Drug Interactions With Cetirizine

Several medications can interact with cetirizine, including narcotics, antidepressants, and antipsychotic medications. Drug interactions with cetirizine can increase your risk of side effects and lead to potentially serious problems. For example, combining cetirizine with other medications that cause drowsiness could lead to confusion and memory loss. To avoid drug interactions with cetirizine, tell your healthcare provider about all medications you are taking.

 

Drug Interactions With Cetirizine: An Overview

Cetirizine hydrochloride (Zyrtec®) can potentially interact with a few other medications. Some of the medicines that may lead to drug interactions with cetirizine include:
 
 
  • Theophylline (Uniphyl®, Theocron®, TheoCap®, Theo-24®, Elixophyllin®).
     

More Information on Interactions With Cetirizine

The following sections explain in detail the potentially negative interactions that can occur when cetirizine is combined with any of the drugs listed above.
 
Medications That Cause Drowsiness
Even though cetirizine is known as a "non-sedating" antihistamine, it can cause drowsiness in some people. Combining cetirizine with other medications that cause drowsiness could increase the risk of serious problems, such as drowsiness, confusion, memory loss, or difficulty breathing. Serious reactions could also occur. Check with your healthcare provider before combining cetirizine with any other medication (or substance, such as alcohol) that causes drowsiness.
(Drug Interactions With Cetirizine Continued: Page 2)
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Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD;