Two medicines, side by side
Cetirizine vs levocetirizine
Cetirizine and levocetirizine are both labeled for allergies. Drugs@FDA records approvals of cetirizine since 1995 and of levocetirizine since 2007. Pharmacies paid $0.0613 per cetirizine HCl 10 mg tablet and $0.0511 per levocetirizine 5 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).
Check it at the source: the cetirizine FDA label on DailyMed (effective August 7, 2026); the levocetirizine FDA label on DailyMed (effective March 11, 2026).
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 levocetirizine record
Levocetirizine (Xyzal) · label of March 11, 2026
Used for
From the label: indicationstemporarily relieves these symptoms due to hay fever or other respiratory allergies: runny nose sneezing itchy, watery eyes itching of the nose or throat
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- May 25, 2007
- Generic labelers
- 53 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.0511 per tablet
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 1
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA (Cetirizine label of August 7, 2026, Levocetirizine label of March 11, 2026); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do cetirizine and levocetirizine differ on the record?
Both are in FDA's class histamine-1 receptor antagonists.
Generics: cetirizine since 2007; levocetirizine since 2010 (Drugs@FDA).
| Cetirizine | Levocetirizine | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Allergies | Allergies |
| Pharmacologic class | Histamine-1 Receptor Antagonist | Histamine-1 Receptor Antagonist |
| How it works (label) | n/a | n/a |
| Half-life (label) | n/a | n/a |
| Earliest approval on file (Drugs@FDA) | December 8, 1995 | May 25, 2007 |
| First generic approved | December 27, 2007 | November 26, 2010 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 149 labelers | 53 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $0.0613 per tablet (Cetirizine HCl 10 mg tablet) | $0.0511 per tablet (Levocetirizine 5 mg tablet) |
| 12-month price change | -11% | -8% |
| Boxed warning | No | No |
| Shortage now | No current entry | No current entry |
| Recalls recorded | 19 | 1 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 171,713 | 23,887 |
| 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)
Do their labels mention each other?
Cetirizine label, contraindicationsCONTRAINDICATIONS The use of QUZYTTIR is contraindicated in patients with a known hypersensitivity to cetirizine hydrochloride or any of its ingredients, levocetirizine, or hydroxyzine.
Levocetirizine label, contraindications (prescription label)Patients with a known hypersensitivity to levocetirizine or any of the ingredients of levocetirizine dihydrochloride tablets or to cetirizine
Levocetirizine label, drug interactions (prescription label)There was a small decrease (~16%) in the clearance of cetirizine caused by a 400 mg dose of theophylline.
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA
What next?
- Alternatives to cetirizine
- every medicine labeled for the same conditions