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Zyrtec (cetirizine)
Zyrtec (generic name: cetirizine) is a Second-generation antihistamine Small molecule drug developed by Generic (originally UCB Pharma). It is currently FDA-approved (first approved 1995) for Allergic conjunctivitis, Allergic rhinitis, Chronic idiopathic urticaria. Also known as: Zyrtec, Reactine, Alerid.
Zyrtec, also known as cetirizine, is a small molecule that acts as a histamine H1 receptor antagonist. It is used to treat conditions such as allergic rhinitis, and its effects typically begin within thirty minutes and last for about a day.
At a glance
| Generic name | cetirizine |
|---|---|
| Also known as | Zyrtec, Reactine, Alerid |
| Sponsor | Generic (originally UCB Pharma) |
| Drug class | Second-generation antihistamine |
| Target | Angiopoietin-1 receptor, Histamine H1 receptor, Potassium voltage-gated channel subfamily H member 2 |
| Modality | Small molecule |
| Therapeutic area | Metabolic |
| Phase | FDA-approved |
| First approval | 1995-09-29 (United States) |
Approved indications
- Allergic conjunctivitis
- Allergic rhinitis
- Chronic idiopathic urticaria
- Common cold
- Nasal congestion
- Nasal discharge
- Seasonal allergic rhinitis
- Sneezing
- Vasomotor rhinitis
Common side effects
Key clinical trials
- A Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo Controlled Study of An Oral Antihistamine on Local Injection Site Reactions Among Persons With Multiple Sclerosis Who Perform Daily Injections of Copaxone® Using Au (Phase 4)
- A Multicenter, Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, Parallel-Group Study Investigating the Clinical Effects of Montelukast in Patients With Perennial Allergic Rhinitis (Phase 3)
- A Two Way, Open Label, Single Dose, Cross Over, Experimental Evaluation of Relative Bioavailabilities of Two Formulations of Cetirizine Hydrochloride Tablets 10 mg in Healthy Adult Human Male Subjects (Phase 1)
- Efficacy and Safety of Cetirizine Hydrochloride Injection in the Treatment of Acute Urticaria: a Randomized, Double-blind, Positive Controlled, Multicenter Phase III Clinical Study (Phase 3)
- A Multi-Center, Randomized, Double-Masked Evaluation of the Efficacy of Cetirizine 0.1%/Fluticasone 0.005% Ophthalmic Solution Compared to Its Components and Vehicle in a Modified Conjunctival Allerge (Phase 2)
- A Multi-Center, Double-Masked, Randomized, Vehicle-Controlled, Parallel-Group Study Evaluating the Safety of AC-170 0.24% Ophthalmic Solution Used Twice Daily in Healthy Adult Subjects and in Pediatri (Phase 3)
- Feasibility Assessment of a Decentralized Platform Adaptive Double-Blind, Randomized Controlled Trial Investigating Repurposed Drugs in the Treatment of Post-Acute Sequelae of Coronavirus-19 (PASC) (Phase 3)
- Single-Dose Food In Vivo Bioequivalence Study of Cetirizine HCl Tablets (10 mg; Mylan) and Zyrtec® (10 mg; Pfizer) in Healthy Volunteers (Phase 1)
Primary sources
Every claim on this page is sourced from regulatory or scientific primary sources. See our editorial policy for full methodology.
| Source | Used for |
|---|---|
| FDA label | Mechanism, indications, dosing, boxed warnings, drug interactions |
| ClinicalTrials.gov | Trial enrolment, design, endpoints, results |
Competitive intelligence
For the full competitive landscape — auto-detected comparators, recent regulatory actions across the set, upcoming PDUFA, patent timeline, sponsor landscape:
- Zyrtec CI brief — competitive landscape report
- Zyrtec updates RSS · CI watch RSS
- Generic (originally UCB Pharma) portfolio CI
Frequently asked questions about Zyrtec
What is Zyrtec?
Zyrtec (cetirizine) is a Second-generation antihistamine drug developed by Generic (originally UCB Pharma), indicated for Allergic conjunctivitis, Allergic rhinitis, Chronic idiopathic urticaria.
What is Zyrtec used for?
Zyrtec is indicated for Allergic conjunctivitis, Allergic rhinitis, Chronic idiopathic urticaria, Common cold, Nasal congestion.
Who makes Zyrtec?
Zyrtec is developed and marketed by Generic (originally UCB Pharma) (see full Generic (originally UCB Pharma) pipeline at /company/unknown).
What is the generic name of Zyrtec?
cetirizine is the generic (nonproprietary) name of Zyrtec.
Is Zyrtec also known as anything else?
Zyrtec is also known as Zyrtec, Reactine, Alerid.
What drug class is Zyrtec in?
Zyrtec belongs to the Second-generation antihistamine class. See all Second-generation antihistamine drugs at /class/second-generation-antihistamine.
When was Zyrtec approved?
Zyrtec was first approved on 1995-09-29 in United States.
What development phase is Zyrtec in?
Zyrtec is FDA-approved (marketed).
What does Zyrtec target?
Zyrtec targets Angiopoietin-1 receptor, Histamine H1 receptor, Potassium voltage-gated channel subfamily H member 2 and is a Second-generation antihistamine.
Related
- Drug class: All Second-generation antihistamine drugs
- Target: All drugs targeting Angiopoietin-1 receptor, Histamine H1 receptor, Potassium voltage-gated channel subfamily H member 2
- Manufacturer: Generic (originally UCB Pharma) — full pipeline
- Therapeutic area: All drugs in Metabolic
- Indication: Drugs for Allergic conjunctivitis
- Indication: Drugs for Allergic rhinitis
- Indication: Drugs for Chronic idiopathic urticaria
- Also known as: Zyrtec, Reactine, Alerid
Primary sources · FDA · ClinicalTrials.gov · EMA · SEC EDGAR · ChEMBL · Wikidata · full sourcing