Recommended Zyrtec Dose for 12-Year-Old Female
For a 12-year-old female, the recommended dose of Zyrtec (cetirizine) is 10 mg once daily, which is the standard adult dosing for children 6 years and older. 1
Dosing Guidelines
The FDA-approved dosing for children 6 years and older is one 10 mg tablet once daily, with no more than one 10 mg tablet in 24 hours. 1
A 5 mg dose may be appropriate if symptoms are less severe, though the standard therapeutic dose remains 10 mg daily. 1
This dosing applies uniformly to all children 6 years and older, including adolescents, with no weight-based adjustments needed for typical patients. 1
Administration Considerations
Consistent daily dosing provides better symptom control for chronic allergic conditions compared to as-needed use. 2
Peak plasma levels are reached within 1 hour after intake, providing rapid symptom relief. 3
The pharmacokinetic half-life is approximately 7 hours in humans, supporting once-daily dosing. 4
Safety Profile
Cetirizine may cause mild sedation in 13.7% of patients age 12 years and older, compared with 6.3% on placebo. 2
Monitor for excessive sedation, especially when initiating therapy, as cetirizine may cause more sedation than other second-generation antihistamines like fexofenadine or loratadine at recommended doses. 2
Cetirizine has no cardiac toxicity and drug interactions are minimal, as it is excreted largely unchanged by renal excretion. 3
The drug has high selectivity, negligible liver enzyme interaction, and low CNS penetration compared to first-generation antihistamines. 4