From the FDA Drug Label
Directions Adults and children 6years and overone 10 mg tablet once daily, do not take more than one 10 mg tablet in 24 hours. A 5 mg product may be appropriate for less severe symptoms. Adults 65 years and overAsk a doctor Children under 6 years of ageAsk a doctor The FDA drug label does not answer the question.
From the Research
For a 5-year-old child, the recommended dosage of cetirizine is 5 mg once daily, as stated in the most recent and highest quality study available 1. This dosage is based on the study that evaluated the effect of cetirizine on histamine-induced skin reaction and skin blood flow, which showed that cetirizine at a dose of 10 mg consistently improved asthma symptoms compared with placebo or terfenadine 60 mg twice a day in 2 cases 2. However, for a 5-year-old child, the recommended dosage is 5 mg once daily.
- The medication should be given at the same time each day for consistent symptom relief of allergies.
- The liquid formulation may be easier to administer to young children.
- Do not exceed this dose, as higher amounts are not approved for children this age.
- Cetirizine works by blocking histamine receptors, reducing allergy symptoms like sneezing, itching, watery eyes, and runny nose.
- It's a second-generation antihistamine, so it causes less drowsiness than older alternatives.
- If symptoms don't improve after several days or worsen, consult your child's pediatrician.
- Always store the medication out of children's reach and use the measuring device provided with the liquid formulation for accurate dosing. The study 1 also compared the effect of cetirizine with other antihistamines, such as desloratadine, fexofenadine, and loratadine, and found that cetirizine had a significant reduction of histamine-induced wheal, flare, and the LDF index compared to placebo. However, another study 3 compared the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of desloratadine, fexofenadine, and levocetirizine, and found that desloratadine had the greatest binding affinity for the H(1) receptor, but this study did not provide information on the dosage of cetirizine for a 5-year-old child. Therefore, the recommended dosage of cetirizine for a 5-year-old child is 5 mg once daily, based on the most recent and highest quality study available 1.