Zirtek, in the form of drops for oral use, is produced by the manufacturer specifically for the treatment of children. Able to exhibit anti-exudative and anti-allergic effects. It is indicated for use if there is a disease of allergic etiology, as an element of complex therapy aimed at eliminating nasal congestion and edema. An important feature of "Zirtek" for children is that it is not addictive.
Pharmacological form
The medicine is produced by the manufacturer in the form of drops to be taken orally.
According to the instructions for use for "Zirtek" for children, the drops are a transparent liquid that has no color. They have a characteristic smell of acetic acid.
Each milliliter of the drug contains 10 mg of cytirizine, which is the active ingredient. As auxiliary substances are used: water, anhydrous ethanolic acid, E262,propylparabenzene, methylparabenzene, saccharin, macrogol, glycerin.
Drops are packed in dropper bottles made of dark glass. Each vial can hold 10.20 ml of medicine.
Many wonder how much to give "Zirtek" to a child?
Pharmacological group
Cetirizine is a competitive antagonist of histamine that provokes an immediate allergic reaction.
The active component of "Zirtek" helps prevent the manifestation of allergies, facilitate its course, is able to act antiexudatively.
Affects histamine-dependent (early) and cellular (late) stages of allergy. Under its influence, the membranes of mastocytes are stabilized, the movement of eosinophilic, basophilic, neutrophilic granulocytes decreases.
Against the background of taking "Zirtek" for children, the permeability of the walls of capillaries decreases, spasms of smooth muscle structures are stopped, swelling of tissues is prevented.
Under the influence of cetirizine, the risk of occurrence decreases, allergic manifestations such as:
- Bronchospasm that occurs with mild asthma.
- Inflammatory manifestations on the skin that accompany atypical dermatitis.
- Sneezing, nasal discharge, nasal congestion, eyelid swelling, watery eyes, red eyes, conjunctivitis, rhinitis.
- Puffiness.
- Itching of the skin, rash.
Is it allowed to use "Zyrtec" for children under one year old? The instructions indicate that the medicationcan be used from 6 months of age.
If the drug is used in therapeutic dosages, then the sedative effect does not develop.
There is also no addiction to cetirizine when using it. The therapeutic effect develops on average in 20 minutes, and lasts up to 24 hours. After stopping therapy with Zirtek, its effect can last up to three days.
The active ingredient is absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract. Meals have no effect on the degree of its absorption. With a ten-day course of therapy, no accumulation of cetirizine is observed.
The active component is metabolized in the liver tissues, followed by the formation of inactive metabolites. They come out with urine. The withdrawal time of the components of "Zirtek" depends on the age of the patient. So, in babies under 2 years old, excretion occurs in 3 hours, and in children from 12 - in 10.
If the patient has chronic hepatic pathologies, the half-life of the drug increases. Usually about 50%.
In case of kidney failure with moderate severity, and if the child is on the "artificial kidney" device, then this period is tripled.
Indications for use
"Zyrtec" for children is indicated for use if the following diseases are noted:
- Allergic dermatosis accompanied by rash and itching. Including atypical form of dermatitis.
- Angioedema.
- Urticaria.
- Hay hay fever.
- Seasonal,year-round conjunctivitis and allergic rhinitis.
The dosage of Zyrtec for children must be strictly observed.
Contraindications for use
Medical drops should not be used in the following cases:
- Under 6 months old.
- Individual susceptibility to cetirizine, hydroxyzine, piperazine derivatives, other components present in the drug.
- The last stage in the development of renal failure, if glomerular filtration occurs at a rate of no more than 10 ml / min.
It is important to exercise caution when prescribing Zirtek to infants under one year of age, as well as to children suffering from:
- From any pathology that provokes urinary retention.
- From increased convulsive activity, epilepsy.
- From chronic liver disease.
- From chronic kidney failure.
Medication use
It is allowed to use anti-allergic drops in children from six months. The dosage is determined by the pediatrician, taking into account the age of the small patient and kidney function.
"Zirtek" for children up to a year is shown once in the amount of 5 drops.
Kids 1-2 years old are allowed to use the medication twice a day. But the quantity is the same.
Children 2-6 years old are prescribed a double dose of 5 drops per day, or a single dose of 10. The dosage of Zirtek for children is described in detail in the instructions.
Children from 6 years of age are shown a single dose per day of 20 drops of medication. In some cases, the dosage can bereduce to 10.
If a child has impaired renal function, the pediatrician should adjust the dosage. It is calculated taking into account the creatinine clearance and the body weight of the child.
Patients with impaired liver function are shown to use the drug in standard dosages.
Is Zyrtec completely safe for children?
Negative impacts
Most often, the medication is well tolerated by children, but it is impossible to completely exclude the possibility of developing negative manifestations. Undesirable reactions against the background of the use of "Zirtek" are expressed by such manifestations:
- Allergy, accompanied by itching, rashes, anaphylaxis, Quincke's edema, urticaria.
- Puffiness.
- Powerlessness, weakness.
- Blurred vision, involuntary eye movements, disturbances of accommodation.
- Loose stools, nausea, abdominal pain, impaired liver function, dryness of mucous membranes in the mouth.
- Rhinitis.
- Paresthesia, dystonia, movement disorder, tremor, syncope, agitation, aggression, convulsions, tic, sleep disturbances, hallucinations, depression, headaches, vertigo, drowsiness.
- Inflammatory process in the mucous membranes of the pharynx.
- Urinary incontinence, urinary incontinence.
- Weight gain.
- Increased heart rate.
- Decrease in platelet count.
Especially carefully you need to give the medicine "Zirtek" to children under one year old. The instructions for use also mention this.
Interaction with othersmedicines
Parallel use of more than 400 mg of theophylline can reduce by 16% the total clearance of the main component of Zyrtec - cetirizine. The pharmacokinetics of theophylline does not change.
Combining cetirizine with ritonavir increases ritonavir AUC by 11% and cetirizine by 40%.
Alcohol-containing medicines should not be used during Zyrtec therapy. This is due to an increased risk of inhibition of the functionality of the central nervous system.
Special instructions for use
If allergy testing is expected, the use of medicinal drops should be suspended no later than three days. Otherwise, there may be a possibility of obtaining a false negative result.
Cetirizine can cause urinary problems. In this regard, it is important to exercise caution when prescribing Zirtek to children with congenital spinal cord injury, as well as to babies who have conditions that cause urinary retention.
Due to the potential for CNS depression, cetirizine should be used with caution in infants under one year of age who have risk factors for SIDS such as:
- Simultaneous use with drugs that depress the central nervous system.
- Prematurity, low birth weight.
- Permanent sleep on the stomach.
- Mother's age is less than 19.
- Caregiver smoking.
- Drug or nicotine addictionmothers during pregnancy.
- Cases of SIDS, siblings having sudden respiratory arrest.
Propylparabenzene and methylparabenzene present in drops can provoke allergic reactions, including those that have delayed development.
Overdose
When taking more than 50 mg of cetirizine at a time, an overdose may occur, which is expressed in the following manifestations:
- Urine retention.
- Increased heart rate.
- Stupor.
- Drowsy.
- Asthenia.
- Itching.
- Pupil dilation.
- Cephalgia.
- Fatigue.
- Vertigo.
- Loose stools.
- Confusion.
Specific antidote "Zirtek" is unknown to medicine, cetirizine is not excreted by hemodialysis. If overdose symptoms are detected, the patient should perform a gastric lavage, induce vomiting, prescribe adsorbents and medications that eliminate the symptoms of intoxication.
Analogues of "Zirtek" for children
If it is necessary to replace the drug in the treatment of children, one of the following drugs similar to it can be used:
- "Fenistil". It is an antiallergic drug, a therapeutic analogue of Zirtek. The manufacturer produces a children's form of the drug in drops, which are allowed for use in the treatment of children from 1 month old.
- "Claritin". Clinical and pharmacological analogue of "Zirtek". "Claritin" in the form of a syrup can be used fortreatment of children from 2 years old, and in tablet form - from 3 years old.
- "Zincet". The active ingredient of this drug is also cetirizine. The manufacturer produces in the form of a syrup that can be used in children from 2 years old, as well as in the form of tablets, which are indicated for patients from 12 years old.
- Zodak. It is a complete analogue of Zirtek. May be in the form of drops for children from 6 months, as well as the form of tablets for patients from 6 years.
If it becomes necessary to replace Zirtek, it is important to consult a pediatrician who will determine the appropriateness of such a step.
Price
The average cost of children's "Zirtek" in Russian drugstores is about 300 rubles. Exact price varies by region.
Reviews about "Zirtek" for children
Most of the reviews about the experience of using the children's "Zirtek" are positive. Parents note that the medication is quite well tolerated by children, and negative manifestations develop extremely rarely. The medicine effectively and quickly relieves the symptoms of allergic manifestations.
As a negative characteristic of the drug, its rather high cost is noted - currently there are cheaper analogues of the antiallergic drug.
Despite the huge number of positive reviews, the appointment of the drug to small patients should be carried out exclusively by a pediatrician. This will avoid negative reactions and at the same time effectively deal with allergies.
