CETCROSS 10MG TAB B/L

• Blocks histamine H1 receptors, relieving sneezing, runny nose, itchy eyes and skin itching.
• Once-daily dosing gives twenty-four-hour cover and is simple to sustain in seasonal or perennial allergy.
• Substantially less sedating than first-generation antihistamines, though more so than some other second-generation agents.
• Effective in chronic urticaria, where it is a first-line treatment and can be used long term under supervision.
• Onset is usually within an hour, which suits both regular use and as-needed dosing.

Not everyone gets these. Most are mild and settle as the course finishes.

• Cetirizine causes more drowsiness than several other second-generation antihistamines. Warn the patient before driving or operating machinery until the effect is known.
• Avoid alcohol and other sedatives, whose effects are additive.
• Dose reduction is required in renal impairment, as cetirizine is largely renally excreted.
• Use with caution in urinary retention, significant prostatic enlargement and narrow-angle glaucoma.
• Stop several days before allergy skin testing, or the test will give a false negative.
• Persistent or severe urticaria, or any allergic reaction with breathing difficulty, needs medical assessment rather than continued self-treatment.
• Use in pregnancy and breastfeeding only on medical advice.