manna asked
Can a pediatric Zyrtec be chewed, or crushed and stirred in applesauce to administer? My 8 yr old is deaf and doesn't understand to swallow the pill so he chews them or gets liquid. This is the first time he has gotten the pill form.
At a glance
- Zyrtec tablets can be crushed or split, but may have an unpalatable taste.
- Alternatives to splitting 'regular' Zyrtec tablets, which may taste better, include Zyrtec Dissolve Tabs, Children's Dissolve Tabs, Children's Zyrtec Allergy Syrup and Zyrtec Liquid Gels.
- Extended-release Zyrtec products, such as Zyrtec-D, cannot be split.
Answer
Yes, Zyrtec (cetirizine) tablets can technically be crushed or chewed, but it may not be palatable for many individuals. Mixing the crushed tablets with food, like applesauce, may improve the taste.
Zyrtec tablets don't utilize any sort of extended or modified release mechanism so altering them won't affect how the medication works.
However, they aren't intended to be chewed or crushed, have no sweeteners and may have a bitter/chalky taste. For this reason, Zyrtec is manufactured in other dosage forms for those who have trouble swallowing.
In addition to the tablets, Zyrtec is available as:
- Zyrtec Dissolve Tabs
- Children's Dissolve Tabs
- Children's Zyrtec Allergy Syrup
- Zyrtec Liquid Gels
In your case, with your son having issues swallowing tablets, you may want to try one of the above products that will be better tolerated than simply chewing or crushing tablets.
The dissolve tabs, although intended to dissolve quickly in the mouth, could also be chewed or added to some sort of food (like applesauce).
The only Zyrtec tablets that cannot be crushed are extended-release products, such as Zyrtec-D.
Below is some additional information regarding Zyrtec (cetirizine).
About Zyrtec
Zyrtec (cetirizine) is a "second-generation" antihistamine, indicated for the treatment and prevention of perennial allergies, seasonal allergies, and hives.
Second-generation antihistamines are noted for their long duration of action compared to first-generation antihistamines, like Benadryl. Second-generation antihistamines also produce significantly less sedation than first-generation antihistamines.
Zyrtec may be taken without regard to meals. It has an onset of action within one hour and, depending on the dose taken, will last 12-24 hours.
