Asthafen (Ketotifen)

What is Asthafen?

How Asthafen Works (Mechanism of Action)

The action happens in five simple steps:

What that means for the patient:

Why it takes weeks rather than minutes:

What it does not do:

Dosage Guide

Always follow the dose written on your prescription.

Situation	Typical Dose	Timing	Key Note
Adults, usual dose	1 mg twice daily	With food, morning and evening	Asthafen is one tablet per dose
Adults, increased dose	May be raised to 2 mg twice daily	With food	Only on medical advice
Patients prone to sedation	May start at a lower evening dose	Building up gradually	Reduces early drowsiness
Children over three years	Usually 1 mg twice daily	With food	As directed by a doctor
Younger children	Weight-based dosing; syrup often used	As prescribed	Specialist direction advised
Existing asthma therapy	Must be continued unchanged at first	Alongside this medicine	Do not stop anything yourself
Reducing other asthma drugs	Only after six to twelve weeks	Gradually and under supervision	Abrupt withdrawal can be dangerous
Acute asthma attack	Ketotifen has no role	Not applicable	Use a reliever inhaler immediately
Diabetic patients	The tablet is usually preferred	As prescribed	The syrup contains carbohydrate
Epilepsy	Use with caution	As prescribed	It may lower the seizure threshold
Breastfeeding mothers	Breastfeeding is not advised on this medicine	Not applicable	The drug is assumed to pass into milk
Pregnancy	Discuss with your doctor first	As prescribed	Caution is advised

How to read this table:

Missed dose and overdose rules:

How to Take Asthafen

Practical usage tips:

Precautions

Absolute Contraindications – Do Not Use Asthafen If You:

Important limits on use:

Conditions You Must Disclose to Your Doctor

Food and Drink Precautions

Before-Use Safety Checklist

Common and Less Common Side Effects

Drowsiness is by far the most frequent effect.

Side Effect	Frequency	What It Feels Like	What to Do
Drowsiness or sedation	Common (about 10% to 20%)	Feeling sleepy, slowed or heavy	Do not drive; usually eases in 1 to 2 weeks
Dry mouth	Common (about 1% to 2%)	Reduced saliva and thirst	Sip water; usually settles
Dizziness	Common (about 1% to 2%)	Light-headed feeling	Stand slowly; avoid driving
Nausea	Common (about 1% to 2%)	Queasy stomach	Take with food; report if persistent
Headache	Common (about 1% to 2%)	Dull or throbbing head pain	Rest and drink water; report if severe
Increased appetite	Common	Feeling hungry more often	Watch portions; weigh yourself regularly
Weight gain	Common	Gradual gain over weeks or months	Report to your doctor
Irritability or nervousness	Less common	Feeling tense, restless or short-tempered	Report to your doctor
Excitability in children	Less common	Restlessness or agitation instead of sedation	Report to your doctor
Sleep disturbance	Less common	Difficulty sleeping or vivid dreams	Report if it continues
Skin rash	Less common	Red or itchy patches on the skin	Stop and contact your doctor
Constipation	Less common	Harder or less frequent stools	Report if persistent
Cystitis	Rare	Burning or frequency when passing urine	Contact your doctor
Raised liver enzymes	Very rare	No symptoms; found on a blood test	Your doctor will advise on monitoring
Hepatitis	Very rare	Yellow skin or eyes, dark urine, fatigue	Seek urgent medical advice
Low platelet count	Rare	Unusual bruising or bleeding	Important with diabetes tablets; seek advice
Seizures	Rare	Convulsion with loss of consciousness	Emergency — call for help immediately
Severe skin reaction	Isolated cases	Blistering or peeling skin	Emergency — call for help immediately
Severe allergic reaction	Rare	Swelling of face, lips or throat	Emergency — call for help immediately

A note on drowsiness and on platelets:

Drug Interactions – Avoid or Use With Caution

Combinations that increase drowsiness:

Combinations needing particular care:

Interaction outcomes to understand:

Catalogue note for the retailer:

Emergency Warning Signs – Seek Urgent Medical Help

Call emergency services immediately if you or someone else has:

Contact your doctor the same day if you have:

Critical instructions in an emergency:

Why Choose Asthafen?

Benefits of ketotifen when it is clinically appropriate:

Honest balance for the buyer:

Storage Instructions