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Cetirizine/Pseudoephedrine

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Abstract

  • ▴ Cetirizine is the carboxylated metabolite of hydroxyzine, and has high specific affinity for histamine H1 receptors. Pseudoephedrine is a sympathomimetic drug that acts directly on α-adrenergic receptors.

  • ▴ Cetirizine/pseudoephedrine 5/120mg twice daily was significantly more effective than intranasal budesonide 10μg or placebo at improving nasal obstruction, nasal patency and reducing the volume of nasal secretion, and was significantly more effective than intranasal xylometazoline 0.1% with respect to nasal secretion, during house dust mite faeces challenge in three randomised, crossover studies among volunteers with seasonal or perennial rhinitis. The onset of action of cetirizine/pseudoephedrine was reported to be approximately 30 minutes.

  • ▴ The bioavailability of cetirizine and pseudoephedrine is similar after administration of cetirizine/pseudoephedrine 5/120mg bilayer tablets or coadministration of cetirizine 5mg tablets plus pseudoephedrine sustained-release (SR) 120mg caplets.

  • ▴ Cetirizine 5mg plus pseudoephedrine SR 120mg twice daily for 2 to 3 weeks was significantly more effective than each drug given alone at reducing mean total symptom scores for seasonal or perennial allergic rhinitis in two randomised, double-blind, multicentre trials. In both studies, the mean proportion of days during which the five measured symptoms (nasal obstruction, sneezing, rhinorrhoea, nasal pruritus and ocular pruritus) were absent or mild was significantly greater in recipients of the cetirizine plus pseudoephedrine SR.

  • ▴ In one study, cetirizine 5mg plus pseudoephedrine SR 120mg was significantly more effective at reducing nasal obstruction than either drug alone.

  • ▴ Cetirizine 5mg plus pseudoephedrine SR 120mg twice daily for 2 to 3 weeks was well tolerated in patients with seasonal or perennial allergic rhinitis. The most common adverse events were dry mouth, insomnia, headache, somnolence, asthenia and nervousness.

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  1. Adis International Limited, 41 Centorian Drive, Private Bag 65901, Mairangi Bay, Auckland 10, New Zealand

    Keri Wellington & Blair Jarvis

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  1. Keri Wellington
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  2. Blair Jarvis
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Correspondence to Keri Wellington.

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Wellington, K., Jarvis, B. Cetirizine/Pseudoephedrine. Drugs 61, 2231–2240 (2001). https://doi.org/10.2165/00003495-200161150-00009

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