RIZINO SYRUP 100ML

Indications

Approved Uses

Symptomatic treatment of seasonal allergic rhinitis, perennial allergic rhinitis, and chronic idiopathic urticaria.

Off-Label Uses

Common off-label uses include pruritus related to atopic dermatitis and insect-bite reactions; it may be used as an adjunct (not sole therapy) in anaphylaxis for cutaneous symptoms.

Dosage & Administration

Dosing by Condition

Allergic rhinitis or chronic urticaria: Adults and children ≥6 years: 5 mL (5 mg) or 10 mL (10 mg) once daily (max 10 mL/day). Adults ≥65 years: 5 mL once daily. Children 2-5 years: 2.5 mL once daily; may increase to 5 mL/day (once daily or 2.5 mL BID). Children <2 years: ask a doctor.

Initial Dose

Adults and children ≥12 years: 10 mg once daily

Maintenance Dose

Adults: 5-10 mg once daily; Children 6-11 years: 5-10 mg daily; Children 2-5 years: 2.5-5 mg daily

Maximum Dose

Adults and children 6 years and over: 10 mg (10 mL) per day; Adults 65 years and over: 5 mg (5 mL) per day; Children 2-5 years: 5 mg (5 mL) per day

Children's Dosage

Children 2-5 years: 2.5 mg (2.5 mL) once daily; if needed, up to 5 mg (5 mL) once daily or 2.5 mg (2.5 mL) twice daily. Children 6-11 years: 5-10 mg (5-10 mL) once daily. Children ≥12 years: adult dosing. Under 2 years: ask a doctor

Dose Adjustment Notes

Dose reduction is required in renal impairment (including older adults with reduced renal function); hepatic impairment alone usually does not require adjustment, but consider reduction if hepatic impairment coexists with renal impairment.

How to Take

Oral use; shake well before each dose; may be taken with or without food; measure doses with an oral syringe/marked measuring spoon/cup (not a household spoon).

Side Effects

Common Side Effects

Somnolence, headache, fatigue, dry mouth, dizziness, pharyngitis, abdominal pain.

Side Effect Frequency

Common: somnolence, headache, fatigue, dry mouth. Post-marketing: tachycardia/palpitations, hypersensitivity reactions.

Safety & Warnings

Warnings & Precautions

Caution in renal impairment (adjust dose; avoid if CrCl <10 mL/min), and in patients at risk of urinary retention; may cause somnolence-avoid alcohol/CNS depressants and use caution with driving/machinery; caution in seizure disorders; consider excipients (e.g., sugars) in susceptible patients.

Age Restriction

Approved for children 2 years and older per labeling; children under 2 years: ask a doctor; safety demonstrated down to 6 months in clinical trials.

Drug Interactions

Drug Interactions

Additive CNS depression with alcohol and other CNS depressants/sedatives; theophylline at high doses may slightly reduce cetirizine clearance (minor).

Interaction Severity

MODERATE: Alcohol and other CNS depressants (additive sedation/psychomotor impairment). MINOR: Theophylline at high doses may slightly reduce cetirizine clearance. No established major interactions at usual doses.

Food Interaction

No restriction.

Special Populations

Children

Children 2-5 years: 2.5 mg (2.5 mL) once daily; if needed, up to 5 mg (5 mL) once daily or 2.5 mg (2.5 mL) twice daily. Children 6-11 years: 5-10 mg (5-10 mL) once daily. Children ≥12 years: adult dosing. Under 2 years: ask a doctor

Storage & Patient Advice

Stopping the Medicine

Can be stopped without tapering; counsel that rare pruritus/urticaria has been reported after discontinuation, especially after long-term use.

Overdose

Symptoms: somnolence (common), dizziness, agitation/restlessness/irritability, tachycardia, mydriasis, urinary retention (± GI symptoms); management: supportive/symptomatic care, consider activated charcoal if recent ingestion; no specific antidote; not effectively removed by hemodialysis; seek urgent medical attention/poison center.

Patient Counseling

Shake well; measure with a proper dosing device; take once daily (or as directed) with or without food; may cause drowsiness-avoid driving/operating machinery until effects are known; avoid alcohol/other sedatives; do not exceed recommended dose; seek advice if symptoms persist/worsen or if kidney disease is present; store below 25°C and keep out of reach of children.

Monitoring Requirements

No routine laboratory monitoring; assess for sedation/psychomotor impairment and consider monitoring renal function when impairment is known/suspected (especially in older adults).

Pharmacology

Mechanism of Action

Selective peripheral H1-receptor antagonist that blocks histamine-mediated symptoms of allergy (with minimal anticholinergic activity and generally low CNS penetration at therapeutic doses).

Onset of Action

20-60 minutes.

Duration of Effect

Approximately 24 hours.

Half-Life

Adults: ~8 hours (commonly cited range ~7-10 hours); shorter in children (e.g., ~6 hours in 6-12 years) and prolonged in renal impairment (and in some sources hepatic impairment).

Bioavailability

Oral bioavailability is at least ~70% (commonly reported >70%).

Metabolism

Minimal/limited hepatic metabolism; largely excreted unchanged; not significantly metabolized via CYP450.

Excretion

Primarily renal: ~70% recovered in urine (about half as unchanged drug); ~10% recovered in feces.

Protein Binding

High protein binding: ~93% (often reported as ~93% and may be cited up to ~96% depending on source).

Product Information

Available Dosage Forms

For this SFDA-registered product: Syrup (oral) 1 mg/mL in a 100 mL bottle.

Composition per Dose

Each 5 ml: Cetirizine hydrochloride 5 mg (equivalent to 1 mg/ml)

Generic Availability

Yes

OTC Alternatives

Other OTC non-sedating antihistamines: loratadine and fexofenadine (age-appropriate formulations).

Symptom Target

Allergy, Runny Nose

Sedating

Yes

Reviewed by Al Mujtama Pharmacy Medical Review Team. Last reviewed 06-06-2026