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Zyrtec Allergy
cetirizine
Uses .
- [ cetirizine ]
- antihistamine for relieving allergic rhinitis, sneezing, itchy/watery eyes, itchy nose/throat; treating chronic idiopathic urticaria
Dosing .
allergy symptoms
- [ 6-64 yo ]
- Dose: 5-10 mg PO qd prn; Max: 10 mg/24h
- [ 65 yo and older ]
- Dose: 5 mg PO qd prn; Max: 5 mg/24h
chronic idiopathic urticaria (off-label)
- [ 6 yo and older ]
- Dose: 5-10 mg PO qd; Info: some patients may benefit from higher doses, weigh risk/benefit
renal dosing
- [ allergy symptoms, 6-11 yo ]
- CrCl 11-50: 2.5-5 mg qd prn; CrCl <11: avoid use; Info: consider alternatives for 2.5 mg dose
- HD/PD: not defined
- [ allergy symptoms, 12-17 yo ]
- CrCl 11-30: 5 mg qd prn; CrCl <11: avoid use
- HD: 5 mg qd prn; supplement after dialysis not defined; PD: 5 mg qd prn; supplement not defined
- [ allergy symptoms, adults ]
- CrCl <30: 5 mg qd prn
- HD: 5 mg qd prn; no supplement after dialysis; Alt: 5 mg 3x/wk prn; no supplement after dialysis; PD: 5 mg qd prn; no supplement
- [ chronic idiopathic urticaria, 6-11 yo ]
- CrCl 11-50: 2.5-5 mg qd; CrCl <11: avoid use; Info: consider alternatives for 2.5 mg dose
- HD/PD: not defined
- [ chronic idiopathic urticaria, 12-17 yo ]
- CrCl 11-30: 5 mg qd; CrCl <11: avoid use
- HD: 5 mg qd; supplement after dialysis not defined; PD: 5 mg qd; supplement not defined
- [ chronic idiopathic urticaria, adults ]
- CrCl <30: 5 mg qd
- HD: 5 mg qd; no supplement after dialysis; Alt: 5 mg 3x/wk; no supplement after dialysis; PD: 5 mg qd; no supplement
hepatic dosing
- [ allergy symptoms, 6-11 yo ]
- hepatic impairment: 2.5 mg qd prn; Info: consider alternatives for 2.5 mg dose
- [ allergy symptoms, 12 yo and older ]
- hepatic impairment: 5 mg qd prn
- [ chronic idiopathic urticaria, 6-11 yo ]
- hepatic impairment: 2.5 mg qd; Info: consider alternatives for 2.5 mg dose
- [ chronic idiopathic urticaria, 12 yo and older ]
- hepatic impairment: 5 mg qd
Formulations .
oral capsule
- [active ingredients per cap]
- cetirizine 10 mg
oral tablet
- [active ingredients per tab]
- cetirizine 5 mg or 10 mg (2 strengths available)
chewable tablet
- [active ingredients per tab]
- cetirizine 10 mg
- [flavors/selected other ingredients]
- unflavored formulation contains sucralose, no alcohol, no dye, no phenylalanine, no saccharin, no sugar
orally disintegrating tablet
- [active ingredients per tab]
- cetirizine 10 mg
- [flavors/selected other ingredients]
- citrus flavor contains sucralose, no alcohol, no dye, no phenylalanine, no saccharin, no sugar
Contraindications / Cautions .
- hypersensitivity to drug or ingredient
- hypersensitivity to hydroxyzine
- patients <2 yo
- hepatic impairment (patients <6 yo)
- renal impairment (patients <6 yo)
- CrCl <11 (peds patients not on hemodialysis)
- caution: CNS depressant use, concurrent
- caution: alcohol use, concurrent
- caution: patients <6 yo
- caution: patients 65 yo and older
- caution: hepatic impairment
- caution: renal impairment
- caution: CrCl <50
Drug Interactions .
Overview
cetirizine
antihistamine, 2nd generation
Interaction Characteristics:
- CNS depression
- decreases central histamine effects
Contraindicated
- isocarboxazid
Avoid/Use Alternative
- butalbital
- clonidine
- codeine
- doxylamine
- ethanol (alcoholic beverage)
- ethanol injection
- haloperidol
- hydrocodone
- hydroxyzine
- kava
- kratom
- metaxalone
- metoclopramide
- midazolam
- oxybate
- phenelzine
- pitolisant
- promethazine
- ropeginterferon alfa-2b
- scopolamine
- thalidomide
- tradipitant
- tranylcypromine
- trimethobenzamide
- zuranolone
Monitor/Modify Tx
- aldesleukin
- alfentanil
- alprazolam
- baclofen intrathecal
- buprenorphine
- butorphanol
- carbamazepine
- chlordiazepoxide
- chlorpromazine
- clobazam
- clonazepam
- clorazepate
- daridorexant
- desflurane
- dexmedetomidine
- dexmedetomidine injection
- diazepam
- dihydrocodeine
- droperidol
- esketamine
- estazolam
- eszopiclone
- etomidate
- fentanyl
- fluphenazine
- flurazepam
- gabapentin
- gabapentin enacarbil
- hydromorphone
- ifosfamide
- isoflurane
- ketamine
- lemborexant
- levorphanol
- lorazepam
- meperidine
- methadone
- methohexital
- mirtazapine
- morphine
- nalbuphine
- nelarabine
- olanzapine
- oliceridine
- opicapone
- opium
- oxazepam
- oxybutynin
- oxycodone
- oxymorphone
- pentazocine
- pentobarbital
- perphenazine
- phenobarbital
- pregabalin
- primidone
- propofol
- quazepam
- remifentanil
- remimazolam
- sevoflurane
- sufentanil
- suvorexant
- tapentadol
- temazepam
- thioridazine
- thiothixene
- tramadol
- triazolam
- zaleplon
- ziconotide
- zolpidem
Caution Advised
- 5-HTP
- allopurinol
- almotriptan
- amantadine
- amitriptyline
- amoxapine
- apomorphine
- apraclonidine ophthalmic
- aripiprazole bimonthly injection
- aripiprazole lauroxil
- aripiprazole monthly injection
- aripiprazole oral
- asenapine
- baclofen
- brexpiprazole
- brimonidine ophthalmic
- brimonidine topical
- brivaracetam
- bromocriptine
- brompheniramine
- buspirone
- cannabidiol
- cannabis
- carbinoxamine
- cariprazine
- carisoprodol
- cenobamate
- chamomile, German
- chlophedianol
- chlorcyclizine
- chlorpheniramine
- chlorzoxazone
- citalopram
- clemastine
- clomipramine
- clozapine
- cyclobenzaprine
- cyproheptadine
- dantrolene
- darifenacin
- desipramine
- desvenlafaxine
- deutetrabenazine
- dexbrompheniramine
- dexchlorpheniramine
- dichlorphenamide
- difelikefalin
- difenoxin
- dimenhydrinate
- diphenhydramine
- diphenoxylate
- domperidone
- doxepin
- doxepin topical
- dronabinol
- duloxetine
- efavirenz
- eletriptan
- elinzanetant
- entacapone
- entrectinib
- escitalopram
- eslicarbazepine acetate
- ethanol (in some formulations)
- ethosuximide
- felbamate
- fenfluramine
- fesoterodine
- flibanserin
- fluoxetine
- fluvoxamine
- foslevodopa
- fosphenytoin
- frovatriptan
- ganaxolone
- glofitamab
- glycopyrrolate
- guanfacine
- hyoscyamine
- iloperidone
- imipramine
- lacosamide
- lamotrigine
- levetiracetam
- levocetirizine
- levodopa
- levomilnacipran
- linvoseltamab
- lofexidine
- loxapine
- lumateperone
- lurasidone
- meclizine
- melatonin
- meprobamate
- methocarbamol
- methsuximide
- methyldopa
- metyrapone
- metyrosine
- milnacipran
- milsaperidone
- mitotane
- molindone
- mosunetuzumab
- mycophenolate mofetil
- naltrexone
- naratriptan
- nefazodone
- nortriptyline
- orphenadrine
- oxcarbazepine
- paliperidone
- paroxetine
- passion flower
- perampanel
- pheniramine
- phenytoin
- pimozide
- pramipexole
- procarbazine
- prochlorperazine
- protriptyline
- pyrilamine
- quetiapine
- ramelteon
- rasagiline
- repotrectinib
- risperidone
- rizatriptan
- ropinirole
- rotigotine transdermal
- rufinamide
- safinamide
- selegiline
- selegiline transdermal
- selinexor
- sertraline
- solifenacin
- stiripentol
- sumatriptan
- tasimelteon
- tetrabenazine
- thiotepa
- tiagabine
- tizanidine
- tolcapone
- tolterodine
- topiramate
- trazodone
- trifluoperazine
- trihexyphenidyl
- trimipramine
- triprolidine
- trospium
- valbenazine
- valerian
- valproic acid
- venlafaxine
- vigabatrin
- vilazodone
- viloxazine
- ziprasidone
- zolmitriptan
- zonisamide
Adverse Reactions .
Serious Reactions
- bronchospasm
- anaphylactoid reaction
- anaphylaxis
- hypersensitivity reaction
- pruritus after D/C, severe (long-term use)
- hepatotoxicity
- cholestasis
- seizures
- hemolytic anemia
- thrombocytopenia
- syncope
- hypotension, severe
Common Reactions
- drowsiness
- fatigue
- abdominal pain
- headache
- dry mucous membranes
- diarrhea
- pharyngitis
- dizziness
- nausea
- vomiting