CETIRIZINE

Course overview

CETIRIZINE IS A MEDICATION USED IN THE TREATMENT OF ALLERGIC RHINITIS AND URTICARIA. IT IS A SECOND-GENERATION ANTIHISTAMINE. CETIRIZINE WAS FDA-APPROVED IN THE UNITED STATES AS A PRESCRIPTION-ONLY PRODUCT IN 1995, AND LATER IN 2007, IT GOT APPROVAL AS AN OVER-THE-COUNTER MEDICATION. THIS ACTIVITY REVIEWS THE INDICATIONS, ACTION, AND CONTRAINDICATIONS FOR CETIRIZINE AS A VALUABLE AGENT IN TREATING RHINITIS AND URTICARIA. THIS ACTIVITY WILL HIGHLIGHT THE MECHANISM OF ACTION, ADVERSE EVENT PROFILE, AND OTHER KEY FACTORS (E.G., OFF-LABEL USES, DOSING, PHARMACODYNAMICS, PHARMACOKINETICS, MONITORING, RELEVANT INTERACTIONS) PERTINENT FOR MEMBERS OF THE INTERPROFESSIONAL TEAM IN THE TREATMENT OF PATIENTS USING CETIRIZINE.