Antihistamines/Decongestant: Zyrtec D

Zyrtec D is the brand name of a prescription medication designed to treat allergy symptoms both indoors and outdoors, as will as chronic hives. Zyrtec D contains two active ingredients designed to relive allergy symptoms: cetirizine and pseudoephedrine. Zyrtec D is available is standard 12 hour time release caplets. It is designed to relive both itchy watery eyes, and nasal and chest congestion caused by allergies.

The antihistamine component of Zyrtec D is called cetirizine. Histamine is the name of a chemical that your body produces naturally in response to foreign organism. It’s usually produced in response to seasonal allergens like pollen, or things like cat hair. For some people, exposure to certain foreign organisms will trigger your body to overproduce histamine. Your skin can be sensitive to too much histamine, and the results are the symptoms that we commonly associate with an allergic reaction: itchy watery eyes, and a runny nose. Cetirizine is an antihistamine, which works therefore by curbing your body’s production of histamine and reducing the skin’s sensitivity to it, which ultimately can provide relief from allergy symptoms.

Many over the counter allergy medications contain an antihistamine, but Zyrtec D also contains pseudoephedrine, a decongestant, which makes it a more powerful tool in the fight against allergies. Congestion is commonly caused by swelled blood vessels in the nose and chest. Pseudoephedrine works by constricting blood vessels and therefore reducing blood flow to the affected areas. Although it can be an effective decongestant, pseudoephedrine can be dangerous if you have blood pressure issues, or are taking an MAO inhibitor.

Zyrtec D has some side effects, which are usually minor. The antihistamine in the drug may cause some people to experience a feeling of drowsiness or dizziness. For this reason it is important that you wait to see how the drug affects you before operating a car or other heavy machinery. Pseudoephedrine can cause insomnia in some people, and if this experienced regularly you should consult your physician. It is crucial that your inform your doctor if you are taking other medications when taking Zyrtec D, particularly those that depress the central nervous system or cause drowsiness, as the interactions between the two drugs can be dangerous.

As with all allergy medication, keep in mind that Zyrtec D only relives the symptoms of allergies, it does not cure them. If you find yourself suffering from severe allergies on a regular basis, you should consult your physician, who may be able to provide alternate solutions.