"Cetrin" refers to second generation antihistamines. Unlike antiallergic drugs of the first generation, this medication has a longer therapeutic effect (up to 24 hours), does not provoke addiction (can be taken for a long time) and rarely causes side effects.
Such features allow prescribing "Cetrin" not only for adults, but also for children suffering from allergies. In order for the drug to alleviate the condition of the child or prevent the appearance of an allergic reaction, one should know in what doses it can be given to children and when the use of "Cetrin" is not recommended.
Release form
Cetrin is produced in India and is available in pharmacies in three dosage forms, suitable for children of all ages.
- Drops. This form of "Tsetrina" is prescribed for the smallest patients - from the age of six months. It is a completely transparent liquid without any shade, poured into small glass vials equipped with a dropper dispenser. One bottle contains 10 or 20 ml of solution.
- Syrup. This "Cetrin" can be given to children over two years old. It is also a clear liquid, in which there are no visible particles. Usually the syrup is clear, but it can also be slightly yellow. The smell of the preparation is fruity, the taste is sweet. It is sold in dark glass bottles of 30 ml or 60 ml, and in order to easily dispense the medication, the manufacturer puts a measuring spoon in the box.
- Pills. This version of "Tsetrina" is allowed from the age of 6. It has a dense white shell, and the shape of the tablets is convex on both sides, round. There is a risk on one side of the drug, due to which it is possible to divide the tablet into halves. The tablets are packed in blisters of 10 pieces. Sold as 20 or 30 tablets in one box.
Composition
The action of any of the forms of "Cetrin" is provided by a substance called cetirizine. It is presented in a drug in the form of a dihydrochloride in the following dosages:
- 10 mg in one milliliter of drops (approximately 0.5 mg in one drop);
- 1 mg in one milliliter of syrup;
- 10 mg per tablet.
The inactive components of drops are sodium hydrogen phosphate, propylene glycol, propyl and methyl parahydroxybenzoate, citric acid, glycerin, purified water and sucralose. The composition of the syrup includes fruit flavor, benzoic acid, sorbitol, sucrose, water, edetate disodium, sodium citrate and glycerol. In addition to the active substance, magnesium stearate, lactose, corn starch and povidone K30 are added to the core of the tablets, and talc, dimethicone, sorbic acid and some other substances are used for the shell of solid "Cetrin".
Operating principle
Like other antihistamines, Tsetrin has anti-allergic, as well as anti-exudative and antipruritic effects. It is due to the competition of cetirizine with histamine - the compound binds to histamine-sensitive receptors, which blocks their availability and can both facilitate the course of allergy and prevent its development.
The drug is especially effective at the beginning of an allergic reaction, when histamine and other mediators are just beginning to be released from mast cells, but it also acts in the later stages, limiting the release of active substances and the movement of cells involved in the allergic reaction (basophils, neutrophils, etc.). Under the influence of "Cetrin" capillary permeability decreases, and tissue edema and smooth muscle spasm disappears.
The therapeutic effect after taking any form of medication begins to develop in most patients within 20 minutes and lasts more than 24 hours. During the course of therapy, addiction to "Cetrin" does not develop, and after the drug is discontinued, its effect remains for some time (up to three days).
Elimination of the drug occurs mainly in the urine, so kidney disease can affect this process.
Indications
"Cetrin" is in demand for various manifestations of allergies. The drug is prescribed for:
- hay fever;
- atopic dermatitis and other allergic skin pathologies;
- Quincke's edema;
- urticaria (including cold);
- severe itching with chickenpox;
- allergic rhinitis;
- conjunctivitis of an allergic nature;
- allergic cough;
- mild course of bronchial asthma.
Contraindications
When using "Tsetrin" in children, first of all, it is important to remember about age restrictions for different forms of such a drug. Let us recall them:
- drops are contraindicated for infants in the first six months of life, and a baby under one year old is allowed to give them with caution (only as prescribed by a doctor and under his supervision);
- syrup is contraindicated in children under 2 years of age;
- tablets should not be given to patients under 6 years of age.
In addition, "Cetrin" is not prescribed if the child has hypersensitivity to cetirizine or any of the inactive substances that are part of the drug. In case of serious kidney disease, which led to a dysfunction of this organ, the medication is given with caution (often the dosage is reduced).
Medical supervision is also required when using "Cetrin" in children with an increased risk of seizures, for example, with epilepsy.
Side effect
During treatment with "Cetrin", the following side effects may appear:
- nausea;
- headache;
- dry mouth;
- rhinitis;
- fast fatiguability;
- drowsiness;
- dizziness;
- pharyngitis.
More rare negative reactions to taking "Cetrin" are diarrhea, paresthesia, nervous agitation, tachycardia, allergic rash, asthenia, urinary disorders and other problems. If you experience any of these symptoms, it is recommended that you stop treatment and consult your doctor.
Application
The diet at the time of taking "Tsetrin" does not affect in any way, therefore, the child can be given medication both before meals and after feedings. The drops are dissolved in a small volume of water, the syrup is given to children undiluted, but it can be washed down with water if required. The tablet is not chewed, but swallowed and washed down with about 200 ml of water.
According to the instructions for use, "Cetrin" drops are prescribed in the following dosages:
- babies aged 6-12 months only under medical supervision - 5 drops once a day;
- babies 12-24 months old - 5 drops per reception 1 or 2 times a day;
- patients 2-6 years old - 5 drops per reception twice a day, or 10 drops at once once every day;
- children over 6 years old - 10 drops once a day, but if necessary, the dosage is increased to 20 drops once.
"Tsetrin" in syrup is prescribed for children according to the following scheme:
- if the child's age is from 2 to 6 years old (for example, 4 years old), then he is given 5 ml of syrup once a day or such an amount of medicine is divided into two doses of 2.5 ml (daily dose - 5 mg);
- if a small patient is already six years old, he should take 10 ml of the drug once a day or drink 5 ml twice a day (daily dose - 10 mg).
Tableted "Cetrin" for children 6 years of age and older is usually prescribed one tablet once a day, but it can be taken half a tablet twice a day, that is, the daily dosage is 10 mg.
The duration of treatment with "Tsetrin" is influenced by many factors, among which the most significant is the severity of the course of an allergic disease. For example, in case of acute allergies, the medication is usually prescribed for 10-14 days. If the symptoms disappear earlier, the use of "Cetrin" can be stopped as soon as the patient's condition has improved.
If the doctor prescribed the drug as a preventive measure, then the course will be longer - at least a month. Taking "Cetrin" for prophylaxis continues as long as there is a risk of an allergic reaction, for example, in case of allergy to pollen, the medication should be given for the entire flowering period of trees, while there is a possibility of contact with the allergen.
If the child is prone to allergic skin reactions (atopic diathesis), the drug can be prescribed in courses of up to 14 days several times a year. This prophylactic technique reduces the incidence of true allergies. In bronchial asthma, the medication is also prescribed in short-term courses (from 2 weeks to 20 days), adding "Cetrin" to the basic therapy of such a disease.
Overdose
If a child accidentally drinks a large dose of Cetrin (more than 50 mg at once), it will lead to diarrhea, dizziness, itching, restless behavior, weakness, tremors, drowsiness and other negative symptoms. In a situation where an overdose is detected immediately after taking the medicine, you need to immediately induce vomiting or wash the stomach, and then give "Activated Carbon".
There is no antidote to such a drug, therefore, in case of poisoning with "Cetrin", the doctor will prescribe supportive symptomatic treatment.
Interaction with other drugs
In the instructions for "Cetrin" it is noted that this medicine can be used in combination with many other drugs, including macrolide antibiotics, preparations of diazepam, cimetidine, theophylline and other medicines. However, when prescribed with drugs that can inhibit the bone marrow, the hematotoxic effect of "Cetrin" will increase.
Terms of sale
Any form of the drug can be purchased at the pharmacy without any problems, since all Cetrin variants are non-prescription drugs. The average price of 20 tablets is 150 rubles, and 60 ml of syrup costs about 120 rubles.
Storage conditions
Having bought "Cetrin", you need to hide it at home in a place where a small child will not find the medicine. The storage temperature of the medication should not exceed +25 degrees Celsius. The shelf life for "Tsetrin" drops is 3 years, and for syrup and tablet form - 2 years.
Reviews
On the treatment with "Cetrin" they respond mostly positively, noting among the advantages of the drug the variety of its forms (you can choose a suitable remedy for a child of any age), the need to take it only once a day and the absence of addiction. According to the parents, such medication rarely provokes side effects, and most children tolerate Cetrin well.
The advantages of the drug include its affordable cost. As for the disadvantages, some patients still experience drowsiness and other negative symptoms after taking Tsetrin. There are also reviews in which they complain about the lack of a pronounced positive effect (the drug did not fit a particular child).
Analogs
Tsetrin has many analogous drugs that also include cetirizine and have the same medicinal properties. These include the following medications:
- "Zirtek";
- "Zodak";
- Parlazin;
- Cetirizine Hexal;
- Allertek;
- "Cetirizine";
- "Cetirizin-Teva";
- Cetirizine Sandoz;
- "Cetirinax";
- "Letizen".
Most of these drugs are coated tablets, but many of the drugs are also presented in liquid forms that are approved for use in the smallest patients. If you need to replace "Cetrin" with an antihistamine drug with a different active ingredient, your doctor may prescribe one of these drugs:
- "Erius" - a syrup that contains desloratadine and is allowed for babies over one year old;
- "Fenistil" - drops containing dimetindene, which are given to children over 1 month old;
- "Suprastinex" - drops based on levocetirizine, used from 2 years of age;
- Claritin is a loratadine-based syrup approved for children over 2 years of age;
- "Tavegil" - tablets for children over 6 years old, which contain clemastine.
For information on how to deal with allergies in children, see the next video.
