Cetirizine · Childrens Zyrtec, Zyrtec Allergy

What is Cetirizine?

Cetirizine is a selective peripheral histamine H1-receptor antagonist used to relieve symptoms of hay fever, upper respiratory allergies, and urticaria (hives). It temporarily reduces runny nose, sneezing, itchy and watery eyes, itching of the nose or throat, and hives-related itching.

Summary written with AI from the sources listed at the end of this page.

At a glance

Also known as

Childrens Zyrtec, Zyrtec Allergy, Zyrtec Allergy, Lil Drug Store, Zyrtec Hives

Drug type

Small molecule

Targets

histamine H1 receptor (HRH1)

Mechanism

Antagonist of histamine H1 receptor (HRH1)

Therapy area

Immunology

Developer

Kenvue Brands

In trials of

ARWR

FDA status

Approved as Childrens Zyrtec, Zyrtec Allergy, Zyrtec Allergy, Lil Drug Store (December 8, 1995), NDA019835 · FDA label

✅ FDA-approved uses

• Hay fever or other upper respiratory allergies (Zyrtec Allergy)
• Urticaria (hives) (Zyrtec Hives)
• Hay fever or other upper respiratory allergies (Childrens Zyrtec)

From the indications section of the FDA label (version of Jul 21, 2025). Read the full label for the exact wording, limitations and safety information.

🧪 Clinical trials

Trials of the companies BioRadar tracks, from ClinicalTrials.gov, most advanced phase first.

Conditions studied

Healthy

Other drugs acting on HRH1

Sources

• FDA label Zyrtec Allergy (2025-07-21), indications
• FDA label Zyrtec Hives (2025-06-16), indications
• FDA label Childrens Zyrtec (2025-04-08), indications
• FDA label Zyrtec Allergy, Lil Drug Store (2024-06-21), indications
• NCI Thesaurus

Updated Oct 3, 2026.