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Anthisan Bite and Sting 2% w/w cream – patient leaflet, side effects, dosage

Last updated: · Text from the MHRA, as of · About this document

Medicine status: General sale (GSL) Details

Medicine strength:
2% w/w (20 mg/gram)
Contains active substance:
ATC code:

Patient leaflet - Anthisan Bite and Sting 2% w/w cream

What Anthisan Bite and Sting Cream is used for treating:

  • Pain, itching and inflammation caused by insect stings, bites and nettle rash. You must talk to a doctor if you do not feel better or if you feel worse after 3 days.

2. What you need to know before you use Anthisan Bite and Sting Cream

Do not use Anthisan Bite and Sting Cream if:

X You are allergic (hypersensitive) to mepyramine maleate or any of the other ingredients of Anthisan Bite and Sting Cream (listed in Section 6): The signs of an allergic reaction include: a rash, swallowing or breathing problems, swelling of your lips, face, throat or tongue.

Do not apply the cream on:

X Eczema.

X Cut, grazed or badly broken skin.

X Areas of sunburnt skin.

X Large areas of skin.

Do not use this medicine if any of the above applies to you. If you are not sure, talk to your doctor or pharmacist before using Anthisan Bite and Sting Cream.

Other medicines and Anthisan Bite and Sting Cream

Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking, have recently taken or might take any other medicines. This includes medicines you can buy without prescription, including herbal medicines.

Pregnancy, breast-feeding and fertility

If you are pregnant or breast-feeding, think you may be pregnant or are planning to have a baby, talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse for advice before using this medicine.

Driving and using machines

You may feel drowsy or sleepy while using this medicine. If this happens, do not drive or use any tools or machines.

Anthisan Bite and Sting Cream contains ceto-stearyl alcohol, castor oil and methyl hydroxybenzoate

This medicine contains:

  • Ceto-stearyl alcohol and castor oil. These may cause local skin reactions (such as ‘‘contact dermatitis’’ which may include the following symptoms: skin redness, swelling and itching, pain or burning sensation).

  • Methyl hydroxybenzoate. This may cause an allergic reaction, possibly delayed. This reaction may happen some time after starting the medicine.

3. How to use Anthisan Bite and Sting

Always use this medicine exactly as described in this lea-flet or as your doctor, pharmacist or nurse has told you. Check with your doctor, pharmacist or nurse if you are not sure.

Adults, Elderly and Children over 2 years of age

The recommended dose is two or three times a day for up to three days:

  • Apply the cream directly to the affected areas of skin.
  • Do not apply the cream on eczema, larger areas of skin, cut, grazed, badly broken or sunburnt skin.
  • For best results use as soon as possible after the bite or sting.
  • Repeated use of the cream for periods longer than a few days is not recommended.
  • If your symptoms worsen or do not improve after 3 days talk to your doctor or pharmacist.

If you feel the effect of your medicine is too weak or too strong, do not change the dose yourself, but ask your doctor or pharmacist.

If you use more Anthisan Bite and Sting Cream than you should

If you use more Anthisan Cream than you should or it is accidentally swallowed, seek immediate medical attention particularly in young children. Tell a doctor or go to a hospital casualty department straight away. Take the medicine pack with you. This is so the doctor knows what you or the child has taken.

The following effects may happen: loss of consciousness and fits (seizures).

If you forget to use Anthisan Bite and Sting Cream

Do not apply a double amount of cream to make up for a forgotten application. Apply the cream as soon as you remember, then carry on as before.

If you have any further questions on the use of this product, ask your doctor, pharmacist or nurse.

4. Possible side effects

Like all medicines, Anthisan Bite and Sting Cream can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them. Stop using Anthisan Bite and Sting Cream and see a doctor or go to a hospital straight away if you notice any of the following side effects:

  • A severe allergic reaction. The signs may include: a rash, swallowing or breathing problems, swelling of your lips, face, throat or tongue.

Stop using Anthisan Bite and Sting Cream and tell a pharmacist if you notice the following side effect:

  • An increase in skin redness, swelling and itching in the area where you have used the cream. This might be due to a mild allergic reaction.

Reporting of side effects

If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. You can also report side effects directly via

the Yellow Card Scheme at: www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard or search for MHRA Yellow Card in the Google Play or Apple App Store. By reporting side effects you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.

5. How to store Anthisan Bite and Sting Cream

  • Keep this medicine out of the sight and reach of children.
  • Do not use this medicine after the expiry date which is stated on the carton flap or tube after EXP. The expiry date refers to the last day of that month.
  • Store below 25 °C.

Do not throw away any medicines via wastewater or household waste. Ask your pharmacist how to throw away medicines you no longer use. These measures will help to protect the environment.

6. Contents of the pack and other information

What Anthisan Bite and Sting Cream contains:

  • Each 1g of cream contains 20mg of the active substance, mepyramine maleate.
  • The other ingredients are ceto-stearyl alcohol, polyethylene glycol 600 monostearate, castor oil, methyl hydroxybenzoate, foin coupe (fragrance), sili-con antifoam and purified water.

What Anthisan Bite and Sting Cream looks like and contents of the pack

A smooth off-white cream contained within a collapsible aluminium tube with extended nozzle and polypropylene cap. The tube contains 20 grams of cream.

Marketing Authorisation Holder and Manufacturer

Marketing Authorisation Holder

Phoenix Labs,

Suite 12,

Bunkilla Plaza,

Bracetown Business Park,

Clonee,

Co.Meath,

Ireland.

Tel: +353-1-5742410

email: medicalinformation@phoenixlabs.ie Manufacturer

Laboratoria Qualiphar NV

Rijksweg 9, Bornem, 2880, Belgium

This leaflet does not contain all the information about your medicine. If you have any questions or are not sure about anything, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

This leaflet was last revised in October 2024

30404036-1

About this document

Source: MHRA - Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (products.mhra.gov.uk) · Marketing authorisation: PL 35104/0038

Last revision stated in the text: October 2024 · MHRA data as of 13 October 2026

Found a mistake? Tell us on the contact page.

The information on this site does not replace the advice of a doctor or pharmacist.

Facts about Anthisan Bite and Sting 2% w/w cream

Prescription needed? No, general sale list medicine (GSL) – also sold outside pharmacies
Active substance Mepyramine
Strength 2% w/w (20 mg/gram)
Pharmaceutical form Cutaneous cream
How is it taken Cutaneous
Pack sizes 20 gram
Is it available? Listed as available (NHS Dictionary of Medicines and Devices – not a record of current supplies)
Drug group (ATC)
  1. D Dermatologicals
    1. D04 Antipruritics, incl. antihistamines, anesthetics, etc.
      1. D04A Antipruritics, incl. antihistamines, anesthetics, etc.
        1. D04AA Antihistamines for topical use
          1. D04AA02 mepyramine
Marketing authorisation PL 35104/0038
Codes GTIN 5391513951718 · BNF 13030000

Sources: the MHRA product information (products.mhra.gov.uk) and the NHS Dictionary of Medicines and Devices (dm+d), release 10.1.0 of 12 October 2026, NHS Business Services Authority. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.