Cetirizine
Antihistamine medication / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Cetirizine is a second-generation antihistamine used to treat allergic rhinitis (hay fever), dermatitis, and urticaria (hives).[5] It is taken by mouth.[6] Effects generally begin within thirty minutes and last for about a day.[6] The degree of benefit is similar to other antihistamines such as diphenhydramine, which is a first-generation antihistamine.[6]
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Pronunciation | /sɛˈtɪrɪziːn/ |
Trade names | Allacan, Piriteze, Zyrtec, others |
AHFS/Drugs.com | Monograph |
MedlinePlus | a698026 |
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Routes of administration | By mouth |
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Bioavailability | Well-absorbed (>70%)[1] |
Protein binding | 88–96%[1] |
Metabolism | Minimal (non-cytochrome P450-mediated)[2][3] |
Onset of action | 20–42 minutes[3] |
Elimination half-life | Mean: 8.3 hours[2][3] Range: 6.5–10 hours[4] |
Duration of action | ≥24 hours[4] |
Excretion | Urine: 70–85%[2] Feces: 10–13%[2] |
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ECHA InfoCard | 100.223.545 |
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Formula | C21H25ClN2O3 |
Molar mass | 388.89 g·mol−1 |
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Common side effects include sleepiness, dry mouth, headache, and abdominal pain.[6] The degree of sleepiness that occurs is generally less than with first-generation antihistamines because second-generation antihistamines are more selective for the H1 receptor.[7][5] Compared to other second-generation anti-histamines, cetirizine can cause drowsiness.[7] Second-generation antihistamines that do not cause drowsiness are fexofenadine, and loratadine.[7]
Use in pregnancy appears safe, but use during breastfeeding is not recommended.[8] The medication works by blocking histamine H1 receptors, mostly outside the brain.[6]
Cetirizine can be used for paediatric patients. The main side effect to be cautious about is somnolence.[9]
It was patented in 1983[10][11] and came into medical use in 1987.[12] It is on the World Health Organization's List of Essential Medicines.[13] It is available as a generic medication.[5] In 2021, it was the 49th most commonly prescribed medication in the United States, with more than 13 million prescriptions.[14][15]