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Cetirizine Hydrochloride Oral Solution
Overview
Active ingredients
Source: NDC DirectoryForms, strengths and routes
Source: NDC DirectoryPharmacologic classes are listed in the class section below.
Pharmacologic class
Source: NDC Directory| Class | Type | Browse |
|---|---|---|
| Histamine H1 Receptor Antagonists [MoA] | MoA | All 136 members |
| Histamine-1 Receptor Antagonist [EPC] | EPC | All 134 members |
Regulatory status
Source: Drugs@FDANDC Directory| Product | Trade name | Form | Strength | Ingredient | Status | TE | Flags |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 078870-001 | CETIRIZINE HYDROCHLORIDE | SOLUTION | CETIRIZINE HYDROCHLORIDE | Prescription | AA |
Therapeutic equivalence
Source: Orange BookWhat this rating means: Therapeutically equivalent — no known or suspected bioequivalence problems (conventional dosage forms)
Codes beginning with “A” indicate products the FDA considers therapeutically equivalent. Codes beginning with “B” indicate bioequivalence has not been established. See methodology.
Approval history
Source: Drugs@FDA| Type | No. | Action | Status | Date | Review |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Supplement | 12 | Labeling | Approved | July 11, 2025 | Standard |
| Supplement | 6 | Labeling | Approved | April 19, 2023 | Standard |
| Supplement | 4 | Labeling | Approved | November 8, 2016 | Standard |
| Original application | 1 | Approved | April 27, 2009 | — |
Prescribing information
Source: openFDA Drug LabelingReproduced verbatim from the Structured Product Labeling submitted to the FDA (effective 20250627). This is the manufacturer's labelling text, not a summary and not advice.
Indications and Usage
openFDA Drug LabelingINDICATIONS & USAGE Perennial Allergic Rhinitis: Cetirizine Hydrochloride Oral Solution, USP is indicated for the relief of symptoms associated with perennial allergic rhinitis due to allergens such as dust mites, animal dander and molds in children 6 to 23 months of age. Symptoms treated effectively include sneezing, rhinorrhea, postnasal discharge, nasal pruritus, ocular pruritus, and tearing. Chronic Urticaria: Cetirizine Hydrochloride Oral Solution, USP is indicated for the treatment of the uncomplicated skin manifestations of chronic idiopathic urticaria in children 6 months to 5 years of age. It significantly reduces the occurrence, severity, and duration of hives and significantly reduces pruritus.
Dosage and Administration
openFDA Drug LabelingDOSAGE & ADMINISTRATION Cetirizine Hydrochloride Oral Solution, USP can be taken without regard to food consumption. Children 2 to 5 Years for Chronic Urticaria: The recommended initial dose of Cetirizine Hydrochloride Oral Solution,USP in children aged 2 to 5 years is 2.5 mg (1⁄2 teaspoonful) oral solution once daily. The dosage in this age group can be increased to a maximum dose of 5 mg per day given as 1 teaspoonful oral solution once a day, or one 1⁄2 teaspoonful oral solution given every 12 hours. Children 6 months to < 2 years for Perennial Allergic Rhinitis and Chronic Urticaria: The recommended dose of Cetirizine Hydrochloride Oral Solution, USP in children 6 months to 23 months of age is 2.5 mg (1⁄2 teaspoonful) once daily. The dose in children 12 to 23 months of age can be increased to a maximum dose of 5 mg per day, given as 1⁄2 teaspoonful (2.5 mg) every 12 hours.
Contraindications
openFDA Drug LabelingCONTRAINDICATIONS Cetirizine Hydrochloride Oral Solution, USP is contraindicated in those patients with a known hypersensitivity to it or any of its ingredients or hydroxyzine.
Adverse Reactions
openFDA Drug LabelingADVERSE REACTIONS Pediatric studies were conducted with cetirizine hydrochloride. More than 1300 pediatric patients aged 6 to 11 years with more than 900 treated with cetirizine hydrochloride at doses of 1.25 to 10 mg per day were included in controlled and uncontrolled clinical trials conducted in the United States. The duration of treatment ranged from 2 to 12 weeks. Placebo-controlled trials up to 4 weeks duration included 168 pediatric patients aged 2 to 5 years who received cetirizine, the majority of whom received single daily doses of 5 mg. A placebo-controlled trial 18 months in duration included 399 patients aged 12 to 24 months treated with cetirizine (0.25 mg/kg bid), and another placebo-controlled trial of 7 days duration included 42 patients aged 6 to 11 months who were treated with cetirizine (0.25 mg/kg bid). The majority of adverse reactions reported in pediatric patients aged 2 to 11 years with cetirizine hydrochloride were mild or moderate. In placebo-controlled trials, the incidence of discontinuations due to adverse reactions in pediatric patients receiving up to 10 mg of cetirizine hydrochloride was uncommon (0.4% on cetirizine hydrochloride vs. 1.0% on placebo). Table 1 lists adverse experiences which were reported for cetirizine hydrochloride 5 and 10 mg in pediatric patients aged 6 to 11 years in placebo-controlled clinical trials in the United States and were more common with cetirizine hydrochloride than placebo. Of these, abdominal pain was considered treatment-related and somnolence appeared to be dose-related, 1.3% in placebo, 1.9% at 5 mg and 4.2% at 10 mg. The adverse experiences reported in pediatric patients aged 2 to 5 years in placebo-controlled trials were qualitatively similar in nature and generally similar in frequency to those reported in trials with children aged 6 to 11 years. In the placebo-controlled trials of pediatric patients 6 to 24 months of age, the incidences of adverse experiences were similar in the cetirizine and placebo treatment groups in each study. Somnolence occurred with essentially the same frequency in patients who received cetirizine and patients who received placebo. In a study of 1 week duration in children 6-11 months of age, patients who received cetirizine exhibited greater irritability/fussiness than patients on placebo. In a study of 18 months duration in patients 12 months and older, insomnia occurred more frequently in patients who received cetirizine compared to patients who received placebo (9.0% v. 5.3%). In those patients who received 5 mg or more per day of cetirizine as compared to patients who received placebo, fatigue (3.6% v. 1.3%) and malaise (3.6% v. 1.8%) occurred more frequently. Table 1. Adverse Experiences Reported in Pediatric Patients Aged 6 to 11 Years in Placebo-Controlled United States Cetirizine Hydrochloride Trials (5 or 10 mg Dose) Which Occurred at a Frequency of ≥ 2% in Either the 5 mg or the 10 mg Cetirizine Hydrochloride Group, and More Frequently Than in the Placebo Group Adverse Experiences Placebo (N=309) Cetirizine Hydrochloride 5 mg (N=161) 10mg (N=215) Headache 12.3% 11.0% 14.0% Pharyngitis 2.9% 6.2% 2.8% Abdominal Pains 1.9% 4.4% 5.6% Coughing 3.9% 4.4% 2.8% Somnolence 1.3% 1.9% 4.2% Diarrhea 1.3% 3.1% 1.9% Epistaxis 2.9% 3.7% 1.9% Bronchospasm 1.9% 3.1% 1.9% Nausea 1.9% 1.9% 2.8% Vomiting 1.0% 2.5% 2.3% The following events were observed infrequently (less than 2%), in either 3,982 adults and children 12 years and older or in 659 pediatric patients aged 6 to 11 years who received cetirizine hydrochloride in U.S. trials, including an open adult study of six months duration. A causal relationship of these infrequent events with cetirizine hydrochloride administration has not been established. Autonomic Nervous System: anorexia, flushing, increased salivation, urinary retention. Cardiovascular: cardiac failure, hypertension, palpitation, tachycardia. Central and Peripheral Nervous Systems: abnormal coordination, ataxia, conf …
Description
openFDA Drug LabelingDESCRIPTION Cetirizine hydrochloride is an orally active and selective H 1 -receptor antagonist. The chemical name is (±) - [2-[4-[(4-chlorophenyl)phenylmethyl] -1-piperazinyl] ethoxy] acetic acid, dihydrochloride. Cetirizine hydrochloride is a racemic compound with an empirical formula of C 21 H 25 C l N 2 O 3 •2HCl. The molecular weight is 461.82 and the chemical structure is shown below: Cetirizine hydrochloride is a white, crystalline powder and is water soluble. Cetirizine hydrochloride oral solution is a colorless to slightly yellow syrup containing cetirizine hydrochloride at a concentration of 1 mg/mL (5 mg/5 mL) for oral administration. The pH is between 4 and 5. The inactive ingredients of the syrup are: Cetirizine Hydrochloride Oral Solution, USP - Fruity Flavor: calcium acetate; fruity flavor; glacial acetic acid; glycerin; methylparaben; propylene glycol; propylparaben; and water. Cetirizine Hydrochloride Oral Solution, USP - Grape Flavor: calcium acetate; glacial acetic acid; glycerin; grape flavor; methylparaben; propylene glycol; propylparaben; and water. "Image Description"
Overdosage
openFDA Drug LabelingOVERDOSAGE Overdosage has been reported with cetirizine hydrochloride. In one adult patient who took 150 mg of cetirizine hydrochloride, the patient was somnolent but did not display any other clinical signs or abnormal blood chemistry or hematology results. In an 18 month old pediatric patient who took an overdose of cetirizine hydrochloride (approximately 180 mg), restlessness and irritability were observed initially; this was followed by drowsiness. Should overdose occur, treatment should be symptomatic or supportive, taking into account any concomitantly ingested medications. There is no known specific antidote to cetirizine hydrochloride. Cetirizine hydrochloride is not effectively removed by dialysis, and dialysis will be ineffective unless a dialyzable agent has been concomitantly ingested. The acute minimal lethal oral doses were 237 mg/kg in mice (approximately 95 times the maximum recommended daily oral dose in adults on a mg/m 2 basis, or approximately 40 times the maximum recommended daily oral dose in infants on a mg/m 2 basis) and 562 mg/kg in rats (approximately 460 times the maximum recommended daily oral dose in adults on a mg/m 2 basis, or approximately 190 times the maximum recommended daily oral dose in infants on a mg/m 2 basis). In rodents, the target of acute toxicity was the central nervous system, and the target of multiple-dose toxicity was the liver.
How Supplied / Storage and Handling
openFDA Drug LabelingHOW SUPPLIED Cetirizine Hydrochloride Oral Solution, USP is colorless to slightly yellow and available in fruity or grape flavor. Each teaspoon (5 mL) contains 5 mg cetirizine hydrochloride. Cetirizine Hydrochloride Oral Solution, USP is supplied as follows: NDC 62135-058-41 (Fruity Flavor) 120 mL bottles NDC 62135-058-47 (Fruity Flavor) 473 mL bottles NDC 62135-057-41 (Grape Flavor) 120 mL bottles NDC 62135-057-47 (Grape Flavor) 473 mL bottles STORAGE: Store at 20° to 25°C (68° to 77°F); excursions permitted to 15° to 30°C (59° to 86°F) [see USP Controlled Room Temperature]. Manufactured by: Chartwell Pharmaceuticals Carmel, LLC. Carmel, NY 10512 Manufactured for: Chartwell RX, LLC. Congers, NY 10920 Rev. 06/2022 L70915
Adverse event reports
Source: openFDA FAERSAttributed to this product's most-reported active ingredient: CETIRIZINE HYDROCHLORIDE. Combination products with more than six active ingredients are not attributed, because a report count summed across a long ingredient list measures the list, not the medicine.
Packaging and NDCs
Source: NDC Directory| Package NDC | Product NDC | Labeler | Description | Marketing start |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 83745-185-04 | 83745-185 | APOZEAL PHARMACEUTICALS INC | 120 mL in 1 BOTTLE (83745-185-04) | December 20, 2024 |
| 83745-185-08 | 83745-185 | APOZEAL PHARMACEUTICALS INC | 240 mL in 1 BOTTLE (83745-185-08) | December 20, 2024 |
| 83745-185-16 | 83745-185 | APOZEAL PHARMACEUTICALS INC | 480 mL in 1 BOTTLE (83745-185-16) | December 20, 2024 |
| 62135-057-41 | 62135-057 | Chartwell RX, LLC | 120 mL in 1 BOTTLE (62135-057-41) | June 8, 2022 |
| 62135-057-47 | 62135-057 | Chartwell RX, LLC | 473 mL in 1 BOTTLE (62135-057-47) | June 8, 2022 |
| 68788-8890-1 | 68788-8890 | Preferred Pharmaceuticals Inc. | 120 mL in 1 BOTTLE (68788-8890-1) | June 27, 2025 |
| 83745-185 | 83745-185 | APOZEAL PHARMACEUTICALS INC | — | December 20, 2024 |
| 62135-057 | 62135-057 | Chartwell RX, LLC | — | May 11, 2012 |
| 68788-8890 | 68788-8890 | Preferred Pharmaceuticals Inc. | — | June 27, 2025 |
Sources for this page
| Dataset | Agency | Used for |
|---|---|---|
| NDC Directory | FDA | Identity, ingredients, strengths, forms, routes, labelers, packages |
| Drugs@FDA | FDA | Application, sponsor, submissions, review documents, marketing status |
| Orange Book | FDA | Therapeutic equivalence codes, reference drug flags, patents, exclusivity |
| Drug Labeling | FDA / NLM | Prescribing information reproduced above |
| FAERS | FDA | Adverse event report counts |
Generated September 25, 2026 · 11 sections on this page.