Comparative Pharmacology
Head-to-head clinical analysis: CETIRIZINE versus HISTAFED.
Peer-Reviewed Evidence
Head-to-head clinical analysis: CETIRIZINE versus HISTAFED.
Cetirizine vs HISTAFED
Comparing the clinical profiles, pharmacokinetic behaviors, and safety indices of these two therapeutic agents.
Cetirizine is a selective second-generation H1-receptor antagonist that inhibits histamine release from mast cells and basophils, thereby reducing allergic symptoms.
HISTAFED is a combination of pseudoephedrine, a sympathomimetic amine that acts as a decongestant by stimulating alpha-adrenergic receptors in the nasal mucosa causing vasoconstriction, and triprolidine, a first-generation antihistamine that competes with histamine for H1-receptor sites on effector cells in the gastrointestinal tract, blood vessels, and respiratory tract, thereby preventing histamine-mediated effects.
10 mg orally once daily; 5 mg orally once daily for mild symptoms
60 mg orally every 4 to 6 hours as needed; maximum 360 mg per day.
None Documented
None Documented
Clinical Note
moderateCetirizine + Fluticasone propionate
"The risk or severity of adverse effects can be increased when Cetirizine is combined with Fluticasone propionate."
Clinical Note
moderateLevocetirizine + Sulfisoxazole
"The metabolism of Sulfisoxazole can be decreased when combined with Levocetirizine."
Clinical Note
moderateLevocetirizine + Erythromycin
"The metabolism of Erythromycin can be decreased when combined with Levocetirizine."
Clinical Note
moderateLevocetirizine + Cyclosporine
Terminal elimination half-life is approximately 8.3 hours in healthy adults; extended to 20 hours in elderly and patients with renal impairment
3-4 hours for pseudoephedrine component; shorter in children (2-3 h), prolonged in renal impairment
Primarily renal (60% unchanged in urine); minor biliary/fecal (10%)
Renal (approximately 65% as unchanged drug and metabolites), biliary/fecal (35%)
Category A/B
Category C
Antihistamine
Antihistamine/Decongestant Combination
"The metabolism of Cyclosporine can be decreased when combined with Levocetirizine."