Cetirizine is known as a non-drowsy antihistamine. It's much less likely to make you feel sleepy than some other antihistamines. Show
Cetirizine is available on prescription, but you can also buy it from pharmacies and supermarkets. It comes as tablets, capsules and as a liquid that you swallow. 2. Key facts
3. Who can and cannot take cetirizineMost adults can take cetirizine. Children
Who may not be able to take cetirizineCetirizine is not suitable for some people. To make sure it's safe for you, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you:
4. How and when to take cetirizineIf you or your child have been prescribed cetirizine, follow your doctor's instructions about how and when to take it. If it is from a pharmacy or shop, follow the instructions that come with the packet. Dosage and strengthCetirizine comes as tablets and capsules (10mg) and as a liquid medicine (labelled either 5mg/5ml or 1mg/1ml). The usual dose for adults is 10mg once a day. Doses are usually lower for people with kidney problems. Children
How to take itYou can take cetirizine with or without food, but always take the tablets or capsules with a drink of water, milk or squash. Swallow them whole. Do not chew them. Cetirizine liquid may be easier for children to take than tablets. The liquid medicine will come with a plastic syringe or spoon to give the right dose. If you do not have a syringe or spoon, ask your pharmacist for one. Do not use a kitchen teaspoon as it will not measure out the right amount. When to take itYou may only need to take cetirizine on a day you have symptoms – for example, if you have been in contact with something that has triggered your allergy, like animal hair. Or you may need to take it regularly to prevent symptoms – for example, to stop hay fever during spring and summer. What if I forget to take it?Take your forgotten dose as soon as you remember, unless it's nearly time for your next dose. In this case, skip the missed dose and take your next dose at the usual time. Do not take 2 doses to make up for a forgotten dose. If you forget to give a dose to a child who is taking cetirizine twice a day, you can give the missed dose if it's within 4 hours of when they should have had it. If you remember more than 4 hours after, do not give the missed dose. Instead, wait until the next dose and carry on as normal. If you often forget doses, it may help to set an alarm to remind you. You could also ask your pharmacist for advice on other ways to help you remember to take your medicine. What if I take too much?Cetirizine is generally very safe. Taking more than the usual dose is unlikely to harm you or your child. If you take an extra dose, you might get some of the common side effects. If this happens or you're concerned, contact your doctor. 5. Side effectsLike all medicines, cetirizine can cause side effects, although not everyone gets them. Common side effectsThe most common side effect of cetirizine is feeling sleepy and tired. This happens in more than 1 in 10 people. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist if this side effect bothers you or does not go away. Other common side effects of cetirizine happen in more than 1 in 100 people. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist if these side effects bother you or do not go away:
Children are more likely to get diarrhoea, sneezing or a blocked and runny nose than adults. Serious side effectsIt's rare to have a serious side effect with cetirizine. Call your doctor straight away if you have bruising or bleeding that's more than normal. Serious allergic reactionIn rare cases, it's possible to have a serious allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) to cetirizine. Immediate action required: Call 999 or go to A&E now if:
You could be having a serious allergic reaction and may need immediate treatment in hospital. These are not all the side effects of cetirizine. For a full list, see the leaflet inside your medicines packet. Information: You can report any suspected side effect using the Yellow Card safety scheme. Visit Yellow Card for further information. 6. How to cope with side effects of cetirizineWhat to do about:
7. Pregnancy and breastfeedingCetirizine can be used in pregnancy. There is no good evidence that it causes harm to the baby. However, other antihistamines such as loratadine may be recommended as there is more information about its use in pregnancy. Cetirizine and breastfeedingIf your doctor or health visitor says your baby is healthy, you can take cetirizine while breastfeeding. There is some information available which shows that only very small amounts get into breast milk. Cetirizine has been used for many years while breastfeeding without side effects in babies. If your baby is not feeding as well as usual, seems unusually sleepy, or if you have any other concerns about your baby, talk to your doctor, pharmacist, health visitor or midwife. Non-urgent advice: Tell your doctor if you're:
Find out more about how cetirizine can affect you and your baby during pregnancy on the Best Use of Medicines in Pregnancy (BUMPS) website. 8. Cautions with other medicinesSome medicines can increase the chances of you having side effects with cetirizine. Check with your pharmacist or doctor if you're taking any medicine that makes you drowsy, gives you a dry mouth, or makes it difficult for you to pee. Taking cetirizine might make these side effects worse. Mixing cetirizine with herbal remedies and supplementsThere might be a problem taking some herbal remedies and supplements alongside cetirizine, especially ones that cause sleepiness, a dry mouth, or make it difficult to pee. Important: Medicine safetyTell your doctor or pharmacist if you're taking any other medicines, including herbal medicines, vitamins or supplements. 9. Common questions about cetirizineHow does cetirizine work? Cetirizine is a type of medicine called an antihistamine. When you come into contact with something you're allergic to, such as pollen, animal hair or fur, your body produces a chemical called histamine. Usually histamine is a useful substance, but in an allergic reaction it causes unpleasant symptoms including itchy, watery eyes, a running or blocked nose, sneezing and skin rashes. Cetirizine blocks the effects of histamine and reduces these symptoms. When will I feel better? You should start to feel better within an hour. How long should I take cetirizine for? It depends on why you're taking cetirizine. You may only need to take it for a short time or as a one-off dose. For example, if you have a reaction to an insect bite, you may only need to take cetirizine for a day or two. You may need to take cetirizine for longer if you're taking it to prevent symptoms – for example, to stop hay fever when the pollen count is high. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist if you're unsure how long you need to take cetirizine for. Is it safe to take cetirizine for a long time? Cetirizine is unlikely to do you any harm if you take it for a long time. However it's best to take cetirizine only for as long as you need to. If you take it regularly over a long period there's a very small chance of severe itching if you stop treatment suddenly. If you've been taking cetirizine every day for a long time, talk to your doctor before stopping it. Can I drink alcohol with it? It's best not to drink alcohol while you're taking cetirizine as it can make you feel sleepy. Is there any food or drink I need to avoid? You can eat and drink normally while taking cetirizine. Can I drive or ride a bike with it? Cetirizine is classed as a non-drowsy antihistamine, but it's still possible to feel sleepy after taking it. If this happens to you, do not drive a car, ride a bike, use tools or machinery until you do not feel tired anymore. It's an offence to drive a car if your ability to drive safely is affected. It's your responsibility to decide if it's safe to drive. If you're in any doubt, do not drive. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist if you're unsure whether it's safe for you to drive while taking cetirizine. GOV.UK has more information on the law on drugs and driving. What's the difference between cetirizine and other antihistamines? Cetirizine is known as a non-drowsy antihistamine. That's because it's less likely to make you feel sleepy than sedating antihistamines, such as Piriton (chlorphenamine). Most people prefer to take a non-drowsy antihistamine instead of one that makes them drowsy. An exception is when you want the medicine to make you sleepy – for example, if you have itchy skin that's keeping you awake. What's the difference between cetirizine and other non-drowsy antihistamines? Other non-drowsy antihistamines, such as loratadine, desloratadine, fexofenadine and levocetirizine, seem to work just as well as cetirizine. But cetirizine seems to be more likely to make you feel sleepy than loratadine, desloratadine or fexofenadine. Can I take it with painkillers? Yes, you can take cetirizine together with paracetamol or ibuprofen. Can I take 2 types of antihistamine in 1 day? Sometimes doctors recommend that people with a severe, itchy skin rash take 2 different antihistamines together for a few days. As well as taking a non-drowsy antihistamine during the day (such as cetirizine or loratadine), your doctor may advise that you take a drowsy antihistamine at night time if the itching is making it difficult to sleep. Do not take 2 antihistamines together unless recommended by your doctor. Can I take cetirizine with other hay fever treatments? Yes, it's fine to take cetirizine together with some other hay fever treatments – for example, steroid nasal sprays (such as beclometasone (Beconase), Rhinocort Aqua and Flixonase Nasules) or eye drops. Can I take cetirizine at higher doses than on the packet? Your doctor may prescribe a higher dose of cetirizine (up to 4 times the usual dose) for you or your child, for a severe, itchy skin rash or swelling under the skin (angioedema). Taking high doses of cetirizine is not suitable for everyone though. Speak to your doctor if you think cetirizine is not working for you. Will it affect my fertility? There's no evidence to suggest that taking certirizine will reduce fertility in either men or women. Speak to a pharmacist or your doctor before taking it if you're trying to get pregnant. Will it affect my contraception? Cetirizine does not affect any type of contraception, including the combined pill and emergency contraception. However, if cetirizine makes you vomit or have severe diarrhoea for more than 24 hours, your contraceptive pills may not protect you from pregnancy. Check the pill packet to find out what to do. How long do I have to wait after taking Zyrtec to take Benadryl?“It may not be safe to take Benadryl until 12 hours after taking Claritin,” Dr. Glatter says. (Dr. Raimo takes that a step further, advising patients to avoid taking these two medications within 24 hours of each other.)
What happens if you take Zyrtec and Benadryl together?Using cetirizine together with diphenhydrAMINE may increase side effects such as dizziness, drowsiness, and difficulty concentrating. Some people, especially the elderly, may also experience impairment in thinking, judgment, and motor coordination.
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