Frequently Asked Questions
Questions about ZYRTEC®
ZYRTEC® is an over-the-counter medicine that provides effective, 24-hour relief of indoor and outdoor allergy symptoms.
ZYRTEC® relieves your worst allergy symptoms of sneezing, runny nose, itchy, watery eyes, and itchy nose or throat.
Yes. ZYRTEC® contains cetirizine HCl, which is an antihistamine.
An antihistamine is a drug that blocks the action of histamine—an allergy-causing chemical that’s released by certain cells in the body. Antihistamines are used to treat runny nose, sneezing and other allergy symptoms.
Your choice. ZYRTEC® can be taken either with or without food.
ZYRTEC® begins to work at hour 1 on the first day you take it.
ZYRTEC® provides 24-hour relief, all day and all night.
The ZYRTEC® package label doesn’t state a limit on how long you can take ZYRTEC®. Talk to your doctor if you have any questions, especially if you’re taking other medicines or being treated for any other conditions.
Any time of day works. And ZYRTEC® will continue to work for 24 hours.
No. Since 2008, ZYRTEC® has been available over the counter, without a prescription.
Yes. Today’s ZYRTEC® has the same exact strength as the version that required a prescription previously.
Studies in adults show that about 14% of patients experienced somnolence, or drowsiness, and studies in children show that about 4% of patients experienced somnolence while on ZYRTEC®.
Most adult studies also show that the percentage of patients on ZYRTEC® 10 mg reporting somnolence decreased each week.*
While everyone reacts differently to medication, drowsiness may occur with ZYRTEC® and could lessen over time. See Zyrtec® label warnings section.
*Majority of studies were 2 weeks in duration.
No. If your ZYRTEC® has expired, please discard it properly and get a new package. (See next question.)
Do NOT dispose of any ZYRTEC® product by emptying it into your sink, toilet or storm drain. Check to see if your pharmacy or community has a take-back program in which you can drop off your expired or unused medicine for them to dispose for you. Otherwise, place your medicine in an unmarked, sealed container and dispose of the container in your household trash. Visit the FDA website for more information.
No. Do not use multiple ZYRTEC® products that contain cetirizine at the same time. Also, do not use ZYRTEC® products that contain cetirizine with other antihistamine medications. For example, Benadryl® and ZYRTEC® or Claritin® and ZYRTEC® should not be taken together. Combining ZYRTEC® with other antihistamine medications can lead to serious complications and, in rare cases, an antihistamine overdose. If you suspect that you or someone you know is experiencing an antihistamine overdose, immediately call 911 or the poison control helpline at 1-800-222-1222.
For information on appropriate dosage and warnings, please review the ZYRTEC® product label, available on the packaging or on our website. Reach out to your health care provider on any questions about taking ZYRTEC® with other medications.
Questions about ZYRTEC® Dissolve Tabs
ZYRTEC® Dissolve Tabs provide the same fast relief as ZYRTEC® Tablets and ZYRTEC® Liquid Gels. All ZYRTEC® medicines start working at hour 1 on the first day you take it.
ZYRTEC® Dissolve Tabs are designed to dissolve in your mouth without chewing or drinking water, but it’s perfectly fine to chew or swallow them.
Questions about ZYRTEC-D®
ZYRTEC-D® contains pseudoephedrine, which relieves nasal congestion. So it relieves all the same symptoms as ZYRTEC®, plus it also has a powerful decongestant. For more, see: “What symptoms does ZYRTEC® relieve?”
ZYRTEC-D® contains a nasal decongestant that narrows the blood vessels in the nose and sinus region, which shrinks the tissue in that area to allow air and mucus to flow normally.
Pseudoephedrine, an active ingredient in some cold, allergy, and sinus products, can be chemically processed into methamphetamine (commonly known as meth). The illegal use of meth had increased, prompting Congress to pass the Combat Methamphetamine Epidemic Act of 2006 (CEMA). The objective of the law is to eliminate the use of pseudoephedrine in the illegal production of meth. By law, products containing pseudoephedrine must now be sold behind the counter and through online retailers who must meet certain requirements.
Note that products containing pseudoephedrine remain available without a prescription in most states.
Questions about Children’s ZYRTEC®
Always follow the instructions that come with Children’s ZYRTEC®. When taking Children’s ZYRTEC® Allergy Syrup, be sure to use the dosing cup that comes in the package. Other items like kitchen teaspoons, droppers or measuring devices that come with other medicines may not be accurate. If you have any questions about treating your child’s allergies, please speak with your doctor.
For information on side effects, please read the Children’s ZYRTEC® product label or review the product details on this site.
Children’s ZYRTEC® Allergy Syrup can be taken by kids 2 years and older, whereas Children’s ZYRTEC® Dissolve Tabs is for ages 6 and up.
There is no difference. Both products contain 10mg of cetirizine in the same citrus flavor and can be taken by both adults and children 6 years and older.
General Allergy Questions
If you find yourself sneezing a lot or have a consistently runny or stuffy nose, there’s a good chance you have upper respiratory allergies. Allergies affect more than 50 million people in the United States alone.
People with allergies can experience lots of symptoms, including sneezing, runny nose, stuffy nose (nasal congestion), or itchy, watery eyes.
If you only develop upper respiratory symptoms at certain times of the year (often spring or fall), you probably have seasonal allergic rhinitis, or outdoor allergies. These allergies can be triggered by trees, grass and weed pollens, or outdoor mold. Learn more about outdoor allergies.
If you have symptoms all year round, it’s likely perennial allergic rhinitis, or indoor allergies. Common triggers include animal dander (tiny skin flakes or saliva from animals), indoor mold and dust mites. Learn more about indoor allergies.
In addition to taking ZYRTEC®, you may want to:
Keep your windows closed and use air conditioning instead
Stay indoors during peak pollen hours. Pollen counts tend to be higher in the morning and into the early afternoon, although there are exceptions to this.
Change your clothes after you’ve been outside
Don’t hang your laundry outside to dry
Avoid mowing the lawn or raking leaves
Learn more outdoor allergy relief tips.
In addition to taking ZYRTEC®, you may want to:
Clean the filters in your air conditioner and heater regularly
Vacuum often, especially carpets and upholstered furniture
Keep your pets bathed and groomed
Run an air purifier
Crack open the bathroom window during showers
Learn more about indoor allergies.
Questions about purchasing ZYRTEC®
Visit our Coupon page to sign up for a ZYRTEC® coupon that can be used at a retailer of your choice.
We´ve made it easy to find and purchase ZYRTEC® products from your preferred retailers by visiting our Where to Buy page.
For all other comments, questions, and feedback about our products, please email us. Please note: our response time to emails is typically between 48-72 hours.
For an immediate response or to report an adverse event or a side effect from our products, please call us at
Monday – Friday 9:00am – 5:30pm ET
