cetirizine
noun
ce·tir·i·zine se-ˈtir-ə-ˌzēn 
variants or less commonly cetirizine hydrochloride
: a long-acting, nonsedating, antihistamine drug taken orally in the form of its hydrochloride C21H25ClN2O3·2HCl especially to treat allergic rhinitis and chronic hives
Note: Cetirizine is marketed under the trademark Zyrtec.
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web These medications—including cetirizine (Zyrtec), levocetirizine (Xyzal), loratadine (Claritin), and fexofenadine (Allegra)—are more effective and work by blocking the effects of histamines (what sets off allergy symptoms) in the body. 
Rachel Nall, Msn, SELF, 24 May 2022 There are over-the-counter antihistamine medications people with allergies can seek out, Corbett said, such as cetirizine, fexofenadine or nasal sprays. Sarah Ladd, The Courier-Journal, 14 Apr. 2022 The only real differences between pills like Allegra (fexofenadine), Zyrtec (cetirizine), and Claritin (loratadine) are how the body metabolizes them. Sara Chodosh, Popular Science, 19 Apr. 2020 Loratadine gets processed a lot by your liver, whereas cetirizine and fexofenadine don't as much. Sara Chodosh, Popular Science, 19 Apr. 2020 Two allergy medications — cetirizine, also known as Zyrtec, and loratadine, sold under the Claritin brand — cost about three-quarters less on Amazon than the drugstore chains’ house brands did in the store. Bloomberg, latimes.com, 6 July 2018
Rachel Nall, Msn, SELF, 24 May 2022 There are over-the-counter antihistamine medications people with allergies can seek out, Corbett said, such as cetirizine, fexofenadine or nasal sprays. Sarah Ladd, The Courier-Journal, 14 Apr. 2022 The only real differences between pills like Allegra (fexofenadine), Zyrtec (cetirizine), and Claritin (loratadine) are how the body metabolizes them. Sara Chodosh, Popular Science, 19 Apr. 2020 Loratadine gets processed a lot by your liver, whereas cetirizine and fexofenadine don't as much. Sara Chodosh, Popular Science, 19 Apr. 2020 Two allergy medications — cetirizine, also known as Zyrtec, and loratadine, sold under the Claritin brand — cost about three-quarters less on Amazon than the drugstore chains’ house brands did in the store. Bloomberg, latimes.com, 6 July 2018 Word History
First Known Use
1987, in the meaning defined above
Phrases Containing cetirizine
Medical Definition
cetirizine
noun
ce·tir·i·zine se-ˈtir-ə-ˌzēn
: a long-acting, nonsedating, antihistamine drug that is taken orally in the form of its dihydrochloride C21H25ClN2O3·2HCl especially to treat allergic rhinitis and chronic hives
Note: Cetirizine is a derivative of piperazine and an H1 antagonist that binds competitively with histamine to H1 receptors on cell membranes. It is marketed under the trademark Zyrtec.