Levocetirizine versus cetirizine

Cetirizine is a drug grouped as 2^nd generation of antihistamine meds. This drug is known to block naturally forming chemicals called histamines. These chemicals fight external threats through making you to sneeze, secreting watery fluids from the eyes, making your skin to itch, etc. Cetirizine can also be administered for treating allergic conditions such as hives, like dermatitis, urticaria, hay fever and rhinitis. But do you know the differences between levocetirizine versus cetirizine? It can be of help to know more in this regard.

Antihistamines are chiefly drugs that help manage spells of allergic reactions. Key ingredients of such meds inhibit or block H1, a form of histamine. Owing to this, antihistamines are also termed as H1 blocking drugs. Your system produces chemicals named histamines to cause responses such as a runny nose, tear-filled eye(s), episodes of sneezing, itchy skin, etc. If these chemicals i.e., histamines are blocked, you can get remedy from many forms of allergies.

What is cetirizine?

Cetirizine is essentially an antiallergy med taken through self-medication or as a prescription drug. It can be procured as an over the counter med from physical drugstores or online vendors of drugs. These are available either as capsules or as pills that are orally taken. You can get them as a branded drug or as a generic med. Soon after starting your dosages, the drug is likely to start working and suppresses typical allergic responses of the system.

Cetirizine is categorised under a genre of meds known as antihistamine drugs. It suppresses responses your body triggers upon being exposed to allergy-causing bodies such as pollen, pet dander, mites or dust. Caregiving teams administer this med for the treatment of skin conditions like hives, itchiness and to treat the formation of rashes.

This drug bears the needful approval of the food and drug administration (FDA) in 1995. Standard dosage is in the range of 10 mg, administered either as a capsule or a pill. Typical dosage plan of cetirizine features a single pill or capsule per day. It is unsafe to administer dosages of more than 10 mg within a 24-hour timeline.

What is levocetirizine?

Levocetirizine is one of the widely used antihistamines. It is taken for managing allergies like reddening of your eyes, itchy eyes as well as watery secretion from eyes. It is also administered for treating a runny nose, allergies caused by bee stings or bites of insects.

Active chemicals of levocetirizine help decrease the effects of histamines. The latter are made naturally in your body when an insect bites you. In some cases, levocetirizine is taken for treating long-term effects such as inflammation or itchiness triggered by chronic versions of urticaria or hives.

Levocetirizine versus cetirizine

A key difference between these two forms of antihistamines rests in their half-life period. In case of levocetirizine, duration of half-life is 8 hours. On the other hand, half-life of cetirizine is 10.6 hours. Both these drugs pose no proven threats or risks in human beings. Hence, these two meds bear a Category B rating for pregnant women.

Intake of alcohol with either of these meds is not recommended. Those who took an alcoholic drink along with levocetirizine or cetirizine may encounter acute levels of dizziness and drowsiness. You may also find it hard to remain focused and retain your concentration. As a safety measure, your treating doctor will tell you not to engage in activities such as driving or sporting actions like jumping, cycling, running, etc. On a related note, it is harmful to work with heavy machinery.

Lastly, those who are living with liver problems or renal dysfunction must inform their caregiving prior to starting your dosage plan. In order to know more on levocetirizine versus cetirizine, you are advised to talk to your caregiving team and / or pharmacist.

Disclaimer

Information provided here are only of supplementary nature. Information shared here does not substitute a qualified doctor’s advice. This website is not suggesting intake of this drug as safe or appropriate. Hence it is advised to talk to your doctor before consuming this med or any other drug.