FDA pregnancy category B. This medication is not expected to be harmful to an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment.
As mentioned, allergies occur when the body's immune system reacts to normally harmless substances that do not bother most people. This reaction is partly caused by the release of histamine from certain cells in the body. Zyrtec blocks histamine from binding to histamine receptors and causing allergy symptoms. Since histamine is responsible for many of the symptoms of allergies, blocking it can be helpful. It is important to note that antihistamines (including Zyrtec) do not help treat nasal congestion caused by allergies, since this symptom is not due to histamine.
On occasion, your healthcare provider may recommend Zyrtec for something other than allergies or hives. Currently, there are no universally accepted off-label Zyrtec uses.
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