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cetirizine hydrochloride

Modality
Mechanism
Mechanism of Actions Cetirizine, a human metabolite of hydroxyzine, is an antihistamine; its principal effects are mediated via selective inhibition of peripheral H 1 receptors. The antihistaminic activity of cetirizine has been clearly documented in a variety of animal and human models. In vivo and ex vivo animal models have shown negligible anticholinergic and antiserotonergic activity. In clinical studies, however, dry mouth was more common with cetirizine than with placebo. In vitro receptor binding studies have shown no measurable affinity for other than H 1 receptors. Autoradiographic studies with radiolabeled cetirizine in the rat have shown negligible penetration into the brain. Ex vivo experiments in the mouse have shown that systemically administered cetirizine does not significantly occupy cerebral H 1 receptors.
Targets
Storage
Approved
chronic urticaria — FDA
In trial
Sources
Last verified
2026-04-23
No curated MOA diagram yet. See lib/moa-data.ts for the shape; add an entry keyed by cetirizine hydrochloride.