What is the recommended dose of Cetirizine (Tab Cetirizine) for adults and children?

Recommended Dosage of Cetirizine for Adults and Children

The recommended dose of cetirizine for adults and children 6 years and over is 10 mg once daily, while children under 6 years require physician consultation before use. 1

Adult Dosing

• Standard adult dose: 10 mg once daily 1
• For less severe symptoms, 5 mg may be appropriate 1
• Do not exceed 10 mg in 24 hours 1
• Adults 65 years and older should consult a doctor before use 1, 2

Pediatric Dosing

• Children 6 years and older: 10 mg once daily (same as adult dose) 1
• Children under 6 years: Consult a doctor before use 1
• For 4-year-old children: 5 mg (half of adult dose) once daily is recommended 2

Special Populations

Renal Impairment

• Moderate renal impairment: Reduce dose to 5 mg once daily (half the standard dose) 2
• Severe renal impairment (creatinine clearance <10 mL/min): Avoid use 2
• Baseline renal function assessment is recommended before initiating therapy 2

Hepatic Impairment

• Patients with liver disease should consult a doctor before use 1

Clinical Efficacy

• Cetirizine is a selective second-generation H1 receptor antagonist with:

  • Rapid onset of action (within 20 minutes) 3
  • Long duration of activity (24 hours) 3
  • Low potential for drug interactions 3

• Cetirizine 10 mg has been shown to be significantly more effective than placebo in reducing allergic rhinitis symptoms in both adults and children 4, 5

• In pediatric studies, the 10 mg dose showed significantly greater symptom reduction compared to lower doses 5

Safety Considerations

• Most common adverse effects include headache, pharyngitis, and abdominal pain, occurring at rates similar to placebo 4
• May cause more dry mouth than placebo 3
• Sedation is dose-related but generally similar to other second-generation antihistamines 6
• Cetirizine has negligible anticholinergic and antiserotonergic activity 3
• No cardiac adverse effects have been reported 3

Common Pitfalls to Avoid

1. Exceeding recommended dosage: Never exceed 10 mg in 24 hours for any age group
2. Ignoring renal function: Always assess kidney function before prescribing, especially in elderly patients
3. Inappropriate pediatric dosing: Children under 6 require physician assessment for appropriate dosing
4. Failure to adjust dose in renal impairment: Dose reduction is essential in moderate renal impairment
5. Overlooking sedation potential: While less sedating than first-generation antihistamines, cetirizine may still cause drowsiness in some patients

For optimal symptom control in allergic rhinitis, cetirizine may be combined with intranasal antihistamines or corticosteroids for patients with moderate to severe symptoms 2.