What is Cetirizine and pseudoephedrine?
Cetirizine reduces histamine, a natural chemical in the body. Histamine symptoms include sneezing and itching. They can also cause watery eyes and a runny or stuffy nose. Pseudoephedrine works as a nasal decongestant by shrinking blood vessels. Dilated blood vessels can cause congestion in the nasal passages. Cetirizine combined with pseudoephedrine can be used to treat symptoms of colds or allergies, such as sinus and nasal congestion, sneezing and itching, and watery eyes or a runny or watery nose. Cetirizine or pseudoephedrine can be used in other ways not mentioned in this guide.
Side effects of Cetirizine and pseudoephedrine
If you experience any of the following symptoms of an allergic reaction, seek immediate medical attention: hives, difficulty breathing, swelling of your lips, face, or throat.
Cetirizine or pseudoephedrine can cause serious side effects. If you experience:
- Fast, pounding, or uneven heartbeat;
- Tremors and weakness
- Hyperactivity, fear, or extreme feelings of confusion can cause a severe feeling of restlessness.
- Problems with vision
- Little or no urinating is acceptable.
- High blood pressure (severe headache, buzzing in the ears, chest pain, shortness of breath, uneven heartbeats).
Side effects of cetirizine or pseudoephedrine include:
- Dizziness, drowsiness, and tiredness are all synonyms for dizziness.
- Sleep problems (insomnia);
- Constipation , dry mouth, nausea, and stomach pain
- Trouble concentrating.
There may be other side effects.Call your doctor if experiencing side effects; otherwise contact the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 to report them.
Similar/related drugs
Prednisone, fluticasone nasal, montelukast, cetirizine, promethazine, and Zyrtec
Warnings
Cetirizine or pseudoephedrine should not be used if you suffer from narrow-angle glaucoma (hypertension), severe coronary artery disease, or are allergic to hydroxyzine. You should not take this medication if you've taken an MAO inhibitor in the last 14 days. A dangerous drug interaction may occur. MAO inhibitors are isocarboxazid linezolid, phenelzine, rasagiline, selegiline, and transylcypromine.
Before you take this drug
This medicine should not be used if:
- Narrow-angle glaucoma;
- Hypertension (high blood pressure) is a serious condition.
- Severe coronary artery diseases;
- If you're unable to urinate,
- If you have an allergy to hydroxyzine (Atarax or Vistaril),
Cetirizine or pseudoephedrine should not be used if MAO inhibitors have been taken in the last 14 days. It is possible that a dangerous drug interaction will occur. MAO inhibitors are isocarboxazid (linezolid), phenelzine (phenelzine), rasagiline (selegiline), and tranylcypromine. If you have any other medical conditions or concerns, ask your doctor or pharmacist whether it's safe to take the medicine.
- Heart disease, coronary artery diseases, high blood pressure, or heart rhythm disorders;
- Diabetes;
- A thyroid disorder
- Glaucoma;
- Kidney or a liver disease
- An enlarged prostrate
- Urination problems.
FDA pregnancy class C There is no information on whether cetirizine or pseudoephedrine can harm an unborn child. If you are pregnant, do not take this medication without consulting your doctor. Cetirizine, pseudoephedrine, and other drugs can pass through breast milk. This may cause harm to a nursing infant. Antihistamines and decongestants can also reduce breast milk production. If you are breastfeeding a child, do not take this medication without consulting your doctor. Cetirizine or pseudoephedrine may cause more side effects in older adults.
How to take Cetirizine and pseudoephedrine?
Do not exceed the recommended dosage or duration. Use the recommended dose and do not exceed it. No longer chew or crush the extended-release tablets. Take it as a whole. You should take one tablet every twelve hours, unless you are told otherwise by your doctor. This medication can be taken with or without food. If your symptoms don't improve, worsen, or you also have a high fever, call your doctor. Store away from heat and moisture at room temperature.
Details on dosage
Adult dose for Allergic Rhinitis:
Cetirizine 5 mg/pseudoephedrine 120 mg per tablet: Take one tablet every 12 hours.
Maximum dose: 2 tablets per 24 hours.
The usual paediatric dose for allergic rhinitis is:
Cetirizine 5 mg and pseudoephedrine 60mg per tablet
Twelve years and older: Take 1 tablet every 12 hours.
Maximum dose: 2 tablets per 24 hours.
What happens if I miss the dose?
If you forget to take a dose, do so as soon as possible. Wait until your next dose to take your medicine. Skip the missed dose. You should not take more medicine to make up for a missed dose.
What happens if I overdose?
If you believe you've taken too much cetirizine or pseudoephedrine, seek emergency medical care.
What should be avoided?
This medication can impair your reactions or thinking. You should be careful when driving or doing anything else that requires alertness. Avoid alcohol. Alcohol can cause some side effects to be worsened by cetirizine. Before using any other cold or allergy medication, consult your doctor or pharmacist. Many combination medications contain antihistamines or decongestants. You can take too much medication by taking certain products together. You can check the label of a medication to see if it contains antihistamines or decongestants.
Interaction with other drug
Before using cetirizine or pseudoephedrine, ask your doctor or pharmacist if you also use any other medications, such as prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Certain medicines can have unwanted or harmful effects when taken together. This medication guide does not list all possible interactions. This medicine can have a worsening effect if taken with drugs that cause you to sleep or slow down your breathing. Before taking cetirizine or pseudoephedrine along with sleeping pills, muscle relaxers, narcotic pain medicines, anxiety, depression, or seizure medications, ask your doctor.
