RiteMED Cetirizine Dosage/Direction for Use

Adults and children 12 Years and Older: The recommended initial dose of Cetirizine dihydrochloride is 5 or 10 mg per day in adults and children 12 years and older, depending on symptom severity. Most patients in clinical trials started at 10 mg. Cetirizine dihydrochloride is given in a single daily dose, with or without food. The time of administration may be varied to such individual patient needs.
Children 6 to 11 years: The recommended initial dose of Cetirizine dihydrochloride in children 6 to 11 years is 5 or 10 mg (1 or 2 teaspoons) once daily depending on symptom severity. The time of administration may be varied to suit individual patient needs.
Children 2 to 5 years: The recommended initial dose of Cetirizine dihydrochloride syrup in children aged 2 to 5 years is 2.5 mg (½ teaspoon) once daily. The dosage in this age group can be increased to a maximum dose of 5 mg per day given as 1 teaspoon (5 mg) once daily, or as ½ teaspoonful (2.5 mg) given every 12 hours.
Children 6 months to <2 years: The recommended dose of Cetirizine dihydrochloride syrup in children 6 months to 23 months of age is 2.5 mg (½ teaspoon) once daily. The dose in children 12 to 23 months of age can be increased to a maximum dose of 5 mg per day, given as ½ teaspoonful (2.5 mg) every 12 hours.
Dose Adjustment for Renal and Hepatic Impairment: In patients 12 years of age and older with decreased renal function (creatinine clearance 11-31 mL/min), patients on hemodialysis (creatinine clearance 7 mL/min), and hepatically impaired patients, a dose of 5 mg once daily is recommended. Similarly, pediatric patients aged 6 to 11 years with impaired renal or hepatic function should use the lower recommended dose. Because of the difficulty in reliably administering doses of less than 2.5 mg (½ teaspoon) of Cetirizine dihydrochloride syrup and in the absence of pharmacokinetic and safety information for cetirizine in children below the age of 6 years with impaired renal or hepatic function, its use in this impaired patient population is not recommended. Or as prescribed by the physician.