Cetirizine

Cetirizine
Clinical data
Pronunciation /sɛˈtɪrɪziːn/
Trade names Zyrtec, others
AHFS/Drugs.com Monograph
MedlinePlus a698026
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category
  • US: B (No risk in non-human studies)
    Routes of
    administration    		 By mouth
    ATC code
    Legal status
    Legal status
    Pharmacokinetic data
    Bioavailability Well-absorbed (>70%)[1]
    Protein binding 88–96%[1]
    Metabolism Minimal (non-cytochrome P450-mediated)[2][3]
    Onset of action 20–42 minutes[3]
    Elimination half-life Mean: 8.3 hours[2][3]
    Range: 6.5–10 hours[4]
    Duration of action ≥24 hours[4]
    Excretion Urine: 70–85%[2]
    Feces: 10–13%[2]
    Identifiers
    CAS Number
    PubChem CID
    IUPHAR/BPS
    DrugBank
    ChemSpider
    UNII
    KEGG
    ChEBI
    ChEMBL
    ECHA InfoCard 100.223.545 Edit this at Wikidata
    Chemical and physical data
    Formula C21H25ClN2O3
    Molar mass 388.89 g/mol
    3D model (JSmol)
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    Cetirizine, prominently marketed under the brand name Zyrtec among others, is a potent second-generation antihistamine used in the treatment of hay fever, allergies, angioedema, and urticaria.[5] It acts as a selective antagonist of the histamine H1 receptor.

    Second-generation antihistamines like cetirizine are less able to cross the blood–brain barrier and therefore have diminished effects on the central nervous system compared to first-generation drugs. Because of this, they are less likely to cause drowsiness or memory impairment.

    Medical uses

    Allergies

    Cetirizine's primary indication is for hay fever and other allergies. Because the symptoms of itching and redness in these conditions are caused by histamine acting on the H1 receptor, blocking those receptors temporarily relieves those symptoms.

    Cetirizine is also commonly prescribed to treat acute and (in particular cases) chronic urticaria, more efficiently than any other second-generation antihistamine.

    Rhinovirus infection

    Interleukin 6 and interleukin 8 have been shown to be elevated in acute respiratory distress syndrome.[6] One recent study of airway epithelial cells showed that levocetirizine, the active enantiomer of cetirizine, may have beneficial effects on the pathophysiologic changes related to human rhinovirus (HRV) infection.[7]

    Kimura's disease

    Cetirizine is an effective agent in treating the symptoms of Kimura's disease which predominantly affects the lymph nodes and soft tissue of the head and neck in the form of tumor-like lesions. Cetirizine's properties of being effective both in the treatment of pruritus (itching) and as an anti-inflammatory agent make it suitable for the treatment of the pruritus associated with these lesions.[8] In a 2005 study, the American College of Rheumatology conducted treatments initially using prednisone, followed by steroid dosages and azathioprine, omeprazole, and calcium and vitamin D supplements over the course of two years.[8] The skin condition of the patient began to improve and the skin lesions lessened. However, there were symptoms of cushingoid and hirsutism observed before the patient was removed from the courses of steroids and placed on 10 mg/day of cetirizine to prevent skin lesions;[8] an agent suitable for the treatment of pruritus associated with such lesions.[8] Asymptomatically, the patient's skin lesions disappeared after treatment with cetirizine, blood eosinophil counts became normal,[8] corticosteroid effects were resolved,[8] and a remission began within a period of two months.[8] It is also thought that the inhibition of eosinophils may be the key to treatment of Kimura's disease due to the role of eosinophils, rather than other cells with regards to the lesions of the skin.[8]

    Available forms

    Cetirizine is available over-the-counter in the form of 5 and 10 mg tablets. A 20mg strength is available by prescription only.[2]

    Adverse effects

    Commonly reported side effects of cetirizine include headache (16%), dry mouth (5.7%), drowsiness (5–20%), and fatigue (5.6%), while more serious but rare side effects include cardiac failure, tachycardia, and edema.[9]

    Insatiable, generalized itching is the most commonly-reported withdrawal side effect, though others have reported severe rebound of original, pre-treatment systems as well, including sneezing and runny nose.[10][11]

    Pharmacology

    L-Stereoisomer, levocetirizine (top) and D-stereoisomer of cetirizine.

    Pharmacodynamics

    Cetirizine acts as a highly selective antagonist of the histamine H1 receptor.[2] The Ki values for the H1 receptor are approximately 6 nM for cetirizine, 3 nM for levocetirizine, and 100 nM for dextrocetirizine, indicating that the levorotatory enantiomer is the main active form.[2] Cetirizine has 600-fold or greater selectivity for the H1 receptor over a wide variety of other sites, including muscarinic acetylcholine, serotonin, dopamine, and α-adrenergic receptors, among many others.[2] The drug shows 20,000-fold or greater selectivity for the H1 receptor over the five muscarinic acetylcholine receptors, and hence does not exhibit anticholinergic effects.[12][13] It shows negligible inhibition of the hERG channel (IC50 > 30 µM)[14] and no cardiotoxicity has been observed with cetirizine at doses of up to 60 mg/day, six times the normal recommended dose[2] and the highest dose of cetirizine that has been studied in healthy subjects.[15]

    Cetirizine crosses the blood–brain barrier only slightly, and for this reason, it produces minimal sedation compared to many other antihistamines.[16] A positron emission tomography (PET) study found that brain occupancy of the H1 receptor was 12.6% for 10 mg cetirizine, 25.2% for 20 mg cetirizine, and 67.6% for 30 mg hydroxyzine.[17] (A 10 mg dose of cetirizine equals about a 30 mg dose of hydroxyzine in terms of peripheral antihistamine effect.)[18] PET studies with antihistamines have found that brain H1 receptor occupancy of more than 50% is associated with a high prevalence of somnolence and cognitive decline, whereas brain H1 receptor occupancy of less than 20% is considered to be non-sedative.[19] In accordance, H1 receptor occupancy correlated well with subjective sleepiness for 30 mg hydroxyzine but there was no correlation for 10 or 20 mg cetirizine.[17] As such, brain penetration and brain H1 receptor occupancy by cetirizine are dose-dependent, and in accordance, while cetirizine at doses of 5 to 10 mg have been reported to be non-sedating or mildly sedating, a higher dose of 20 mg has been found to induce significant drowsiness in other studies.[17]

    Cetirizine has been shown to inhibit eosinophil chemotaxis and LTB4 release.[20] At a dosage of 20 mg, Boone et al. found that it inhibited the expression of VCAM-1 in patients with atopic dermatitis.[20]

    Pharmacokinetics

    Absorption

    Cetirizine is rapidly and extensively absorbed upon oral administration in tablet or syrup form.[2] The oral bioavailability of cetirizine is at least 70% and of levocetirizine is at least 85%.[1] The Tmax of cetirizine is approximately 1.0 hour regardless of formulation and its onset of action has been reported to be as early as 20 minutes.[3] The pharmacokinetics of cetirizine have been found to increase linearly with dose across a range of 5 to 60 mg.[2] Its Cmax following a single dose has been found to be 257 ng/mL for 10 mg and 580 ng/mL for 20 mg.[3] Food has no effect on the bioavailability of cetirizine but has been found to delay the Tmax by 1.7 hours (i.e., to approximately 2.7 hours) and to decrease the Cmax by 23%.[2][3][21] Similar findings were reported for levocetirizine, which had its Tmax delayed by 1.25 hours and its Cmax decreased by about 36% when administered with a high-fat meal.[21] Steady-state levels of cetirizine occur within 3 days and there is no accumulation of the drug with chronic administration.[3] Following once-daily administration of 10 mg cetirizine for 10 days, the mean Cmax was 311 ng/mL.[22]

    Distribution

    The mean plasma protein binding of cetirizine has been found to be 93 to 96% across a range of 25 to 1,000 ng/mL independent of concentration.[3] Plasma protein binding of 88 to 96% has also been reported across multiple studies.[1] The drug is bound to albumin with high affinity, while α1-acid glycoprotein and lipoproteins contribute much less to total plasma protein binding.[1] The unbound or free fraction of levocetirizine has been reported to be 8%.[1] The true volume of distribution of cetirizine is unknown but is estimated to be 0.3 to 0.45 L/kg.[2][1] Cetirizine poorly and slowly crosses the blood–brain barrier, which is due mainly to its chemical properties but also to a minor extent to its activity as a P-glycoprotein substrate.[1]

    Metabolism

    Cetirizine does not undergo extensive metabolism.[2] It is notably not metabolized by the cytochrome P450 system.[23] Because of this, it does not interact significantly with drugs that inhibit or induce cytochrome P450 enzymes such as theophylline, erythromycin, clarithromycin, cimetidine, or alcohol.[2] While cetirizine does not undergo extensive metabolism or metabolism by the cytochrome P450 enzyme, it does undergo some metabolism by other means, the metabolic pathways of which include oxidation and conjugation.[2][3] Plasma radioactivity attributed to unchanged cetirizine is more than 90% at 2 hours, 80% at 10 hours, and 70% at 24 hours, indicating limited and slow metabolism.[3] The enzymes responsible for transformation of cetirizine have not been identified.[2]

    Elimination

    Cetirizine is eliminated approximately 70 to 85% in the urine and 10 to 13% in the feces.[2] About 50 or 60% of cetirizine eliminated in the urine is unchanged.[2][3] It is eliminated in the urine via an active transport mechanism.[3] The elimination half-life of cetirizine ranges from 6.5 to 10 hours in healthy adults, with a mean across studies of approximately 8.3 hours.[2][3] Its duration of action is at least 24 hours.[3] The elimination half-life of cetirizine is increased in the elderly (to 12 hours), in hepatic impairment (to 14 hours), and in renal impairment (to 20 hours).[3]

    Chemistry

    Cetirizine contains L- and D-stereoisomers. Chemically, levocetirizine is the active L-enantiomer of cetirizine. The drug is a member of the diphenylmethylpiperazine group of antihistamines. Analogues include cyclizine and hydroxyzine.

    Synthesis

    Cetirizine synthesis:[24]

    The 1-[(4-chlorophenylmethyl]-piperazine is alkylated with methyl (2-chloroethoxy)-acetate in the presence of sodium carbonate and xylene solvent to produce the Sn2 substitution product in 28% yield. Saponification of the acetate ester is done by refluxing with potash in absolute ethanol to afford a 56% yield of the potassium salt intermediate. This is then hydrolyzed with aqueous HCl and extracted to give an 81% yield of the carboxylic acid product.

    Society and culture

    A package of 10 mg cetirizine tablets.
    Zyrtec-D, a combination of cetirizine and pseudoephedrine.

    Brand names

    Cetirizine is marketed under the brand names Alatrol, Alerid, Alzene, Cetirin, Cetzine, Cezin, Histazine, Humex, Letizen, Reactine, Razene, Rigix, Triz, Zetop, Zirtec, Zirtek, Zodac, Zyllergy, Zynor, Zyrlek, and Zyrtec among others.

    Availability

    Formerly prescription-only in many countries, cetirizine is now available without prescription in most countries. In some countries it is available over-the-counter only in packages containing seven or ten 10 mg doses.

    Like many other antihistamine medications, cetirizine is commonly prescribed in combination with pseudoephedrine, a decongestant. These combinations are often marketed using the same brand name as the cetirizine with a "-D" suffix (Zyrtec-D, Virlix-D, etc.)

    References

    1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Chen C (2008). "Physicochemical, pharmacological and pharmacokinetic properties of the zwitterionic antihistamines cetirizine and levocetirizine". Curr. Med. Chem. 15 (21): 2173–91. doi:10.2174/092986708785747625. PMID 18781943.
    2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 Portnoy JM, Dinakar C (2004). "Review of cetirizine hydrochloride for the treatment of allergic disorders". Expert Opin Pharmacother. 5 (1): 125–35. doi:10.1517/14656566.5.1.125. PMID 14680442.
    3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 Simons FE, Simons KJ (1999). "Clinical pharmacology of new histamine H1 receptor antagonists". Clin Pharmacokinet. 36 (5): 329–52. doi:10.2165/00003088-199936050-00003. PMID 10384858.
    4. 1 2 Simons FE (2002). "Comparative pharmacology of H1 antihistamines: clinical relevance". Am. J. Med. 113 Suppl 9A: 38S–46S. doi:10.1016/s0002-9343(02)01436-5. PMID 12517581.
    5. ↑ "Medscape Log In".
    6. ↑ Chollet-Martin S, Montravers P, Gibert C, Elbim C, Desmonts JM, Fagon JY, Gougerot-Pocidalo MA (November 1993). "High levels of interleukin-8 in the blood and alveolar spaces of patients with pneumonia and adult respiratory distress syndrome". Infection and Immunity. 61 (11): 4553–9. PMC 281204. PMID 8406851.
    7. ↑ Jang YJ, Wang JH, Kim JS, Kwon HJ, Yeo NK, Lee BJ (March 2009). "Levocetirizine inhibits rhinovirus-induced ICAM-1 and cytokine expression and viral replication in airway epithelial cells". Antiviral Research. 81 (3): 226–33. doi:10.1016/j.antiviral.2008.12.001. PMID 19110001.
    8. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Ben-Chetrit E, Amir G, Shalit M (February 2005). "Cetirizine: An effective agent in Kimura's disease". Arthritis Rheum. 53 (1): 117–8. doi:10.1002/art.20908. PMID 15696573.
    9. ↑ "Zyrtec Side Effects". drugs.com. Drugs.com. Retrieved 21 August 2015.
    10. ↑ "Cetirizine (Zyrtec) Withdrawal & Unbearable Itching". People's Pharmacy. Retrieved 9 September 2017.
    11. ↑ "addicted to zyrtec?". MedHelp. Retrieved 9 September 2017.
    12. ↑ Zhang L, Cheng L, Hong J (2013). "The clinical use of cetirizine in the treatment of allergic rhinitis". Pharmacology. 92 (1–2): 14–25. doi:10.1159/000351843. PMID 23867423.
    13. ↑ Orzechowski RF, Currie DS, Valancius CA (2005). "Comparative anticholinergic activities of 10 histamine H1 receptor antagonists in two functional models". Eur. J. Pharmacol. 506 (3): 257–64. doi:10.1016/j.ejphar.2004.11.006. PMID 15627436.
    14. ↑ Taglialatela M, Pannaccione A, Castaldo P, Giorgio G, Zhou Z, January CT, Genovese A, Marone G, Annunziato L (1998). "Molecular basis for the lack of HERG K+ channel block-related cardiotoxicity by the H1 receptor blocker cetirizine compared with other second-generation antihistamines". Mol. Pharmacol. 54 (1): 113–21. doi:10.1124/mol.54.1.113. PMID 9658196.
    15. ↑ Hulhoven R, Rosillon D, Letiexhe M, Meeus MA, Daoust A, Stockis A (2007). "Levocetirizine does not prolong the QT/QTc interval in healthy subjects: results from a thorough QT study". Eur. J. Clin. Pharmacol. 63 (11): 1011–7. doi:10.1007/s00228-007-0366-5. PMID 17891537. The equivalent dose of 60 mg cetirizine is also the highest dose ever administered in healthy subjects [13].
    16. ↑ Gupta, A; Chatelain P; Massingham R; Jonsson EN; Hammarlund-Udenaes M (February 2006). "Brain distribution of cetirizine enantiomers: comparison of three different tissue-to-plasma partition coefficients: K(p), K(p,u), and K(p,uu)". Drug Metab. Dispos. 34 (2): 318–23. doi:10.1124/dmd.105.007211. PMID 16303872.
    17. 1 2 3 Tashiro M, Kato M, Miyake M, Watanuki S, Funaki Y, Ishikawa Y, Iwata R, Yanai K (2009). "Dose dependency of brain histamine H(1) receptor occupancy following oral administration of cetirizine hydrochloride measured using PET with [11C]doxepin". Hum Psychopharmacol. 24 (7): 540–8. doi:10.1002/hup.1051. PMID 19697300.
    18. ↑ van den Elzen MT, van Os-Medendorp H, van den Brink I, van den Hurk K, Kouznetsova OI, Lokin AS, Laheij-de Boer AM, Röckmann H, Bruijnzeel-Koomen CA, Knulst AC (2017). "Effectiveness and safety of antihistamines up to fourfold or higher in treatment of chronic spontaneous urticaria". Clin Transl Allergy. 7: 4. doi:10.1186/s13601-017-0141-3. PMC 5309999. PMID 28289538. [...] 30 mg of hydroxyzine equals about 10 mg cetirizine [11] [...]
    19. ↑ Yanai K, Tashiro M (2007). "The physiological and pathophysiological roles of neuronal histamine: an insight from human positron emission tomography studies". Pharmacol. Ther. 113 (1): 1–15. doi:10.1016/j.pharmthera.2006.06.008. PMID 16890992.
    20. 1 2 Boone M, Lespagnard L, Renard N, Song M, Rihoux JP (July 2000). "Adhesion molecule profiles in atopic dermatitis vs. allergic contact dermatitis: pharmacological modulation by cetirizine". J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 14 (4): 263–6. doi:10.1046/j.1468-3083.2000.00017.x. PMID 11204513. Retrieved 19 November 2009.
    21. 1 2 Paśko P, Rodacki T, Domagała-Rodacka R, Palimonka K, Marcinkowska M, Owczarek D (2017). "Second generation H1 – antihistamines interaction with food and alcohol-A systematic review". Biomed. Pharmacother. 93: 27–39. doi:10.1016/j.biopha.2017.06.008. PMID 28622592.
    22. ↑ "Zyrtec prescribing information" (PDF). May 2006. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 January 2010. Retrieved 19 November 2009.
    23. ↑ Massoud Mahmoudi (2 June 2016). Allergy and Asthma: Practical Diagnosis and Management. Springer. pp. 574–. ISBN 978-3-319-30835-7.
    24. ↑ US patent 4525358, Baltes E, De Lannoy J, Rodriguez L, "2-[4-(Diphenylmethyl)-1-piperazinyl]-acetic acids and their amides", issued 25 June 1985, assigned to UCB Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

    Books and journals

    1. Anderson, P. O., Knoben, J. E., et al. (2002) Handbook of clinical drug data 10th ed. McGraw-Hill International
    2. Pfizer Inc., et al. (2006) ZYRTEC (cetirizine hydrochloride) Tablets, Chewable Tablets and Syrup For Oral Use Pfizer Incorporated publications
    3. Chetrit, E. B., Amir, G., Shalit, M. (2005). Cetirizine: an effective agent in Kimura's Disease Arthritis & Rheumatism (Arthritis care & research) Vol 53, p117-118
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