Clinical medicine profile
Bilastine
Therapeutic agent (verify pharmacological class)
- Route
- See product SmPC
- Schedule
- POM
- ATC
- Not assigned
- PPB status
- registered
This profile needs source confirmation
Some sections contain general class guidance rather than medicine-specific evidence. Confirm prescribing decisions against the current SmPC and Kenya STG/EML.
Safety essentials
The information most likely to change a prescribing or dispensing decision.
Contraindications
- Hypersensitivity to the active substance or excipients.
- Additional absolute contraindications are indication- and product-specific — consult SmPC.
Precautions
- Obtain allergy and medication history.
- Adjust for renal/hepatic impairment, pregnancy, lactation, extremes of age and interacting drugs.
- Use the lowest effective dose for the shortest appropriate duration.
- Monitor for expected class adverse effects.
Dosing matrix
Population and organ-function guidance, shown together for faster comparison.
Adults and adolescents (above 12yrs): 20mg OD
Use a current weight-based paediatric reference.
Review renal impairment dosing; many agents need CrCl/eGFR adjustment.
- CrCl 0–120: Confirm renal dosing in product SmPC / primary label.
Review hepatic impairment dosing; monitor LFTs if agent is hepatically cleared or hepatotoxic.
Use, effects & interactions
Indications
- Symptomatic relief of allergic reactions Clinical selection for Bilastine should follow culture results where relevant, Kenya STG/EML recommendations, and the current product SmPC.
- Class context: Therapeutic agent (verify pharmacological class).
- Confirm site-specific dose, duration and monitoring before prescribing.
Adverse effects
- Adverse reactions vary by agent.
- Counsel on common predictable effects and serious warning symptoms (allergy, severe rash, jaundice, unusual bleeding, severe GI symptoms, neurological changes).
- Report suspected ADRs via national pharmacovigilance channels.
Drug interactions
Open multi-drug checker ↗- Bilastine 20mg OD is efficacious, safe and not differ-ent from desloratadine 5mg OD in the treatment of seasonal allergic rhinitis symptoms[a]
- Bilastine, cetirizine and fexofenadine have comparable efficacy[b].
- References:
Mechanism & disposition
A selective peripheral H1 receptor antagonist with no affinity for muscarinic receptors.
Read complete mechanism
A selective peripheral H1 receptor antagonist with no affinity for muscarinic receptors. Mechanism is agent-specific. At receptor, enzyme, ion channel, transporter or microbial target level, the drug alters a physiological or pathological pathway to produce its therapeutic effect. Confirm precise molecular mechanism in current SmPC / pharmacology reference for this INN before high-stakes decisions.
Product-specific
Product-specific
See product SmPC
are product-specific. Consider food effects, protein binding, hepatic CYP/UGT
when adjusting for organ impairment, age and drug interactions. Verify parameters in the current SmPC.
Pregnancy, lactation & diet
Use only if potential benefit justifies potential risk; prefer agents with better reproductive data when alternatives exist.
Assess infant risk vs benefit of maternal therapy; prefer agents with lactation data.
Brands & loaded prices
| Brand | Manufacturer | Pack | Observed price |
|---|---|---|---|
| BELIEVE 2.5 | ALKEM LABORATORIES LTD. | Oral Solution | Unavailable |
| BILAMAC 20 | Ravenbhel Healthcare Pvt. Ltd | Tablet | Unavailable |
| Bilas 20mg Tablets | DAWA LIMITED | Tablet 20mg | Unavailable |
| BILASON | Unison Pharmaceuticals Pvt. Ltd. | Tablet | Unavailable |
| Bilas Oral solution | DAWA LIMITED | Syrup | Unavailable |
| Bilast 20mg Tablet | TIBA HEALTHCARE LTD | Tablet 20mg | Unavailable |
| Rinalin | Afya Index / Retail Reference | tabs 4mg 1000's | KES 70.00afya_index_book |
| Vertease | Afya Index / Retail Reference | tabs 8mg 100's | KES 4,687.71afya_index_book |
Sources & review state
Decision support only. Confirm patient-specific decisions against the current product SmPC, Kenya STG/EML, and professional judgement.