Cetirizine

Cetirizine hydrochloride is a medication used for the treatment of allergies, hay fever, angioedema, and hives. It is a second-generation H1-receptor antagonist antihistamine and works by blocking H1 histamine receptors. It is a major metabolite of hydroxyzine, and has the same basic side effects, including dry mouth.

It has long duration of action
No reported cardiotoxicity associated with the use of this drug
Minimal penetration of the blood-brain barrier
Only mild sedating effects, although more than some other non-sedating antihistamines

Brand Names

The medication is produced by UCB, a Belgian pharmaceutical company. The drug is marketed under the following brand names:

Zyrtec in the USA and Australia
Zodac in Bulgaria by Zentiva a.s. Czech republic
Zirtek, Zynor, Benadryl Once a Day and generically in the United Kingdom
Zyrlex in many other European countries
Reactine in Canada (as well as generically) and Europe (all by Pfizer )
Benaday and generic Cetirizin in Denmark
Virlix in Mexico and parts of Europe (by GlaxoSmithKline )
Humex in France
Cetirizina MERCK in Spain
It can be found under a variety of other brand names in other countries.

Formulations

Like many other antihistamine medications, cetirizine is commonly prescribed in combination with pseudoephedrine hydrochloride, a decongestant. These combinations are marketed using the same brand name as the cetirizine with a "-D" suffix (Zyrtec-D, Virlix-D, etc.)

© Medic8 ® All Rights Reserved.