What is Zyrtec?
Zyrtec (Cetirizine) relieves and prevents the symptoms of hay fever and other types of allergy.
Zyrtec relieves and prevents the symptoms of hay fever and other types of allergy. This medicine also prevents the effects of histamine, which is produced in the body. This medicine is an antihistamine.
Report a history of liver or kidney disease to your doctor before starting the treatment. The presence of some health condition of this kind can influence your dosage and dosing schedule, and in some cases additional tests may be required. This drug is FDA pregnancy category B. This means that Zyrtec is not expected to do any harm to an unborn baby but it is not known for sure whether it passes into breast milk. To make sure your baby is completely safe, you are not supposed to take this medication before talking to your doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. If you are going to take this drug and intend to use contraception methods, talk to your doctor about the most effective one to make sure you will not have to deal with the consequences of Zyrtec affecting the efficiency of your oral contraception method.
Mild side effects of this medication are common and can include drowsiness, stomach pain, diarrhea, vomiting, excessive tiredness, and dry mouth. You do not need to inform your health care provider of these side effects, as they are most likely to go away on their own. Make sure you contact your local emergency center in case you get any of the following serious symptoms when taking this medicine for hives: difficulty swallowing, loss of consciousness, wheezing, dizziness, drooling, and swelling of the tongue. Zyrtec can cause drowsiness in some people taking it. Make sure you do not take this drug when you have to operate some machinery or drive a car, as otherwise dangerous consequences are possible. Drinking alcohol can make the drowsiness even worse.
Your health care provider needs to know as much as possible about any drugs you are taking at the moment, as this may affect the choice of dose of Zyrtec. Make sure you inform your health care provider of the fact of taking any of the following: medications for mental illness, cold and allergy medications, sleeping pills, anxiety drugs, antidepressants, seizure medications, tranquilizers, theophylline, or sedatives. There are a number of other medications Zyrtec has been reported to interfere with. To make sure you do not combine Zyrtec with any of these medications, it's best to learn from your health care provider what the names of the drugs you are taking or intend to take are. This way you will be making sure your treatment with Zyrtec will be as efficient as possible with no serious side effects whatsoever.
If you happen to miss a dose of Zyrtec, you need to take it as soon as you remember. However, this doesn't always work that way, as in case you are about to take another dose, it's recommended to skip the dose missed and carry on with the schedule of your treatment. That way you will avoid suffering from overdose symptoms (if you decide to take more of Zyrtec to make up for the dose you missed), and at the same time will be able to continue the treatment. However, it's important that after something like that happens you never repeat the same mistake again and always remember when you are supposed to take Zyrtec. Zyrtec is most efficient when its level in the blood is the same, and taking it regularly is the best way to provide for it.
If you think you may have taken too much of this medication and experience such symptoms as restlessness, drowsiness and irritability, seek emergency medical help. It doesn't matter whether you have taken too much intentionally or by accident – you need medical assistance right away.
Zyrtec Information
This medicine comes as a tablet, a chewable tablet, and a syrup for oral administration. It is supposed to be taken as prescribed, preferably at the same time every day. Make sure you do not use this medication for hives that are blistered or bruised, or the ones that do not itch. If you notice you have this kind of hives – call your health care provider as soon as possible. In general, taking Zyrtec is not usually associated with difficulties of any kind. This drug is easy to take and very efficient, and all you need to do is make sure you do not abuse it and take in larger quantities than recommended. If you think the dose you have been prescribed is not working properly for you, just talk to your health care provider to see if there is a chance your dose may need to be adjusted. Although this may be impossible in some cases, your health care provider will most likely agree to try and you will be able to benefit from your treatment without any side effects. Make sure you do not adjust the dose yourself, as this is likely to cause some unwanted reactions as a result of taking too much of Zyrtec without any reason for it.
Talking to your doctor before the treatment
Zyrtec Side Effects
Meds Zyrtec can interfere with
What should I do if I miss a dose of Zyrtec?
If Zyrtec overdose takes place