Effect: Help with allergic reactions
Cetirizine is an antiallergic drug used to treat allergic skin reactions, neurodermatitis, hives (urticaria) and itching . It can also help alleviate the symptoms of conjunctivitis caused by allergies. Cetirizine is often found in medicines in the form of ceterizine hydrochloride, i.e. as an easily soluble powder.
In addition, cetirizine is also used to treat allergic asthma and hay fever (allergic rhinitis ). The typical hay fever symptoms such as itchy eyes and a stuffy nose are caused by the messenger substance histamine, which is released in the body during an allergic reaction. Cetirizine works by blocking the action of histamine in the body by blocking the histamine binding sites (H1 receptors). The agent has an anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic effect.
Side Effects of Cetirizine
Cetirizine is one of the so-called second-generation antihistamines, which also include, for example, acrivastine, loratadine and mizolastine. In contrast to the first-generation antihistamines, these active ingredients do not get through the blood-brain barrier into the brain, or only in very small amounts, and therefore have hardly any effect on the nerve cells there. As a result, symptoms such as fatigue only occur rarely – in about one in 100 patients.
In addition to fatigue, taking cetirizine can also cause the following side effects:
Occasionally, the following symptoms may also occur:
In addition, the use of the active substance in rare cases can also result in cardiac arrhythmia in the sense of tachycardia (accelerated heartbeat). Side effects such as sleep and movement disorders, difficulty breathing and swallowing and, in very rare cases, problems focusing the eyes or taste disorders can also occur rather rarely.
Application and dosage of cetirizine
In addition to tablets, the antiallergic is also available in the form of juice and drops. These two dosage forms can be dosed better than film-coated tablets and are therefore particularly suitable for children.
In general, adults and children over the age of twelve can take one tablet of cetirizine (10 milligrams) or 20 drops daily to relieve allergic symptoms.
Half a tablet (5 milligrams) or 5 drops twice a day are recommended for children between the ages of two and twelve . Depending on their body weight, however, children can also take a whole tablet, spread over the day, for example.
In adults, the dose can be increased to 20 milligrams to treat asthma-like conditions caused by allergies. However, you should always discuss the exact dosage of cetirizine with your doctor or ask the specialist staff at the pharmacy.
According to the package leaflet, after taking one tablet, allergy symptoms are relieved within an hour. It is best to take the tablet in the evening before going to bed with a glass of water.
Taking an overdose of cetirizine
In the event of an overdose, you should seek medical advice. If you have taken too high a dose of the active substance at once, the side effects described above may occur with increased intensity. These include, for example, headaches, itching, drowsiness, an accelerated heartbeat or dizziness.
Contraindications and interactions of cetirizine
Cetirizine should not be taken if there is an allergy or hypersensitivity to the active ingredient. Likewise, the antihistamine should not be used in severe liver or kidney diseases or the dosage should be explicitly discussed with a doctor. Cetirizine is not suitable for children under the age of two. Before performing an allergy test (skin prick test), the drug should not be taken for three days so as not to falsify the results of the test.
If food is taken at the same time, the absorption of the active substance is slowed down but not reduced. It should also be noted that many commercially available cetirizine preparations contain lactose (milk sugar) and are therefore not suitable for people who suffer from lactose intolerance .
In general, no interactions with other medications are to be expected. However, the active ingredient should not be combined with alcohol, as this often increases the effect of drugs – even if no interactions with cetirizine have been found so far.
Cetirizine during pregnancy
Taking cetirizine during pregnancy is considered harmless. When examining 1,300 pregnant women, no negative effects on the unborn child could be found. There were also no withdrawal decisions in newborns if the mothers had taken cetirizine for a longer period of time during pregnancy.
The antihistamine loratadine has been studied even better. There is data from 3,000 people who were examined, in whom no negative effects could be observed during pregnancy or in the newborn.
However, since side effects can always occur when using cetirizine, as with the use of other medicines, cetirizine should only be taken during pregnancy if the symptoms are severe and after consulting a doctor.
According to the knowledge available so far, taking cetirizine is also harmless while breastfeeding. However, comprehensive study data on the effects on the infant are not yet available. Studies on animals indicate, however, that cetirizine can pass into breast milk. If in doubt, women who are breastfeeding should consult a doctor before taking cetirizine.
Long-term use of cetirizine
In principle, cetirizine is also suitable for long-term use. Depending on the duration of the complaints, an application period of around three to six weeks is recommended, and correspondingly shorter if the complaints are shorter. In the case of severe allergic symptoms or chronic symptoms, such as chronic rhinitis or chronic hives, daily intake over a period of up to twelve months is also possible.
The following also applies to long-term use: Taking cetirizine can cause side effects. Discuss the use with your doctor, especially in the case of prolonged allergic symptoms, and find out about alternative treatment options, such as hyposensitization .
