Zirtek Oral Solution 200ml

Cetirizine dihydrochloride is the active ingredient of Zirtek.
Zirtek is an antiallergic medication.
In adults and children aged 2 years and above, Zirtek 1 mg/ml oral solution is indicated for.
• the relief of nasal and ocular symptoms of seasonal and perennial allergic rhinitis.
• for the relief of urticaria.

 

What you need to know before you take Zirtek
Do not take Zirtek
• if you have a severe kidney disease requiring dialysis;
• if you are allergic to cetirizine dihydrochloride or any of the other ingredients of this medicine to hydroxyzine or to any piperazine derivatives (closely related active ingredients of other medicines).

 

Suitable for & How to use
Always take this medicine exactly as described in this leaflet or as your doctor or pharmacist has told you. Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure.
The solution can be swallowed as such.
Adults and adolescents above 12 years old:
The recommended dose is 10 mg once daily as 10 ml oral solution (2 full measuring spoons)
Use in children between 6 and 12 years old:
The recommended dose is 5 mg twice daily as 5 ml (one full measuring spoon) twice daily.
Use in children between 2 and 6 years old:
The recommended dose is 2.5 mg twice daily as 2.5 ml oral solution (a half-measuring spoon) twice daily
Patients with moderate renal impairment are recommended to take 5 mg once daily.
If you suffer from severe kidney disease, please contact your doctor or pharmacist who may adjust the dose accordingly.
If your child suffers from kidney disease, please contact your doctor or pharmacist who may adjust the dose according to your child’s needs.
If you feel that the effect of Zirtek is too weak or too strong, please consult your doctor.
Duration of treatment
The duration of treatment depends on the type, duration and course of your complaints. Please ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice.
If you take more Zirtek than you should
If you think you have taken an overdose of Zirtek please inform your doctor.
Your doctor will then decide what measures, if any, should be taken.
After an overdose, the side effects described below may occur with increased intensity. Adverse effects such as confusion, diarrhoea, dizziness, tiredness, headache, malaise (feeling unwell), dilating of pupil, itching, restlessness, sedation, somnolence (sleepiness), stupor, abnormal rapid heart rate, tremors and urinary retention (difficulty in completely emptying the bladder) have been reported.
If you forget to take Zirtek
Do not take a double dose to make up for a forgotten dose.

 

Ingredients
The active substance is cetirizine. 10 ml (equals to 2 measuring spoons) contain 10 mg of cetirizine dihydrochloride.
The other ingredients are sorbitol (E 420), glycerol, propylene glycol, saccharin sodium, methylparahydroxybenzoate (E 218), propylparahydroxybenzoate (E 216), banana flavor 54.330/A (Firmenich), sodium acetate, glacial acetic acid, purified water.
10 ml Zirtek oral solution (=2 measuring spoons) contain: 3.15 g glucose equivalents (sorbitol).

 

Warning & Precautions
Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking Zirtek.
If you are a patient with renal insufficiency, please ask your doctor for advice; if necessary, you will take a lower dose. The new dose will be determined by your doctor.
If you have problems passing urine (like spinal cord problems or prostate or bladder problems), please ask your doctor for advice.
If you are an epileptic patient or a patient at risk of convulsions, you should ask your doctor for advice.
No clinically significant interactions have been observed between alcohol (at the blood level of 0.5 per mille (g/l) corresponding to one glass of wine) and cetirizine used at the recommended doses.
However, there are no data available on the safety when higher doses of cetirizine and alcohol are taken together. Therefore, as it is the case with all antihistamines, it is recommended to avoid taking Zirtek with alcohol.
If you are scheduled for allergy testing, ask your doctor if you should stop taking Zirtek for several days before testing. This medicine may affect your allergy test results.
Other medicines and Zirtek
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking, have recently taken or might take any other medicines.
Food does not affect absorption of Zirtek.
Pregnancy and breast-feeding
If you are pregnant or breast-feeding, think you may be pregnant or are planning to have a baby, ask your doctor for advice before taking this medicine.
Zirtek should be avoided in pregnant women. Accidental use of the drug by a pregnant woman should not produce any harmful effects on the foetus. Nevertheless, the medicine should only be administered if necessary and after medical advice.
Cetirizine passes into breast milk. A risk of side effects in breastfed infants cannot be excluded.
Therefore, you should not take Zirtek during breast-feeding unless you have contacted a doctor.
Driving and using machines
Clinical studies have produced no evidence of impaired attention, alertness and driving capabilities after taking Zirtek at the recommended dose.
You should closely observe your response to the drug after you have taken Zirtek if you are intending to drive, engage in potentially hazardous activities or operate machinery. You should not exceed the recommended dose.
Zirtek oral solution contains sorbitol. This medicine contains 2250 mg sorbitol in each 5 ml which is equivalent to 450 mg/ml. Sorbitol is a source of fructose. If your doctor has told you that you (or your child) have an intolerance to some sugars or if you have been diagnosed with hereditary fructose intolerance (HFI), a rare genetic disorder in which a person cannot break down fructose, talk to your doctor before you (or your child) take or receive this medicine.
Zirtek oral solution contains methylparahydroxybenzoate (E 218), propylparahydroxybenzoate
(E 216) that may cause allergic reactions (possibly delayed).
This medicine contains 250 mg propylene glycol in each 5 ml which is equivalent to 50 mg/ml.
This medicine contains less than 1 mmol sodium (23 mg) per 5 ml, that is to say essentially ‘sodium free’.