Cetirizine belongs to antihistamines. Cetirizine is used to decrease or prevent the hay fever or any otheê allergy symptoms. In addition it is used to releive itching and hives.
What should your doctor know before you take cetirizine?
Doctor should know if you have any of listed below conditions:
kidney disease
an unusual or allergic reaction to cetirizine, other medicines, dyes, foods pr preservatives
if you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant
liver disease
if you are breast-feeding a baby
How should I take cetirizine?
It could take several days before you feel some improve.
Striclty follow the directions on the prescription label. Swallow tablets with a sip of water. You can take cetirizine with or without food. Take this medicine at evenly spaced time intervals. Do not take more often than prescribed.
If you are planning to give this medication to children, it is essential to contact your doctor. It is possible to give cetirizine to kids, who are 2 years old or older.
What drug(s) may interfere with cetirizine?
Because cetirizine can cause drowsiness, other medicines that also cause drowsiness may increase this effect of cetirizine. Some medicines that cause drowsiness are:
alcohol
barbiturates such as phenobarbital
certain antidepressants or tranquilizers (for example, amitriptyline, chlorpromazine, desipramine, doxepin, imipramine, nortriptyline, thioridazine, trifluoperazine)
certain narcotics or pain medicines (for example, codeine, hydrocodone, meperidine, methadone, morphine, oxycodone, or propoxyphene)
certain medicines used for anxiety or to help produce sleep (for example, alprazolam, chloral hydrate, diazepam, lorazepam, meprobamate)
certain antihistamines used in cold medicines (for example, diphenhydramine or chlorpheniramine)
Ask your prescriber or health care professional about other medicines that may increase the effect of cetirizine.
Let your doctor know, if you are taking any other medicines, nutritional supplements or herbal products. In addition, don't forget to alert your doctor, if you are a frequent user of drinks with caffeine or alcohol, if you take illicit drugs, or if you are a smoker. Everything listed above could affect the result of treatment course.
What side effects may appear?
Serious side effects to cetirizine are rare. If you experience these side effects, you should contact your doctor immediately:
any unusual effects that are bothersome
These side effects usually don't require medical attention (but you'll need to contact your doctor if they continue or are bothersome):
sore throat
drowsiness
nausea or stomach upset
dry mouth
fatigue
dizziness
headache
diarrhea
What else should I know about cetirizine?
If your condition haven't improved in 2-3 days, you should contact your doctor.
Until you know if cetirizine makes you drowsy or dizzy, do not drive, use machinery, or do anything that needs mental alertness.Do not sit or stand up quickly, especially if you are an older patient. This reduces the risk of dizzy or fainting spells.
What is the shelf life of the pills?
The expiry date is mentioned on each blister. It is different for different batches. The shelf life is 2 years from the date of manufacture and would differ from batch to batch depending on when they were manufactured.
What is a generic pill?
Generic drug (pl. generic drugs, short: generics) is a drug which is produced and distributed without a brand name. A generic must contain the same active ingredients as the original formulation. In most cases, it is considered bioequivalent to the brand name counterpart with respect to pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties.
