• Basic Info
• Top Questions
• Clinical Info
• Interactions

What is cetirizine?
Cetirizine is an antihistamine that reduces the natural chemical histamine in the body. Histamine can produce symptoms of sneezing, itching, watery eyes, and runny nose. Cetirizine is used to treat cold or allergy symptoms such as sneezing, itching, watery eyes, or runny nose. Cetirizine is also used to treat itching and swelling caused by chronic urticaria (hives). Cetirizine may also be used for other purposes not listed in this medication guide.

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What are the possible side effects of cetirizine?

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Stop using this medication and call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:

• fast, pounding, or uneven heartbeat;

• weakness, tremors (uncontrolled shaking), or sleep problems (insomnia);

• severe restless feeling, hyperactivity;

• confusion;

• problems with vision; or

• urinating less than usual or not at all.

Less serious side effects may include:

• dizziness, drowsiness;

• tired feeling;

• dry mouth;

• sore throat, cough;

• nausea, constipation; or

• headache.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Tell your doctor about any unusual or bothersome side effect.

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How should I take cetirizine?
Take this medication exactly as directed on the label, or as prescribed by your doctor. Do not use it in larger amounts or for longer than recommended. You may take this medication with or without food. The chewable tablet must be chewed before you swallow it. Measure liquid medicine with a special dose-measuring spoon or cup, not a regular table spoon. If you do not have a dose-measuring device, ask your pharmacist for one. Call your doctor if your symptoms do not improve, if they get worse, or if you also have a fever.

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What is the most important information I should know about cetirizine?
Cetirizine can cause side effects that may impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be awake and alert. Avoid drinking alcohol. It can increase some of the side effects of cetirizine. Tell your doctor if you regularly use other medicines that make you sleepy (such as other cold or allergy medicine, narcotic pain medicine, sleeping pills, muscle relaxers, and medicine for seizures, depression, or anxiety). They can add to sleepiness caused by cetirizine.

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What happens if I miss a dose?
Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, wait until then to take the medicine and skip the missed dose. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.

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What other drugs will affect cetirizine?
There may be other drugs that can interact with cetirizine. Tell your doctor about all your prescription and over-the-counter medications, vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start a new medication without telling your doctor.

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Can I take this if I am pregnant or trying to get pregnant or if I am breastfeeding?

Cetirizine has been assigned to pregnancy category B by the FDA. High dose animal studies have failed to reveal evidence of teratogenicity. There are no controlled data in human pregnancy. Cetirizine is only recommended for use during pregnancy when need benefit outweighs risk.

A control group found no significant differences in pregnancy outcome including rate of live births, spontaneous or therapeutic abortion or stillbirth. There was also no difference in the rates of major or minor anomalies including mean birth weight, mode of delivery, gestational age, or presence of neonatal distress.

Cetirizine is excreted into human milk. The manufacturer does not recommend the use of cetirizine in nursing mothers.

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Who should NOT use this medication?

• Known hypersensitivity to cetirizine, hydroxyzine, or any ingredient in the formulation.

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What happens if I overdose?
Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have used too much of this medicine. Overdose symptoms may include feeling restless or nervous, and then feeling drowsy.

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What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking cetirizine?
You should not use this medication if you are allergic to cetirizine. Before taking cetirizine, tell your doctor about all of your medical conditions. FDA pregnancy category B. This medication is not expected to be harmful to an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment. Cetirizine can pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing baby. Do not use this medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby. Older adults may need to take a lower than normal dose. Follow your doctor's instructions.

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Can I stop taking the medication if I feel better?
As a general rule, you should always take your medications exactly as prescribed and do not change the dosage or stop taking the medication without first discussing it with your healthcare provider.

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I am on so many medications; do I have to take them all?
This is called polypharmacy—many different medications being used at the same time by one person. Sometimes, being on multiple medications is acceptable and appropriate but at other times it may be problematic. If you are receiving your medications from multiple physicians you need to ensure that they all know what medications you are taking. The best way to do this is to make a list of all the medications you are currently using, including all nutritional supplements, homeopathic remedies, vitamins and over-the-counter drugs (if possible, also include all the diseases you have been diagnosed with). Give a copy to every doctor who takes care of you so they have it on file, this way they can avoid duplicating medications and perhaps even try to consolidate some. After every doctor's visit remember to update the list accordingly. Also, as much as you possibly can, try to use the same pharmacy to fill all your prescriptions, this way any potential drug interactions can be caught and averted.

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Where can I get more information?
More Information

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