Cetirizine and cetirizine hydrochloride are the active ingredients in some Benadryl products.

This includes Benadryl Allergy One A Day Relief tablets, Benadryl Allergy Liquid Release capsules, and Benadryl Children’s allergy syrup.

Other Benadryl products, such as Benadryl Allergy Relief capsules contain other active ingredients, such as acrivastine and pseudoephedrine.

Cetirizine tablets and capsules can usually be taken by children over the age of 12, and should not be given to children younger than this.

If your child has hay fever or other allergies you could give them cetirizine syrup, which can be taken by children aged 2 or over.

If you’re not sure which allergy medicine will be right for your child, please speak to your doctor or pharmacist for advice.

Cetirizine tablets can be taken during pregnancy; however, you should speak to your doctor or pharmacist before taking them.

This is because medical professionals will usually recommend allergy medications that contain an active ingredient called loratadine during pregnancy, as it’s considered to be safer for you and your baby.

If, for any reason, you can’t take loratadine, your doctor or pharmacist may then recommend cetirizine.

For more information about whether your own medicine is suitable for use during pregnancy, read the patient information leaflet that comes with your medication or speak to a medical professional.

Loratadine and cetirizine are both active ingredients in hay fever and allergy medications, and they both work as antihistamines.

Some people may find that loratadine medications are better at managing their allergy symptoms, whereas others may find that cetirizine works better for them.

Both are common, widely used antihistamines, so which one you want to use is entirely up to you and your own personal circumstances and medical restrictions, if you have any.

If you suffer with hay fever you may struggle to find the right kind of hay fever medication for you.

Some hay fever sufferers may even find that when they do find a hay fever medication that works, it doesn’t completely get rid of all of their annoying hay fever symptoms.

If you’ve ever found yourself in this situation, you may start to wonder if one kind of hay fever medication is enough, and whether it would be safe to take more than one at the same time.

Different medications, including antihistamines used to treat hay fever, can be problematic when taken together, so it’s better to be safe than sorry.

Before you give in to temptation and think about going out to buy another hay fever medication to use alongside your first one, let’s take a look at the facts and make sure you’re doing the right thing.

Like all medications, Cetirizine can have side effects, although not everyone will experience them.

Some of the most common side effects include:

• Drowsiness, sleepiness
• Dizziness
• Headaches
• Dry mouth
• Nausea
• Diarrhoea
• Sore throat
• Swelling and irritation inside the nose

If you experience these or any other side effects while using cetirizine, stop use and speak to your doctor or pharmacist immediately, if necessary.

Make sure you read the patient information leaflet of your own medication thoroughly for a full list of side effects.