Frequently Asked Questions

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When you’re muddling through your allergies, all you want is an answer. Or maybe more than one. Here’s a quick list of responses to all your important questions about our products and what might be causing your allergies.

Questions about:

• ZYRTEC®
• ZYRTEC® Dissolve Tabs
• ZYRTEC-D®
• Children’s ZYRTEC®
• General Allergy Questions
• Zyrtec.com Order Terms of Use

Questions about ZYRTEC®

Do you have questions about ZYRTEC® Usage Guidelines and COVID-19 Outbreak?

Please click here for more information.

What is ZYRTEC®?

ZYRTEC® is an over-the-counter medicine that provides effective, 24-hour relief of indoor and outdoor allergy symptoms.

What allergy symptoms does ZYRTEC® relieve?

ZYRTEC® relieves your worst allergy symptoms of sneezing, runny nose, itchy, watery eyes, and itchy nose or throat.

Is ZYRTEC® an antihistamine?

Yes. ZYRTEC® contains cetirizine HCl, which is an antihistamine.

What is an antihistamine?

An antihistamine is a drug that blocks the action of histamine—an allergy-causing chemical that’s released by certain cells in the body. Antihistamines are used to treat runny nose, sneezing and other allergy symptoms.

Should I take ZYRTEC® with food?

Your choice. ZYRTEC® can be taken either with or without food.

ZYRTEC® begins to work at hour 1 on the first day you take it.

How long does ZYRTEC® last?

ZYRTEC® provides 24-hour relief, all day and all night.

Is it okay to take ZYRTEC® over a long period of time?

The ZYRTEC® package label doesn’t state a limit on how long you can take ZYRTEC®. Talk to your doctor if you have any questions, especially if you’re taking other medicines or being treated for any other conditions.

What’s the best time of day to take ZYRTEC®?

Any time of day works. And ZYRTEC® will continue to work for 24 hours.

Do I need a prescription to take ZYRTEC®?

No. Since 2008, ZYRTEC® has been available over the counter, without a prescription.

Is the over-the-counter version of ZYRTEC® the same as the prescription strength?

Yes. Today’s ZYRTEC® has the same exact strength as the version that required a prescription previously.

Studies in adults show that about 14% of patients experienced somnolence, or drowsiness, and studies in children show that about 4% of patients experienced somnolence while on ZYRTEC®.

Most adult studies also show that the percentage of patients on ZYRTEC® 10 mg reporting somnolence decreased each week.*

While everyone reacts differently to medication, drowsiness may occur with ZYRTEC® and could lessen over time.  See Zyrtec® label warnings section.

*Majority of studies were 2 weeks in duration.

Can I use ZYRTEC® if it is expired?

No. If your ZYRTEC® has expired, please discard it properly and get a new package. (See next question.)

What is the proper way to dispose of unused or expired ZYRTEC® products?

Do NOT dispose of any ZYRTEC® product by emptying it into your sink, toilet or storm drain. Check to see if your pharmacy or community has a take-back program in which you can drop off your expired or unused medicine for them to dispose for you. Otherwise, place your medicine in an unmarked, sealed container and dispose of the container in your household trash. Visit the FDA website for more information.

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Questions about ZYRTEC® Dissolve Tabs

Do dissolve tabs work faster than tablets or liquid gels?

ZYRTEC® Dissolve Tabs provide the same fast relief as ZYRTEC® Tablets and ZYRTEC® Liquid Gels. All ZYRTEC® medicines start working at hour 1 on the first day you take it.

Can I chew or swallow the dissolve tabs? Or do they need to dissolve on my tongue first?

ZYRTEC® Dissolve Tabs are designed to dissolve in your mouth without chewing or drinking water, but it’s perfectly fine to chew or swallow them.

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Questions about ZYRTEC-D®

How is ZYRTEC-D® different from ZYRTEC®?

ZYRTEC-D® contains pseudoephedrine, which relieves nasal congestion. So it relieves all the same symptoms as ZYRTEC®, plus it also has a powerful decongestant. For more, see: “What symptoms does ZYRTEC® relieve?”

How does ZYRTEC-D® work on sinus pressure and congestion?

ZYRTEC-D® contains a nasal decongestant that narrows the blood vessels in the nose and sinus region, which shrinks the tissue in that area to allow air and mucus to flow normally.

Why is ZYRTEC-D® located behind the pharmacy counter?

Pseudoephedrine, an active ingredient in some cold, allergy, and sinus products, can be chemically processed into methamphetamine (commonly known as meth). The illegal use of meth had increased, prompting Congress to pass the Combat Methamphetamine Epidemic Act of 2006 (CEMA). The objective of the law is to eliminate the use of pseudoephedrine in the illegal production of meth. By law, products containing pseudoephedrine must now be sold behind the counter and through online retailers who must meet certain requirements.

Note that products containing pseudoephedrine remain available without a prescription in most states.

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Questions about Children’s ZYRTEC®

Always follow the instructions that come with Children’s ZYRTEC®. When taking Children’s ZYRTEC® Allergy Syrup, be sure to use the dosing cup that comes in the package. Other items like kitchen teaspoons, droppers or measuring devices that come with other medicines may not be accurate. If you have any questions about treating your child’s allergies, please speak with your doctor.

Can Children’s ZYRTEC® make my child drowsy?

For information on side effects, please read the Children’s ZYRTEC® product label or review the product details on this site.

What’s the difference between Children’s ZYRTEC® Allergy Syrup and Children’s ZYRTEC® Dissolve Tabs?

Children’s ZYRTEC® Allergy Syrup can be taken by kids 2 years and older, whereas Children’s ZYRTEC® Dissolve Tabs is for ages 6 and up.

What’s the difference between ZYRTEC® Dissolve Tabs and Children’s ZYRTEC® Dissolve Tabs?

There is no difference. Both products contain 10mg of cetirizine in the same citrus flavor and can be taken by both adults and children 6 years and older.

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General Allergy Questions

How do I know if I have allergies?

If you find yourself sneezing a lot or have a consistently runny or stuffy nose, there’s a good chance you have upper respiratory allergies. Allergies affect more than 50 million people in the United States alone.

What are the common symptoms of upper respiratory allergies?

People with allergies can experience lots of symptoms, including sneezing, runny nose, stuffy nose (nasal congestion), or itchy, watery eyes.

What are outdoor allergies?

If you only develop upper respiratory symptoms at certain times of the year (often spring or fall), you probably have seasonal allergic rhinitis, or outdoor allergies. These allergies can be triggered by trees, grass and weed pollens, or outdoor mold. Learn more about outdoor allergies.

What are indoor allergies?

If you have symptoms all year round, it’s likely perennial allergic rhinitis, or indoor allergies. Common triggers include animal dander (tiny skin flakes or saliva from animals), indoor mold and dust mites. Learn more about indoor allergies.

What can I do to help relieve my outdoor allergies?

In addition to taking ZYRTEC®, you may want to:

• Keep your windows closed and use air conditioning instead
• Stay indoors during peak pollen hours. Pollen counts tend to be higher in the morning and into the early afternoon, although there are exceptions to this.
• Change your clothes after you’ve been outside
• Don’t hang your laundry outside to dry
• Avoid mowing the lawn or raking leaves
• Learn more outdoor allergy relief tips.

What can I do to help relieve my indoor allergies?

In addition to taking ZYRTEC®, you may want to:

• Clean the filters in your air conditioner and heater regularly
• Vacuum often, especially carpets and upholstered furniture
• Keep your pets bathed and groomed
• Run an air purifier
• Crack open the bathroom window during showers
• Learn more about indoor allergies.

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Zyrtec.com Order Terms of Use

How can I check the status of my order?

For status on your order, please contact our Customer Care Center at 1-800-343-7805 M-F 9-5:30 ET.

What forms of payment does Zyrtec.com accept?

Zyrtec.com accepts the following forms of payment:

• PayPal
• Visa
• Mastercard
• Discover
• American Express

Are promotions & discounts available on Zyrtec.com?

Promotions or discounts may be activated or redeemed via one of the following methods, depending on the individual promotion or discount:

• Site links– clicking on certain links on Zyrtec.com may add products to your cart, with a promotion or discount automatically applied. You will see these discounts reflected in your Shopping Cart and at Checkout.
• Auto apply - certain discounts will be automatically applied, simply by visiting Zyrtec.com. You will see these discounts reflected in your Shopping Cart and at Checkout. We will generally feature them on the Zyrtec.com homepage as well.
• Promo codes - you may enter your code to have a discount/offer applied at Checkout. Only promo codes from Zyrtec.com are eligible for redemption at Zyrtec.com.
• Promotions and offers cannot be combined, unless otherwise stated. Zyrtec.com reserves the right to change or discontinue promotions or discount programs at any time.

What are Zyrtec.com’s shipping terms?

Items purchased on Zyrtec.com ship by UPS Standard Ground Shipping to the continental United States and Puerto Rico only. We currently do not ship to Alaska or Hawaii addresses. See below for shipping timelines & handling rates:

 

***Due to the impact of COVID-19 and increased order volumes, orders may be delayed***

DELIVERY SERVICE	COST	DELIVERY TIME
UPS Standard Ground Shipping	$7.95 Flat Rate	approx. 3-7 business days

 

Orders placed by 2PM EST will typically be shipped out of our warehouse in approximately 1-2 business days.

Your credit card will not be charged until your item has shipped.

Standard Shipping will be delivered within approximately 3-7business days from the order's ship date.

If you need assistance with tracking your order, please call Customer Care Center at 1-800-343-7805 M-F 9-5:30 ET.

How is Sales Tax Calculated?

We calculate, collect, and remit tax on sales shipped to customers based upon relevant state statutes and regulations. Sales tax is generally applicable on the sale of most tangible personal property. In certain states however, some items are not subject to sales tax.  Certain states also may require that shipping and handling be included in determining the taxable amount. Your final order will include the appropriate state and local taxes, if applicable.

How are returns handled at Zyrtec.com?

If you have a refund request, please contact our Customer Care Center at  1-800-343-7805 M-F 9-5:30 ET for instructions on return of the product and other information necessary.

Returns are easy and convenient. You may return any unopened product within 30 days of purchase for a refund, less original shipping and handling charges. Shipping & handling costs will not be reimbursed by Zyrtec.com unless there was a shipping error or product damage.  Please call us right away at 1-800-343-7805 M-F 9-5:30 ET if your order arrived damaged or if a packaging error occurred. Please provide us with your order number, name, address, and a description of what happened. We will provide instructions on what to do next. If a replacement item is in stock, we will ship it to you.

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