Zirtek drops: instructions for use

Zirtek is the original antihistamine, one of the trade names of the drug cetirizine.

Some classifications refer this medicine to the second generation of antihistamines, but according to the majority opinion researchers and its pharmacological properties, the drug belongs to the third generation.

On this page you will find all information about Zirtek: the full instruction on the application for this medicine, average prices in pharmacies, complete and incomplete analogs of the drug, as well as reviews of people who have already used Zirtek drops. Want to leave your opinion? Please write in the comments.

Clinical and pharmacological group

The blocker of histamine H1 receptors. Anti-allergic drug.

Conditions of leave from pharmacies

Released without a doctor's prescription.

Price list

How much are Zyrtec drops? The average price in pharmacies is at the level of360 rubles.

Form of issue and composition

The drug is available in two pharmacological forms:

Zirtek drops. Outwardly it is a clear liquid, without color. Characteristic of the smell of acetic acid. The liquid is poured into 10 or 20 ml in bottles of dark glass, tightly ukuporennyh. In the cardboard bundle, in addition to the bottle, a dropper cap is placed.
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The tablets covered with a cover. These are white oblong tablets, with convex surfaces, with a risk on one side and engraved with the letter "Y" on both sides of the risks. 7 or 10 tablets are placed in the blister, 1 blister (7 or 10 tablets) or 2 blisters (10 tablets) are placed in a cardboard bundle.

The active substance - cetirizine dihydrochloride:

1 tablet - 10 mg;
1 ml drops - 10 mg.

Tablet auxiliaries: silicon colloidal dioxide, lactose monohydrate, magnesium stearate, cellulose microcrystalline, Opadrai Y-1-7000 (titanium dioxide (E171), hypromellose (E464), macrogol 400).

Auxiliary substances of drops: methylparabenzene, propyl parabenzene, propylene glycol, sodium acetate, glycerol, glacial acetic acid, sodium saccharinate, purified water.

Pharmacological effect

Zirtek is an antiallergic drug. The blocker of histamine H1 receptors, a competitive histamine antagonist, a metabolite of hydroxyzine. Prevents development and facilitates the course of allergic reactions, has antipruritic and antiexudative action.

Affects the early histamine-dependent stage of allergic reactions, limits the release of inflammatory mediators to the late stage allergic reaction, reduces the migration of eosinophils, neutrophils and basophils, stabilizes the membranes of mast cells. Reduces the permeability of capillaries, prevents the development of edema of the tissues, removes the spasm of smooth muscles, also Zirtek. Instructions for use indicate that the drug eliminates the skin reaction to the administration of histamine, specific allergens, as well as cooling (with "cold" urticaria). Reduces histamine-induced bronchoconstriction in bronchial asthma of mild course.

Virtually no anticholinergic and antiserotonin action. In therapeutic doses, it practically does not have a sedative effect. After a single dose of cetirizine at a dose of 10 mg, the onset of the effect occurs after 20 minutes (in 50% of patients) and after 60 minutes (in 95% of patients), the effect lasts more than 24 hours. Against the background of course treatment, tolerance to the antihistamine effect of cetirizine does not develop. After cessation of treatment, the effect lasts up to 3 days.

Indications for use

Zirtek is recommended for the treatment of seasonal and all-year-round allergic rhinitis and conjunctivitis, allergic dermatitis, idiopathic and chronic urticaria, angioedema.

The use of Zirtek is indicated for dermatoses that occur with rashes and itching, hay fever, bronchial asthma, allergic nasal congestion, sneezing, lacrimation.

The drug in the form of drops can be administered to adults and children older than 6 months.

Contraindications

Absolute contraindications to the reception of Zirtek tablets are such pathological and physiological states of the body:

Pregnancy and lactation;
Children under 6 months - for drops, up to 6 years - for tablets;
Terminal stage of renal failure (creatinine clearance less than 10 ml / minute);
Lack of lactase, hereditary intolerance to galactose, glucose-galactose malabsorption syndrome;
Increased individual sensitivity to the drug or hydroxyzine.

With caution, Zirtek tablets are used for renal failure of moderate severity, in the elderly, in persons with presence concomitant epilepsy (central nervous system damage, which is accompanied by periodic seizures).

Before starting the drug it is important to make sure that there are no contraindications to its use.

Application in pregnancy and lactation

During pregnancy and during lactation, the drug is not recommended, unless the benefits of its use exceed the risk. There is no data on whether there is a negative effect on the fetus, but for safety reasons, women are not prescribed it. In addition, it is able to penetrate into breast milk, so if it is necessary to take it, a woman should stop breastfeeding.

Instructions for use

The instructions for use indicate that Zirtek is taken internally. Recommended doses:

Adults and children over 6 years of age are prescribed at a dose of 10 mg (1 table. or 20 drops) / day. Adults-10 mg once a day; children - 5 mg 2 times / day or 10 mg 1 time / day. Sometimes an initial dose of 5 mg may be sufficient to achieve a therapeutic effect.
Children aged 2 to 6 years are prescribed 2.5 mg (5 drops) 2 times / day or 5 mg (10 drops) 1 time / day.
Children aged 1 to 2 years are prescribed 2.5 mg (5 drops) up to 2 times / day.
Children aged 6 months to 12 months are prescribed 2.5 mg (5 drops) 1 time / day.

For elderly people and patients with renal insufficiency, the dose is adjusted depending on the creatinine clearance (CK), which is calculated as follows:

For women: CK (ml / minute) = [140 - age (in years)] x body weight (in kilograms) / 72 x serum creatinine (mg / dl) x 0.85.
For men: CK (ml / minute) = [140 - age (in years)] x body weight (in kilograms) / 72 x serum creatinine (mg / dL);

Recommended doses of Zirteka for patients with hepatic and renal insufficiency:

KK 50-79 ml / minute (mild renal failure) - 10 mg / day;
KK 30-49 ml / minute (mean renal failure) - 5 mg / day;
CK <30 ml / minute (severe renal failure) - 5 mg every other day.
At the terminal stage of renal failure, the drug is contraindicated.

In case of acute allergic reactions, drops or tablets should be taken until the symptoms disappear completely (rash and itching of the skin, rhinitis, sneezing, lacrimation, red eyes, etc.). That is, if the manifestations of the allergy were 2 days after the start of Zirtek's intake, then on the third day you can stop taking it. In this case, the duration of therapy is only 2 days. However, most often with acute allergic manifestations Zirtek must be taken within 7 to 10 days.

If a person suffers from any seasonal allergy or often manifested allergic reactions, then Zirtek is necessary drink constantly, long courses for 20 - 25 days, with intervals between them at least 2 - 3 weeks. If it is possible to take longer breaks between Zirtek's courses, then use this and prolong the intervals as long as possible. In such cases, Zirtek's intake is hyposensitizing therapy, during which the body's readiness to give an allergic reaction to a certain stimulus is reduced.

Side effects

The use of Zirtek can cause unwanted side reactions from various organs and systems:

The respiratory system can respond to Zirtek's administration with symptoms of pharyngitis and rhinitis.
On the part of the gastrointestinal tract, patients notice dry mouth, nausea, loose stool, abdominal pain.
From the urinary system, there is a disorder of urination, urinary retention or enuresis.
Possible metabolic disorders, weight gain, swelling, increased appetite.
On the part of the cardiovascular system, there are symptoms of tachycardia, on the part of the hematopoiesis, undesirable changes in blood indices are possible.
From the sense organs, patients complain of blurred vision, note dizziness associated with impaired vestibular apparatus.
The central nervous system can respond to the drug with various disorders: headache, dizziness, increased fatigue, weakness, drowsiness. Patients may experience a decrease in blood pressure, fainting, memory impairment, tremor development, taste distortion, seizures.
Sometimes there are violations from the psyche. The patient can be in a depressed, or opposite, excited and aggressive state. Possible sleep disorders, confusion, hallucinations, suicidal moods and the development of depression.
The immune system reacts with hypersensitivity reactions, skin disorders (rash, erythema, pruritus) are possible. In severe cases, there is a risk of anaphylactic shock.

To avoid the appearance of undesirable side effects, take the drug should only be prescribed by the doctor, strictly adhering to the dosage and the frequency of reception. If unwanted reactions occur, treatment should be discontinued and consult a specialist to adjust the subsequent course of therapy.

Overdose

Symptoms typical for taking about 50 mg of the drug (5 tablets or 100 drops):

anxiety;
marked sedation;
fast fatiguability;
confusion, stupor;
drowsiness;
tremor;
tachycardia;
diarrhea;
retention of urine;
headache;
dizziness.

If a dose exceeding the usual dose is accepted, immediately wash the stomach or induce vomiting. You can also give activated carbon. There is no specific antidote, so only symptomatic treatment is possible. Conduction of hemodialysis with an overdose is ineffective.

special instructions

There are a few other things to keep in mind when starting to take Zirtek.

You should refrain from drinking alcohol;
Three days before the allergological examination, it is necessary to cancel the drug;
People with a penchant for urinary retention should be treated with caution;
Potentially, the drug is able to inhibit the central nervous system, so children with a predisposition to problems with the nervous system should take the drug with caution;
During the research, phenomena and conditions that could interfere with the management of the vehicle were not revealed, but those who are just beginning therapy, it is necessary to refrain from works and occupations requiring considerable concentration of attention, incl. from management of motor transport;
There are no restrictions for admission by elderly people, it is important only to be guided by the condition of the kidneys.

Drug Interactions

With simultaneous administration with macrolides and ketoconazole, there were no changes on the ECG.
With a simultaneous appointment with theophylline (400 mg / day), the total clearance of cetirizine is reduced by 16% (theophylline kinetics does not change).
When studying the drug interaction of cetirizine with pseudoephedrine, cimetidine, ketoconazole, erythromycin, azithromycin, glipizide, and diazepam, there was no clinically relevant undesirable interaction.
When using the drug in therapeutic doses of data on the interaction with alcohol (at a blood alcohol concentration of 0.5 g / l) is not obtained. Nevertheless, the patient should refrain from drinking alcohol during therapy with the drug in order to avoid oppression of the CNS.

Reviews

We picked up some of the people's comments about Zirtek:

Marina. I have never encountered an allergy to food. A week ago, a friend came to visit and treated her with dried citrus fruit. I tried out of interest, because I have not had it before. After 15 minutes, I started to have severe itching, I was terribly frightened. With that, I ate very little. Not knowing what to do, I ran to the pharmacy. I was given a choice of several drugs. After studying the instructions for a long time, I took a zirtek. I took a pill right away. After about 20 minutes, itching and redness stopped worrying me. After this incident, I am very attentive to food, and I do not take dried fruits, unfortunately.
Inna. The son had a cough that did not last about a month, although he gave medicines, did compresses and other means. As a result, she took the child to a paid pediatrician, where they said that the cause of the cough was allergies. Aspirin was prescribed to open the bronchi and improve breathing, and Zirtek was used to treat allergies. The course lasted 2 weeks, during which time all the symptoms passed.
Margo. I give Zirtek his little son, he suffers from an allergy. Generics prefer not to give the child, so as not to save on his health. The original drug is produced according to strict standards, proven auxiliary substances are used, the necessary studies were carried out on it. Zirtek completely suits me, quickly removes allergy attacks, did not observe drowsiness in the child.

Analogues

In the case when the anti-allergic agent Zirtek is not suitable for composition or price, you can choose the same drugs:

Fenistil. Dimethindene maleate is the active substance of the drug, which possesses antipruritic and anti-allergic action. In addition, there is a weak sedative effect. The drug in the form of drops is used for children of an earlier age, starting from 1 month, but its effectiveness is lower, and the frequency of side effects is higher. In addition to drops, Fenistil is available in the form of a gel, emulsion and cream. Prices for all forms range from 290 to 370 rubles.
Zodak. The drug is a complete analog of Zirtek. They have a similar effect, pharmacokinetics, release forms, indications, contraindications and other indicators. However, before changing the antiallergic medicine, you should consult a doctor. The cost of Zodak in the form of drops is 207 rubles.
Erius. The active substance is called desloratadine and is an improved Loratadine formula. So, taking the drug does not cause drowsiness, and other side effects appear only in rare cases. At the same time, the efficacy of the agent is high. Erius is available in the form of syrup and tablets, but its price is almost 2 times that of Zirtek - 590 rubles.
Claritin. The drug is produced on the basis of Loratadin, which effectively copes with pollinosis, allergic dermatitis and chronic nettle. There are sedation, headache, increased appetite. 10 tablets cost 225 rubles, and 60 ml of syrup - 250 rubles.

Before using analogues, consult your doctor.