Zyrtec 5 mg

Zyrtec^® (cetirizine hydrochloride) is a nonprescription antihistamine commonly used for treating allergy symptoms. It is also approved to treat itching due to hives that may or may not be caused by allergies.

The medication comes in several different forms and strengths, including:

Zyrtec 10 mg tablets
Zyrtec 10 mg Liquid Gels (liquid-filled capsules)
Children's Zyrtec 10 mg chewable tablets, grape-flavored
Children's Zyrtec Allergy syrup 1 mg per mL (5 mg per teaspoonful)
Children's Zyrtec Allergy Perfect Measure prefilled spoons (5 mg per spoon).

Generic versions also come in 5-mg tablets and 5-mg chewable tablets, although brand-name Zyrtec no longer comes in these strengths.

For most adults and children ages six and older, the recommended Zyrtec dosage is 10 mg once daily. For mild symptoms, Zyrtec 5 mg once a day may be sufficient.

Only Children's Zyrtec Allergy syrup is approved and labeled for children two to five years old. The recommended dosage for this age group is 2.5 mg once daily, which is equivalent to half a teaspoonful of the syrup.

(Click Zyrtec Dosage for more detailed dosing guidelines, to find out who may need a lower dosage than normal, and for a list of important dosing tips and precautions.)