Pharmacological Properties Cetirizine

Indication & Dosage Oral Allergic conditions Adult: 10 mg once daily or 5 mg bid. Child: 6 mth-2 yr: 2.5 mg once daily (up to 2.5 mg bid in children 12 mth) ; 2-5 yr: 5 mg once daily or 2.5 mg bid; >6 yr: 10 mg once daily or 5 mg bid. Elderly: Renal impairment: Half the usual dose. Hepatic impairment: Half the usual dose. Hypersensitivity; lactation.

Contraindications

Special Precautions Hepatic or renal impairment; elderly; tasks requiring mental alertness eg, driving or operating heavy machinery; pregnancy. Adverse Drug Reactions Drug Interactions Somnolence, insomnia, malaise, headache, dizziness; GI discomfort, dry mouth, abdominal pain, diarrhoea, nausea, vomiting; occasional hypersensitivity; epistaxis, pharyngitis, bronchospasm. Risk of increased INR and epistaxis when taken together with warfarin. Potentially Fatal: CNS depressants and anticholinergics may potentiate CNS depression of cetirizine. Click to view more cetirizine hydrochloride Drug Interactions Oral: Store at 20-25C. Syr: Can also refrigerate at 2-8C. Cetirizine is a potent and highly selective antagonist of the peripheral histamine H1-receptor on effector cells in the GI tract, blood vessels and respiratory tract. Absorption: Absorbed rapidly from the GI tract (oral); peak plasma concentrations after 1 hr. Rate, but not extent, of absorption altered by food. Distribution: Enters breast milk; crosses the blood-brain barrier (insignificant amounts). Protein-binding: Highly bound. Excretion: Via the urine (as unchanged); 10 hr (elimination half-life). Antihistamines & Antiallergics

Storage Mechanism of Action

MIMS Class