No, plain cetirizine (Zyrtec) does not typically raise blood pressure and is generally considered safe for people with hypertension, but cetirizine-decongestant combinations (like Zyrtec-D) can increase blood pressure because of the decongestant ingredient (pseudoephedrine). Always check the label to ensure you're getting the non-decongestant formula and consult a doctor or pharmacist if you have high blood pressure.
Second-generation antihistamines that aren't combined with decongestants are the best choice for people with high blood pressure. These antihistamines will not raise your blood pressure further. These include oral medications like: Cetirizine (Zyrtec)
Common side effects of cetirizine
Although rare, some individuals may experience changes in heart rhythm or increased heart rate while taking cetirizine. This can cause rapid, pounding, or fluttering sensations in the chest. If you experience any unusual heart-related symptoms, seek prompt medical attention to rule out any other underlying issues.
While effective at reducing symptoms, antihistamines can dry out the nasal cavity and lead to nosebleeds.
What is this medication? CETIRIZINE (se TI ra zeen) prevents and treats allergy symptoms, such as red, itchy eyes, sneezing, a runny or stuffy nose, or hives. It works by blocking histamine, a substance released by the body during an allergic reaction. It belongs to a group of medications called antihistamines.
Symptoms of Overdose
have kidney failure. have epilepsy or another health problem that means you're at risk of having seizures or fits. have a condition that means you have difficulty peeing. are due to have an allergy test – taking cetirizine may affect the results, so you might need to stop taking it a few days before the test.
Newer antihistamines like fexofenadine, ceterizine and loratadine are all fairly safe for the heart, with fexofenadine seeming to be the absolute safest if you are at risk of arrythmia.
Results: Outpatients who received cetirizine and hydroxyzine treatments reported higher scores on the depression, anxiety, and fatigue sub-scales than those who received desloratadine, levocetirizine, and rupatadine.
you should know that cetirizine may make you drowsy. Do not drive a car or operate machinery until you know how this medication affects you. remember that alcohol can add to the drowsiness caused by this medication. Avoid drinking alcoholic beverages while taking this medication.
Side effects of antihistamines
A healthy diastolic pressure is less than 80 mm Hg. Your blood pressure is high when you have consistent systolic readings of 130 mm Hg or higher, or diastolic readings of 80 mm Hg or higher.
Non-drowsy oral antihistamines, such as Claritin (loratadine), are also safe options. Nasalcrom (cromolyn) nasal spray and antihistamine eye drops, such as Zaditor (ketotifen) are also safe for older adults.
Phenylephrine. For those with high blood pressure, phenylephrine is an alternative to pseudoephedrine. They are in the same drug class known as nasal decongestants, which help relieve sinus congestion and pressure. You can buy products containing phenylephrine right off the shelf at the pharmacy.
Antihistamines (Non-Drowsy Formulas)
Antihistamines are safe for high blood pressure patients because they don't constrict blood vessels or counteract blood pressure medication. Examples of popular antihistamines include: Loratadine (Claritin)
When selecting the safest antihistamine for long-term use, it's important to consider the possible side effects. Non-drowsy options like loratadine and cetirizine are among the safest choices for long-term allergy relief.
Antihistamines, like loratadine (Clarityn) and cetirizine (Piriteze), are also widely used. They work by blocking chemicals in your blood called histamines that cause hay fever symptoms. They are generally safe for people with high blood pressure and heart and circulatory diseases.
On May 23, 2025, the FDA issued a warning that patients stopping the oral allergy medicines cetirizine (Zyrtec) or levocetirizine (Xyzal) after long-term use may experience rare but severe itching. These medicines are available in prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) forms.
No, there aren't any interactions reported between cetirizine and blood pressure medications. However, people with high blood pressure need to be careful using some combination products that contain cetirizine. Some combination medicines also contain a decongestant, such as pseudoephedrine.
Cetirizine is unlikely to do you any harm if you take it for a long time. However it's best to take it 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.
Cetirizine reaches peak plasma concentration after approximately 1 hour. The effects of cetirizine typically begin after 20 to 60 minutes and persist for at least 24 hours. Food does not affect the extent of exposure (AUC) of cetirizine, but the time to attain peak concentration is delayed by 1.7 hours.
What may interact with this medication?