Allergies occur when the body's immune system reacts to normally harmless substances that do not bother most people. This reaction is partly caused by the release of histamine from certain cells in the body.
Xyzal is an antihistamine, which means it blocks histamine from binding to histamine receptors and causing
allergy symptoms. Because histamine is responsible for many of the symptoms of allergies, blocking it can be helpful. Xyzal is closely related to another prescription antihistamine,
Zyrtec® (
cetirizine).
Histamine is also responsible for the formation of hives (whether or not they are caused by allergies). By blocking histamine, Xyzal can alleviate the itching due to hives.
Xyzal is approved to treat allergies and hives in children as young as six years old. Talk with your child's healthcare provider about the benefits and risks of using the drug in children.
On occasion, your healthcare provider may recommend Xyzal for something other than treating allergies or chronic hives of unknown cause. Sometimes, antihistamines are used to treat hives or rashes due to a known cause (such as from poison ivy). This would be considered an
off-label Xyzal use.
Previous
Add this article to your Favorites
Email this article
Print