Zyrtec Tablets Dosage
Generic name: cetirizine hydrochloride
Dosage form: tablets, chewable tablets, syrup
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This dosage information does not include all the information needed to use Zyrtec Tablets safely and effectively. See full prescribing information for Zyrtec Tablets.
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ZYRTEC can be taken without regard to food consumption. ZYRTEC is available as 5 mg and 10 mg tablets, 1 mg/mL syrup, and 5 mg and 10 mg chewable tablets which can be taken with or without water.
Adults and Children 12 Years and Older
The recommended initial dose of ZYRTEC is 5 mg or 10 mg per day in adults and children 12 years and older, depending on symptom severity. Most patients in clinical trials started at 10 mg. ZYRTEC is given as a single daily dose. The time of administration may be varied to suit individual patient needs.
Children 6 to 11 Years
The recommended initial dose of ZYRTEC in children aged 6 to 11 years is 5 mg or 10 mg once daily depending on symptom severity. The time of administration may be varied to suit individual patient needs.
Children 2 to 5 Years
The recommended initial dose of ZYRTEC in children aged 2 to 5 years is 2.5 mg (½ teaspoon) syrup once daily. The dosage in this age group can be increased to a maximum dose of 5 mg per day given as 1 teaspoon syrup once a day or one ½ teaspoon syrup given every 12 hours, or one 5 mg chewable tablet once a day.
Children 6 months to <2 years
The recommended dose of ZYRTEC syrup in children 6 months to 23 months of age is 2.5 mg (½ teaspoon) once daily. The dose in children 12 to 23 months of age can be increased to a maximum dose of 5 mg per day, given as ½ teaspoon (2.5 mg) every 12 hours. Syrup is recommended for children under the age of 2 years.
Dose Adjustment for Renal and Hepatic Impairment
In patients 12 years of age and older with decreased renal function (creatinine clearance 11–31 mL/min), patients on hemodialysis (creatinine clearance less than 7 mL/min), and in hepatically impaired patients, a dose of 5 mg once daily is recommended. Similarly, pediatric patients aged 6 to 11 years with impaired renal or hepatic function should use the lower recommended dose. Because of the difficulty in reliably administering doses of less than 2.5 mg (½ teaspoon) of ZYRTEC syrup and in the absence of pharmacokinetic and safety information for cetirizine in children below the age of 6 years with impaired renal or hepatic function, its use in this impaired patient population is not recommended.
See also...
- Zyrtec Side Effects
- Zyrtec Drug Interactions
- Zyrtec (cetirizine) consumer information
- Alleroff Syrup (cetirizine hydrochloride) syrup dosage information
- Cetirizine dosage information
- Cetirizine consumer information
- Childrens All Day Allergy Liquid (cetirizine hydrochloride) liquid dosage information
- Equaline All Day Allergy (cetirizine hydrochloride) tablet dosage information
- Leader All Day Allergy (cetirizine hydrochloride) tablet dosage information
- Zyrtec (cetirizine hydrochloride) tablet, film coated dosage information
