Allergic conditions
Adult: 10 mg once daily.
Child: 2-6 years 2.5 mg bid 6-12 years 5 mg bid >12 years Same as adult dose.
Child: 2-6 years 2.5 mg bid 6-12 years 5 mg bid >12 years Same as adult dose.
Indications and Dosage
Oral
Allergic conditions Adult: 10 mg once daily.
Child: 2-6 years 2.5 mg bid 6-12 years 5 mg bid >12 years Same as adult dose. |
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Renal Impairment
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Administration
May be taken with or without food.
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Contraindications
Severe renal impairment.
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Special Precautions
Patients with increased risk of urinary retention (e.g. spinal cord lesion, prostatic hyperplasia), epileptic patients and patients at risk of convulsions. Hepatic and mild to moderate renal impairment. Children. Pregnancy and lactation.
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Adverse Reactions
Cardiac disorders: Tachycardia.
Gastrointestinal disorders: Abdominal pain, dry mouth, nausea, diarrhea, vomiting. General disorders and administration site conditions: Fatigue, asthenia, malaise, oedema. Nervous system disorders: Dizziness, headache, convulsions, agitation. Psychiatric disorders: Somnolence, aggression, confusion, depression, hallucination, insomnia, epistaxis, bronchospasm. Respiratory, thoracic and mediastinal disorders: Pharyngitis, rhinitis. Skin and subcutaneous tissue disorders: Pruritus, rash, urticaria. |
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Patient Counseling Information
This drug may cause CNS depression (e.g. somnolence), if affected, do not drive or operate machinery.
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MonitoringParameters
Monitor relief of symptoms, sedation and anticholinergic effects.
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Overdosage
Symptoms: Confusion, diarrhoea, dizziness, fatigue, headache, malaise, mydriasis, pruritus, restlessness, sedation, somnolence, stupor, tachycardia, tremor, urinary retention. Management: Symptomatic and supportive treatment. Gastric lavage may be performed following early ingestion.
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Drug Interactions
Additive CNS depression when administered concomitantly with other CNS depressants (e.g. sedatives, tranquilisers).
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Food Interaction
Decreased rate of absorption with food. May enhance the CNS depressant effect with alcohol.
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Lab Interference
May cause false-positive serum TCA screen. May suppress the wheal and flare reactions to skin test antigens.
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Action
Description: Cetirizine, a piperazine derivative and metabolite of hydroxyzine, is an antihistamine which competitively and selectively inhibits H1 receptors in the gastrointestinal tract, blood vessels, and respiratory tract.
Onset: Suppression of skin wheal and flare: 0.7 hours. Duration: Suppression of skin wheal and flare: ≥24 hours. Pharmacokinetics: Absorption: Rapidly absorbed from gastrointestinal tract. Decreased rate of absorption with food. Time to peak plasma concentration: Approx 1 hour Distribution: Enters breast milk. Volume of distribution: 0.56 L/kg. Plasma protein binding: 93% Metabolism: Metabolised limitedly in the liver. Excretion: Mainly via urine (50% as unchanged drug), as faeces (10%). Elimination half-life: 10 hours. |
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Chemical Structure
![]() Source: National Center for Biotechnology Information. PubChem Database. Cetirizine, CID=2678, https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/Cetirizine (accessed on Jan. 21, 2020) |
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Storage
Store between 20-25°C
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MIMS Class
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ATC Classification
R06AE07 - cetirizine ; Belongs to the class of piperazine derivatives used as systemic antihistamines.
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References
Alleroff Syrup (Corporacion Infarmasa). DailyMed. Source: U.S. National Library of Medicine. https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/. Accessed 14/02/2019. Anon. Cetirizine. Lexicomp Online. Hudson, Ohio. Wolters Kluwer Clinical Drug Information, Inc. https://online.lexi.com. Accessed 14/02/2019. Buckingham R (ed). Cetirizine Hydrochloride. Martindale: The Complete Drug Reference [online]. London. Pharmaceutical Press. https://www.medicinescomplete.com. Accessed 14/02/2019. Cetirizine Hydrochloride (Allergy) Tablet (NorthStar Rx LLC). DailyMed. Source: U.S. National Library of Medicine. https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/. Accessed 14/02/2019. Cetirizine Hydrochloride (Caraco Pharmaceutical Laboratories, Ltd.). DailyMed. Source: U.S. National Library of Medicine. https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/. Accessed 21/01/2014. Joint Formulary Committee. Cetirizine Hydrochloride. British National Formulary [online]. London. BMJ Group and Pharmaceutical Press. https://www.medicinescomplete.com. Accessed 14/02/2019. McEvoy GK, Snow EK, Miller J et al (eds). Cetirizine Hydrochloride. AHFS Drug Information (AHFS DI) [online]. American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). https://www.medicinescomplete.com. Accessed 21/01/2014.
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