cetirizine

cetirizine /ce·ti·ri·zine/ (sĕ-tir´ĭ-zēn) a nonsedating antihistamine used as the hydrochloride salt in the treatment of allergic rhinitis, chronic idiopathic urticaria, and asthma.

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cetirizine,

an H₁-histamine antagonist.

indications It is used to treat allergy symptoms and rhinitis.

contraindications Known hypersensitivity to this drug, lactation, and severe hepatic disease prohibit its use. It also should not be used in newborns or premature infants.

adverse effects Life-threatening effects include hemolytic anemia, thrombocytopenia, leukopenia, agranulocytosis, pancytopenia, and dysrhythmias (rare). Other serious adverse effects include urinary retention, impotence, diarrhea, vomiting, sedation, confusion, blurred vision, tremors, hypotension, palpitations, bradycardia, and tachycardia. Common side effects are thickening of bronchial secretions, nausea, drowsiness, and headache.

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antihistamine 

Any substance that reduces the effect of histamine or blocks histamine receptors, usually the histamine 1 (H1) receptor. It is used in the treatment of allergic conjunctivitis and also in the temporary relief of minor allergic symptoms of the eye. Common agents include antazoline sulfate, azelastine hydrochloride, cetirizine, chlorphenamine, emedastine, epinastine hydrochloride, ketotifen, levocabastine, loratadine and olopatadine. See hypersensitivity; mast cell stabilizers.

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cetirizine

Zyrtec^® Therapeutics A potent, antiinflammatory H1-receptor antagonist used for respiratory allergies; it has little CNS reactivity or cardiotoxicity and doesn't interact with other medicines. See Antihistamine.