Headache
• High temperature
• Mild rash 

Serious:

• Hypersensitivity/allergic skin reactions; in this case discontinue 
• Angioedema
• Seizure 
• Elevated ALT/AST (alanine aminotransferase and alanine transaminase)
• Cholestatic hepatitis 
• Churg-Strauss syndrome (disease characterised by inflammation of blood vessels) (discontinue), 
• Hyperkinesia (excessive restlessness) 
• Mood changes like becoming depressed, aggressive or attempts at killing oneself
• Hallucinations (seeing things that are not really happening)
• Confusion about identity, place and time 
• Difficulty concentrating and remembering things
• Shaking or trembling in any part of the body
• Anxiety 
• Changes in speech (stuttering)
• Unusual or fast heart beat 
• Liver impairment indicated by yellowing of skin or the whites of your eyes. 

 

How to cope with some of the adverse effects

• Diarrhoea – Keep yourself hydrated by having lots of fluids and if the problem persists, consult your doctor before taking any medication for vomiting and diarrhoea

• Stomach ache – Try to rest as much as possible and have smaller and more frequent meals. Using a heat pack or hot water bottle over the area in pain might help in giving some relief. If the pain still persists and is severe, speak to your doctor.

• Headache – Take a painkiller, rest and keep yourself hydrated at all times.

• High temperature – Take paracetamol to bring the temperature down and have plenty of fluids. If it persists for long, contact your doctor. 

• Mild rash – Taking an antihistamine might help. Ask your pharmacist for a suitable one. If it doesn’t go away or gets worse, contact your doctor. 

 

Inform your doctor immediately if you experience any of the serious side effects.

 

Key facts about RespiCare 4mg Sachet 1 ‘S

• RespiCare 4mg Sachet 1 ‘S belongs to a class of drugs called “leukotriene receptor antagonists”.
• These drugs prescribed for obstructive airway diseases are used to treat and prevent the risk of developing asthma and seasonal allergies.
• It works by reducing the inflammation in the airways to prevent asthma and relieve symptoms of allergies like sneezing, itchiness and blocked or runny nose.  
• It is used for allergies only after other treatments have failed. 
• It is prescribed to adults and children above 6 months of age.
• Common side effects of this medication are nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, stomach ache, headache and flu-like symptoms. 
• Do not use it for acute conditions (like asthma attack), instead use your inhaler in such a case. 
• If your asthma is exercise-induced, take RespiCare 4mg Sachet 1 ‘S 2 hour before exercising. 
• Matter of concern arises if you get a rash, itchy skin, swelling on the face and difficulty breathing, in which case you need to inform your doctor immediately. 

 

FAQs

1. WHAT EXACTLY DOES RespiCare 4mg Sachet 1 ‘S DO?

It is a leukotriene receptor antagonist that works by reducing the inflammation in the airways to prevent asthma and relieve symptoms of allergies like sneezing, itchiness and blocked or runny nose

2. HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE FOR RespiCare 4mg Sachet 1 ‘S TO START WORKING?

It starts working almost immediately to reduce leukotriene levels in your body, but usually takes around a week to reach its full efficacy. If you have been prescribed RespiCare 4mg Sachet 1 ‘S for exercise induced asthma, take it 2 hours prior to exercise so that the levels of RespiCare 4mg Sachet 1 ‘S are high enough in your body when you start exercising. 

3. HOW LONG WILL I HAVE TO TAKE RespiCare 4mg Sachet 1 ‘S FOR?

RespiCare 4mg Sachet 1 ‘S should be taken for as long as it is prescribed by your doctor.

4. CAN I STOP TAKING RespiCare 4mg Sachet 1 ‘S?

Do not just stop taking the medicine, make sure to complete your treatment course even if you feel better.

5. IS IT IMPORTANT TO TAKE RespiCare 4mg Sachet 1 ‘S IN THE EVENING?

It is usually taken in the evening for the treatment of asthma and allergic rhinitis (cough and cold due to allergy) but there has been no evidence of a difference in its effectiveness when taking in the morning. Hence, take it as prescribed by your doctor. 

6. IS THERE ANY FOOD OR DRINK I NEED TO AVOID?

No, there is no food or drink that needs to be avoided while taking RespiCare 4mg Sachet 1 ‘S

7. CAN I DRINK ALCOHOL WITH RespiCare 4mg Sachet 1 ‘S?

Avoid drinking alcohol while you are on RespiCare 4mg Sachet 1 ‘S as it may cause dizziness and drowsiness as a side effect. Also, liver problems become more common with the use of alcohol. 

8. WHAT IF I TAKE TOO MUCH OF RespiCare 4mg Sachet 1 ‘S?

If you have taken too much of the prescribed RespiCare 4mg Sachet 1 ‘S you may experience common side effects like nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, stomach ache, headache, flu-like symptoms and rarely, difficulty breathing, tremors, loss of sense of surrounding; in which case take the patient to the hospital

9. WHAT IF I FORGET TO TAKE RespiCare 4mg Sachet 1 ‘S?

Incase you miss a dose, take your next dose on time and do not try making up for the missed dose by doubling it up. If it helps to remind you, set an alarm so you do not miss any dose. Make sure to complete your course of treatment even if you feel better and think you do not need to take it anymore.

10. CAN I TAKE RespiCare 4mg Sachet 1 ‘S DURING PREGNANCY OR BREASTFEEDING?

There is no evidence of RespiCare 4mg Sachet 1 ‘S being unsafe during pregnancy or breastfeeding, however it is better to inform your doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding before taking the medication. 

11. DOES RespiCare 4mg Sachet 1 ‘S CAUSE MOOD CHANGES?

Yes, in rare cases you might experience symptoms like anxiety, agitation, aggressive behaviour or hostility, irritability, restlessness, depression and attempts at killing oneself 

12. DOES RespiCare 4mg Sachet 1 ‘S CAUSE WEIRD DREAMS?

Yes, in rare cases, RespiCare 4mg Sachet 1 ‘S may cause night mares, restlessness and sleep walking. Contact your doctor if you continue to experience these symptoms.  

13. DOES RespiCare 4mg Sachet 1 ‘S MAKE YOU FEEL DROWSY? 

One of the uncommon side effects of RespiCare 4mg Sachet 1 ‘S is feeling drowsy. If you feel this way do not drive, ride a bike or use any kind of machinery until you feel better. 

14. CAN I DRIVE OR RIDE A BIKE AFTER TAKING RespiCare 4mg Sachet 1 ‘S?

It usually doesn’t cause problems while driving or riding a bike but if you experience any of the adverse effects like hallucinations (seeing things that are not happening), shaking or tremors in any part of your body or a loss of sense of surroundings, then try resting and do not drive or use any kind of machinery until you feel better. 

15. HOW SHOULD RespiCare 4mg Sachet 1 ‘S BE STORED?

Keep the medicine at room temperature in a cool, dry place, away from direct sunlight. Make sure to keep it away from pets, children and other people.