Patient Leaflet Updated 17-Nov-2025 | Flamingo Pharma (UK) Ltd
Cetirizine Dihydrochloride 10 mg Film-Coated Tablets (GSL) (PL 43461/0110)
CETIRIZINE DIHYDROCHLORIDE 10 mg FILM-COATED TABLETS
(cetirizine dihydrochloride)
The name of this medicine is Cetirizine Dihydrochloride 10 mg Film-Coated Tablets, which will be referred to as Cetirizine Tablets throughout this leaflet.
Always take this medicine exactly as described in this leaflet or as your pharmacist has told you.
1. What Cetirizine Tablets are and what they are used for
2. What you need to know before you take Cetirizine Tablets
3. How to take Cetirizine Tablets
4. Possible side effects
5. How to store Cetirizine Tablets
6. Contents of the pack and other Information
The active ingredient in your tablets is cetirizine hydrochloride, which belongs to a group of medicines called antihistamines. These block the effects of a substance called histamine which occurs naturally in the body. Histamine is involved in allergic reactions. Cetirizine is used to relieve the symptoms of seasonal allergic rhinitis (e.g. hay fever), perennial allergic rhinitis (e.g. year round allergies often due to house dust mites or animal allergies) and urticaria (itchy, red, swollen skin).
These symptoms include itchy skin rashes; sneezing; itchy, runny or blocked nose; red, itchy and watering eyes.
Talk to your doctor or pharmacist:
If you are a patient with liver problems or renal insufficiency, please ask your doctor for advice; if necessary, you will take a lower dose. The new dose will be determined by your doctor.
If you have spinal cord lesion or enlargement of the prostate or any predisposing factors for urinary retention.
If you are an epileptic patient or a patient at risk of convulsions (fits)
Please tell your doctor if you are taking or have recently taken any of the following medicines, as they may decrease or increase the effect of Cetirizine Tablets and vice versa.
It may still be alright for you to take Cetirizine Tablets and your doctor will be able to decide what is suitable for you. Please tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking or have recently taken any other medicines, including medicines obtained without a prescription.
Cetirizine Tablets can affect the results of allergy skin tests. If you require an allergy test, you should stop taking Cetirizine Tablets 3 days before you have the tests.
Cetirizine Tablets can be taken with or without food. Be careful when drinking alcohol while using Cetirizine. It can increase the effects of alcohol. No interactions susceptible to have a noticeable impact have been observed between alcohol (at the blood level of 0.5 per ml corresponding to one glass of wine) and cetirizine used at the normal doses. However, as is the case with all antihistamines, it is recommended to avoid concurrent consumption of alcohol.
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant, think you might be pregnant, or are planning to become pregnant. As with other drugs, the use of Cetirizine Tablets should be avoided in pregnant women.
You should not take Cetirizine Tablets during breast-feeding because cetirizine passes into breast milk.
Ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice before taking any medicine.
Clinical studies have produced no evidence of impaired attention, alertness and driving capabilities after taking Cetirizine Solution at the recommended dose.
If you are intending to drive, engage in potentially hazardous activities or operate machinery, you should not exceed the recommended dose. You should closely observe your response to the drug. Do not drive or operate machinery if this product makes you drowsy.
Cetirizine Tablets contain lactose; if you have been told by your doctor that you have an intolerance to some sugars, please contact your doctor before taking these tablets.
Remember. Take the tablet with a glass of water. Do not take more than one tablet each day. If you do not feel better within a few days, consult your doctor. Always take Cetirizine Tablets exactly as your doctor or pharmacist has told you to do so. You should check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure
The usual dosage is:
Children aged 6 - 12 years:
5 mg twice daily (a half tablet twice daily)..
Adults and children over 12 years and over:
Take one tablet (10 mg) once daily. If the tablets make you feel drowsy or dizzy, taking half a tablet twice a day may be better than taking one tablet once a day. Cetirizine tablets are not suitable for children under 6.
Patients with kidney problems:
Patients with moderate kidney problems are recommended to take 5 mg once daily. In pediatric patients with renal impairment, the dose will have to be adjusted on an individual basis taking into account the renal clearance, age and weight.
If you have accidentally taken more than the recommended dose, contact your nearest hospital casualty department or tell your doctor or pharmacist immediately. Remember to take the pack and any remaining tablets with you.
The most common signs and symptoms of overdose may include feeling unwell, confused, restless, shaky, dizzy, tired or very sleepy. You may also notice a rapid heartbeat, having dilated pupils or blurred vision, and experience headache, itching, diarrhoea, or difficulty urinating.
If you have forgotten to take your tablet, take it as soon as you remember, but wait at least 24 hours before taking your next dose.
If you have any further questions on the use of this product, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
Like all medicines, Cetirizine Tablets can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them. If you get any of the following symptoms after taking these tablets you should contact your doctor or pharmacist immediately:
The following side effects have also been reported:
Common side effects (may affect up to 1 in 10 people):
Uncommon side effects (may affect up to 1 in 100 people):
Rare side effects (may affect up to 1 in 1,000 people):
Very rare side effects (may affect up to 1 in 10,000 people):
Not known: frequency cannot be estimated from the available data
Long term treatment with Cetirizine Tablets can lead to a dry mouth, it is therefore important that adequate oral hygiene is maintained
If any of these side effects gets serious, or if you notice any side effects not listed in this leaflet, please tell your doctor or pharmacist.
If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor or pharmacist. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. You can also report side effects directly via the Yellow Card Scheme, at www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard or by searching MHRA Yellow Card in the Google Play or Apple App Store. By reporting side effects, you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.
Keep this medicine out of the sight and reach of children.
Do not take this medicine after the expiry date on the carton. The expiry date refers to the last day of that month. This medicinal product does not require any special storage conditions.
Medicines should not be disposed of via waste water or household waste. Ask your pharmacist how to dispose of medicines no longer required.
These measures will help to protect the environment. Return any medicine you no longer need to your pharmacist.
The active ingredient is cetirizine dihydrochloride. Each tablet contains 10 mg cetirizine dihydrochloride.
The other ingredients are: lactose monohydrate, microcrystalline cellulose, colloidal anhydrous silica, maize starch, talc, magnesium stearate, titanium dioxide (E171), hypromellose, macrogol, sodium citrate
Cetirizine Tablets are white coloured, circular, biconvex film coated tablets. They are marked with “A” on one side, and a break-line on the other.
Your medicine is available in packs containing 7, 14 and 30 tablets. Not all pack sizes may be marketed.
PL 43461/0110
This information is available in alternative formats upon request. This leaflet was last revised in September 2025.
GSL
MPLLCET0010TBCOM
FPLXXX297V03
The BLOC, 38 Springfield Way, Kingston Upon Hull, HU10 6RJ, UK
+44 8000668348
+44 (0) 7784240228
http://www.flamingopharma.co.uk
