CETIRIZINE HYDROCHLORIDE HIVES vs OPTIVAR

Independent side-by-side comparison.

Rated against independent regulatory sources·Last updated August 23, 2026·How we rate

Attribute	CETIRIZINE HYDROCHLORIDE HIVES	OPTIVAR
Rating	New	72/100
Pharmacy pays	$0.06 /mL	$0.58 /mL
Type	OTC	RX
Active ingredient	CETIRIZINE HYDROCHLORIDE	AZELASTINE HYDROCHLORIDE
Manufacturer	Perrigo R and D	Rising
Dosage forms	Tablet	Drops
Drug class	Histamine-1 Receptor Antagonist	Histamine-1 Receptor Antagonist
Boxed warning	None	None
Half-life	about 8.3 hours (mean in healthy adults)	—
Treats	Perennial Allergic Rhinitis, Urticaria	Allergic Conjunctivitis, Perennial Allergic Rhinitis, Vasomotor Rhinitis

cetirizine hydrochloride hives optivar

Rating

New

72/100

Pharmacy pays

$0.06 /mL

$0.58 /mL

Type

OTC

Active ingredient

CETIRIZINE HYDROCHLORIDE

AZELASTINE HYDROCHLORIDE

Manufacturer

Perrigo R and D

Rising

Dosage forms

Tablet

Drops

Drug class

Histamine-1 Receptor Antagonist

Boxed warning

None

Half-life

about 8.3 hours (mean in healthy adults)

—

Treats

Perennial Allergic Rhinitis, Urticaria

Allergic Conjunctivitis, Perennial Allergic Rhinitis, Vasomotor Rhinitis

Get optivarhigher-rated option

Advertising disclosure: Some links are affiliate links. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. This never affects our independent ratings.

Get treatment online

Licensed online providers — consult & get prescribed if eligible.

SesameCompare online visit prices

Frequently asked questions

Which is cheaper, Cetirizine Hydrochloride Hives or Optivar?

Cetirizine Hydrochloride Hives costs pharmacies less to acquire — about $0.06 vs $0.58 per ml, per the CMS NADAC survey. That gap is in the pharmacy's cost of goods, not necessarily in what you pay: your price is set afterwards by your insurer and the pharmacy.

What is the difference between Cetirizine Hydrochloride Hives and Optivar?

Cetirizine Hydrochloride Hives contains Cetirizine Hydrochloride, while Optivar contains Azelastine Hydrochloride — they have different active ingredients.

Ratings are based on FDA regulatory (recall-safety) data. This comparison is for general reference only — not medical advice. Always consult a licensed professional before choosing or switching a medication.