The various applications of cetrizine

Cetirizine is a commonly prescribed drug, which often comes packaged as a 10mg tablets in packs of 10. There are also syrups on the market packaged as 5mg/5ml formulated mostly for children. This drug is classified as an antihistamine.
Histamine is associated with allergies in the body and so one might call cetirizine an anti-allergy. These allergies might be nasal and cetirizine and its class of drugs is recommended for running nose and sneezing but not as much when the nose is congested. It can also be given when one has a rash of round and red welts that itch intensely and are associated with an allergic skin reaction. This is referred to as urticaria.

This category of drugs is also recommended for insect bites and stings as well as another skin condition called pruritus which is characterised by severe itching of the skin.
These medicines are, however, associated with dizziness, drowsiness and sedation, much more than others. This side effect sometimes comes in handy when one has pruritus. Cetirizine is said to be non-sedating which means that it causes less sedation than some other drugs in this category.
And given that drowsiness might occur, people taking cetirizine and drugs such as this, are advised that this may affect the performance of skilled tasks such as driving. Alcohol is also best avoided when one is taking this medicine because the risk of such side effects will be increased.

Adults and children over six years are given the same dosage as recommended by the pharmacist or doctor. The dose may be taken at once or divided into two; that is once every 12 hours.
Children from two to six years take a lesser dose. The drug was not studied in children below two years and hence the age limitation. Headache, dry mouth, discomfort in the digestive system and fatigue could be some of the other side effects. This might be rectified by taking it in the two divided doses mentioned above.
Breastfeeding mothers are advised against taking the medicine. This is because the drug is excreted in breast milk which means that the baby will also be exposed to it.