Precautions and Warnings With Cetirizine and Pseudoephedrine

To ensure a safe treatment process, it's a good idea to review precautions and warnings with cetirizine and pseudoephedrine. For example, if you have liver or kidney disease, your body may not handle the drug as well as it should. Precautions and warnings with cetirizine and pseudoephedrine also apply to people with glaucoma, enlarged prostate, and thyroid disease.

 

Cetirizine and Pseudoephedrine: What Should I Tell My Healthcare Provider?

You should talk with your healthcare provider prior to taking cetirizine and pseudoephedrine (Zyrtec-D®) if you have:
 
Also, let your healthcare provider know if you are:
 
  • Pregnant or thinking of becoming pregnant
  • Breastfeeding.
     
Make sure to tell your healthcare provider about all medicines you take, including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.
 

Specific Precautions and Warnings With Cetirizine and Pseudoephedrine

Warnings and precautions to be aware of prior to taking cetirizine and pseudoephedrine include the following:
 
  • The pseudoephedrine component may make many medical conditions worse, such as:
 
If you have any of these conditions, check with your healthcare provider before taking cetirizine and pseudoephedrine. Plain Zyrtec®, which does not contain pseudoephedrine, may be a better choice for you.
  • If you have liver or kidney disease, your body may not handle this medication as well as it should. Check with your healthcare provider before taking it, as you may need a lower cetirizine and pseudoephedrine dosage.
     
  • Cetirizine and pseudoephedrine can potentially interact with a few other medications (see Drug Interactions With Cetirizine and Pseudoephedrine).
     
  • Cetirizine and pseudoephedrine is considered a pregnancy Category C medication. This means that it may not be safe for use during pregnancy, although the full risks are not currently known (see Zyrtec-D and Pregnancy).
     
  • Cetirizine and pseudoephedrine passes through breast milk. Therefore, if you are breastfeeding or plan to start, discuss this with your healthcare provider prior to taking the drug (see Zyrtec-D and Breastfeeding).
     
(Precautions and Warnings With Cetirizine and Pseudoephedrine Continued: Page 2)
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Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD;