Cetirizine is available in strengths of 5mg, 10mg, and 20mg as

• tablets

• fast melt junior

• rapid dissolve tablets

• liquid gels capsules

• syrup

Cetirizine, a second-generation antihistamine belonging to the class histamine receptor antagonists, is used for the relief of symptoms associated with seasonal allergies such as sneezing; runny nose; itchy, red, watery eyes; and itchy nose or throat. Cetirizine is also used to treat itching and redness caused by hives. These seasonal allergies include allergic rhinitis (hay fever), dermatitis, and urticaria (hives). Cetirizine works by blocking the action of histamine, a natural chemical in the body responsible for the symptoms caused by allergies.

It usually starts to relieve allergy symptoms within 20 minutes and lasts for up to 24 hours.

The recommended dose for adults and children 12 years of age and older is 5 mg to 10 mg once daily taken by mouth depending on the severity of the symptoms and circumstances of the person taking the medication. If 10 mg once daily is not enough to control your allergy symptoms, talk to your doctor.

For adults 65 years of age and over, the recommended dose is 5 mg once daily.

For children 6 to 12 years of age, the recommended dose is 10 mg once daily or 5 mg in the morning and in the evening.

For children 2 to 6 years of age, the recommended dose is 5 mg (one teaspoon) given once daily, or 2.5 mg (one-half teaspoon) of syrup in the morning and evening.

Use an oral syringe to measure each dose of the liquid, as it gives a more accurate measurement than household teaspoons.

All forms of cetirizine may be taken with or without food.

Seniors, and people with kidney or liver problems, may need lower doses of this medication.
Children should not use this medication for more than 14 days at a time unless recommended by a doctor.

Many things can affect the dose of medication that a person needs, such as body weight, other medical conditions, and other medications. If your doctor has recommended a dose different from the ones listed here, do not change the way that you are taking the medication without consulting your doctor.

It is important to take this medication exactly as suggested by your doctor or pharmacist. If you miss a dose, take it as soon as possible and continue with your regular schedule. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and continue with your regular dosing schedule. Do not take a double dose to make up for a missed one. If you are not sure what to do after missing a dose, contact your doctor or pharmacist for advice.

Store this medication at room temperature, protect it from moisture, and keep it out of the reach of children.

Do not dispose of medications in wastewater (e.g. down the sink or in the toilet) or in household garbage. Ask your pharmacist how to dispose of medications that are no longer needed or have expired.

Do not take cetirizine if you:

• are allergic to cetirizine or any ingredients of the medication

• are allergic to hydroxyzine

• have severely reduced kidney function

Before you begin using a medication, be sure to inform your doctor of any medical conditions or allergies you may have, any medications you are taking, whether you are pregnant or breast-feeding, and any other significant facts about your health. These factors may affect how you should use this medication.

Inform your doctor about all prescription, over-the-counter (non-prescription), and herbal medications that you are taking. Also tell them about any supplements you take. Since caffeine, alcohol, the nicotine from cigarettes, or street drugs can affect the action of many medications, you should let your prescriber know if you use them.

The following medications could potentially interact with cetirizine:

• acetylcholinesterase inhibitors (e.g., donepezil, galantamine, rivastigmine)

• aclidinium

• alcohol

• amantadine

• amiodarone

• amphetamines (e.g., dextroamphetamine, lisdexamfetamine)

• other antihistamines (e.g., diphenhydramine, chlorpheniramine, hydroxyzine)

• antipsychotics (e.g., chlorpromazine, clozapine, haloperidol, olanzapine, quetiapine, risperidone)

• apalutamide

• atropine

• azelastine

• "azole" antifungals (e.g., fluconazole, ketoconazole, voriconazole)

• barbiturates (e.g., butalbital, pentobarbital, phenobarbital)

• benzodiazepines (e.g., lorazepam, diazepam)

• belladonna

• benztropine

• betahistine

• botulinum toxin

• brimonidine

• buspirone

• cannabis

• carvedilol

• chloral hydrate

• clidinium

• clonidine

• cyclosporine

• darifenacin

• disopyramide

• domperidone

• dronedarone

• eluxadoline

• entacapone

• flavoxate

• flibanserin

• glucagon

• glycopyrrolate

• glycopyrronium

• hepatitis C antivirals (e.g., daclatasvir, glecaprevir and pibrentasvir, ledipasvir, velpatasvir)

• hyaluronidase

• ipratropium

• macrolide antibiotics (e.g., azithromycin, clarithromycin, erythromycin)

• metoclopramide

• mirabegron

• mirtazapine

• muscle relaxants (e.g., baclofen, cyclobenzaprine, methocarbamol, orphenadrine)

• nabilone

• narcotic pain medications (e.g., codeine, fentanyl, oxycodone, morphine)

• nitroglycerin

• oxybutynin

• potassium supplements (potassium chloride, potassium citrate)

• pramipexole

• pramlintide

• quinidine

• quinine

• reserpine

• rifampin

• ritonavir

• ropinirole

• St. John's wort

• scopolamine

• seizure medications (e.g., carbamazepine, clobazam, levetiracetam, phenobarbital, phenytoin, primidone, topiramate, valproic acid, zonisamide)

• selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs; e.g., citalopram, fluoxetine, paroxetine, sertraline)

• sodium oxybate

• solifenacin

• suvorexant

• tapentadol

• thiazide diuretics (water pills; e.g., hydrochlorothiazide, indapamide, metolazone)

• tiotropium

• tolterodine

• tramadol

• tranylcypromine

• tricyclic antidepressants (e.g., amitriptyline, clomipramine, desipramine, trimipramine)

• tyrosine kinase inhibitors (e.g., dabrafenib, imatinib, nilotinib, sunitinib)

• umeclidinium

• verapamil

• zolpidem

• zopiclone

Before you begin using a medication, be sure to inform your doctor of any medical conditions or allergies you may have, any medications you are taking, whether you are pregnant or breast-feeding, and any other significant facts about your health. These factors may affect how you should use this medication.

Inform your doctor about all prescription, over-the-counter (non-prescription), and herbal medications that you are taking. Also tell them about any supplements you take. Since caffeine, alcohol, the nicotine from cigarettes, or street drugs can affect the action of many medications, you should let your prescriber know if you use them.

Many medications can cause side effects. A side effect is an unwanted response to a medication when it is taken in normal doses. Side effects can be mild or severe, temporary or permanent.

This is not a complete list of possible side effects. If you notice other effects not listed, please contact your doctor or pharmacist.

Possible side effects include:

• tachycardia

• to the blood and lymphatic system:

  • difficult or painful urination

  • edema

• to the nervous system:

  • forgetfulness

  • hallucination (hearing or seeing things that aren't there)

  • dizziness

  • headache

  • sleepiness

  • trouble sleeping

  • fatigue

• to the digestive system:

  • diarrhea

  • vomiting

• to skin, bone, and muscle:

  • restlessness with increased body movement