Zyrtec can stay in the bloodstream for around 24 hours after it's been taken. You should not drink during this time, and mixing any kind of drugs should be avoided at all costs. Mixing prescription medications like Zyrtec and alcohol can result in health complications and potentially dangerous side effects.
It's best to wait to drink alcohol until an allergy medication has fully left your system. Benadryl, Claritin, and Zyrtec are likely cleared from your body about 2 days after your last dose.
Zyrtec may interact with other medicines that make you sleepy (such as other cold or allergy medicine, narcotic pain medicine, sleeping pills, muscle relaxers, and medicine for seizures, depression, or anxiety).
Official answer. The elimination half-life of Zyrtec is between 8 to 9 hours. It takes approximately 5.5 x elimination half-life for a medicine to be cleared from your system. For Zyrtec this is 5.5 x 9 hours which is about 2 days.
Cetirizine can be taken at any time of the day. In most people it is non-sedating, so they take it in the morning. However, a percentage of people do find it to be sedating so if it does make you drowsy it is best to take it in the evening. Cetirizine can be taken with or without food.
Mixing alcohol and Zyrtec should be avoided. When combined, the risks can include extreme drowsiness and sedation. If mixed, the individual may also become intoxicated more quickly than he or she normally would, and it can be unsafe due to a lack of judgment or coordination.
Common Zyrtec side effects may include:
feeling hot, sweating; numbness, tingling, burning pain; altered sense of taste; upset stomach, constipation; or.
Cetirizine is unlikely to do you any harm if you take it for a long time. However it's best to take cetirizine only for as long as you need to. If you take it regularly over a long period there's a very small chance of severe itching if you stop treatment suddenly.
Try not to drink alcohol while taking an antihistamine, particularly if it's a type that makes you drowsy, as it can increase the chances of it making you feel sleepy. Food and other drinks do not affect most antihistamines, but check the leaflet that comes with your medicine to make sure.
For some people, alcohol can also make allergy symptoms worse. People who experience discomfort, such as stomach cramps, hives, or other unusual symptoms, after drinking alcohol may have one of the following: allergic symptoms due to immune system problems that result from alcohol consumption.
Stop drinking alcohol if you keep experiencing symptoms. Visit your doctor if you discover that alcohol is a new trigger for your allergies or asthma. If you have asthma, be sure to keep your inhaler with you.
There are 249 drugs known to interact with Zyrtec (cetirizine), along with 2 disease interactions, and 1 alcohol/food interaction. Of the total drug interactions, 1 is major, 246 are moderate, and 2 are minor.
The onset of effect occurs within 20 minutes in 50% of people and within an hour in 95%. Effects persist for at least 24 hours following a single dose of Zyrtec. No tolerance has been found to Zyrtec's antihistaminic effect. Once discontinued, the skin recovers its normal reactivity to histamine within three days.
Many allergy medications, such as Zyrtec, are recommended every 24 hours. By taking the medication before bedtime you're more likely to get through the night without the active ingredients wearing off or becoming less effective closer to the end of the 24 hour period.
Antihistamines are a class of drugs that are used to treat allergy symptoms. While newer-generation antihistamines like Allegra and Zyrtec are less likely to cause drowsiness than older drugs like Benadryl, they have been linked to an increased risk of weight gain in some users.
Sandoz issued a voluntary recall of 1,023,430 units of Zyrtec (10 mg) capsules as a result of failed impurities and a specification being reported for impurity at the 21-month stability time point, according to an FDA Enforcement Report.
Alcohol can increase the nervous system side effects of cetirizine such as dizziness, drowsiness, and difficulty concentrating. Some people may also experience impairment in thinking and judgment. You should avoid or limit the use of alcohol while being treated with cetirizine.
Ask a healthcare provider when it's okay to start drinking again. Sometimes you may need to wait 48 to 72 hours after your last dose before it's safe to have an alcoholic beverage. Remember, you'll be taking the antibiotic or antifungal medication only for a matter of days or weeks.
ZYRTEC® can be taken either with or without food. How fast does ZYRTEC® start working? ZYRTEC® begins to work at hour 1 on the first day you take it.
Drowsiness, tiredness, and dry mouth may occur. Stomach pain may also occur, especially in children. If any of these effects last or get worse, tell your doctor or pharmacist promptly.
Hepatotoxicity. Cetirizine and levocetirizine use are not generally associated with liver enzyme elevations, but have been linked to rare instances of clinically apparent liver injury.
Is Zyrtec safe for someone with kidney disease? Cetirizine (Zyrtec) is primarily eliminated through the kidney; however, it is also partially metabolized in the liver. Patients with renal dysfunction may be more susceptible to cetirizine side effects due to poor medication clearance.