Cetirizine, sold under the brand name Zyrtec among others, [11] is a second-generation peripherally selective antihistamine used to treat allergic rhinitis (hay fever), dermatitis, urticaria (hives), and runny nose. [12] Zyrtec (cetirizine) is an over-the-counter antihistamine used to relieve allergy symptoms, including sneezing, itching, watery eyes, and a runny nose, and also reduces hives (urticaria). Zyrtec is usually taken once a day. Cetirizine (Zyrtec) is a second-generation antihistamine. It blocks histamine, a natural chemical in your body that can cause allergy symptoms like itchiness, itchy eyes, or runny nose. Overview: Cetirizine is an antihistamine that is taken to help treat allergy symptoms, such as a runny nose, itchy or watery eyes, sneezing, or an itchy nose or throat. It may also be used to. Cetirizine is a second generation antihistamine that reduces the natural chemical histamine in the body. Histamine can produce symptoms of sneezing, itching, watery eyes, and runny nose. Cetirizine is used to treat cold or allergy symptoms such as sneezing, itching, watery eyes, or runny nose. Cetirizine HCl is the active ingredient in all ZYRTEC ® allergy medications. Many of our products contain 10 mg of cetirizine to provide 24-hour relief from your allergy symptoms. Cetirizine (Zyrtec) is an antihistamine medication that treats allergy symptoms like itchy eyes, sneezing, a stuffy nose or hives. What do Zyrtec products treat? Zyrtec products are commonly used to treat allergy symptoms such as runny nose, itchy/watery eyes, sneezing, or an itchy nose or throat. The main active ingredient. ZYRTEC® helps relieve common allergy symptoms due to hay fever or other upper respiratory allergies. Learn more about what ZYRTEC® can do for you. Learn how this drug works, what it’s used for, and how to take it safely. If you have year-round allergies, or seasonal allergies like hay fever, your doctor may recommend cetirizine. Cetirizine.