Two medicines, side by side
Cetirizine vs dexamethasone
Cetirizine and dexamethasone are both labeled for allergies. Drugs@FDA records approvals of cetirizine since 1995 and of dexamethasone since 1958. Pharmacies paid $0.0613 per cetirizine HCl 10 mg tablet and $0.193 per dexamethasone 4 mg tablet (NADAC, October 7, 2026); the strengths differ, so the two prices are not like for like. Cetirizine's other strengths are brand-only: $7.35 per unit (Zerviate 0.24% eye drop). In FDA's classes, cetirizine is a histamine-1 receptor antagonist and dexamethasone a corticosteroid.
Check it at the source: the cetirizine FDA label on DailyMed (effective August 7, 2026); the dexamethasone FDA label on DailyMed (effective June 6, 2025).
Highlights of the cetirizine record
Cetirizine (All) · label of August 7, 2026
Used for
From the label: indicationstemporarily relieves these symptoms due to hay fever or other upper respiratory allergies: • runny nose, • sneezing, • itchy, watery eyes, • itching of the nose or throat
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- December 8, 1995
- Generic labelers
- 149 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.0613 per tablet
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 19
Highlights of the dexamethasone record
Dexamethasone (Decadron) · label of June 6, 2025
Used for
From the label: indicationsAllergic States Control of severe or incapacitating allergic conditions intractable to adequate trials of conventional treatment in asthma, atopic dermatitis, contact dermatitis, drug hypersensitivity reactions, perennial or seasonal allergic rhinitis, and serum sickness. […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- October 30, 1958
- Generic labelers
- 60 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.193 per tablet
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- In shortage
- Recalls
- 8
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA (Cetirizine label of August 7, 2026, Dexamethasone label of June 6, 2025); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do cetirizine and dexamethasone differ on the record?
In FDA's classes, cetirizine is a histamine-1 receptor antagonist and dexamethasone a corticosteroid.
Generics: cetirizine since 2007; dexamethasone since 1971 (Drugs@FDA).
| Cetirizine | Dexamethasone | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Allergies | Asthma, Eczema (atopic dermatitis), Leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma, Herpes and shingles, Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, Multiple sclerosis, Osteoarthritis, Rheumatoid arthritis, Psoriasis, Allergies, Anemia, Pain |
| Pharmacologic class | Histamine-1 Receptor Antagonist | Corticosteroid |
| How it works (label) | n/a | n/a |
| Half-life (label) | n/a | n/a |
| Earliest approval on file (Drugs@FDA) | December 8, 1995 | October 30, 1958 |
| First generic approved | December 27, 2007 | October 20, 1971 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 149 labelers | 60 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $0.0613 per tablet (Cetirizine HCl 10 mg tablet) | $0.193 per tablet (Dexamethasone 4 mg tablet) |
| 12-month price change | -11% | -26% |
| Boxed warning | No | No |
| Shortage now | No current entry | In shortage |
| Recalls recorded | 19 | 8 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 171,713 | 304,163 |
| DEA schedule | none | none |
Source: Drugs@FDA, FDA NDC Directory, CMS NADAC of October 7, 2026, FDA shortages and recalls, FAERS via openFDA (FDA files October 8, 2026)
What next?
- Alternatives to cetirizine
- every medicine labeled for the same conditions