Indications: prophylaxis of asthma, see notes above and Management of Chronic Asthma table, p. 180; symptomatic relief of seasonal allergic rhinitis in patients with asthma.

Pregnancy: manufacturer advises avoid unless essential, see also notes above.

Breast-feeding: manufacturer advises avoid unless essential.

Side Effects: abdominal pain, thirst, headache, hyperkinesia (in young children); less commonly dry mouth, dyspepsia, oedema, dizziness, drowsiness, malaise, sleep disturbances, sleep-walking, abnormal dreams, anxiety, agitation (including aggressive behaviour or hostility), depression, psychomotor hyperactivity (including irritability and restlessness), paraesthesia, hypoaesthesia, seizures, arthralgia, myalgia (including muscle cramps), epistaxis, bruising; rarely palpitation, tremor, disturbance in attention, memory impairment, increased bleeding tendency; very rarely hepatic eosinophilic infiltration, hepatic disorders, hallucinations, suicidal thoughts and behaviour, disorientation, Churg-Strauss syndrome (see notes above), erythema nodosum, erythema multiforme.

Dose. Prophylaxis of asthma, ADULT and CHILD over 15 years, 10mg once daily in the evening; CHILD 6 months–6 years 4mg once daily in the evening, 6–15 years 5mg once daily in the evening. Seasonal allergic rhinitis, ADULT and CHILD over 15 years, 10mg once daily in the evening.