Zyrtec Products for Allergy Symptoms

What do Zyrtec products treat?

Zyrtec products are commonly used to treat allergy symptoms such as runny nose, itchy/watery eyes, sneezing, or an itchy nose or throat. The main active ingredient in Zyrtec products is cetirizine, which belongs to a class of medicines known as an antihistamine. It works by blocking the effects of a substance in your body called histamine. These products start to work within one hour.

Zyrtec products may also contain a decongestant called pseudoephedrine. This combination can help allergy symptoms and relieve a stuffy nose or sinus congestion or pressure.

There are Zyrtec products for adults and children as young as 2 years old.

Zyrtec products can be taken with or without food. The chewable or dissolvable tablets can be taken with or without water.

What should I know before using Zyrtec products?

Zyrtec products can make you sleepy. You shouldn’t drive or do other activities that require alertness or coordination until you know how a Zyrtec product affects you. Taking certain medicines or drinking alcohol can increase your risk for drowsiness with Zyrtec products. Talk to your health care provider about any other medicines you take or if you drink alcohol.

If you have liver or kidney problems or get dialysis, you may not be able to metabolize Zyrtec products properly. This can lead to higher than normal levels of the medicine in your blood and an increased risk of side effects, including drowsiness. A health care provider can help you determine which product and dose is safe for you to take.

Zyrtec-D products should not be used if you are taking a medicine called a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) or for two weeks after stopping the MAOI. An MAOI is a medicine usually used for depression or Parkinson’s disease. If you do not know if your prescription medicine contains an MAOI, ask your health care provider or pharmacist before using a Zyrtec product.

There may be side effects, additional warnings, and interactions with other medicines that are not listed here. These may vary depending on the combination of ingredients in the specific Zyrtec product you are using. Always check the label before taking any Zyrtec product. Talk to a pharmacist or health care provider about your health conditions and other medicines to help determine which Zyrtec products are safe for you.