Note: This document contains side effect information about cetirizine. Some dosage forms listed on this page may not apply to the brand name Zyrtec.

Applies to cetirizine: intravenous solution.

Serious side effects of Zyrtec

Along with its needed effects, cetirizine (the active ingredient contained in Zyrtec) may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

Check with your doctor or nurse immediately if any of the following side effects occur while taking cetirizine:

Incidence not known

• Drowsiness
• relaxed and calm
• sleepiness or unusual drowsiness

Other side effects of Zyrtec

Some side effects of cetirizine may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects.

Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:

Rare

• Acid or sour stomach
• belching
• burning, crawling, itching, numbness, prickling, "pins and needles", or tingling feelings
• change or loss of taste
• feeling hot
• headache
• heartburn
• increased sweating
• indigestion
• stomach discomfort, upset, or pain

Incidence not known

• Bleeding, blistering, burning, coldness, discoloration of the skin, feeling of pressure, hives, infection, inflammation, itching, lumps, numbness, pain, rash, redness, scarring, soreness, stinging, swelling, tenderness, tingling, ulceration, or warmth at the injection site

For Healthcare Professionals

Applies to cetirizine: intravenous solution, oral capsule, oral liquid, oral syrup, oral tablet, oral tablet chewable, oral tablet dispersible.

General

The most commonly reported side effects include somnolence, dizziness, and headache.^[Ref]

Nervous system

Very common (10% or more): Somnolence (up to 14.3%), headache (up to 14%)

Common (1% to 10%): Dizziness

Frequency not reported: Altered sense of taste, paresthesia, hypertonia, tremor, abnormal coordination/incoordination, ataxia, hyperesthesia, hyperkinesia, hypoesthesia, migraine, paralysis, twitching, parosmia, taste loss/perversion

Postmarketing reports: Convulsions, dysgeusia, dyskinesia, dystonia, syncope, amnesia, vertigo, memory impairment^[Ref]

Gastrointestinal

Common (1% to 10%): Dry mouth, nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, abdominal pain

Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Dyspepsia

Frequency not reported: Tongue disorder, constipation, flatulence, increased salivation, aggravated tooth caries, eructation, gastritis, hemorrhoids, melena, rectal hemorrhage, stomatitis/ulcerative stomatitis, tongue discoloration/edema, enlarged abdomen^[Ref]

Respiratory

Common (1% to 10%): Pharyngitis, rhinitis, coughing, epistaxis

Frequency not reported: Dyspnea, respiratory disorder, bronchospasm, upper respiratory tract infection, dysphonia, bronchitis, hyperventilation, increased sputum, pneumonia, sinusitis, nasal polyp^[Ref]

Other

Common (1% to 10%): Fatigue

Frequency not reported: Earache, tinnitus, fever, pain, rigor, thirst, deafness, ototoxicity, accidental injury, face edema, leg edema, malaise

Postmarketing reports: Asthenia, stillbirth^[Ref]

Psychiatric

Common (1% to 10%): Insomnia

Frequency not reported: Nervousness, impaired concentration, confusion, decreased libido, abnormal thinking, anxiety, depersonalization, emotional lability, euphoria, paroniria, sleep disorder

Postmarketing reports: Agitation, aggression/aggressive reaction, depression, hallucination, tic, suicidal ideation/suicide^[Ref]

Musculoskeletal

Very rare (less than 0.01%): Myelitis

Frequency not reported: Back pain, myalgia, arthralgia, bone disorder/fracture, leg cramps, arthritis, arthrosis, muscle weakness^[Ref]

Dermatologic

Frequency not reported: Pruritus/intense itching, increased sweating, acne, alopecia, bullous eruption, dermatitis, dry skin, eczema, erythematous rash, furunculosis, hyperkeratosis, hypertrichosis, maculopapular rash, photosensitivity/photosensitivity toxic reaction, purpura, seborrhea, skin disorder/nodule

Postmarketing reports: Rash, urticaria, angioneurotic edema, fixed drug eruption, acute generalized exanthematous pustulosis (AGEP)^[Ref]

Ocular

Frequency not reported: Eye abnormality, periorbital edema, abnormal vision, eye pain, conjunctivitis, ptosis, visual field defects, blindness, glaucoma, ocular hemorrhage, xerophthalmia, periorbital edema/eye swelling

Postmarketing reports: Accommodation disorder/loss of accommodation, blurred vision, oculogyration, orofacial dyskinesia^[Ref]

Genitourinary

Frequency not reported: Polyuria, urinary retention, urinary tract infection, dysmenorrhea, hematuria, micturition frequency, urinary incontinence, female breast pain, intermenstrual bleeding, leukorrhea, menorrhagia, vaginitis

Postmarketing reports: Dysuria, enuresis^[Ref]

Cardiovascular

Frequency not reported: Flushing, palpitations, tachycardia, edema/general edema, chest pain, cardiac failure, hypertension, hot flashes, peripheral edema, pallor

Postmarketing reports: Severe hypotension^[Ref]

Metabolic

Frequency not reported: Increased appetite, anorexia, increased weight, dehydration, diabetes mellitus^[Ref]

Hepatic

Frequency not reported: Reversible transaminase elevations

Postmarketing reports: Abnormal hepatic function (increased transaminases, alkaline phosphatase, GGT, bilirubin), cholestasis, hepatitis^[Ref]

Hypersensitivity

Frequency not reported: Allergic reactions/delayed allergic reactions

Postmarketing reports: Hypersensitivity, anaphylactic shock^[Ref]

Hematologic

Frequency not reported: Lymphadenopathy

Postmarketing reports: Thrombocytopenia, hemolytic anemia^[Ref]

Renal

Frequency not reported: Cystitis

Postmarketing reports: Glomerulonephritis^[Ref]