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cetirizine (QZYTIR / JDP207 / Quzyttir)

✓ Approved

Hospira Inc · HRH1 · Small Molecule

What is cetirizine?

cetirizine is a small molecule developed by Hospira Inc. It is approved for therapeutic indications via injectable (others) or intramuscular (im) injection or intravenous (iv).

Drug Profile

Brand NamesQZYTIR, JDP207, Quzyttir
CompanyHospira Inc
Drug ClassSmall Molecule
Molecular TargetHRH1
RouteInjectable (Others), Intramuscular (IM) Injection, Intravenous (IV)
StatusApproved
Sources: ClinicalTrials.gov, Hospira Inc

Mechanism of Action

Molecular Targets

cetirizine acts on 1 molecular target:

HRH1histamine receptor H1 (HH1R, H1R)
Want deeper analysis?Noah AI can explain complex mechanisms and compare to similar drugs.

Therapeutic Indications

cetirizine is developed for 1 unique indication across 1 therapeutic area.

Therapeutic AreaConditionPhase
Skin and subcutaneous tissue disordersUrticaria✓ Approved

Related Research Articles

PubMedDrug metabolism and personalized therapy2026-07-16

The impact of antihistamine use on allergic reactions in pregnancy.

Lisiecka Maria Zofia MZ, Luczak Joanna J

Allergic diseases are common among women of reproductive age, which necessitates the use of antihistamine therapy during pregnancy while ensuring safety for both the mother and the foetus. The study aimed to determine the safety profile, pharmacological characteristics, and clinical consequences of antihistamine use during pregnancy for the maternal-foetal system. A systematic review of scientific publications for the period 2020-2025 was carried out using the PRISMA methodology with a search in five international databases, which allowed us to select 45 relevant sources analyzing pathophysiology, pharmacology, and clinical consequences. It has been established that maternal immunoglobulins of class E are transported across the placental barrier, where they may sensitise foetal mast cells in utero. Hormonal changes during pregnancy induce polarisation of the immune response towards Th2 with progressive suppression of eosinophils by 17-22 % in the second trimester and by 20-42 % in the third trimester. Population cohort studies covering more than 1.2 million pregnancies have found no statistically significant associations between the use of second-generation antihistamines and major congenital malformations, spontaneous abortions or premature births. Physiological changes during pregnancy modify the pharmacokinetic parameters of drugs, reducing plasma protein concentrations by 20-40 %, However, cetirizine and loratadine demonstrate a favourable safety profile based on data from more than 186,000 exposures in Scandinavian registries, and the relative infant dose remains below the 5 % safety threshold. The findings support the use of second-generation antihistamines as first-line therapy for allergic diseases in pregnancy and provide an evidence base for selecting safe pharmacological agents at different gestational stages.

PMID 42461140
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PubMedThe World Allergy Organization journal2026-07-12

Forecasting seasonal allergic rhinitis through integrated analysis of social media and online drug sales data.

Tong Xunliang X, Fang Chuangsen C, Jiang Xiaowei X, Liu Lan L et al.

Allergic rhinitis (AR) is a highly prevalent, seasonally variable disease that poses a growing public health challenge. Conventional surveillance based on clinic visits and surveys is slow and may miss self-medicating patients. Integrating environmental monitoring with digital traces such as search queries and online drug purchases may provide more timely insight into allergen exposure, symptom awareness, and medication demand. We analyzed daily data for urban Beijing from March 1, 2022 to October 15, 2024, including pollen concentration (grains per 1000 mm3), the Baidu search index for "allergic rhinitis," and online purchase rates of 4 oral second-generation H1-antihistamines (loratadine, desloratadine, cetirizine, levocetirizine) from the Meituan platform, standardized per 100,000 population. Cross-correlation functions were computed on pre-whitened series to assess lead-lag relationships. A single-mediator regression framework applied to pre-whitened data and estimated with Newey-West heteroskedasticity- and autocorrelation-consistent standard errors quantified the mediating role of the Baidu Index between pollen and antihistamine purchases. ARIMAX (1,1,1) models with different exogenous inputs (pollen only, Baidu Index only, both combined) and a naïve random-walk benchmark were used to forecast 1-, 2-, 3-, and 7-day demand; performance was evaluated using RMSE, MAPE, and Pearson correlation (PCC). All 3 series exhibited pronounced and recurrent seasonal patterns, with Baidu search activity rising in close temporal alignment with pollen peaks and antihistamine purchases typically lagging by 1-2 days. Pre-whitened cross-correlations remained moderate and statistically significant around lag 0, indicating genuine contemporaneous associations after removing the shared seasonal component. Mediation analysis showed that pollen concentration had a significant total effect on antihistamine purchase rates (β = 0.34, 95% CI [0.13, 0.54]), of which approximately 47% was transmitted indirectly via the Baidu Index (indirect β = 0.16, 95% CI [0.08, 0.25]). The ARIMAX (1,1,1) model integrating both pollen and Baidu Index achieved the best forecasting performance (1-day RMSE = 3.80, MAPE = 7.68%, PCC = 0.89) and consistently outperformed single-predictor models and the random-walk benchmark across all horizons. Pollen exposure influences antihistamine demand both directly and indirectly through public information-seeking behavior captured by the Baidu Index, and integrating environmental and digital data enables timely surveillance of seasonal allergic-rhinitis-related medication use.

PMID 42436900
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PubMedActa medica Indonesiana2026-07-09

Anticholinergic Burden, Falls, and the Concept of Appropriate Polypharmacy in Indonesian Geriatric Clinics: A Multicentre Observational Study.

Setiati Siti S, Azwar Muhammad Khifzhon MK, Rensa Rensa R, Sari Nina Kemala NK et al.

A high anticholinergic burden (ACB) scale score (≥3) and polypharmacy have been viewed negatively due to possible adverse events. As Indonesian multicentre data in this field are lacking, this study aimed to provide regional data related to ACB, polypharmacy, and falls, and to analyse factors potentially linked to falls. Data from community-dwelling older adults aged ≥60 years were collected in 12 geriatric care centres through history taking and medical records. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were conducted to evaluate the association between covariates and falls. Polypharmacy and high ACB (score ≥3) were observed in 43.9% and 1.8% of 626 older adults, respectively. The five most prescribed drug classes were calcium-channel blockers, angiotensin receptor blockers, statins, beta blockers, and proton pump inhibitors. The three most prescribed drugs with possible anticholinergic activity were furosemide, isosorbide dinitrate, and cetirizine. The prevalence of past-year falls was 16.8%. Falls were associated with age ≥80 years (odds ratio [OR] 2.44, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.31-4.53), female sex (OR 2.08, 95% CI 1.30-3.31), transient ischaemic attack and cerebrovascular accident (OR 1.97, 95% CI 0.94-4.10), multimorbidity (≥3 co-morbidities) (OR 1.80, 95% CI 1.07-3.03), depression (OR 1.79, 95% CI 1.00-3.23), and polypharmacy (OR 0.65, 95% CI 0.40-1.05). The prevalence of a high ACB score and falls were 1.8% and 16.8%, respectively. Approximately one in two older adults had polypharmacy. We observed a non-significant inverse relationship between polypharmacy and falls. This may possibly suggest appropriate polypharmacy and closer monitoring applied in geriatric settings, which requires further investigation.

PMID 42421387
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PubMedCancer chemotherapy and pharmacology2026-07-07

Successful oral desensitization to temozolomide in a patient with immediate hypersensitivity reaction.

Şahinoğlu Ece E, Akarsu Muhittin M, Yalçın Selma S, Mungan Dilşad D et al.

Temozolomide (TMZ) is an oral alkylating agent that represents a cornerstone therapy for glioblastoma and other high-grade gliomas. Although TMZ is generally well tolerated, hypersensitivity reactions (HSRs), including urticaria, have rarely been reported and may lead to treatment interruption. Rapid drug desensitization (RDD) offers a potential strategy to enable continuation of essential therapy; however, standardized protocols for TMZ are limited. Here, we present a 46-year-old woman with glioblastoma who developed widespread urticaria during maintenance TMZ therapy. The reaction developed within four hours of the last dose and completely resolved following treatment with corticosteroids and antihistamines within 24 h. Based on clinical history and lesion characteristics, an immediate HSR to TMZ was considered. As no alternative treatment options were available, an oral RDD protocol targeting a dose of 240 mg was prepared. The protocol included stepwise dose escalation using diluted oral solutions followed by capsule administration, with premedication using cetirizine and methylprednisolone. Desensitization was successfully completed without breakthrough reactions, and the protocol was repeated in two consecutive cycles without complications. Our protocol provides detailed information on drug preparation, dose increments, and administration intervals, supporting its reproducibility and feasibility. This case contributes to the limited literature by demonstrating that oral RDD can be safely and effectively performed in patients with TMZ-induced urticaria. The successful repetition of desensitization further supports the safety of this approach. This protocol may assist clinicians in maintaining first-line TMZ therapy in patients with HSRs, thereby preventing unnecessary treatment interruptions and improving clinical outcomes.

PMID 42412234
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PubMedEuropean journal of pharmaceutics and biopharmaceutics : official journal of Arbeitsgemeinschaft fur Pharmazeutische Verfahrenstechnik e.V2026-06-25

Novel approach for direct drug delivery to the central nervous system via intratympanic administration.

Saito Masayoshi M, Sano Noriyasu N, Nakayama Shinji S, Yokoyama Yuichi Y et al.

Therapeutic drugs for central nervous system (CNS) diseases need to reach CNS tissues. However, the blood-brain barrier often limits their therapeutic effects. To address this issue, highly invasive drug administration routes, such as intracerebroventricular or intrathecal administration, can be used. In addition, intranasal (i.n.) administration is increasingly being recognized as a non-invasive route, although its application in humans is limited. Hence, we explored intratympanic (i.t.) administration as a novel, minimally invasive route for direct drug delivery to the CNS. The aim of this study was to develop a new administration route that enables efficient and comprehensive evaluation of CNS drug transport by employing cassette dosing. Using this approach, we assessed multiple low- and high-permeability drugs concurrently in rodents and non-human primates. Pharmacokinetics were evaluated in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and brain tissues to investigate the potential for enhanced CNS penetration. Furthermore, the effects of cetirizine, a second-generation histamine receptor antagonist, on spontaneous locomotor activity were examined following i.t. and intravenous (i.v.) administration. I.t. of low-permeable drugs such as cetirizine markedly increased their penetration into CSF and brain in both rats and monkeys. Pharmacologically, i.t. of cetirizine significantly decreased spontaneous locomotor activity in rats, whereas such effects were not observed following i.v.. This study demonstrates that i.t. may serve as a promising route (Ear-to-Brain) for treating neurodegenerative diseases that currently lack effective treatment options.

PMID 42342160
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PubMedPathogens (Basel, Switzerland)2026-06-25

In Vitro Antibacterial Efficacy of Cetirizine and N-Acetylcysteine Alone and in Combination with Cefalexin on Canine Methicillin-Sensitive and -Resistant Staphylococcus pseudintermedius.

Hawwash Jasmin J, Oltmanns Hilke H, Volk Andrea Vanessa AV, Meißner Jessica J

Staphylococcus (S.) pseudintermedius, as a commensal of the skin and mucosa, leads to a variety of diseases in dogs, most commonly skin and ear infections. The development of methicillin-resistant S. pseudintermedius (MRSP) is an emerging risk for animals and humans. The aim of this study was to test cetirizine and N-acetylcysteine as synergistic substances with cephalexin for treating S. pseudintermedius infections. Each of the five methicillin-sensitive S. pseudintermedius (MSSP) isolates and five MRSP isolates, and one control strain were tested. The minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) of the substances was tested by broth microdilution assay. In a checkerboard assay, the MIC of cefalexin alone was compared to the MIC of the substances combined. The determined dose reduction index (DRI) shows the influence each substance had on the efficacy of cefalexin. Furthermore, the minimal bactericide concentration (MBC) of N-acetylcysteine (NAC) was identified, and a time kill assay was performed to determine its time-related efficacy on selected isolates. Cetirizine showed no inhibition on bacterial growth or influence on antibiotic efficacy. NAC inhibited bacterial growth at 2 mg/mL. A significant synergistic influence was shown against the MRSP (p < 0.001) and MSSP isolates (p < 0.01). The MBC of the MSSP isolates and control strain was 12.8 and 25.6 mg/mL for the MRSP isolates. The time kill assay showed that NAC is bactericidal within 120 s at the prior determined MBC concentrations. NAC showed an antibacterial effect alone and a synergistic influence on cefalexin's antibacterial properties. Thus, NAC shows promising efficacy in treating infections with S. pseudintermedius; according to the preliminary study conducted here, this effect may be independent of the resistance profile.

PMID 42347201
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