Tell your doctor if you regularly use 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). They can add to sleepiness caused by cetirizine.
ZyrtecŪ is a non-prescription medication used to treat several allergy symptoms, including runny nose, sneezing, and itchy eyes. The drug is also used to treat itching due to hives (which may or not be caused by allergies). Zyrtec works by blocking the effects of histamine -- a chemical in the body that causes sneezing, itching, and irritation when you come into contact with something you're allergic to. While some people take the drug year-round, others take it only during allergy season.
SIDE EFFECTS: Sleepiness occurs in 14% of patients. Dry mouth, nausea, headache, fatigue, jitteriness and sore throat are infrequently reported with cetirizine.
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