Cetirizine and Pseudoephedrine (Systemic)

Brand Names : Zyrtec-D 12 hour

Before Using This Medicine

In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For cetirizine and pseudoephedrine, the following should be considered:

Allergies - Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to cetirizine or other antihistamines (especially hydroxyzine [e.g. Atarax]) or pseudoephedrine, or to amphetamine, dextroamphetamine (e.g., Dexedrine), ephedrine (e.g., Ephed II), epinephrine (e.g., Adrenalin), isoproterenol (e.g., Isuprel), metaproterenol (e.g., Alupent), methamphetamine (e.g., Desoxyn), norepinephrine (e.g., Levophed), phenylephrine (e.g., Neo-Synephrine), phenylpropanolamine (e.g., Dexatrim), or terbutaline (e.g., Brethine). Also tell your health care professional if you are allergic to any other substances, such as foods, preservatives, or dyes.

Pregnancy - The combination of cetirizine and pseudoephedrine has not been studied in pregnant women. However, studies in animals have shown that cetirizine and pseudoephedrine causes birth defects. Discuss with your doctor whether or not you should continue to use this medicine if you become pregnant.

Breast-feeding - Cetirizine and pseudoephedrine do pass into breast milk. Use is not recommended since the chances are greater for this medicine to cause side effects in the nursing baby.

Children - Use is not recommended in infants and children up to 12 years of age. In children 12 years of age and older, this medicine is not expected to cause different side effects or problems than it does in adults.

Older adults - Many medicines have not been studied specifically in older people. Therefore, it may not be known whether they work exactly the same way they do in younger adults or if they cause different side effects or problems in older people. There is no specific information comparing use of cetirizine and pseudoephedrine in the elderly with use in other age groups.

Other medicines - Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking cetirizine and pseudoephedrine, it is especially important that your doctor and pharmacist know if you are taking any of the following:

• Alcohol or
• Central nervous system (CNS) depressants (medicine that causes drowsiness) or
• Tricycylic antidepressants (amitriptyline [e.g. Elavil], amoxapine [e.g. Asendin], clomipramine [ e.g. Anafranil], desipramine [e.g. Norpramin], doxepin [e.g. Sinequan], imipramine [ e.g. Tofranil], nortriptyline [e.g. Aventyl, Pamelor], protriptyline [e.g., Vivactil], trimipramine [e.g. Surmontil]) - Cetirizine will add to the effects of alcohol and other CNS depressants, including tricyclic antidepressants, possibly causing drowsiness

• Digitalis glycosides (heart medicine) - Use with pseudoephedrine may cause problems with unusual heartbeats.
• Monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitors (furazolidone [e.g., Furoxone], isocarboxazid [e.g., Marplan], phenelzine [e.g., Nardil], procarbazine [e.g., Matulane], selegiline [e.g., Eldepryl], tranylcypromine [e.g., Parnate]) - If you are now taking, or have taken within the past 2 weeks, any of the MAO inhibitors, the side effects of pseudoephedrine may become more severe; these medicines should not be used together.

Other medical problems - The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of cetirizine and pseudoephedrine. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:

• Kidney disease - Removal of cetirizine and pseudoephedrine from the body may be reduced

For cetirizine
• Liver disease - May be worsened by cetirizine

For pseudoephedrine
• Diabetes or
• Heart disease or
• High blood pressure or
• Inner eye pressure or
• Narrow-angle glaucoma or
• Urination difficulties or
• Prostrate, enlarged or
• Thyroid problems - May be worsened by pseudoephedrine