Focus on the cetirizine use in clinical practice: a reappraisal 30 years later

Angelo C. Corsico; Salvatore Leonardi; Amelia Licari; Gianluigi Marseglia; Michele Miraglia del Giudice; Diego G. Peroni; Carmelo Salpietro; Giorgio Ciprandi

doi:10.4081/mrm.2019.487

Focus on the cetirizine use in clinical practice: a reappraisal 30 years later

Authors

Angelo C. Corsico Allergy Clinic, Casa di Cura Villa Montallegro, Genoa
Salvatore Leonardi Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Catania, Catania,
Amelia Licari Department of Pediatrics, Foundation IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, University of Pavia, Pavia
Gianluigi Marseglia Department of Pediatrics, Foundation IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, University of Pavia, Pavia
Michele Miraglia del Giudice Department of Woman, Child and of General and Specialized Surgery, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, Naples
Diego G. Peroni U.O. Pediatria, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Pisana, Scuola di Specializzazione in Pediatria, University of Pisa, Pisa
Carmelo Salpietro Department of Pediatrics, Unit of Pediatric Genetics and Immunology, University of Messina, Messina
Giorgio Ciprandi Allergy Clinic, Casa di Cura Villa Montallegro, Genoa, Italy. http://orcid.org/0000-0001-7016-8421

DOI: https://doi.org/10.4081/mrm.2019.487

Keywords:

Antihistamines, Cetirizine, Clinical practice, Histamine, H1 receptors

Abstract

Antihistamines are currently one of the most commonly administered categories of drugs. They are used to treat symptoms that are secondary to histamine release, which is typical of certain allergic conditions, including rhinitis, conjunctivitis, asthma, urticaria, and anaphylaxis. Cetirizine belongs to the second-generation family, so, it is very selective for peripheral H1 receptors, is potent and quickly relieves symptoms, exerts additional anti-allergic/antiinflammatory effects, and is usually well-tolerated. It has been marketed 30 years ago. In these years, a remarkable body of evidence has been built. The current review provides a practical update on the use of cetirizine in clinical practice.