← All drugs
Drug · FAERS side-effect profile with label screen

Cetirizine side effects: what 77,111 FDA adverse event reports show

Cetirizine · Cetirizine Hydrochloride · 1,230 reaction terms · 817,943 drug–reaction co-reports · data 2026-09-14
Share: X Facebook Reddit Email

Drug class

Not stated in label

Brand names

Cetirizine Hydrochloride

openFDA label

Who reports

77,111 reports · 76% serious · 8,614 with death outcome · 71% female

openFDA FAERS counts, all years, deduplication not applied

Used for

Perennial Allergic Rhinitis: Cetirizine hydrochloride is indicated for the relief of symptoms associated with perennial allergic rhinitis due to allergens such as dust mites, animal dander and molds in children 6 to 23 months of age. Symptoms treated effectively include sneezing, rhinorrhea, postnasal discharge, nasal pruritus, ocular pruritus, and tearing.

FDA label, Indications and Usage

What it is

Cetirizine is a member of the class of piperazines that is piperazine in which the hydrogens attached to nitrogen are replaced by a (4-chlorophenyl)(phenyl)methyl and a 2-(carboxymethoxy)ethyl group respectively.

PubChem CID 2678 (ChEBI)

Boxed warning

None in the current label

How to read this page. FAERS is a spontaneous-reporting system: counts are not incidence rates and a signal is not proof of causation. Each reaction below is run through an automated screen — is the term in the FDA label (known), in the indications (the disease being treated), an administrative/coding term, or none of these (unlabeled)? That screen is mechanical text matching, not a causality assessment. The 30 hand-written Bradford Hill assessments are on the causality assessment page. Not medical advice.

Causality screen of the 40 strongest signals

Labeled (related wording) 2Lab value / disease marker 7Not in label — unassessed 31
What the badges mean

Strongest disproportionality signals

Flagged terms (PRR ≥ 2, χ² ≥ 4, n ≥ 10), ranked by PRR; infinite PRRs (no comparator reports) excluded. The EBGM column is a second, shrinkage-based estimate (MGPS) with its 5th percentile EB05 and the BCPNN IC025; a pair flagged by PRR alone is marked PRR-only and should be read as fragile. The strata column recomputes the PRR on serious reports only (and, for the 300 most-reported drugs, adjusted for age band), and flags pairs whose reports are unusually skewed by sex or come mostly from consumers. Each row also shows the PRR against the other drugs of the same FDA class, which removes most confounding by the condition being treated, and a calibrated p-value: on validation, known non-causes average an ROR of about 2, so significance is judged against that empirical null (✓ = p < 0.05 after calibration). 1,190 further terms are in the interactive explorer. Reaction links open the term's cross-drug page.

Show:
ReactionReportsPRR 95% CI · ROR · χ²/pEBGM EB05 · IC025Label screenSerious-only & strataTrial cross-check
Amyloid arthropathy561,870.6
891.8–3,923.8ROR 1,872.0 · calibrated p 1e-16 ✓
217.4 EB05 173.6 · IC025 +5.8
3/3 methods agree
Not in label — unassessedserious n=56 · ♀ 100% (drug 71%) · 100% cliniciannot reported in cached trials
Anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibody positive5,438921.5
871.7–974.2ROR 991.3 · calibrated p 3e-17 ✓
207.8 EB05 203.2 · IC025 +7.6
3/3 methods agree
Lab value / disease markerserious PRR 158.7 · ♀ 100% (drug 71%) · 93% cliniciannot reported in cached trials
Swollen joint count increased2,278760.0
701.4–823.5ROR 783.1 · calibrated p 5e-16 ✓
198.1 EB05 191.4 · IC025 +7.5
3/3 methods agree
Lab value / disease markerserious n=2,277 · ♀ 100% (drug 71%) · 96% cliniciannot reported in cached trials
Anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibody478705.7
594.9–837.3ROR 710.1 · calibrated p 2e-15 ✓
193.1 EB05 179.0 · IC025 +7.2
3/3 methods agree
Lab value / disease markerserious n=478 · ♀ 100% (drug 71%) · 95% cliniciannot reported in cached trials
Cardiospasm397688.9
572.0–829.7ROR 692.5 · calibrated p 3e-15 ✓
191.5 EB05 176.2 · IC025 +7.1
3/3 methods agree
Not in label — unassessedserious n=396not reported in cached trials
Rheumatic fever3,085671.9
629.1–717.6ROR 699.8 · calibrated p 2e-15 ✓
191.7 EB05 186.1 · IC025 +7.5
3/3 methods agree
Not in label — unassessedserious n=3,084 · ♀ 100% (drug 71%) · 95% cliniciannot reported in cached trials
Pemphigus8,559616.3
593.4–640.1ROR 693.1 · calibrated p 2e-15 ✓
187.0 EB05 183.7 · IC025 +7.5
3/3 methods agree
Not in label — unassessedserious PRR 142.8 · ♀ 100% (drug 71%)not reported in cached trials
Duodenal ulcer perforation4,993592.2
563.8–622.1ROR 633.1 · calibrated p 5e-15 ✓
184.7 EB05 180.4 · IC025 +7.5
3/3 methods agree
Not in label — unassessedserious PRR 140.5 · ♀ 100% (drug 71%) · 94% cliniciannot reported in cached trials
Deep vein thrombosis postoperative1,296541.2
492.4–594.7ROR 550.4 · calibrated p 2e-14 ✓
179.1 EB05 171.1 · IC025 +7.3
3/3 methods agree
Not in label — unassessedserious n=1,296 · ♀ 100% (drug 71%) · 94% cliniciannot reported in cached trials
Lupus vulgaris784535.8
474.7–604.8ROR 541.3 · calibrated p 3e-14 ✓
178.2 EB05 168.0 · IC025 +7.2
3/3 methods agree
Not in label — unassessedserious n=784 · ♀ 100% (drug 71%) · 96% cliniciannot reported in cached trials
C-reactive protein563451.8
394.6–517.3ROR 455.1 · calibrated p 2e-13 ✓
167.6 EB05 156.3 · IC025 +7.1
3/3 methods agree
Lab value / disease markerserious n=563 · ♀ 100% (drug 71%) · 96% cliniciannot reported in cached trials
Hepatic enzyme85428.6
304.1–603.9ROR 429.1 · calibrated p 1e-12 ✓
159.4 EB05 132.9 · IC025 +6.0
3/3 methods agree
Not in label — unassessedserious n=85 · ♀ 100% (drug 71%) · 100% cliniciannot reported in cached trials
Rheumatoid factor positive3,410398.8
378.4–420.3ROR 417.2 · calibrated p 4e-13 ✓
160.5 EB05 156.0 · IC025 +7.2
3/3 methods agree
Lab value / disease markerserious n=3,408 · ♀ 100% (drug 71%) · 94% cliniciannot reported in cached trials
Immunisation255393.9
324.8–477.7ROR 395.2 · calibrated p 1e-12 ✓
157.9 EB05 142.3 · IC025 +6.7
3/3 methods agree
Not in label — unassessedserious n=255not reported in cached trials
Grip strength135383.8
295.0–499.3ROR 384.5 · calibrated p 2e-12 ✓
154.7 EB05 134.0 · IC025 +6.4
3/3 methods agree
Not in label — unassessedserious n=135 · ♀ 100% (drug 71%) · 100% cliniciannot reported in cached trials
Facet joint syndrome1,804368.6
343.4–395.6ROR 377.4 · calibrated p 1e-12 ✓
155.2 EB05 149.3 · IC025 +7.1
3/3 methods agree
Not in label — unassessedserious n=1,804 · ♀ 100% (drug 71%) · 96% cliniciannot reported in cached trials
Vaginal flatulence171348.8
277.9–437.9ROR 349.6 · calibrated p 4e-12 ✓
149.4 EB05 131.5 · IC025 +6.5
3/3 methods agree
Not in label — unassessedserious n=171 · ♀ 100% (drug 71%)not reported in cached trials
Swollen joint count134328.5
255.2–423.0ROR 329.1 · calibrated p 8e-12 ✓
144.9 EB05 125.4 · IC025 +6.3
3/3 methods agree
Not in label — unassessedserious n=134 · ♀ 100% (drug 71%) · 100% cliniciannot reported in cached trials
Hand deformity7,034319.7
309.1–330.8ROR 351.7 · calibrated p 2e-12 ✓
146.1 EB05 143.2 · IC025 +7.1
3/3 methods agree
Not in label — unassessedserious PRR 120.9 · ♀ 100% (drug 71%) · 92% cliniciannot reported in cached trials
Palmoplantar keratoderma385315.6
272.4–365.7ROR 317.2 · calibrated p 7e-12 ✓
144.2 EB05 132.5 · IC025 +6.8
3/3 methods agree
Not in label — unassessedserious n=385not reported in cached trials
Adjustment disorder with depressed mood1,035289.6
265.3–316.2ROR 293.5 · calibrated p 1e-11 ✓
139.2 EB05 132.2 · IC025 +6.9
3/3 methods agree
Not in label — unassessedserious n=1,032 · ♀ 100% (drug 71%) · 96% cliniciannot reported in cached trials
Helicobacter infection4,932256.9
247.2–267.0ROR 274.4 · calibrated p 2e-11 ✓
131.4 EB05 128.4 · IC025 +7.0
3/3 methods agree
Not in label — unassessedserious PRR 105.7 · ♀ 100% (drug 71%) · 94% cliniciannot reported in cached trials
Dislocation of vertebra1,017230.5
212.0–250.6ROR 233.6 · calibrated p 1e-10 ✓
123.9 EB05 117.7 · IC025 +6.8
3/3 methods agree
Not in label — unassessedserious n=1,017 · ♀ 100% (drug 71%) · 95% cliniciannot reported in cached trials
Sleep disorder due to general medical condition, insomnia type2,758204.9
195.1–215.2ROR 212.5 · calibrated p 2e-10 ✓
116.3 EB05 112.7 · IC025 +6.8
3/3 methods agree
Not in label — unassessedserious n=2,752 · ♀ 100% (drug 71%) · 94% cliniciannot reported in cached trials
Folliculitis4,331197.4
189.9–205.1ROR 209.1 · calibrated p 3e-10 ✓
113.9 EB05 111.1 · IC025 +6.8
3/3 methods agree
Not in label — unassessedserious PRR 101.9 · ♀ 99% (drug 71%) · 94% cliniciannot reported in cached trials
X-ray abnormal737192.1
174.8–211.2ROR 194.0 · calibrated p 5e-10 ✓
111.9 EB05 105.3 · IC025 +6.6
3/3 methods agree
Lab value / disease markerserious n=737 · ♀ 100% (drug 71%) · 97% cliniciannot reported in cached trials
Retinitis669182.6
165.6–201.4ROR 184.2 · calibrated p 9e-10 ✓
108.6 EB05 101.8 · IC025 +6.5
3/3 methods agree
Not in label — unassessedserious n=669 · ♀ 100% (drug 71%) · 96% cliniciannot reported in cached trials
Subcutaneous drug absorption impaired218182.1
153.3–216.2ROR 182.6 · calibrated p 1e-9 ✓
107.7 EB05 96.2 · IC025 +6.2
3/3 methods agree
Not in label — unassessedserious n=216 · ♀ 100% (drug 71%) · 100% cliniciannot reported in cached trials
Pericarditis6,432171.6
166.5–176.9ROR 187.1 · calibrated p 7e-10 ✓
104.9 EB05 102.7 · IC025 +6.7
3/3 methods agree
Not in label — unassessedserious PRR 80.5 · ♀ 97% (drug 71%) · 91% cliniciannot reported in cached trials
Anticipatory anxiety99157.5
122.9–201.8ROR 157.7 · calibrated p 5e-9 ✓
97.6 EB05 82.5 · IC025 +5.7
3/3 methods agree
Not in label — unassessedserious n=99 · ♀ 100% (drug 71%)not reported in cached trials
Synovitis6,152141.0
136.8–145.3ROR 153.1 · calibrated p 4e-9 ✓
92.6 EB05 90.7 · IC025 +6.5
3/3 methods agree
Not in label — unassessedserious PRR 73.8 · ♀ 100% (drug 71%) · 93% cliniciannot reported in cached trials
Peripheral venous disease1,356140.1
131.3–149.6ROR 142.6 · calibrated p 7e-9 ✓
92.2 EB05 88.1 · IC025 +6.4
3/3 methods agree
Not in label — unassessedserious n=1,354 · ♀ 100% (drug 71%) · 95% cliniciannot reported in cached trials
Hypocholesterolaemia90112.4
87.9–143.8ROR 112.5 · calibrated p 7e-8 ✓
78.1 EB05 65.5 · IC025 +5.4
3/3 methods agree
Not in label — unassessedserious n=90 · ♀ 100% (drug 71%) · 100% cliniciannot reported in cached trials
Seronegative arthritis328112.4
98.8–127.8ROR 112.9 · calibrated p 5e-8 ✓
79.1 EB05 72.1 · IC025 +6.0
3/3 methods agree
Not in label — unassessedserious n=328 · ♀ 100% (drug 71%) · 100% cliniciannot reported in cached trials
C-reactive protein abnormal1,66295.3
90.1–100.7ROR 97.3 · calibrated p 1e-7 ✓
70.4 EB05 67.6 · IC025 +6.0
3/3 methods agree
Lab value / disease markerserious n=1,662 · ♀ 100% (drug 71%) · 95% cliniciannot reported in cached trials
Systemic lupus erythematosus8,76389.6
87.5–91.7ROR 100.9 · calibrated p 1e-7 ✓
67.3 EB05 66.1 · IC025 +6.0
3/3 methods agree
Not in label — unassessedage-adj. PRR 68.1 · serious PRR 52.6 · ♀ 100% (drug 71%)not reported in cached trials
Wound6,78687.8
85.5–90.2ROR 96.2 · calibrated p 1e-7 ✓
66.3 EB05 65.0 · IC025 +6.0
3/3 methods agree
Not in label — unassessedage-adj. PRR 64.7 · serious PRR 60.0 · ♀ 99% (drug 71%) · 92% cliniciannot reported in cached trials
Breast cancer stage iii1,48681.6
77.1–86.5ROR 83.2 · calibrated p 4e-7 ✓
62.7 EB05 60.1 · IC025 +5.9
3/3 methods agree
Not in label — unassessedserious n=1,486 · ♀ 100% (drug 71%) · 94% cliniciannot reported in cached trials

Clinical concept groups

MedDRA splits one clinical problem across several terms (e.g. "neutropenia", "neutrophil count decreased", "agranulocytosis"), which dilutes term-level signals. These rows count reports with any term in a concept group (an exact union, not a sum), compared with all other drugs. Groups are hand-built and listed in the methods.

ConceptReportsPRR 95% CIReading
Liver injury9,1238.48.3–8.6signal
Anaphylaxis / angioedema2,5065.55.3–5.7signal
Interstitial lung disease1,7174.94.7–5.2signal
Hyperglycaemia / diabetes4,8883.93.8–4.0signal
Depression3,3473.33.2–3.4signal
Serious infection9,0383.23.1–3.3signal
Severe cutaneous reaction6612.42.2–2.6signal
Pancreatitis5351.81.7–2.0raised
Arrhythmia / qt1,1591.61.5–1.7raised
Rhabdomyolysis / myopathy4711.61.4–1.7raised
Hyponatraemia4621.61.4–1.7raised
Tendon disorder2171.61.4–1.8raised
Thrombocytopenia1,2501.51.5–1.6raised
Fall / fracture2,1291.51.5–1.6raised
Gi bleeding9771.51.4–1.5raised
Opportunistic infection6451.31.2–1.4raised

Trial evidence (ClinicalTrials.gov)

✓ Trial adverse-event data found on ClinicalTrials.gov

Largest completed trials with posted results that list Cetirizine as a study intervention. The right-hand column of the signal table shows whether each FAERS term was also recorded in these trials, with a real denominator (0 of 40 signal terms matched).

Caveats: trial populations, doses and follow-up differ from the reporting population; AE terms are sponsor-coded and matched here by wording; absence from a trial list means the term was not reported above the sponsor's frequency threshold, not that it cannot occur.

Most frequently reported reactions

By raw co-report count, regardless of disproportionality. Common terms here are often the illness itself or generic outcomes.

ReactionReportsPRR 95% CI · ROR · χ²/pEBGM EB05 · IC025Label screenSerious-only & strataTrial cross-check
Drug ineffective (drug did not work)13,5082.8
2.8–2.9ROR 3.2 · calibrated p 0.567
2.8 EB05 2.7 · IC025 +1.5
3/3 methods agree
Reporting / coding artifactage-adj. PRR 2.6 · serious PRR 5.0not reported in cached trials
Fatigue (tiredness)13,4404.8
4.7–4.8ROR 5.6 · calibrated p 0.181
4.7 EB05 4.6 · IC025 +2.2
3/3 methods agree
Labeled adverse reaction
exact term
age-adj. PRR 3.9 · serious PRR 6.2NCT01916226: 1/170 (0.6%) on Cetirizine
Pain12,5365.6
5.5–5.7ROR 6.5 · calibrated p 0.120
5.5 EB05 5.5 · IC025 +2.4
3/3 methods agree
Labeled adverse reaction
exact term
age-adj. PRR 4.8 · serious PRR 6.4 · ♀ 93% (drug 71%)NCT01916226: 1/170 (0.6%) on Cetirizine
Rash10,2656.6
6.4–6.7ROR 7.4 · calibrated p 0.083
6.4 EB05 6.3 · IC025 +2.7
3/3 methods agree
Labeled adverse reaction
exact term
age-adj. PRR 5.6 · serious PRR 10.0not reported in cached trials
Off label use (used outside approved label)9,9723.1
3.1–3.2ROR 3.5 · calibrated p 0.493
3.1 EB05 3.1 · IC025 +1.6
3/3 methods agree
Reporting / coding artifactage-adj. PRR 2.8 · serious PRR 3.9not reported in cached trials
Abdominal discomfort9,64116.6
16.3–16.9ROR 18.8 · calibrated p 0.003 ✓
15.7 EB05 15.4 · IC025 +3.9
3/3 methods agree
Not in label — unassessedage-adj. PRR 12.4 · serious PRR 26.1 · ♀ 96% (drug 71%)not reported in cached trials
Alopecia (hair loss)9,53413.8
13.5–14.1ROR 15.6 · calibrated p 0.006 ✓
13.2 EB05 12.9 · IC025 +3.7
3/3 methods agree
Labeled adverse reaction
exact term
age-adj. PRR 10.2 · serious PRR 21.0 · ♀ 97% (drug 71%)not reported in cached trials
Rheumatoid arthritis8,99623.4
23.0–23.9ROR 26.4 · calibrated p 5e-4 ✓
21.6 EB05 21.3 · IC025 +4.4
3/3 methods agree
Not in label — unassessedage-adj. PRR 17.0 · serious PRR 20.1 · ♀ 100% (drug 71%)not reported in cached trials
Systemic lupus erythematosus8,76389.6
87.5–91.7ROR 100.9 · calibrated p 1e-7 ✓
67.3 EB05 66.1 · IC025 +6.0
3/3 methods agree
Not in label — unassessedage-adj. PRR 68.1 · serious PRR 52.6 · ♀ 100% (drug 71%)not reported in cached trials
Pemphigus8,559616.3
593.4–640.1ROR 693.1 · calibrated p 2e-15 ✓
187.0 EB05 183.7 · IC025 +7.5
3/3 methods agree
Not in label — unassessedserious PRR 142.8 · ♀ 100% (drug 71%)not reported in cached trials
Swelling8,19626.1
25.5–26.7ROR 29.1 · calibrated p 3e-4 ✓
23.9 EB05 23.4 · IC025 +4.5
3/3 methods agree
Not in label — unassessedage-adj. PRR 19.7 · serious PRR 29.1 · ♀ 98% (drug 71%)not reported in cached trials
Hypersensitivity (allergic reaction)8,04612.3
12.0–12.6ROR 13.6 · calibrated p 0.010 ✓
11.8 EB05 11.6 · IC025 +3.5
3/3 methods agree
Labeled adverse reaction
exact term
age-adj. PRR 11.1 · serious PRR 16.3 · ♀ 95% (drug 71%)not reported in cached trials
Headache7,8933.5
3.4–3.5ROR 3.7 · calibrated p 0.430
3.4 EB05 3.4 · IC025 +1.7
3/3 methods agree
Labeled adverse reaction
exact term
age-adj. PRR 3.1 · serious PRR 4.8NCT00974571: 8/122 (6.6%) on Cetirizine; 36/613 (5.9%) control
Pruritus (itching)7,8865.8
5.7–5.9ROR 6.3 · calibrated p 0.131
5.7 EB05 5.6 · IC025 +2.5
3/3 methods agree
Likely indication confounding
term in indications; also in warnings
age-adj. PRR 5.2 · serious PRR 9.2not reported in cached trials

Unlabeled candidate signals

These flagged terms were not found in the FDA label text and do not match an artifact pattern. They are the pairs that would merit a structured assessment (temporality, dose-response, biological plausibility, consistency across databases, trial or cohort evidence). The screen has not done that; string-matching misses label wording, and a strong PRR can still be stimulated reporting, co-medication, or the disease itself.

Want to assess one of these properly? The runbook describes the Bradford Hill / trial-evidence workflow used on the assessment page, and handoff_top1000_signals.csv lists the strongest unassessed pairs across all drugs.

Common questions

What are the most reported side effects of Cetirizine?

In FDA FAERS, the most frequently co-reported reaction terms for Cetirizine are fatigue, pain, rash, abdominal discomfort, alopecia, rheumatoid arthritis. These are report counts, not rates: FAERS has no denominator, reporting is voluntary and uneven, and a term can be reported because of the illness being treated rather than the drug.

Does Cetirizine have an FDA boxed warning?

No. The FDA label retrieved for Cetirizine has no boxed warning; see the label's Warnings and Precautions for the recognised risks.

Do FAERS signals prove that Cetirizine causes these side effects?

No. A disproportionality signal (PRR, ROR) means a reaction is reported more often with this drug than with others in the database. That can reflect a real effect, but also the disease being treated, stimulated reporting after news or litigation, co-medications, or how reports are coded. Causality needs temporality, dose-response, biological plausibility, consistency across data sources and, ideally, trial or cohort evidence. This page screens each term against the FDA label and ClinicalTrials.gov results; it does not establish causation.

Sources & methods

Page generated 2026-10-14. Label and PubChem text are retrieved automatically and may lag the current label; always check the current prescribing information. OpenPV is a beta research tool of the Open Source Medicine Foundation.