Zyrtec is used in adults and children to treat cold or allergy symptoms such as sneezing, itching, watery eyes, or runny nose.

Zyrtec is also used to treat itching and swelling caused by chronic urticaria (hives).

Zyrtec is an antihistamine that reduces the effects of natural chemical histamine in the body. Histamine can produce symptoms of sneezing, itching, watery eyes, and runny nose.

Before using Zyrtec tell your doctor about all your medical conditions or allergies, all medicines you use, and if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.

Zyrtec may impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be alert. Drinking alcohol can increase certain 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 Zyrtec. Call your doctor if your symptoms do not improve, if they get worse, or if you also have a fever.

Take Zyrtece xactly as directed. Follow all directions on your prescription label and read all medication guides or instruction sheets.

Zyrtec can be taken with or without food.

You must chew the chewable tablet before you swallow it.

Remove an orally disintegrating tablet from the blister pack with dry hands only when you are ready to take the medicine. Take this medicine immediately after opening the blister pack. Allow the orally disintegrating tablet to dissolve in your mouth without chewing.

Measure liquid medicine with the supplied measuring device (not a kitchen spoon).

Your dose needs may change if you switch to a different brand, strength, or form of this medicine. Avoid medication errors by using exactly as directed on the label, or as prescribed by your doctor.

Call your doctor if your symptoms do not improve, or if they get worse.

Store at room temperature away from moisture, heat, and light.

Usual Adult Dose for Allergic Rhinitis:

5 to 10 mg orally once a day
-Maximum dose: 10 mg/day.

Usual Adult Dose for Urticaria:

5 to 10 mg orally once a day
-Maximum dose: 10 mg/day.

Usual Geriatric Dose for Allergic Rhinitis:

5 to 10 mg orally once a day
-Maximum dose: 10 mg/day.

Usual Geriatric Dose for Urticaria:

5 to 10 mg orally once a day
-Maximum dose: 10 mg/day

Comment:
-Some experts recommend: Patients over 65 years of age should start with 5 mg orally once a day.

Uses:
-Relief of symptoms associated with perennial allergic rhinitis due to allergens (e.g., sneezing, rhinorrhea, postnasal discharge, nasal pruritus, ocular pruritus, tearing)
-Treatment of uncomplicated skin manifestations of chronic idiopathic urticaria

American Academy of Otolaryngology (AAO) and Head and Neck Surgery Foundation (HNSF) recommendations:
66 to 76 years: 5 to 10 mg orally per day
77 years and older: 5 mg orally per day
Duration of therapy: 6 months or longer

Comment:
-Intranasal antihistamines may be used concomitantly for patients with episodic, perennial, and/or seasonal allergic rhinitis.

Use: Treatment of allergic rhinitis and sneezing and itching

Usual Pediatric Dose for Allergic Rhinitis:

6 months to 2 years:
-Initial dose: 2.5 mg orally once a day
-Maintenance dose: 2.5 mg orally once to 2 times a day
-Maximum dose: 5 mg/day

2 to 5 years:
-Initial dose: 2.5 mg orally once a day
-Maintenance dose: 2.5 mg orally 2 times a day OR 5 mg orally once a day
-Maximum dose: 5 mg/day

6 years and older: 5 to 10 mg orally once a day
-Maximum dose: 10 mg/day.

Usual Pediatric Dose for Urticaria:

6 months to 2 years:
-Initial dose: 2.5 mg orally once a day
-Maintenance dose: 2.5 mg orally once to 2 times a day
-Maximum dose: 5 mg/day

2 to 5 years:
-Initial dose: 2.5 mg orally once a day
-Maintenance dose: 2.5 mg orally 2 times a day OR 5 mg orally once a day
-Maximum dose: 5 mg/day

6 years and older: 5 to 10 mg orally once a day
-Maximum dose: 10 mg/day.

You should not use Zyrtec if you are allergic to cetirizine or similar medicines such as: levocetirizine or hydroxyzine.

Ask a doctor or pharmacist before using Zyrtec if you have any health problems.

To make sure Zyrtec is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have ever had:

• recently used alcohol, sedatives, or tranquilizers; or

• liver or kidney disease.

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.

Zyrtec is used when needed. If you are on a dosing schedule, skip any missed dose. Do not use two doses at one time.

Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.

Overdose symptoms may include severe drowsiness, vision problems, agitation, fast heartbeats, stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, trouble walking, trouble swallowing or speaking.

Avoid driving or hazardous activity until you know how this medicine will affect you. Dizziness or drowsiness can cause falls, accidents, or severe injuries.

Drinking alcohol with this medicine can cause side effects.

Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction to Zyrtec: hives, difficult breathing, swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Common Zyrtec side effects may include:

• nausea, vomiting, diarrhea;

• cough, drowsiness, tiredness;

• headache, dizziness, feeling light-headed;

• feeling hot, sweating;

• numbness, tingling, burning pain;

• altered sense of taste;

• upset stomach, constipation; or

• nosebleed, dry mouth, sore throat.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Using Zyrtec with other drugs that make you drowsy can worsen this effect. Ask your doctor before using opioid medication, a sleeping pill, a muscle relaxer, or medicine for anxiety or seizures.

Other drugs may interact with cetirizine, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Tell your doctor about all other medicines you use.

You should start to feel better within an hour of taking Zyrtec.

The amount of time you’ll need to take this medicine will depend on your specific condition. You might only need to use one dose of Zyrtec. Or, if you have chronic or seasonal allergies, you may need to take it regularly to prevent symptoms during the time your allergies are active.

Your dose of Zyrtec will be determined by the formulation you use, your age, and other factors.

A typical dose for adults and children age 6 or older is one 10 milligram (mg) tablet, once daily.

Sometimes, doctors recommend Zyrtec for other uses, such as to treat asthma that’s triggered by allergies.