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Zirtek
Last reviewed: 23.04.2024
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Zirtek has an antihistamine effect. It is used to eliminate allergies.
Indications of the zirtek
It is used to treat such disorders:
- year-round or seasonal allergic rhinitis with nasal obstruction, itching, and sneezing;
- conjunctivitis of allergic origin, in which there is lacrimation along with the redness of the conjunctiva;
- Pollinosis;
- manifestations of allergies to the skin - dermatitis or urticaria.
Release form
Release of the medicine occurs in 2 different forms:
- tablets, 7 or 10 pieces inside the blister plate. In the box 1 plate (for 7 or 10 tablets) or 2 plates (per 10 tablets);
- Drops inside glass bottles of 10 or 20 ml capacity. Inside the package - 1 bottle, complete with which contains a capper-dropper.
[1]
Pharmacodynamics
Cetirizine is an active element of the drug - it is a competitive antagonist of the histamine component. The drug effect is due to the possibility of blocking the end of histamine H1.
Clinical signs of cetirizine exposure:
- elimination of itching;
- decrease in volume of exudate;
- slowing the process of moving blood cells involved in the development of allergies (neutrophils with eosinophils and basophils);
- stabilization of the mast cell membrane;
- strengthening the strength of small vessels;
- elimination of smooth muscle spasms;
- prevention of swelling of tissues;
- elimination of skin manifestations arising from individual allergens (after applying histamine or specific antigens, as well as cooling the skin);
- with bronchial asthma of mild character, the severity of the bronchoconstriction caused by the action of histamine decreases.
[2]
Pharmacokinetics
When you take the medicine orally, it is quickly absorbed into the bloodstream through the digestive tract. About 93% of the drug is synthesized with a protein inside the plasma. Admission together with food slows the rate of absorption of the drug, but does not change the volume of the absorbed element.
The effect of the drug develops 20-60 minutes after a single use and lasts for more than 24 hours. Peak plasma parameters are noted after the expiration of 60-90 minutes after use.
The metabolic process develops by means of o-dealkylation. The metabolic product formed as a result of this process does not possess medicinal activity.
The half-life is determined by taking into account the age of the patient:
- for adults this gap is 10 hours;
- for children of 6-12 years old age it is equal to 6 hours;
- for the age group 2-6 years - lasts 5 hours;
- In infants from 6 months to 2 years, this period lasts 3.1 hours.
Two-thirds of the intake in the form of an unchanged element is excreted through the kidneys. An important participant in the process of excretion is the liver. Because of this, if a patient has chronic liver pathologies, the half-life time is 1.5 times longer, and in the presence of moderate-type kidney failure, it is tripled.
[3],
Dosing and administration
The size of the portion is determined by the age of the patient. In addition, his condition is taken into account - for example, the presence and form of kidney failure. Often daily dosages are taken once, both forms of drugs should be taken orally. The duration of the medication is selected by the attending doctor, taking into account the severity of the allergy and diagnosis of the patient.
Scheme of the use of drops.
Serving size in view of patient's age:
- for children of the age group over 6 years old, as well as adults, the initial portion is 10 drops. If there is a need, it can be increased to 20 drops;
- children in the age group 2-6 years - use of 5 drops twice a day or 10 drops once;
- children of the age category 1-2 years should take 1-2 drops per day for 5 drops of drugs;
- For infants aged 6-12 months, the dosage is 5 drops.
Persons with liver deficiency, the size of the portion is selected depending on the values of the CC. If such a violation is observed in the child, it is necessary to take into account the weight indices when selecting a portion.
Mode of use of tablets.
The sizes of portions are selected in this way: children from the age group over 6 years and adults - 0.5 tablets (initial dosage). You can also increase it to the 1st pill per day.
Children who are younger than 6 years of age should not be prescribed tablets.
Scheme of the drug in children.
The reception of drops in children is slightly different from the way people use drugs in adults. Children can use the drug in the form of a syrup (slightly diluting it with ordinary water), and infants up to 12 months are allowed to use it in the form of drops for the nose. In this case, you must first clean the baby's nostrils, then drip on the first drop in each of them.
Continue therapy until the moment all the allergic symptoms disappear.
Use of the zirtek during pregnancy
Tests on the effects of medicament on the body of pregnant women were carried out exclusively on animals. Negative effects on the course of pregnancy, as well as intrauterine development of the fetus was noted. But due to the lack of data on the safety of drugs for the human fetus, it can not be prescribed to pregnant women.
Cetirizine is excreted together with the mother's milk, which is why when Zirtek is appointed, it is necessary to refuse breastfeeding for the duration of therapy.
Contraindications
The main contraindications:
- the presence of intolerance in relation to any drug element;
- kidney failure in severe degree.
Caution is required when appointing people with such impairments:
- moderate renal failure, which is chronic;
- elderly age;
- high convulsive readiness, as well as epilepsy;
- The presence of factors in a person that predispose to a delay in urination.
Among the additional contraindications when using tablets:
- galactosemia;
- malabsorption, including glucose-galactose;
- Children younger than 6 years of age.
Side effects of the zirtek
Often there are such side effects: a feeling of drowsiness and severe fatigue, and in addition dizziness, nausea, headaches, dry mouth mucosa, pharyngitis and runny nose.
Sometimes such violations as a state of mental arousal, paresthesia, abdominal pain, diarrhea, itching, rashes on the skin surface and asthenia are noted.
Occasionally, the following disorders develop: urticaria, tachycardia, peripheral edema, an increase in the values of functional liver samples (such as alkaline phosphatase and bilirubin, and the activity of the action of transaminases). In addition, there are hallucinations, a sense of confusion, a state of depression and aggression, signs of intolerance, sleep disturbances and convulsions. Weight gain is also observed.
Single such complications appear: taste disorders, fainting, anaphylaxis, tremor, dystonia and dyskinesia. There are also visual disorders (such as nystagmus, visual fuzziness and a disorder of accommodation). Enuresis or dysuria, thrombocytopenia and Quincke edema may develop.
Perhaps the appearance of such effects as urinary retention, memory disorders (sometimes reaching amnesia) and thoughts of suicide.
Overdose
The development of intoxication is possible with a one-time use of the medicament in a dose that is several times greater than the daily dose.
Among the signs that appear after application of approximately 50 mg Zirtek (100 drops or 5 tablets):
- a state of stupor or confusion;
- a feeling of anxiety, severe fatigue or drowsiness;
- tachycardia, pronounced sedative effect;
- diarrhea;
- tremor;
- dizziness or headaches;
- retention of urination.
To remove the disorder, you must immediately induce a patient to vomit or perform a gastric lavage. In addition, the patient can be assigned activated charcoal. The medication does not have an antidote, therefore it is required to carry out exclusively symptomatic procedures. Hemodialysis with Zirtek poisoning will be ineffective.
[11],
Interactions with other drugs
When combining the drug with theophylline, the values of the total clearance of the element cetirizine decreased by 16%.
The combination with ritonavir increases the Zirtek AUC level by 40%, and similar values of ritonavir decrease by 11%.
Simultaneous use with bupreporphin or zopiclone results in mutual potentiation of both drugs, manifestation of which is suppression of the CNS function.
The combination with diazepam leads to a mutual intensification of the effect on the NS, which is why its activity is weakened, and the reaction rate also deteriorates.
[12]
Application for children
Zirtek is often prescribed to children. But it is forbidden to appoint infants until half a year.
Analogues
Analogues of the drug are such medicines: Allertec, Aneralgine, Alercetin with Amertil, and in addition, Rolinosis and Zodak. The list also includes Cetrinol, Cetrinax, Cetirizine Hexal with Zetrin, Cetirizin-Astropharm with Cetirizine Sandoz, and in addition Cetirizin-Norton, Fenistil, Claritin and Erius.
Reviews
Zirtek usually receives positive feedback from patients. It helps to eliminate allergies, while at the same time rarely enough causing side effects. Drops are very effective and at the same time quite safe even when administered to children. The only drawback is the high price for the drug, especially in comparison with its counterparts.
Drops administered to children also receive many good reviews - when used according to the instructions, the effectiveness of the drug exposure is high, and the risk of negative effects is rather low.
Attention!
To simplify the perception of information, this instruction for use of the drug "Zirtek" translated and presented in a special form on the basis of the official instructions for medical use of the drug. Before use read the annotation that came directly to medicines.
Description provided for informational purposes and is not a guide to self-healing. The need for this drug, the purpose of the treatment regimen, methods and dose of the drug is determined solely by the attending physician. Self-medication is dangerous for your health.