Cetirizine at a glance
Medicine class
Less-sedating H1 antihistamine.
Licensed uses
Seasonal or year-round allergic rhinitis and chronic idiopathic urticaria.
Food
Can be taken with or without food.
Driving
Do not drive, cycle or operate machinery if it makes you sleepy or dizzy.
What is Cetirizine used for?
Cetirizine is licensed for symptom relief from:
Seasonal allergic rhinitis, including hay fever.
Perennial allergic rhinitis.
Chronic idiopathic urticaria, which causes persistent itchy wheals or hives without an identified trigger.
How does Cetirizine work?
Cetirizine blocks peripheral histamine H1 receptors, reducing histamine-driven itching, sneezing, nasal discharge, watery eyes and hives. It generally causes less sedation than older antihistamines.
Cetirizine preparations and strengths
Oral solution
Route: Oral
Strengths: 5 mg/5 mL
Tablet
Route: Oral
Strengths: 10 mg
How to take Cetirizine
Follow the product leaflet or prescriber's directions because suitable formulations and licensed ages differ. Cetirizine may be taken with or without food.
Swallow tablets whole with a drink.
Measure oral liquid with the supplied oral syringe or medicine spoon, not a kitchen teaspoon.
Oral solution can be swallowed without dilution.
Check the specific product before giving cetirizine to a child, as minimum licensed ages differ.
Cetirizine side effects
Common or expected effects
- Sleepiness or tiredness
- Headache
- Dry mouth
- Nausea
- Dizziness
- Sore throat
- Diarrhoea, particularly in children
Get urgent medical advice
- Sudden facial, mouth or throat swelling, breathing difficulty or collapse may indicate anaphylaxis.
- Unusual bruising or prolonged bleeding needs prompt medical assessment.
- A seizure, severe skin reaction or inability to pass urine needs urgent medical assessment.
- Intense itching or hives can occasionally occur after stopping cetirizine, particularly after prolonged use.
Cetirizine in pregnancy
Cetirizine can be used during pregnancy. Available evidence does not suggest harm to the pregnancy or baby, and exposure alone does not require additional fetal monitoring. Tell the pharmacist, midwife or prescriber that you are pregnant.
Cetirizine while breastfeeding
Cetirizine is a preferred less-sedating antihistamine when breastfeeding a full-term, healthy infant. Monitor the baby for unusual sleepiness, irritability, dry mouth, poor feeding or inadequate weight gain. Seek specialist advice for a premature or unwell infant, or if milk supply appears reduced.
Cetirizine interactions
Cetirizine has relatively few clinically important medicine interactions, but additive adverse effects can occur.
Alcohol
Alcohol can increase sleepiness and reduce alertness, so avoid it if cetirizine affects you.
Sedatives and other central nervous system depressants
Combined use may further impair alertness or performance in sensitive people.
Medicines causing drowsiness, dry mouth or urinary difficulty
Cetirizine may make these effects more likely or troublesome.
Common questions about Cetirizine
Answers are fully visible for fast scanning and source review.
How quickly does cetirizine hydrochloride start working?
Many people notice symptom relief within about an hour, although response varies.
Is cetirizine hydrochloride a steroid?
No. It is an antihistamine that blocks histamine H1 receptors.
Can cetirizine hydrochloride make me sleepy?
Yes. It is less sedating, but sleepiness and tiredness can still occur.
Can I take paracetamol or ibuprofen with cetirizine hydrochloride?
NHS guidance states that paracetamol and ibuprofen can be taken with cetirizine.
Sources
These sources were used to prepare and review this medicine page.
Prepared and reviewed by the iatroX editorial team.