Cetirizine Brand Names
All Day Allergy | All Day Allergy Children’s | Allergy Relief | PediaCare Children’s Allergy | Quzyttir | ZERVIATE | Zyrtec | Zyrtec Children’s | Zyrtec Children’s Allergy | Zyrtec Children’s Hives | Zyrtec Hives Relief | Zyrtec Liquid Gel | Zyrtec Pre-Filled Spoons
What is Cetirizine
Cetirizine is the active metabolite of hydroxyzine, a piperazine H1-receptor antagonist (H1-blocker). Cetirizine differs from the parent compound by having greater affinity for the H1-receptor.
Cetirizine is commercially available as oral, ophthalmic, and injectable formulations. The ophthalmic solution is indicated to treat ocular pruritus associated with allergic conjunctivitis.
Oral cetirizine is approved for allergic rhinitis and chronic idiopathic urticaria.
In addition, oral cetirizine has been used off-label in pediatric patients for symptomatic treatment of atopic dermatitis.
Cetirizine intravenous injection is used to treat acute urticaria in adults and children 6 months of age and older.
At recommended doses, cetirizine may cause a higher incidence of somnolence than the non-sedating antihistamines (e.g., loratadine), although to a much lesser degree than first-generation (sedating) antihistamines.
Like loratadine, the cardiovascular safety of cetirizine has been demonstrated in drug-interaction studies, elevated-dose studies, and clinical trials.
Indications
- acute urticaria
- allergic conjunctivitis
- allergic rhinitis
- atopic dermatitis
- chronic idiopathic urticaria
- ocular pruritus
- perennial allergies
- pruritus
- seasonal allergies
For the management of symptoms of seasonal allergies or perennial allergies, including allergic rhinitis
Side Effects
- abdominal pain
- acne vulgaris
- agitation
- amnesia
- anaphylactoid reactions
- angioedema
- anorexia
- anxiety
- appetite stimulation
- arthralgia
- arthropathy
- asthenia
- ataxia
- atopic dermatitis
- back pain
- blurred vision
- bronchospasm
- chest pain (unspecified)
- cholestasis
- conjunctival hyperemia
- conjunctivitis
- constipation
- cough
- cystitis
- dehydration
- dental caries
- depression
- diabetes mellitus
- diarrhea
- dizziness
- drowsiness
- dysgeusia
- dyskinesia
- dysmenorrhea
- dyspepsia
- dysphonia
- dyspnea
- dysuria
- edema
- elevated hepatic enzymes
- emotional lability
- epistaxis
- eructation
- euphoria
- fatigue
- fetal death
- fever
- flatulence
- flushing
- furunculosis
- gastritis
- glomerulonephritis
- hallucinations
- headache
- hearing loss
- heart failure
- hematuria
- hemolytic anemia
- hemorrhoids
- hepatitis
- hot flashes
- hyperbilirubinemia
- hyperesthesia
- hyperhidrosis
- hyperkeratosis
- hyperkinesis
- hypersalivation
- hypertension
- hypertonia
- hypertrichosis
- hyperventilation
- hypoesthesia
- hypotension
- increased urinary frequency
- insomnia
- leukorrhea
- libido decrease
- lymphadenopathy
- maculopapular rash
- malaise
- mastalgia
- melena
- menorrhagia
- menstrual irregularity
- migraine
- muscle cramps
- myalgia
- myasthenia
- myelitis
- myoclonia
- nausea
- nightmares
- ocular hemorrhage
- ocular hypertension
- ocular pain
- otalgia
- pallor
- palpitations
- paresthesias
- parosmia
- peripheral edema
- pharyngitis
- photosensitivity
- polydipsia
- polyuria
- pruritus
- ptosis
- purpura
- rash
- rhinitis
- seborrhea
- seizures
- sinus tachycardia
- sinusitis
- stomatitis
- suicidal ideation
- syncope
- thrombocytopenia
- tinnitus
- tongue discoloration
- tremor
- urinary incontinence
- urinary retention
- urticaria
- vaginitis
- vertigo
- visual impairment
- vomiting
- weight gain
- xerophthalmia
- xerosis
- xerostomia
Monitoring Parameters
- serum creatinine/BUN
Contraindications
- breast-feeding
- coadministration with other CNS depressants
- contact lenses
- driving or operating machinery
- ethanol ingestion
- geriatric
- hepatic disease
- hydroxyzine hypersensitivity
- pregnancy
- renal failure
- renal impairment
Interactions
- Acetaminophen; Butalbital
- Acetaminophen; Butalbital; Caffeine
- Acetaminophen; Butalbital; Caffeine; Codeine
- Acetaminophen; Caffeine; Dihydrocodeine
- Acetaminophen; Codeine
- Acetaminophen; Hydrocodone
- Acetaminophen; Oxycodone
- Acetaminophen; Pentazocine
- Acetaminophen; Propoxyphene
- Acetaminophen; Tramadol
- Alfentanil
- Alprazolam
- Amitriptyline; Chlordiazepoxide
- Amobarbital
- Amoxapine
- Anticholinergics
- Apomorphine
- Aripiprazole
- Asenapine
- Aspirin, ASA; Butalbital; Caffeine
- Aspirin, ASA; Butalbital; Caffeine; Codeine
- Aspirin, ASA; Caffeine; Dihydrocodeine
- Aspirin, ASA; Caffeine; Orphenadrine
- Aspirin, ASA; Carisoprodol
- Aspirin, ASA; Carisoprodol; Codeine
- Aspirin, ASA; Oxycodone
- Atropine; Difenoxin
- Atropine; Diphenoxylate
- Atropine; Hyoscyamine; Phenobarbital; Scopolamine
- atypical antipsychotic
- Baclofen
- Barbiturates
- Belladonna Alkaloids; Ergotamine; Phenobarbital
- Belladonna; Opium
- Benzhydrocodone; Acetaminophen
- Benzodiazepines
- Brexpiprazole
- Brompheniramine; Guaifenesin; Hydrocodone
- Brompheniramine; Hydrocodone; Pseudoephedrine
- Buprenorphine
- Buprenorphine; Naloxone
- Buspirone
- Butabarbital
- Butorphanol
- Cannabidiol
- Capsaicin; Metaxalone
- Carbidopa; Levodopa
- Carbidopa; Levodopa; Entacapone
- Carbinoxamine; Hydrocodone; Phenylephrine
- Carbinoxamine; Hydrocodone; Pseudoephedrine
- Cariprazine
- Carisoprodol
- Cenobamate
- Chloral Hydrate
- Chlordiazepoxide
- Chlordiazepoxide; Clidinium
- Chlorpheniramine; Codeine
- Chlorpheniramine; Dihydrocodeine; Phenylephrine
- Chlorpheniramine; Dihydrocodeine; Pseudoephedrine
- Chlorpheniramine; Guaifenesin; Hydrocodone; Pseudoephedrine
- Chlorpheniramine; Hydrocodone
- Chlorpheniramine; Hydrocodone; Phenylephrine
- Chlorpheniramine; Hydrocodone; Pseudoephedrine
- Chlorthalidone; Clonidine
- Chlorzoxazone
- Clonazepam
- Clonidine
- Clorazepate
- Clozapine
- Codeine
- Codeine; Guaifenesin
- Codeine; Phenylephrine; Promethazine
- Codeine; Promethazine
- COMT inhibitors
- Cyclobenzaprine
- Dantrolene
- Dasabuvir; Ombitasvir; Paritaprevir; Ritonavir
- Desloratadine
- Desloratadine; Pseudoephedrine
- Deutetrabenazine
- Dexmedetomidine
- Diazepam
- Dihydrocodeine; Guaifenesin; Pseudoephedrine
- Diphenhydramine; Hydrocodone; Phenylephrine
- Dronabinol
- Droperidol
- Enflurane
- Entacapone
- Esketamine
- Estazolam
- Eszopiclone
- Ethanol
- Etomidate
- Fentanyl
- Flibanserin
- Fluoxetine; Olanzapine
- Flurazepam
- Fospropofol
- Gabapentin
- General anesthetics
- Guaifenesin; Hydrocodone
- Guaifenesin; Hydrocodone; Pseudoephedrine
- Guanfacine
- Haloperidol
- Halothane
- Heparin
- Heterocyclic antidepressants
- Homatropine; Hydrocodone
- Hydrochlorothiazide, HCTZ; Methyldopa
- Hydrocodone
- Hydrocodone; Ibuprofen
- Hydrocodone; Phenylephrine
- Hydrocodone; Potassium Guaiacolsulfonate
- Hydrocodone; Potassium Guaiacolsulfonate; Pseudoephedrine
- Hydrocodone; Pseudoephedrine
- Hydromorphone
- Ibuprofen; Oxycodone
- Iloperidone
- Isocarboxazid
- Isoflurane
- Ketamine
- Levodopa
- Levorphanol
- Lofexidine
- Lopinavir; Ritonavir
- Loratadine
- Loratadine; Pseudoephedrine
- Lorazepam
- Loxapine
- Lumateperone
- Lurasidone
- Maprotiline
- Meperidine
- Meperidine; Promethazine
- Mephobarbital
- Meprobamate
- Metaxalone
- Methadone
- Methohexital
- Methyldopa
- Midazolam
- Mirtazapine
- Molindone
- Monoamine oxidase inhibitors
- Morphine
- Morphine; Naltrexone
- Nabilone
- Nalbuphine
- Nefazodone
- Olanzapine
- Ombitasvir; Paritaprevir; Ritonavir
- Opiate Agonists
- Orphenadrine
- Oxazepam
- Oxycodone
- Oxymorphone
- Paliperidone
- Pentazocine
- Pentazocine; Naloxone
- Pentobarbital
- Perampanel
- Phenelzine
- Phenobarbital
- Pimavanserin
- Pimozide
- Pramipexole
- Pregabalin
- Primidone
- Propofol
- Propoxyphene
- Quazepam
- Quetiapine
- Ramelteon
- Rasagiline
- Remifentanil
- Risperidone
- Ritonavir
- Ropinirole
- Rotigotine
- Safinamide
- Secobarbital
- Sedating H1-blockers
- Selegiline
- Sevoflurane
- Sincalide
- Skeletal Muscle Relaxants
- Sodium Oxybate
- Sufentanil
- Suvorexant
- Tapentadol
- Tasimelteon
- Temazepam
- Tetrabenazine
- Thalidomide
- Theophylline, Aminophylline
- Thiopental
- Thiothixene
- Tolcapone
- Tramadol
- Tranylcypromine
- Trazodone
- Triazolam
- Tricyclic antidepressants
- Trospium
- Valerian, Valeriana officinalis
- Valproic Acid, Divalproex Sodium
- Zaleplon
- Ziprasidone
- Zolpidem