Cetirizine

Description

Cetirizine is an anti-allergic medicine. It is used to treat allergic symptoms such as sneezing, runny nose, itchy throat, itchy/watery eyes, and skin rash. It works by blocking the action of a chemical substance that causes allergy. Cetirizine may cause some common side effects such as sleepiness, diarrhoea, nausea, dry mouth, dizziness, headache, etc. Consult your doctor if these symptoms persist or if they become severe. Cetirizine should be taken as prescribed by your doctor. Your doctor will determine the dose and duration of treatment depending on your condition. Take it at the same time every day for better results. Cetirizine should be avoided if you are allergic to it. Inform your doctor if you have liver or kidney problems. Consult your doctor if you are pregnant, or are breastfeeding.

Side effects

Major & minor side effects for Cetirizine

  • Sleepiness
  • Tiredness
  • Dizziness
  • Headache
  • Diarrhoea
  • Nausea
  • Dry mouth
  • Stomach pain
  • Change or loss of taste
  • Blurred vision

Uses of Cetirizine

What is it prescribed for?

  • Allergic Rhinitis
  • Chronic Urticaria
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Concerns

Commonly asked questions

  • Onset of action
    Cetirizine shows its effect within 60 minutes.
  • Duration of effect
    The effect of Cetirizine lasts approximately for 24 hours.
  • Safe with alcohol?
    Consumption of alcohol is not recommended during treatment with Cetirizine due to the increased risk of side effects such as dizziness, drowsiness, and difficulty in concentration.
  • Is it habit forming?
    No habit-forming tendency has been reported with Cetirizine.
  • Usage in pregnancy?
    Due to the lack of sufficient safety information during pregnancy, the risk to the developing foetus is not known. If you are pregnant, consult your doctor before taking Cetirizine
  • Usage while breast-feeding?
    Cetirizine passes into breastmilk. A high dose or prolonged use of this medicine may cause drowsiness and other effects on your baby. Consult your doctor if you are breastfeeding.

Allergy

Avoid taking Cetirizine if you are allergic to it. Seek immediate medical attention if you notice any worsening of your allergic symptoms such as skin rash, redness and/or itching (especially of the face, lips, throat, etc.), dizziness, breathing difficulty, etc after taking this medicine.

Severe kidney impairment

Cetirizine is not recommended for use if you have severe kidney problems. It may cause accumulation of this medicine in your body and increase the risk of side effects. It may also cause further kidney damage.
Warnings for special population

Pregnancy

Due to the lack of sufficient safety information during pregnancy, the risk to the developing foetus is not known. If you are pregnant, consult your doctor before taking Cetirizine

Breast-feeding

Cetirizine passes into breastmilk. A high dose or prolonged use of this medicine may cause drowsiness and other effects on your baby. Consult your doctor if you are breastfeeding.
General warnings

Driving or operating machines

Cetirizine may cause dizziness or drowsiness. Hence, avoid performing activities that require high mental alertness like driving vehicles or operating machines if you experience any of these symptoms.

Other medicines

Cetirizine may increase your risk of side effects like sleepiness and impaired thinking when taken with other medicines that show similar effects such as sedatives (sleep-inducing medicine). Inform your doctor about all your current medicines including any herbs or supplements before taking this medicine.

Elderly

Cetirizine should be used with caution in elderly people, especially those with impaired kidney function due to the increased risk of side effects. Dose adjustments may be necessary based on the clinical condition.

Urinary retention

Urinary retention is a condition in which you cannot empty your bladder completely when you urinate. Cetirizine should be used with caution if you have such conditions as this medicine may increase the risk of urinary retention.

Missed Dose

Try not to skip a dose of Cetirizine. Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is time for your next dose, skip the missed one. Do not double the dose to compensate for a missed one.

Overdose

Do not take more than the prescribed dose of Cetirizine. Contact your doctor if you suspect an overdose with this medicine for further guidance.
All drugs interact differently for person to person. You should check all the possible interactions with your doctor before starting any medicine.
Interaction with Alcohol

Description

N/A

Instructions

Consumption of alcohol is not recommended during treatment with Cetirizine due to the increased risk of side effects such as dizziness, drowsiness, and difficulty in concentration.
Interaction with Medicine

Alprazolam

Codeine

Isocarboxazid

Tramadol

Gabapentin

Zolpidem

Lorazepam

Pregabalin

Disease interactions

Liver Disease

Cetirizine should be used with caution if you have liver problems due to the increased risk of side effects. Hence, inform your doctor before starting the treatment with this medicine.

Kidney Disease

Cetirizine is removed from your body by the kidneys via urine. Hence, this medicine should be used with caution if you have kidney problems as it may lead to the accumulation of this medicine in your body and may increase the risk of side effects. Your doctor may suggest appropriate dose adjustments based on your clinical condition.
Food interactions
Information not available.
Lab interactions
Information not available.
Take Cetirizine with or without food. Avoid taking more or less than the prescribed dose. Avoid the discontinuation of this medicine without consulting your doctor. Avoid consuming alcohol while taking Cetirizine as it may cause drowsiness and dizziness. Avoid driving or operating machines after taking this medicine as it may reduce your alertness. Cetirizine is available in various dosage forms such as tablets, dispersible tablets, mouth dissolving tablets, capsules, syrup, suspension, and drops. Tablet/Capsule: Do not break, chew or crush the tablet/capsule. Dispersible tablet (DT): DT dissolves quickly and easily in water. Disperse Cetirizine DT in a teaspoonful or a glass of water before administration. Do not take the medicine if the tablet is not dissolved/dispersed entirely in water. Mouth Dissolving (MD)Tablet: Keep Cetirizine MD Tablet in your mouth. It will dissolve in a short period of time (within seconds). Swallow the medicine with saliva. You can drink an adequate amount of water after swallowing the medicine. Syrup/Suspension/Drops: Shake the bottle well before measuring the dose. Measure an appropriate dose using the measuring spoon, cup, or dropper.
Miscelleneous

Can be taken with or without food, as advised by your doctor

To be taken as instructed by doctor

Causes sleepiness

How it works
Cetirizine works by blocking the action of histamine, a chemical substance in the body responsible for allergy. Thus, it provides relief from allergic symptoms.
Legal Status

Approved

Approved

Approved

Approved

Classification

Category

Antihistamines

Schedule

Schedule H

Accessdata.fda.gov. 2021. [online] Available at: < [Accessed 17 August 2021].

https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2002/19835s15,%2020346s8lbl.pdf>

Dailymed.nlm.nih.gov. 2021. DailyMed - CETIRIZINE HYDROCHLORIDE tablet. [online] Available at: < [Accessed 17 August 2021].

https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=abaf61ad-17bd-4dcf-aff1-6687c4cb1b9f>

Medicines.org.uk. 2021. Cetirizine Hydrochloride 10mg Tablets - Summary of Product Characteristics (SmPC) - (emc). [online] Available at: < [Accessed 17 August 2021].

https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/product/3474/smpc#gref>

Drugs, H., 2021. Cetirizine: MedlinePlus Drug Information. [online] Medlineplus.gov. Available at: < [Accessed 17 August 2021].

https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a698026.html>

Medicines.org.uk. 2021. [online] Available at: < [Accessed 17 August 2021].

https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/files/pil.3474.pdf>

Medicines.org.uk. 2021. Cetirizine Hydrochloride 5 mg/5 ml Oral Solution - Summary of Product Characteristics (SmPC) - (emc). [online] Available at: < [Accessed 17 August 2021].

https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/product/4568/smpc>

Medicines.org.uk. 2021. [online] Available at: < [Accessed 17 August 2021].

https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/files/pil.4568.pdf>

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Information on this page was last updated on 24 Sep 2021

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