Skip to content
ppharmaranks
Menu

children's zyrtec allergy

Pharmaranks rates Children's Zyrtec Allergy 3.5/5 for recall safety — an independent score from its FDA recall history and its manufacturer's record. Children's Zyrtec Allergy (Cetirizine Hydrochloride) is a histamine-1 receptor antagonist used to treat Perennial Allergic Rhinitis, Urticaria.

Cetirizine Hydrochloride · by Kenvue Brands

Available as a generic: Children's Cetirizine Hydrochloride Allergy

70/100Limited · 1 source

Based on 1 source · Recall-safety score from FDA recall history — this product's own recalls and its manufacturer's record. Not an efficacy or quality rating. methodology →

Rated against independent regulatory sources·Last updated August 22, 2026·How we rate
Verified againstopenFDANIH DailyMedRxClass
$0.06 /mL
Compare online visit pricesWe may earn a commission · never affects ratings

This is one strength of Children's Zyrtec Hives

The FDA label is the same for every strength in this family, so the full page — with all 2 strengths — lives on Children's Zyrtec Hives.

  • Children's Zyrtec HivesCetirizine Hydrochloride 5MG/5ML
  • Children's Zyrtec Allergy (this page)Cetirizine Hydrochloride 5MG/5ML

Key facts

Active ingredient
Cetirizine Hydrochloride
Form
Solution, Syrup
Strength
Cetirizine Hydrochloride 5MG/5ML
Type
Over-the-counter (OTC)
Brand or generic
Brand-name
Manufacturer
Kenvue Brands
Half-life
about 8.3 hours (mean in healthy adults) (how long it stays in your system)
What the pharmacy pays
~$0.06 per ml — not your price
FDA application
NDA022155

What is Children's Zyrtec Allergy?

From the FDA label:Uses reduces hives and relieves itching due to hives (urticaria). This product will not prevent hives or an allergic skin reaction from occurring.

How to use

Children's Zyrtec Allergy is sold in more than one form (Solution and Syrup), and each is dosed differently. The instructions below come from the FDA label for application NDA022155 — follow the label that came with the product you were actually prescribed.

Directions ■ use only with enclosed dosing cup ■ find right dose on chart below ■ mL = milliliter adults and children 6 years and over 5 mL or 10 mL once daily depending upon severity of symptoms; do not take more than 10 mL in 24 hours. adults 65 years and over 5 mL once daily; do not take more than 5 mL in 24 hours. children under 6 years of age ask a doctor consumers with liver or kidney disease ask a doctor

Warnings

Important safety information

Severe Allergy Warning Severe Allergy Warning: Get emergency help immediately if you have hives along with any of the following symptoms: ■ trouble swallowing ■ dizziness or loss of consciousness ■ swelling of tongue ■ swelling in or around mouth ■ trouble speaking ■ drooling ■ wheezing or problems breathing These symptoms may be signs of anaphylactic shock. This condition can be life threatening if not treated by a health professional immediately. Symptoms of anaphylactic shock may occur when hives first appear or up to a few hours later. Not a Substitute for Epinephrine . If your doctor has prescribed an epinephrine injector for anaphylaxis or severe allergy symptoms that could occur with your hives, never use this product as a substitute for the epinephrine injector. If you have been prescribed an epinephrine injector, you should carry it with you at all times. Do not use ■ to prevent hives from any known cause such as: ■ foods ■ insect stings ■ medicines ■ latex or rubber gloves because this product will not stop hives from occurring. Avoiding the cause of your hives is the only way to prevent them. Hives can sometimes be serious. If you do not know the cause of your hives, see your doctor for a medical exam. Your doctor may be able to help you find a cause. ■ if you have ever had an allergic reaction to this product or any of its ingredients or to an antihistamine containing hydroxyzine. Ask a doctor before use if you have ■ liver or kidney disease. Your doctor should determine if you need a different dose. ■ hives that are an unusual color, look bruised or blistered ■ hives that do not itch Ask a doctor or pharmacist before use if you are taking tranquilizers or sedatives. When using this product ■ drowsiness may occur ■ avoid alcoholic drinks ■ alcohol, sedatives, and tranquilizers may increase drowsiness ■ be careful when driving a motor vehicle or operating machinery Stop use and ask a doctor if ■ an allergic reaction to this product occurs. Seek medical help right away. ■ symptoms do not improve after 3 days of treatment ■ the hives have lasted more than 6 weeks If pregnant or breast-feeding : ■ if breast-feeding: not recommended ■ if pregnant: ask a health professional before use. Keep out of reach of children. In case of overdose, get medical help or contact a Poison Control Center right away. (1-800-222-1222)

How long does Cetirizine Hydrochloride stay in your body?

The elimination half-life of cetirizine hydrochloride is about 8.3 hours (mean in healthy adults) — the time it takes the body to clear about half of it. As a rule of thumb, a medicine is mostly gone after roughly 4 to 5 half-lives, though this varies from person to person with age and kidney or liver function. This is the parent drug's elimination half-life; cetirizine's only metabolite has negligible antihistaminic activity, so it does not prolong the effect. The half-life is shorter in young children (per the label, roughly 33-41% shorter in ages 2-5 and about 63% shorter in ages 6-23 months) and is expected to be longer in older adults and in people with kidney or liver impairment.

This is general information, not medical advice. It doesn’t tell you when a drug test would read negative (tests detect substances for different, often longer, windows) or when it’s safe to take another dose — ask your pharmacist or prescriber. Source: CETIRIZINE HYDROCHLORIDE syrup (DailyMed).

Drug class

How this class works, per Antihistamines - StatPearls - NCBI Bookshelf.

May treat (source: NIH RxClass)

See how Children's Zyrtec Allergy ranks — best-rated histamine-1 receptor antagonist for:

Dosage forms

Solution and Syrup

The forms currently marketed in the U.S., per the FDA National Drug Code Directory.

Ways to save

Ask for the generic

Same active ingredient, far cheaper. Is there a generic? →

Request a 90-day supply

Bulk fills usually lower the per-dose price vs monthly refills.

Use copay cards

Manufacturer copay cards & patient-assistance programs — especially for brand drugs.

Compare alternatives

A same-class option may cost less. See alternatives →

Frequently asked questions

What does Children's Zyrtec Allergy treat?
Children's Zyrtec Allergy (Cetirizine Hydrochloride) may be used to treat perennial allergic rhinitis, urticaria, based on NIH RxClass drug-classification data (conditions a drug may treat — not a verbatim copy of the FDA-approved label). This is general reference, not medical advice.
How does Children's Zyrtec Allergy work?
Children's Zyrtec Allergy is a histamine-1 receptor antagonist. H1 antihistamines work by blocking histamine, the chemical released during an allergic reaction, from attaching to H1 receptors. This prevents the sneezing, itching, runny nose, watery eyes, and hives that histamine would otherwise trigger.
How is Children's Zyrtec Allergy rated?
pharmaranks gives Children's Zyrtec Allergy a composite score of 3.5 out of 5, currently based on 1 weighted source (FDA regulatory recall-safety data weighted highest). See our methodology at /how-we-rate.
How much does Children's Zyrtec Allergy cost?
Nobody can tell you what you will pay — your price is set by your insurer's formulary, your deductible and the pharmacy's markup, and none of those are published. What IS published is what the pharmacy paid to acquire it: about $0.06 per ml, per the CMS NADAC survey. Treat that as the floor, not the quote — ask the pharmacist for the cash price as well as your copay, because for cheap generics the cash price often wins.
Is there a coupon or discount for Children's Zyrtec Allergy?
pharmaranks is an independent ratings site, not a pharmacy — we don't issue coupons or sell Children's Zyrtec Allergy. To pay less, look for a store-brand version with the same active ingredient (Cetirizine Hydrochloride), which is typically cheaper, and compare unit prices. Prices vary by pharmacy, insurance, and location, so always confirm at the counter. This is general reference, not medical or financial advice.
Who makes Children's Zyrtec Allergy?
Children's Zyrtec Allergy is marketed by Kenvue Brands. You can see Kenvue Brands's full profile, rating, and other products on pharmaranks.
Is Children's Zyrtec Allergy a brand-name or generic drug?
Children's Zyrtec Allergy is a brand-name product with the active ingredient Cetirizine Hydrochloride. Lower-cost generic equivalents containing Cetirizine Hydrochloride are available — ask your pharmacist.
Is Children's Zyrtec Allergy available over the counter?
Yes. Children's Zyrtec Allergy is an over-the-counter (OTC) product — you can buy it without a prescription. Follow the label directions and ask a pharmacist if you're unsure whether it's right for you.
What forms does Children's Zyrtec Allergy come in?
Children's Zyrtec Allergy is currently marketed as solution and syrup, per the FDA's National Drug Code Directory.
What class of drug is Children's Zyrtec Allergy?
Children's Zyrtec Allergy is classified as histamine-1 receptor antagonist, per the FDA's Established Pharmacologic Class.
Is Children's Zyrtec Allergy FDA-registered?
Children's Zyrtec Allergy is on record with the U.S. FDA under application number NDA022155. You can verify this on its official FDA label.
Has Children's Zyrtec Allergy been recalled by the FDA?
Children's Zyrtec Allergy has no FDA recalls recorded under its own application in the openFDA enforcement database. Its recall-safety score reflects its manufacturer's overall recall record. This is general reference, not medical advice — check the FDA recall database for the latest alerts.
Is Children's Zyrtec Allergy safe?
There's no single safe-or-not verdict. pharmaranks gives Children's Zyrtec Allergy a recall-safety score of 70/100, based on its FDA recall history (no recalls under its own FDA application) — not an efficacy or side-effect rating. Review its FDA-label side effects and warnings before use, and always consult a licensed professional.

Clinical content sourced from the FDA label via openFDA (U.S. FDA). View the FDA label on DailyMed → Provided for general reference only — not medical advice. Always consult a licensed professional and the current prescribing information.

Reviews

No reviews yet. Be the first to write one.

Write a review

Reviews are user opinions, not medical advice. Consult a licensed professional.

People also viewed

Compare Children's Zyrtec Allergy head-to-head

More histamine-1 receptor antagonist drugs

Guides for this medication

Identify a pill by its imprint →Check a drug interaction →Drug recalls →

Browse medications A–Z

Research products from A to Z, compare independent ratings, and find alternatives.

children's zyrtec allergy

70/100