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Reactine

Reactine has a narrow registered footprint, available in six countries — concentrated across Western and Central Europe with a single North American market in the mix. Travellers familiar with the Reactine brand from Canada, Germany, or the Netherlands are unlikely to find that exact name on pharmacy shelves elsewhere in the world, even though the molecule it contains is one of the most widely distributed antihistamines on the market.

The active ingredient in Reactine is cetirizine hydrochloride, classified among antihistamines for systemic use, with antiallergic, antipruritic, and antiexudative properties. Cetirizine-containing products are prescribed for a familiar range of allergy-driven conditions: hay fever, allergic rhinitis, a blocked nose attributable to allergies, hives, and the itch associated with dermatitis and atopic dermatitis. The structured indication list on this page details each registered use in the markets where Reactine is sold.

Outside its core six markets, the Reactine brand is rarely encountered, but cetirizine as a molecule is available in essentially every regulated pharmaceutical market in the world — often as a generic, sometimes without prescription, sometimes under a different brand name. A traveller or expatriate who has been using Reactine and is now relocating will generally find an equivalent cetirizine product locally, although both the brand name and the regulatory status (over-the-counter versus prescription) can shift across borders.

Other antihistamines within the same broader class are also widely available internationally under various active ingredients and brand names. A local pharmacist is the right person to identify a regional cetirizine-containing product or, where appropriate, an alternative within the antihistamine category. Any decision about starting, switching, or continuing allergy therapy — particularly for a child or alongside other medications — should be made together with a healthcare provider.

Countries
Belgium Canada Czech Republic Germany Netherlands Spain
Diseases
Dermatitis Fever Atopic Dermatitis Rhinitis Jock Itch Hives Hay Fever Blocked Nose
Ingredients
Cetirizine hydrochloride
Drug Actions
Antiallergic Antiexudative Antihistamines for systemic use Antipruritic
How does this drug class actually work?
Read the plain-language explainer in Pharmacology Academy (H1 antihistamines) →

Drugs with the same active ingredients

Alernix 24 Atopix Cabal Cabal-d Cetirizina Cetizine Cetriler Cetriler (cetirizine hydrochloride) Cetriler d Cetriler d (cetirizine hydrochloride_pseudoephedrine) Salvalerg Stopaler Axcel cetirizine Cetirizin cophavina Cezil Zilarex Zodac Da nei Falergi Habitek

Pharmacokinetic properties

Drops for admission inside; Pills coated with a film shell; Orodisper tabletTablet; Oral drops

The pharmaceutical parameters of cetyrizin change linearly.

Suction. After taking it inside, the drug is quickly and completely absorbed from the LCD. Eating does not affect the completeness of absorption, although its speed decreases. In adults, after a single medication in therapeutic dose Cmax in blood plasma is 300 ng / ml and is achieved through (1 ± 0.5) h.

Distribution. Cetirisin on (93 ± 0.3)% binds to blood plasma proteins. Vd is 0.5 l / kg. When taking the drug at a dose of 10 mg for 10 days, cetyrizin cumulation is not observed.

Metabolism. In small quantities, it is metabolized in the body by O-dealkylation (unlike other antagonists H1-histamines that are metabolized in the liver using a cytochrome system) with the formation of pharmacologically inactive metabolite.

The conclusion. In adults T1/2 is approximately 10 hours; in children from 6 to 12 years old - 6 hours, from 2 to 6 years old - 5 hours, from 6 months to 2 years old - 3.1 hours. Approximately 2/3 of the accepted dose of the drug is withdrawn by the kidneys unchanged.

In elderly patients and patients with chronic liver diseases with a single medication at a dose of 10 mg T1/2 increases by about 50%, and system clearance is reduced by 40%.

In patients with renal failure of mild severity (Cl creatinine> 40 ml / min), pharmacokinetic parameters are similar to those in patients with normal kidney function.

In patients with moderate renal failure and in patients undergoing hemodialysis (Cl creatinine <7 ml / min), when taking the drug inward at a dose of 10 mg T1/2 lengthens 3 times, and the total clearance is reduced by 70% relative to these indicators in patients with normal kidney function, which requires a corresponding change in the dosing mode.

Cetirisin is practically not removed from the body during hemodialysis.

The pharmaceutical parameters of cetyrizin when used in doses of 5 to 60 mg change linearly.

Suction. Cmax in blood plasma is achieved through (1 ± 0.5) h and is 300 ng / ml.

Various pharmacokinetic parameters, such as Cmax in blood plasma and AUC are homogeneous.

Eating does not affect the completeness of cetyrizin absorption, although its speed decreases. The bioavailability of various dosage forms of cetyrizin (rathering, capsules, tablets) is comparable.

Distribution. Cetirisin on (93 ± 0.3)% binds to blood plasma proteins.

Vd is 0.5 l / kg. Cetirisin does not affect the binding of warfarin with proteins.

Metabolism. Cetirisin is not exposed to extensive primary metabolism.

The conclusion. T1/2 is approximately 10 hours.

When taking the drug in a daily dose of 10 mg for 10 days, cetyrizin cumulation was not observed.

Approximately 2/3 of the accepted dose of the drug is withdrawn with urine in an unchanged form.

Elderly patients. In 16 elderly patients with a single medication in a dose of 10 mg T1/2 was 50% higher, and clearance was 40% lower compared to patients of not old age. The decrease in cetirizin clearance in older patients is probably due to a decrease in the function of the kidneys in this category of patients.

Renal failure. In patients with renal failure of mild severity (Cl creatinine> 40 ml / min), pharmacokinetic parameters are similar to those in healthy volunteers with normal kidney function.

In patients with moderate renal failure and in patients undergoing hemodialysis (Cl creatinine <7 ml / min), when taking the drug inward at a dose of 10 mg T1/2 lengthens 3 times, and the overall clearance is reduced by 70% relative to healthy volunteers with normal kidney function.

For patients with renal failure of moderate or severe degree, a corresponding change in the metering mode is required (see. “Method of application and doses”).

Cetirisin is poorly removed from the body during hemodialysis.

Pediatric failure. In patients with chronic liver diseases (hepatocellular, cholestatic and biliar cirrhosis) with a single medication at a dose of 10 or 20 mg T1/2 increases by about 50%, and clearance is reduced by 40% compared to healthy entities. Correction of the dose is necessary only if the patient with liver failure also has concomitant renal failure.

Children. T1/2 in children from 6 to 12 years old it is 6 hours, from 2 to 6 years old - 5 hours, from 6 months to 2 years old - reduced to 3.1 hours.

Frequently asked questions

What conditions does Reactine treat?

Reactine is used for allergic conditions including hay fever, allergic rhinitis, blocked nose related to allergies, hives, and itch associated with skin conditions such as dermatitis and atopic dermatitis. It is classified within the antihistamines-for-systemic-use category, with antiallergic, antipruritic, and antiexudative properties. The structured indication block further down this page lists each registered use as recognised in the markets where Reactine is sold.

Which active substance is in Reactine?

Reactine contains cetirizine hydrochloride, a systemic antihistamine. Cetirizine is one of the most widely distributed second-generation antihistamine molecules worldwide and circulates under a number of different brand names depending on the market. Whether sold as Reactine or as another cetirizine-containing product, the underlying active ingredient is the same molecule.

In how many countries is Reactine available?

Reactine is registered in six countries, primarily across Western and Central Europe with one North American market: Germany, Canada, the Netherlands, Spain, Belgium, and the Czech Republic. Outside these markets, the Reactine brand is generally not encountered, although cetirizine itself is available in essentially every regulated pharmaceutical market in the world. A local pharmacist can confirm what is available under which name in your country.

Can I find a generic version of Reactine?

Cetirizine is sold under many brand names worldwide and is also broadly available as a generic, often without prescription depending on local regulations. Other antihistamines for systemic use exist as well, although molecules within the class differ in their profiles and are not freely interchangeable. To identify a local cetirizine-containing product, search the active ingredient on Pill2Trip or ask a pharmacist in your country.

Is Reactine a prescription medication?

Prescription status for cetirizine products varies between countries — in some jurisdictions Reactine and similar antihistamines are sold over the counter, in others they require a prescription, and packaging strengths may differ accordingly. Anyone managing ongoing allergic conditions, treating a child, or coordinating allergy medication alongside other therapy should involve a healthcare provider rather than rely on familiarity with the brand from another country.

Reactine

Available in 6 countries