Cetirizine/Pseudoephedrine (By mouth)
se-TIR-i-zeen hye-droe-KLOR-ide, soo-doe-e-FED-rin hye-droe-KLOR-ide
Treats allergy symptoms (watery eyes, runny or stuffy nose). This medicine is a combination of an antihistamine and a decongestant.
Drug classes
Antihistamine/Decongestant Combination (About this – PubMed Health)
Uses
Uses of This Medicine
Cetirizine and pseudoephedrine is a combination of an antihistamine and a decongestant used to treat the symptoms of seasonal or yearly allergies. Antihistamines work by preventing the effects of a substance called histamine, which is produced by the body. Histamine can cause itching, sneezing, runny nose, and watery eyes. Decongestants produce a narrowing of blood vessels. This leads to clearing of nasal congestion, but it may also cause an increase in blood pressure in patients who have high blood pressure.
This medicine is available without a prescription.
Do not give any over-the-counter (OTC) cough and cold medicine to a baby or child under 4 years of age. Using these medicines in very young children might cause serious or possibly life-threatening side effects .
Other uses (PubMed Health)
How To Use
Long Acting Tablet
Your doctor will tell you how much of this medicine to take and how often. Do not take more medicine or take it more often than your doctor tells you to.
You may take this medicine with or without food.
Swallow the tablet whole. Do not crush, break, or chew the tablet.
Never share your medicine with anyone.
If a dose is missed:
If you miss a dose or forget to take your medicine, take it as soon as you can. If it is almost time for your next dose, wait until then to take the medicine and skip the missed dose.
Do not use extra medicine to make up for a missed dose.
How to Store and Dispose of This Medicine:
Store the medicine at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and direct light.
Ask your pharmacist, doctor, or health caregiver about the best way to dispose of any outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed.
Keep all medicine away from children.
Drugs and Foods to Avoid
Ask your doctor or pharmacist before using any other medicine, including over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products.
Make sure your doctor knows if you are also using theophylline, digoxin (Lanoxin®), or blood pressure medicine (such as methyldopa, Aldomet®, mecamylamine, Inversine®, reserpine, Serpasil®).
Make sure your doctor knows if you are using any medicines that make you sleepy (such as sleeping pills, other cold and allergy medicine, narcotic pain relievers, or sedatives). Do not drink alcohol while you are using this medicine.
When Not To Use
You should not use this medicine if you have had an allergic reaction to cetirizine, pseudoephedrine, or hydroxyzine (Atarax®, Vistaril®), or if you have narrow-angle glaucoma, trouble urinating, very high blood pressure, or severe heart disease. You should not use this medicine if you have used an MAO inhibitor (Eldepryl®, Marplan®, Nardil®, Parnate®) within the past 14 days, or if you have had a drug reaction that involved trouble sleeping, dizziness, weakness, shaking, or changes in your heart rhythm. Do not give any over-the-counter (OTC) cough and cold medicine to a baby or child under 4 years old. Using these medicines in very young children might cause serious or possibly life-threatening side effects.
Warnings
Make sure your doctor knows if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, or if you have kidney disease, liver disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease, high pressure inside your eye, overactive thyroid, problems with urination, or prostate problems, or if you are on dialysis.
This medicine may make you dizzy or drowsy. Avoid driving, using machines, or doing anything else that could be dangerous if you are not alert.
Possible side effects
Summary More details
Call your doctor right away if you notice any of these side effects:
Allergic reaction: Itching or hives, swelling in face or hands, swelling or tingling in the mouth or throat, tightness in chest, trouble breathing
Chest pain, fast heartbeat, lightheadedness or fainting
Dark-colored urine or pale stools
Nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, pain in the upper stomach
Severe restlessness, nervousness, dizziness, or trouble sleeping
Unusual behavior
Yellow skin or eyes
If you notice these less serious side effects, talk with your doctor:
Change in how much or how often you urinate
Sleepiness, tiredness
If you notice other side effects that you think are caused by this medicine, tell your doctor.
Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
More side effects of this drug
Brand names include
All Day Allergy-D, Good Neighbor Pharmacy All Day Allergy-D, Good Sense All Day Allergy-D, Leader All Day Allergy D-12, Rite Aid Cetiri-D, TopCare All Day Allergy D, Zyrtec-D, Zyrtec-D 12HR
There may be other brand names for this medicine.
