Zirtek, in the form of drops for oral use, is produced by the manufacturer specifically for the treatment of children. Able to exhibit antiexudative and antiallergic 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 that should be used orally.
According to the instructions for use with Zirtek for children, 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 ethanol acid, E262, propyl parabenzene, methyl parabenzene, saccharin, macrogol, glycerin.
Drops are packed in dropper bottles made of dark glass. Each bottle can contain 10, 20 ml of the drug.
Many people wonder how much to give Zirtek to a child?
Pharmacological group
Cetirizine is a competitive histamine antagonist that provokes an immediate allergic reaction.
The active component of "Zyrtec" allows you to prevent the manifestation of allergies, to facilitate its course, is able to act antiexudatively.
Affects histamine-dependent (early) and cellular (late) stages of allergy. Under its influence, mast cell membranes stabilize, and the movement of eosinophilic, basophilic, neutrophilic granulocytes decreases.
Against the background of taking Zirtek for children, the permeability of the walls of the capillaries decreases, spasms of smooth muscle structures stop, and tissue edema is prevented.
Under the influence of cetirizine, the risk of occurrence decreases, allergic manifestations such as:
- Bronchospasm that occurs with a mild degree of bronchial asthma.
- Inflammatory manifestations on the skin accompanying atypical dermatitis.
- Sneezing, secretion of mucus from the nose, nasal congestion, swelling of the eyelids, lacrimation, redness of the eyes, conjunctivitis, rhinitis.
- Swelling.
- Itching of the skin, rash.
Is it allowed to use Zirtek for children up to a year? The instructions indicate that the medication can be used at the age of 6 months.
If the drug is used in therapeutic dosages, then a sedative effect does not develop.
Addiction to cetirizine during its use is also absent. The therapeutic effect develops on average in 20 minutes, and lasts up to 24 hours. After discontinuation of therapy using Zirtek, its effect can last up to three days.
The active component from the digestive tract is absorbed. Meals on the degree of its absorption do not have an effect. With a ten-day course of therapy, cumulation of cetirizine is not observed.
The active component is metabolized in the tissues of the liver, followed by the formation of inactive metabolites. They leave together with urine. The withdrawal time of the components of Zirtek depends on the age of the patient. So, in infants up to 2 years old, excretion takes place in 3 hours, and in children from 12 years old - in 10.
If the patient has chronic hepatic pathologies, then the half-life of the drug increases. Usually about 50%.
In case of renal failure with moderate severity, and if the child is on the "artificial kidney", then this period is increased threefold.
Indications for use
Zirtek for children is indicated for use if the following diseases are noted:
- Allergic dermatosis, accompanied by rash and itching. Including atypical form of dermatitis.
- Angioneurotic edema.
- Hives.
- Pollinosis.
- Seasonal, year-round conjunctivitis and rhinitis of allergic etiology.
Zirtek dosage for children should be strictly observed.
Contraindications
Do not use medicinal drops in the following cases:
- Age up to 6 months.
- Individual susceptibility to cetirizine, hydroxyzine, piperazine derivatives, other components present in the medication.
- The last stage of the development of renal failure, if glomerular filtration occurs at a rate of not more than 10 ml / min.
It is important to exercise caution when prescribing Zirtek to infants up to one year old, as well as to children suffering from:
- From any pathologies that provoke urinary retention.
- From increased convulsive activity, epilepsy.
- From chronic liver disease.
- From kidney failure in chronic form.
Use of medication
The use of anti-allergic drops in children from six months is allowed. Dosage is determined by the pediatrician taking into account the age of the small patient and kidney function.
“Zirtek” for children under one year is shown once in an amount of 5 drops.
Babies 1-2 years old are allowed to use the medication twice a day. But the amount is the same.
Children 2-6 years old are prescribed twice a day 5 drops, or a single dose of 10. The dosage of Zirtek for children is described in detail in the instructions.
Babies from 6 years old are shown a single dose per day of 20 drops of the drug. In some cases, the dosage can be reduced to 10.
If the child has impaired renal function, then 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 Zirtek completely safe for children?
Negative impact
Most often, the drug is well tolerated by children, but it is impossible to completely exclude the likelihood of developing negative manifestations. Undesirable reactions with the use of Zirtek are expressed by such manifestations:
- An allergy accompanied by itching, rashes, anaphylaxis, Quincke's edema, urticaria.
- Swelling.
- Powerlessness, weakness.
- Blurred vision, involuntary eye movements, disturbances in accommodation.
- Watery stools, nausea, abdominal pain, impaired liver function, dry mucous membranes in the oral cavity.
- Rhinitis.
- Paresthesia, dystonia, movement disorder, tremors, fainting, agitation, aggression, cramps, tics, sleep disturbances, hallucinations, depression, headaches, vertigo, drowsiness.
- The inflammatory process in the mucous membranes of the pharynx.
- Urinary incontinence, impaired urination.
- Weight gain.
- Heart palpitations.
- Decreased platelet count.
It is especially cautious to give Zirtek medicine to children under one year of age. In the instructions for use, this is also mentioned.
Interaction with other medications
The concurrent use of more than 400 mg of theophylline can reduce the total clearance of the main component of Zyrtec, cetirizine, by 16%. The pharmacokinetics of theophylline does not change.
With the combined use of cetirizine with ritonavir, the AUC of ritonavir rises by 11%, and cetirizine - by 40%.
During therapy "Zirtek" should not use alcohol-containing medicines. This is due to the increased risk of inhibition of the functionality of the central nervous system.
Special instructions for use
If allergy tests are expected, the use of medicinal drops should be suspended no later than three days. Otherwise, a false negative result may occur.
Cetirizine is able to provoke difficulties with urination. In this regard, it is important to exercise caution when prescribing Zyrtec to children with congenital damage to the spinal cord, as well as to babies who have conditions that cause urinary retention.
Due to the likelihood of CNS depression, cetirizine should be prescribed with caution to infants up to a year who have factors that increase the risk of SIDS, such as:
- Simultaneous use with drugs that depress the central nervous system.
- Prematurity, low birth weight.
- Constant sleep on the stomach.
- Mother's age is less than 19 years.
- Smoking person caring for a child.
- Drug or nicotine addiction of the mother during pregnancy.
- Cases of SIDS, the presence of sudden respiratory failure in brothers or sisters.
Propyl parabenzene and methyl parabenzene present in the drops are capable of provoking allergic reactions, including those that have a slow development.
Overdose
With a single dose of more than 50 mg of cetirizine, an overdose may occur, which is expressed by the following manifestations:
- Urine delay.
- Heart palpitations.
- Stupor.
- Drowsiness.
- Asthenia.
- Itching
- Dilated pupils.
- Cephalgia
- Fast fatiguability.
- Vertigo.
- Loose stool.
- Confusion.
Zirtek's specific antidote is unknown to medicine; cetirizine is not excreted by hemodialysis. If symptoms of an overdose are detected, the patient should undergo gastric lavage, induce vomiting, prescribe adsorbents and medications that eliminate the symptoms of intoxication.
Zirtek's analogs 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 anti-allergic medication, 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.
- Claritin. Clinical and pharmacological analogue of Zirtek. "Claritin" in the form of syrup can be used in the treatment of children from 2 years old, and in tablet form - from 3 years.
- "Zinzet". The active component of this drug is also cetirizine. The manufacturer produces in the form of a syrup, which can be used in children from 2 years old, as well as in the form of tablets that are indicated for patients from 12 years old.
- The 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 feasibility of such a step.
Price
The average cost of a children's Zirtek in Russian drugstores is about 300 rubles. The exact price varies by region.
Reviews about "Zirtek" for children
Most of the feedback on the experience of using the children's Zirtek is positive. Parents note that the medication is fairly 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 cope with allergies.