Cetirizine Chewable Tablet: Uses, Dosage, Side Effects, Precautions and Alternates

Quick overview

Cetirizine Chewable Tablet contains cetirizine hydrochloride, an antihistamine (histamine H1 receptor antagonist) used to relieve allergy symptoms such as sneezing, runny nose, itchy or watery eyes, allergic rhinitis, and hives (urticaria). It comes as a purple, round chewable tablet in 5 mg and 10 mg strengths. It typically provides 24-hour relief and tends to cause less sedation than many older antihistamines.

What is Cetirizine Chewable Tablet

Cetirizine Chewable Tablet is an antihistamine medicine used to relieve allergy symptoms. It belongs to the histamine H1 receptor antagonist drug class. It comes as a purple, round chewable tablet in 5 mg and 10 mg strengths.

Cetirizine Chewable Tablet uses

• Treats allergic rhinitis
• Relieves sneezing
• Relieves runny nose
• Relieves itchy or watery eyes
• Treats urticaria (hives)

Benefits of Cetirizine Chewable Tablet

• Usually provides 24-hour allergy relief
• Causes less sedation than many older antihistamines
• Available in chewable formulations for patients who have difficulty swallowing tablets
• Helps control both nasal allergy symptoms and hives

How Cetirizine Chewable Tablet works

Allergens cause your body to release a chemical called histamine, which attaches to receptors in your skin and tissues and causes symptoms like itchy, watery eyes, sneezing, and runny nose. This medicine blocks those histamine receptors so histamine cannot attach to them, which prevents or reduces many allergy symptoms. It also has anti-inflammatory effects that help reduce swelling, redness, and hives.

Cetirizine Chewable Tablet dosage

This medicine can be taken at any time of day, with or without food or water. The chewable tablet should be chewed before swallowing. Try to take it at the same time each day. Do not give it to children under 2 years of age unless a doctor advises it, and do not use it for longer than 14 days in children unless a doctor says to. Do not take more than the recommended amount.

If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember, but skip it if it's almost time for your next dose — do not double up.

Available forms and strengths

• Film-coated tablets
• Chewable tablets (5 mg and 10 mg)
• Syrup (with sugar)

Side effects of Cetirizine Chewable Tablet

Common

• Headache
• Drowsiness/sleepiness
• Dry mouth
• Sore throat
• Cough
• Abdominal pain
• Nausea
• Constipation
• Fatigue/tiredness
• Dizziness

Serious

• Fast, pounding, or uneven heartbeat
• Weakness, tremors, or trouble sleeping
• Severe restlessness or hyperactivity
• Confusion
• Vision problems
• Urinating less than usual or not at all
• Signs of a severe allergic reaction: swelling of face, lips, tongue, or throat; trouble breathing or swallowing; hives

Warnings and precautions

• Do not take this medicine if you are allergic to cetirizine or to hydroxyzine, or to any ingredient in the product.
• Avoid using this medicine together with alcohol or other sedating medicines, such as anti-anxiety drugs, sleep aids, other antihistamines, antidepressants, or muscle relaxants, since this can add to sleepiness and reduce alertness.
• Do not take more than the recommended dose, and don't use it for a long period of time unless a doctor tells you to.
• This medicine is not a replacement for an epinephrine auto-injector and should not be used to prevent hives caused by known triggers like foods, insect stings, or medicines.
• In rare cases, people have reported severe itching after stopping this medicine following long-term daily use.
• There isn't enough well-controlled research in pregnant women, so this medicine should not be used during pregnancy unless your doctor tells you to.
• This medicine is not recommended for breastfeeding mothers unless a doctor says otherwise, since it's not known how much passes into human breast milk.
• People with severe kidney problems should not take this medicine. Those with reduced kidney function should talk to a doctor, as a lower starting dose may be needed.
• This medicine should be used carefully in people with existing liver disease, and a lower starting dose is recommended for those with moderate liver impairment.
• Avoid drinking alcohol while taking this medicine, as it can increase some of the side effects such as drowsiness.
• If you feel drowsy after taking this medicine, don't drive a car or operate machinery.

Storage

• Store at temperatures between 15°C and 30°C
• Store cetirizine at room temperature away from moisture and heat
• Keep out of reach of children

When to see a doctor

• Get emergency help right away if you have trouble swallowing, dizziness, swelling of the tongue or around the mouth, trouble speaking, drooling, or wheezing while taking this medicine for hives.
• Get emergency help for signs of a severe allergic reaction, including hives, trouble breathing, or swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat.
• Call your doctor if your hives don't improve after 3 days, last more than 6 weeks, or look unusual, bruised, blistered, or don't itch.
• Stop using this medicine and call your doctor right away if you have a fast, pounding, or uneven heartbeat; weakness or tremors; sleep problems; severe restlessness; confusion; vision problems; or urinating less than usual or not at all.
• Seek emergency medical help if you think you have taken too much of this medicine.

Alternatives

• Loratadine
• Desloratadine
• Fexofenadine