If you are taking ALLERWAY MELTAWAY 5, or giving it to a child in your care, it helps to understand exactly what the medicine is for, how to take it, and when you should get medical advice. This medicine is used for certain allergy symptoms, including allergic rhinitis and long-term hives with no known cause.
ALLERWAY MELTAWAY 5 contains levocetirizine dihydrochloride 5 mg. It comes as an orodispersible tablet, which means you place it on your tongue, let it break up in your mouth, and then swallow it with your saliva.
ALLERWAY MELTAWAY 5 is a Schedule 1 medicine in South Africa.
What it is and what it is used for
ALLERWAY MELTAWAY 5 is an antiallergic medicine. This means it is used to help with symptoms caused by allergic conditions.
The active ingredient is:
- Levocetirizine dihydrochloride 5 mg
You may use ALLERWAY MELTAWAY 5 for symptoms linked to:
- Seasonal and year-round allergic rhinitis, such as:
- Itchy nose
- Itchy eyes
- Watery eyes
- Stuffy nose
- Runny nose
- Sneezing
- Long-term hives or nettle rash with no known cause, also called chronic idiopathic urticaria
This medicine is not for children under 6 years of age.
How it works
ALLERWAY MELTAWAY 5 is described as an antiallergic medicine. In simple terms, it is used when your body reacts to allergy triggers and you develop symptoms such as sneezing, itching, watery eyes, a blocked or runny nose, or hives.
The source does not give a detailed explanation of the exact way levocetirizine works inside the body.
Who should NOT use this medicine
Do not use ALLERWAY MELTAWAY 5 if you:
- Are allergic to levocetirizine dihydrochloride
- Are allergic to cetirizine
- Are allergic to hydroxyzine
- Are allergic to similar medicines with a related chemical structure
- Are allergic to any of the other ingredients in the tablet
- Are pregnant
- Are planning to become pregnant
- Are breastfeeding
- Have severe kidney impairment, described as severe kidney failure with creatinine clearance below 10 mL/min
- Are on dialysis
- Are giving it to a child under 6 years
Warning: Do not share ALLERWAY MELTAWAY 5 with anyone else, even if their allergy symptoms look the same as yours.
Warnings and precautions
Drowsiness and reduced alertness
You may feel sleepy, drowsy, tired, or exhausted while taking ALLERWAY MELTAWAY 5.
If this happens, you should avoid:
- Driving
- Operating machinery
- Doing risky tasks that need concentration
- Any activity where reduced alertness could put you or someone else in danger
Alcohol and medicines that make you sleepy
Be careful if you drink alcohol while taking ALLERWAY MELTAWAY 5. Alcohol may increase effects such as drowsiness or reduced alertness, especially if you are sensitive to the medicine.
You should also be careful with medicines that act on the brain or may make you sleepy, including:
- Other cold or allergy medicines
- Sleeping tablets
- Muscle relaxers
- Medicines for seizures
- Medicines for depression
- Medicines for anxiety
Note: If you feel sleepy or less alert after taking this medicine, do not drive or use machinery.
If you have difficulty passing urine
Take special care if you have a condition that makes it difficult to empty your bladder properly. Examples mentioned in the source include:
- Spinal cord lesions
- Enlarged prostate, also called prostatic hyperplasia
ALLERWAY MELTAWAY 5 may increase the risk of urinary retention. This means you may struggle to pass urine or may feel that your bladder has not emptied fully.
If you have epilepsy or risk of seizures
If you have epilepsy, or if you are at risk of convulsions, speak to your doctor before using ALLERWAY MELTAWAY 5.
The source says this medicine may make seizures worse.
If you are going for allergy testing
If you are scheduled for allergy testing, ask your doctor whether you should stop taking ALLERWAY MELTAWAY 5 for several days before the test.
This medicine may affect the results of allergy tests.
If you have sugar intolerance or diabetes
ALLERWAY MELTAWAY 5 contains lactose, sorbitol, mannitol, and aspartame.
If your doctor has told you that you have an intolerance to some sugars, contact your doctor before taking this medicine.
The source also states that lactose may affect blood sugar control if you have diabetes mellitus.
Aspartame and phenylalanine
ALLERWAY MELTAWAY 5 contains aspartame. When aspartame is taken by mouth, it is broken down in the gut. One of the main breakdown products is phenylalanine.
Tell your doctor if you have any intolerance to phenylalanine.
Pregnancy, planning pregnancy, and breastfeeding
Do not take ALLERWAY MELTAWAY 5 if you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant. The source says safety during pregnancy has not been established.
Do not take ALLERWAY MELTAWAY 5 if you are breastfeeding. The active ingredient, levocetirizine dihydrochloride, passes into breast milk.
If you think you may be pregnant, are planning a pregnancy, or are breastfeeding, speak to your doctor, pharmacist, or other healthcare provider before taking this medicine.
Interactions
Always tell your healthcare provider about any other medicines you are using. This includes prescription medicines, pharmacy medicines, complementary medicines, and traditional medicines.
Some medicines may interact with ALLERWAY MELTAWAY 5.
Before taking this medicine, tell your doctor if you are using:
- Central nervous system depressants, which are medicines that slow down brain activity and may make you sleepy
- Ritonavir, used to treat HIV/AIDS
- Theophylline, used to treat respiratory diseases such as asthma
Food
You may take ALLERWAY MELTAWAY 5 with or without food.
Water
You may take ALLERWAY MELTAWAY 5 with or without water.
Alcohol
Use caution with alcohol. Taking alcohol with ALLERWAY MELTAWAY 5 may affect your alertness, performance, and ability to drive or use machines, especially if you are sensitive to these effects.
How to take it
Always take ALLERWAY MELTAWAY 5 exactly as described by your doctor or pharmacist, or according to the medicine instructions provided with it.
Step-by-step: how to take the tablet
To take ALLERWAY MELTAWAY 5:
- Place the tablet on your tongue.
- Suck the tablet.
- Do not chew it.
- Let it break up completely in your mouth.
- Swallow the mixture with your saliva.
You can take it:
- With water or without water
- With food or without food
Adults and adolescents aged 12 years and older
The usual daily dose is:
- One tablet daily
Children aged 6 to 12 years
The usual daily dose is:
- One tablet daily
Do not give ALLERWAY MELTAWAY 5 to a child younger than 6 years.
If you have kidney problems
If you have impaired kidney function, your doctor may prescribe a lower dose depending on how severe your kidney disease is.
If a child has kidney impairment, the dose will be chosen based on the child’s body weight.
Do not take ALLERWAY MELTAWAY 5 if you have severe kidney impairment with creatinine clearance below 10 mL/min.
If you have liver problems
If you only have liver impairment, the source says you should take the usual prescribed dose.
If you have both liver and kidney impairment, your doctor may prescribe a lower dose depending on the severity of your kidney disease.
If you are elderly
No dose adjustment is needed in elderly patients if kidney function is normal.
How long you should take it
The length of treatment depends on:
- The type of symptoms you have
- How long you have had symptoms
- How your symptoms progress
The source says your doctor determines how long you should take it.
If your symptoms get worse or do not improve after 14 to 21 days, see a doctor.
If the medicine feels too strong or too weak
If you feel that ALLERWAY MELTAWAY 5 is working too strongly or not strongly enough, speak to your doctor or pharmacist.
If you take too much
Taking too much may cause drowsiness in adults.
In children, overdose may first cause:
- Agitation
- Restlessness
This may later be followed by drowsiness.
If you or your child takes more ALLERWAY MELTAWAY 5 than you should, contact your doctor or pharmacist. If neither is available, contact the nearest hospital or poison control centre.
If you forget a dose
If you forget to take ALLERWAY MELTAWAY 5:
- Take it as soon as you remember on the same day.
- If you do not take it that same day, take your normal dose the next day.
- Do not take a double dose to make up for a missed dose.
If you stop taking it
You may develop intense itching after stopping ALLERWAY MELTAWAY 5, even if you did not have itching before starting treatment.
This itching may go away on its own. In some cases, it may be intense and treatment may need to be restarted. The source says the symptoms should resolve when treatment is restarted.
Dosing table
| Age or situation | Dose | Frequency | Maximum daily dose |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adults and adolescents aged 12 years and older | 1 tablet | Once daily | Not specified beyond the daily recommended dose of 1 tablet |
| Children aged 6 to 12 years | 1 tablet | Once daily | Not specified beyond the daily recommended dose of 1 tablet |
| Children under 6 years | Do not use | Not applicable | Not applicable |
| Adults with impaired kidney function | Lower dose may be needed | As determined by doctor | As determined by doctor |
| Children with impaired kidney function | Based on body weight | As determined by doctor | As determined by doctor |
| Severe kidney impairment with creatinine clearance below 10 mL/min | Do not use | Not applicable | Not applicable |
| Patients on dialysis | Do not use | Not applicable | Not applicable |
| Liver impairment only | Usual prescribed dose | As prescribed | Not specified in the source |
| Both liver and kidney impairment | Lower dose may be needed | As determined by doctor | As determined by doctor |
| Elderly patients with normal kidney function | No dose adjustment needed | As prescribed | Not specified in the source |
Possible side effects
ALLERWAY MELTAWAY 5 can cause side effects, although not everyone will get them.
If your general health gets worse while taking this medicine, or if you notice any unwanted effects, speak to your healthcare provider.
Common side effects
Tell your doctor if you notice:
- Sleep disorders
- Headache
- Drowsiness or sleepiness
- Dry mouth
- Diarrhoea
- Constipation
- Exhaustion
These side effects can affect daily life. Drowsiness is especially important because it may affect driving, working with machinery, or doing tasks that need concentration.
Less common side effects
Tell your doctor if you notice:
- Nausea
- Stomach or intestinal discomfort
- Abdominal pain
- Vomiting
- Weakness
- Feeling unwell
Serious side effects — seek urgent help
Stop taking ALLERWAY MELTAWAY 5 and get medical help immediately if you notice signs of a serious allergic reaction, such as:
- Swelling of the mouth, tongue, face, or throat
- Difficulty breathing
- Difficulty swallowing
- Chest tightness
- Wheezing
- Hives, which may look like a red, raised, lumpy rash
- Rash or itching
- Sudden fall in blood pressure
- Collapse or shock
Warning: These may be signs of a very serious allergic reaction. The source states that this may be fatal and may require urgent medical attention or hospitalisation.
You should also tell your doctor immediately or go to the casualty department at your nearest hospital if you notice:
- Seizures or fits
- Palpitations, meaning an irregular heartbeat
- Hallucinations, meaning seeing, hearing, or sensing things that are not there
- Recurring thoughts about suicide
- Preoccupation with suicide
- Depression
- Aggressive behaviour
- Agitated behaviour
These are serious side effects and may need urgent medical care.
Other side effects with unknown frequency
The source also lists side effects where the frequency is not known. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you notice:
- Allergic reactions
- Convulsions
- Pins and needles
- Dizziness
- Fainting
- A feeling that you or your surroundings are spinning or moving
- Tremor or shaking
- Changes in taste
- Visual disturbances
- Blurred vision
- Uncontrolled circular eye movements
- Irregular heartbeat
- Increased heart rate
- Shortness of breath
- Liver inflammation
- Skin reactions
- Urticaria, which may involve swelling, redness, and itching
- Rashes
- Itchiness
- Skin eruption
- Muscle pain
- Joint pain
- Painful or difficult urination
- Inability to empty the bladder completely
- Oedema, meaning swelling
- Swelling caused by excess fluid trapped in body tissues
- Increased appetite
- Weight increase
- Insomnia
- Nightmares
- Abnormal liver function
- Intense itching after stopping the medicine
Reporting side effects in South Africa
If you get side effects, speak to your doctor, pharmacist, or nurse.
You can also report side effects to SAHPRA through the “6.04 Adverse Drug Reaction Reporting Form”, available online under SAHPRA’s publications.
Reporting side effects helps provide more information about the safety of ALLERWAY MELTAWAY 5.
Storage and disposal
Keep ALLERWAY MELTAWAY 5 out of reach of children.
Store the medicine:
- At or below 30 °C
- In the blister until you need to take it
- In the carton until required for use
- Away from bathrooms
Do not use the medicine after the expiry date on the container.
Return unused medicine to your pharmacist.
Do not throw unused medicine into drains, toilets, or sewerage systems.
What the medicine contains
Active ingredient
Each orodispersible tablet contains:
- Levocetirizine dihydrochloride 5 mg
Sugar-related ingredients and sweetener content
ALLERWAY MELTAWAY 5 contains lactose, mannitol, sorbitol, and aspartame.
| Ingredient | Amount per tablet |
|---|---|
| Lactose monohydrate | 104,00 mg |
| Mannitol | 67,15 mg |
| Sorbitol | 3,95 mg |
| Aspartame | 5,00 mg |
Other ingredients
The other ingredients are:
- Aspartame
- Blackcurrant flavour
- Flavouring substances
- Flavouring preparations
- Natural flavouring substances
- Maize maltodextrin
- Glyceryl triacetate
- Triethyl citrate
- Sulphite ammonia caramel
- Moisture
- Lactose monohydrate
- Magnesium stearate
- Pharmaburst B2, made up of mannitol 85 %, polyplasdone 10 %, sorbitol 5 %, and syloid less than 1 %
- Polacrilin potassium
- Silica colloidal anhydrous
Note: If you have been told you have an intolerance to some sugars, speak to your doctor before taking this medicine.
Pack information and appearance
ALLERWAY MELTAWAY 5 tablets are described as:
- Round
- White to off-white
- Flat
- Bevelled edged
- Engraved with “LV” on one side
- Plain on the other side
The tablets are packed in Alu-Alu blisters.
Pack sizes are:
- 10 tablets
- 20 tablets
- 30 tablets
The blister strips are packed into cartons. Not all pack sizes may be marketed.
The holder of the Certificate of Registration is Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories (Pty) Ltd, based in Morningside, Sandton, South Africa.
The registration number is 55/5.7.1/0712.
Practical FAQs
Can I take ALLERWAY MELTAWAY 5 for allergy symptoms like sneezing and a runny nose?
Yes. The source says ALLERWAY MELTAWAY 5 is used for seasonal and year-round allergic rhinitis. This may include sneezing, a blocked or runny nose, watery eyes, and itching of the nose or eyes.
Can I take it for hives?
Yes. It is used for long-term hives or nettle rash with no known cause, called chronic idiopathic urticaria.
Can my child take ALLERWAY MELTAWAY 5?
Children aged 6 to 12 years may take one tablet daily. Do not give this medicine to a child younger than 6 years.
How do I take the tablet?
Place the tablet on your tongue and suck it until it breaks up completely. Do not chew it. Swallow the mixture with your saliva.
Do I need water?
No. You may take ALLERWAY MELTAWAY 5 with or without water.
Should I take it before or after food?
You may take it with or without food.
Can I drink alcohol while taking it?
Use caution. Alcohol may increase drowsiness or reduce alertness in sensitive people. This may affect your ability to drive, work safely, or use machines.
What should I do if I miss a dose?
Take the missed dose as soon as you remember on the same day. If you do not take it that day, take your normal dose the next day. Do not take a double dose.
What should I do if I take too much?
Contact your doctor or pharmacist. If they are not available, contact the nearest hospital or poison control centre. In adults, overdose may cause drowsiness. In children, it may first cause agitation and restlessness, followed by drowsiness.
Can I take this medicine if I am pregnant or breastfeeding?
No. Do not take ALLERWAY MELTAWAY 5 if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or breastfeeding.
Sources :
Written by: RxZest Editorial Team
Editorial review: Checked for readability, structure, and source alignment
Based on SAHPRA-approved information
Last updated: [01/05/2026]
https://medsinfoportal.sahpra.org.za/pil/219526ebdb4a79a4dd1249daf50e746b.pdf
