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What is the difference between cetirizine and loratadine?

Cetirizine and loratadine are both non-drowsy antihistamine tablets used to treat hay fever and allergy symptoms such as sneezing, itching, runny nose, and watery eyes. The main differences are that cetirizine starts working faster, usually within 20 to 60 minutes, while loratadine takes 1 to 3 hours, and cetirizine is more likely to cause mild drowsiness than loratadine. Both last for 24 hours and are taken as one 10mg tablet daily for adults.

Key points:

• Cetirizine acts faster than loratadine.
• Cetirizine may cause drowsiness in some people, while loratadine rarely does.
• Both provide 24-hour allergy relief with similar dosages.
• Side effects like dry mouth or headache can occur with either.

This text has been fact-checked for accuracy by medino's clinical team.