Cetirizine
From Free net encyclopedia
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[[Image:{{{image|Cetirizine.png}}}|{{{width|220}}}px|Cetirizine chemical structure]] | |
| 2-[2-[4-[(4-chlorophenyl)-phenyl-methyl] piperazin-1-yl]ethoxy]acetic acid IUPAC name | |
| CAS number 83881-51-0 | }}} |
| PubChem 2678 | DrugBank APRD00630 |
| Chemical formula | C21H25ClN2O3 |
| Molecular weight | 388.888 |
| Bioavailability | ? |
| Metabolism | ? |
| Elimination half-life | ? |
| Excretion | ? |
| Pregnancy category | ? |
| Legal status | Rx-only |
| Routes of administration | Oral |
Image:Zyrtec.jpg Image:Cetirizine.png Cetirizine hydrochloride is a medication used for the treatment of allergies, hay fever, angioedema, and hives. It is a second-generation H1-receptor antagonist antihistamine and works by blocking H1 histamine receptors. It is a major metabolite of hydroxyzine, and has the same basic side effects, including dry mouth.
- It has long duration of action
- No reported cardiac toxicity associated with the use of this drug
- Minimal penetration of the blood-brain barrier
- Only mild sedating effects, although more than some other non-sedating antihistamines
The medication is produced by UCB, a Belgian pharmaceutical company. The drug is marketed under the following brand names: Zyrtec® in the USA, Zirtek® in the United Kingdom, Zyrlex® in many other European countries, Reactine® in Canada and Europe (all by Pfizer [1]), and as Virlix® in Mexico and parts of Europe (by GlaxoSmithKline [2]). It can be found under a variety of other brand names in other countries [3].
Like many other antihistamine medications, cetirizine is commonly prescribed in combination with pseudoephedrine hydrochloride, a decongestant. These combinations are marketed using the same brand name as the cetirizine with a "-D" suffix (Zyrtec-D®, Virlix-D®, etc.)
External links
- http://www.pfizer.com/pfizer/download/uspi_zyrtec.pdf: Pfizer fact sheet.
- http://www.facmed.unam.mx/bmnd/plm/mex/productos/8208.htm: Virlix fact sheet (Spanish)
- http://egeneralmedical.com/rxlist00000612.html: List of brand names.
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