Cetirizine
About
Cetirizine belongs to a class of drugs called anti-histamine or anti-allergic. It contains cetirizine, primarily used to treat various kinds of allergies. An allergy is an immune system response to foreign elements typically not harmful to your body. These foreign elements are known as ‘allergens.’ Allergic condition varies from person to person. Some might be allergic to certain foods and seasonal allergies like hay fever. At the same time, others might be allergic to pollen or pet dander.
Cetirizine contains cetirizine (anti-histamine), which is used to treat allergies as it blocks the effects of a chemical messenger known as ‘histamine,’ which is naturally involved in allergic reactions. Additionally, Cetirizine also treats hay fever (seasonal allergic rhinitis), round-the-year dust or pet allergies (perennial allergic rhinitis), and urticaria (swelling, redness, and itchiness of the skin). In short, it helps to relieve the discomfort and unpleasant symptoms that occur due to allergic conditions, like blocked/runny/itchy nose, red/watery eyes, and skin rashes.
Always take Cetirizine exactly as your doctor has prescribed you. Like all medicines, Cetirizine can cause some side effects; however, not everybody gets them. If you observe tiredness symptoms, feeling sleepy, abdominal pain, headache, dizziness, dry mouth, sore throat, nausea, cold-like nose symptoms (in children), or diarrhoea (in children). In very rare cases, people might have thought about committing suicide. If you feel like this, stop the medicine and immediately contact your doctor.
You should not take the Cetirizine if you are allergic to cetirizine or have severe kidney failure (creatinine clearance less than 10 ml/min), urinary retention problem, and fructose intolerance. Do not give this medicine to children younger than six years of age. Check with your doctor if you are taking midodrine to treat low blood pressure and ritonavir for HIV infection. Let your doctor know if you are a pregnant woman or a nursing mother before taking Cetirizine; your doctor will decide whether breastfeeding mothers can take Cetirizine or not.
Uses of Cetirizine
Medicinal Benefits
Cetirizine is used to treat allergies as it blocks the effects of a chemical messenger known as ‘histamine,’ which is naturally involved in allergic reactions. Cetirizine is used to treat adults and children (aged two years and above) who have hay fever (seasonal allergic rhinitis), round-the-year dust or pet allergies (perennial allergic rhinitis), and urticaria (swelling, redness, and itchiness of the skin). In short, it helps to relieve the discomfort and unpleasant symptoms that occur due to allergic conditions, like blocked/runny/itchy nose, red/watery eyes, and skin rashes.
Directions for Use
Storage
Side Effects of Cetirizine
- Headaches
- Dry mouth
- Feeling sick
- Dizziness
- Diarrhoea
In-Depth Precautions and Warning
Drug Warnings
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breastfeeding. If you become pregnant while taking Cetirizine, consult your doctor. If you have kidney problems, dose adjustment might be required; the doctor will do it depending on your disease's condition. Please inform your doctor if you have a problem passing urine and have epilepsy (fits) before starting Cetirizine. If you are supposed to undergo skin testing, the doctor might advise you to stop taking Cetirizine 72 hours before the test as it decreases response to skin prick test. Patients should be cautioned against getting engaged in work which requires too much mental alertness, like operating machinery or driving a motor vehicle after intake of Cetirizine. Concurrent use of Cetirizine with alcohol or other antidepressants should be avoided as it can reduce your mental alertness. Patients should avoid taking over dosage of Cetirizine because of the increased risk of sleepiness and drowsiness at higher doses.
Drug Interactions
Drug-Drug Interactions: Cetirizine have interactions with a pain killer (antipyrine), antibiotics (azithromycin, erythromycin), antacid (cimetidine), anti-fungal (ketoconazole), respiratory disease medicine (theophylline), and decongestant (pseudoephedrine), anti-viral or anti-HIV drugs (ritonavir).
Drug-Food Interactions: Alcohol and St John's wort plant (a plant used as an anti-depressant) should not be used along with Cetirizine.
Drug-Disease Interactions: Cetirizine is contraindicated in kidney disease, epilepsy (fits), urinary bladder problems and alcoholism.
Drug-Drug Interactions Checker List:
Safety Advice
Alcohol
unsafeCetirizine may cause excessive dizziness when taken with alcohol, so intake should be avoided.
Pregnancy
cautionCetirizine is generally safe to take in pregnancy. If you have concerns, discuss them with the doctor before taking Cetirizine.
Breast Feeding
cautionCetirizine should be used in breastfeeding mothers only if the benefits outweigh the risks.
Driving
cautionPlease drive with caution; Cetirizine usually does not cause blurry vision, but it may affect driving ability in some.
Liver
cautionLimited information was available for the use of Cetirizine in patients suffering from liver impairment. Please consult your doctor if you have any concerns regarding using Cetirizine in patients with liver impairment. Your doctor will prescribe only if the benefits outweigh the risks.
Kidney
cautionCetirizine to be taken with caution, especially if you have a history of kidney disease. The dose may have to be adjusted by your doctor. Patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) with less than 10 mL/min creatinine clearance or patients undergoing hemodialysis should not take Cetirizine.
Children
cautionGenerally, Cetirizine is not recommended for children below six years. The dose must be adjusted and guided by a child specialist in children above six years.
Habit Forming
Diet & Lifestyle Advise
- Staying hydrated is vital for those with a cough or cold. Drinking liquids at room temperature can alleviate cough, runny nose, and sneezing.
- The immune system is affected by stress and raises the risk of being sick. An individual can exercise regularly, meditate, do deep breathing, and try progressive muscle relaxation techniques to relieve stress.
- Try to sleep 7-9 hours each night to stay fit and safe.
- It is advised to avoid contact with known allergens (allergy-causing agents) such as pollen, dust, etc. Certain food items are known to cause allergies to you.
- Maintain personal hygiene and keep your surroundings clean.
Special Advise
Patients Concern
Disease/Condition Glossary
An allergy is an immune system response to foreign elements typically not harmful to your body. These foreign elements are known as ‘allergens.’ Allergic condition varies from person to person. Some might be allergic to certain foods and seasonal allergies like hay fever. At the same time, others might be allergic to pollen or pet dander. Cetirizine is a non-drowsy antihistamine that makes it less likely to make you sleepy than other antihistamines or antiallergics.
FAQs
Cetirizine contains cetirizine (anti-histamine), which is used to treat allergies as it blocks the effects of a chemical messenger known as ‘histamine,’ which is naturally involved in allergic reactions.
Hay fever is an allergy caused due to outdoor or indoor allergens, such as pollen, dust mites, or tiny flecks of skin and saliva shed by cats, dogs, and other animals with fur or feathers (pet dander). It leads to cold-like symptoms (running nose, watery eyes).
Depending upon the severity of allergic conditions due to allergens, Cetirizine can be safely taken daily until you get complete relief as long as your doctor has advised you to take it.
Cetirizine is an antihistamine providing instant relief from allergic conditions; however, in some people it may cause sleepiness and induce some drowsiness during the day. Hence, you are recommended to take it in the nighttime in case you are experiencing excessive drowsiness in the day.
Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, wait until then to take Cetirizine and skip the missed dose. Do not take extra medicine to make up for the missed dose.
You should not take Cetirizine if you have had an allergic reaction to Cetirizine, food additives containing E218 or E216, are intolerant to lactose or sorbitol, have liver or kidney failure, epilepsy (fits), or difficulty in peeing. Tell your doctor that you are taking Cetirizine and have booked an allergy test, as it might affect the diagnostic result.
No, Cetirizine should not be taken if you are intolerant to sugar; please get in touch with your doctor before taking Cetirizine to avoid any unpleasant side effects.
