Sneezing, itchy nose, itchy and watery eyes, swelling, and redness - these are just some of the many signs of an allergic reaction. Oftentimes, people reach for an antihistamine in order to relieve these symptoms, get back on track with their daily routines, and avoid further complications.
Having antihistamines on-hand can be beneficial, especially with people who frequently get allergies. To help you understand, it's important to know how allergic reactions happen. These reactions can be traced to allergens from food, dust or other substances that make their way into your body.
When your body detects allergens, your immune system releases substances called histamines. These in turn cause the dreaded symptoms of an allergic reaction. To ease these symptoms, antihistamines interfere with the process by targeting histamine receptors in the body.
There are many types of antihistamines available nowadays, and cetirizine is prescribed by doctors both for those experiencing symptoms of allergy. If you’ve been thinking about adding this antihistamine into your health arsenal, the following reasons may just convince you to start stocking up.
Sources: Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America. (2016) What Are the Symptoms of an Allergy?. Medical News Today. (2020). What are antihistamines?. Mayo Clinic. (2020). “Allergies.”
Cetirizine at a glance - how does it work
Cetirizine is a type of second-generation antihistamine derived from the metabolism of hydroxyzine. It’s often grouped with other drugs like loratadine, desloratadine, levocetirizine, and fexofenadine. Second-generation antihistamines may work in as fast as 15 to 30 minutes.
Cetirizine may help prevent inflammation by fighting allergy-causing cytokines in the body and stop symptoms before they start. It is able to do this because second-generation antihistamines in general have a different chemical structure.
Compared to its predecessors in first-generation antihistamines, second-generation antihistamines have less movement across the blood-brain barrier, resulting in less instances of adverse effects on the nervous system.
These mechanisms are a major reason why cetirizine is prescribed by doctors as a treatment for symptoms of allergic rhinitis. Other findings also shed light on the possible effect of cetirizine in helping combat indicators of urticaria or hives such as erythema, papules, edema, and itching, along with proper diet and exercise.
There is also talk of cetirizine’s potential in helping reduce the risk for asthma, albeit indirectly. This health issue is often characterized by inflammation in the upper and lower airways of the lungs, causing symptoms of allergic rhinitis and nonspecific vasomotor rhinitis. Since antihistamines like cetirizine target these mentioned health issues, it can aid in lowering overall asthma risk.
Sources: American Family Physician. (2015). “Treatment of Allergic Rhinitis.” National Library of Medicine. “Cetirizine.” National Library of Medicine. (2022). “Cetirizine.” Journal of Investigational Allergology & Clinical Immunology. (2000). “Double-blind study of cetirizine and loratadine versus placebo in patients with allergic rhinitis.” Healthline. (2020). “Cetirizine.” Clinical and Molecular Allergy. (2020). “Cetirizine use in childhood: an update of a friendly 30-year drug.”
Cetirizine versus other antihistamines
If you’re wondering if cetirizine works better than the other antihistamines it’s grouped with, do note that information is limited. There aren’t many studies highlighting major differences between cetirizine and other second-generation antihistamines.
However, there are some findings that do discuss how cetirizine slightly edges out other antihistamines. A 2000 study revealed that cetirizine was slightly better than loratadine and significantly better than a placebo when it came to addressing allergy symptoms.
Another study, this time published in 2020, also highlighted that cetirizine showed more favorable results than levocetirizine and loratadine in targeting health issues linked to allergic rhinitis.
Sources: National Library of Medicine. (2022). “Cetirizine.” Journal of Investigational Allergology & Clinical Immunology. (2000). “Cetirizine, loratadine, or placebo in subjects with seasonal allergic rhinitis: Effects after controlled ragweed pollen challenge in an environmental exposure unit.” Clinical and Molecular Allergy. (2020). “Cetirizine use in childhood: an update of a friendly 30-year drug.”
Is cetirizine prescribed for everyone - even kids?
Cetirizine was first recommended for use in 1990 (at least 30 years ago). Since then, researchers have conducted numerous studies on its possible effect towards various ages of people. The good news is, a lot of findings related to this antihistamine showed that it can be prescribed to kids. However, researchers note that cetirizine can be beneficial for both adolescents or adults too - truly an antihistamine for all ages.
If you’re interested in utilizing cetirizine for allergies, it is best to talk with your doctor or your child’s pediatrician about it. They can determine how mild or severe allergy symptoms are, their potential causes, and ideal dosage needed for each case.
Pregnant women can benefit from it
A lot of pregnant women are wary about taking medication to address allergies due to the potential risks for their unborn child. However, this does not erase the fact that pregnant women are still prone to allergy symptoms like allergic rhinitis and urticaria or hives. Experts have stressed the need for these symptoms to be addressed right away to prevent further complications.
When it comes to antihistamines for pregnant women, cetirizine may be an option. Results of a 2018 study highlighted that there were no adverse pregnancy effects linked to cetirizine exposure. This is a step in the right direction when it comes to the effect of an antihistamine like cetirizine during a pregnancy.
To be on the safe side though, make sure to consult with your gynecologist first before using cetirizine during a pregnancy. Not all women’s bodies are the same and they can react differently to medicines. As such, there may still be risks when you take medicines while pregnant. Moreover, if you are still experiencing any allergic reactions, seek medical attention immediately to help address symptoms and prevent further complications.
Source: (2018). “Safety of cetirizine in pregnancy.” Mayo Clinic. (2020). “Chronic hives.”
Count on cetirizine for allergy relief
With these findings in mind, now is the time to make the switch to Cetirizine Dihydrochloride (Alnix®) for all-day allergy relief up to 24 hours. Cetirizine Dihydrochloride (Alnix®) helps address sneezing, runny and itchy nose, and itchy watery eyes caused by allergies, as well as skin allergy symptoms like itch and rashes.
Before you become affected with allergy symptoms, be ready with the tools you need to combat these right away. Take Cetirizine Dihydrochloride (Alnix®) to help address dreaded allergy symptoms, with proper diet and exercise.
CETIRIZINE DIHYDROCHLORIDE is the generic name of Alnix®.
If symptoms persist, consult your doctor.
