Cetirizine

Medications can interact with certain foods. In some cases, this may be harmful and your doctor may advise you to avoid certain foods. In the case of cetirizine, there are no specific foods that you must exclude from your diet when receiving this medication.

Before taking cetirizine, tell your doctor about all of your medical conditions. Especially tell your doctor if you:

• are allergic to cetirizine, hydroxyzine or to any of its ingredients
• have liver problems
• have kidney problems
• are pregnant or breastfeeding

Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.

Tell your doctor if you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. Cetirizine has been detected in human breast milk. Because of the possibility for adverse reactions in nursing infants from cetirizine, a choice should be made whether to stop nursing or to stop use of this medication. The importance of the drug to the mother should be considered.

If you take too much cetirizine, call your healthcare provider or local Poison Control Center, or seek emergency medical attention right away.

If cetirizine is administered by a healthcare provider in a medical setting, it is unlikely that an overdose will occur. However, if overdose is suspected, seek emergency medical attention.

• Allergy (Allergies)
• Allergy Drugs: Prescription and OTC
• Hay Fever (Allergic Rhinitis)
• Hives (Urticaria & Angioedema)

Cetirizine hydrochloride is contraindicated in those patients with a known hypersensitivity to it or any of its ingredients or hydroxyzine.

• 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.

Applies to cetirizine: oral solution, oral tablets and chewable tablets

Side effects include:

Adults and children ≥12 years of age: Somnolence, fatigue, dry mouth. Insomnia reported with cetirizine hydrochloride-pseudoephedrine hydrochloride fixed combination.

Children 2–11 years of age: Headache, pharyngitis, abdominal pain.

Children 6 months to 2 years of age: Irritability, fussiness, insomnia, fatigue, malaise.

Data not available

Administration advice:
-This drug may be taken with or without food.
-Capsules should be taken with a glass of water.

Storage requirements:
-Oral solution: Protect from light.
-Oral liquid gel tablets: Protect from humidity, light, and temperatures above 40C.

Patient advice:
-Inform patients that this drug may cause drowsiness, and they should avoid driving or operating machinery until the full effects of the drug are seen.
-Patients should be told to report allergic reactions.

Cetirizine is an antihistamine that effectively treats allergic-type reactions such as hay fever or skin reactions caused by insect bites. Although drowsiness with cetirizine is uncommon, cetirizine is more likely than loratadine to cause drowsiness.