Anti-allergy drug Hismanal withdrawn

AN ANTIHISTAMINE widely used for allergies by Cypriots is being discontinued and withdrawn from the market, its importer, Hadjipanayi Varnavas, said yesterday.

Hismanal (astemizole) 10mg, is being voluntarily taken off the market by its maker, US-based Janssen Pharmaceuticals, “for financial reasons,” the importer said.

“There is no danger to anyone,” a spokeswoman for the importer said.

Since the drug’s approval in 1988, new adverse-reaction data has required several labelling changes and warnings, Janssen said, and since other antihistamines are available the medicine is being withdrawn.

Patients who have been taking Hismanal for allergy symptoms are advised to ask their doctors for an alternative medication.

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