Over-the-counter medication · Second-Generation Antihistamine

levocetirizine

Also sold as Xyzal. This medicine treats allergy symptoms.

Data updated 2026-05-15

$0.15
Generic price (NADAC)

levocetirizine (Xyzal) is an over-the-counter Second-Generation Antihistamine. This medicine treats allergy symptoms.

Levocetirizine is an antihistamine medicine. It helps relieve allergy symptoms.

Drug Pricing (NADAC)

Generic Price

$0.15/unit

Generic Available

Yes (14 manufacturers)

Pricing data from NADAC (CMS), effective December 18, 2024. Compare all drug costs →

NADAC price trail: LEVOCETIRIZINE 2.5 MG/5 ML SOL

Same CMS presentation as the headline generic unit price above (2 effective dates). Adjacent % compares consecutive NADAC releases for this description only, not a patient out-of-pocket quote. Latest step: +15.6% vs prior release.

Effective NADAC / unit vs prior NDCs
October 23, 2024 $0.1772/ML - 1
December 18, 2024 $0.2048/ML +15.6% 4
View Alternatives → Compare with Another Drug →

What it does

This medicine treats allergy symptoms.

Common side effects

No common side effects listed.

Key warnings

If you have kidney disease, do not use this medicine.

The sections below are summarized in plain English from levocetirizine's FDA-approved prescribing information. They describe what the official label says, and are not personal medical advice.

How It Works

Levocetirizine blocks histamine, a natural substance your body makes during an allergic reaction. By blocking histamine, it reduces allergy symptoms.

Serious Warnings

If you have kidney disease, do not use this medicine. Children under 6 years of age should not use this medicine.

Common Questions

Can I take more than one tablet a day?
No, do not take more than one 5 mg tablet in 24 hours.
What should I do if my symptoms don't improve?
Talk to your doctor if your symptoms do not improve after taking this medicine.
Can children under 6 take this medicine?
No, children under 6 years of age should not use this medicine.
Can I take this medicine if I have kidney problems?
No, if you have kidney disease, do not use this medicine.
When is the best time to take this medicine?
Take this medicine once daily in the evening.
Can I drive or operate machinery after taking this medicine?
This medicine may cause drowsiness. Be careful driving or operating machinery until you know how this medicine affects you.
Can I drink alcohol while taking this medicine?
Talk to your doctor about drinking alcohol while taking this medicine.
Is there a generic version of this medicine?
Yes, levocetirizine is the generic name for Xyzal.
How long does it take for this medicine to work?
This medicine usually starts working within one hour.
Can I take this medicine with other allergy medicines?
Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking this medicine with other allergy medicines.
What drug class is levocetirizine?
levocetirizine belongs to the Second-Generation Antihistamine drug class. It is available over the counter (OTC). This medicine treats allergy symptoms.
What pregnancy or breastfeeding source fields are listed for levocetirizine?
The FDA label for levocetirizine contains product-specific pregnancy or breastfeeding language. PlainMeds does not apply that source text to an individual.

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Medication Guides

What the FDA Data Shows for levocetirizine

The FDA label for levocetirizine (sold under brand names such as Xyzal) classifies it as an over-the-counter product in the Second-Generation Antihistamine class. This medicine treats allergy symptoms. Labeling covers dosing, contraindications, and monitoring requirements derived from clinical trials.

Post-market surveillance from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) captures real-world experience. Voluntary reports accumulate over the lifetime of a drug and reflect wide-ranging clinical use. Interaction data is drawn directly from FDA-approved prescribing information. NADAC pricing from CMS shows a generic unit cost of $0.15.

Report counts do not establish causation, a FAERS entry documents a temporal association, not proof that the drug produced the outcome. Widely prescribed medications naturally accumulate more reports than niche therapies, so raw totals must be interpreted alongside total exposure. Shortage status, recall history, and patent information are separate source-record fields. This page is a public FDA/CMS registry and does not provide medical, treatment, substitution, or medication-change directions.

Data Sources

Drug labeling: FDA Drug Labels (SPL/DailyMed). Adverse events: FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Pricing: CMS National Average Drug Acquisition Cost (NADAC).

FAERS reports are voluntary and do not establish causation. Drug interactions are derived from FDA labeling and clinical references. This registry does not provide medication decisions.

Last updated: December 10, 2025

PlainMeds is rendered directly from FDA openFDA/FAERS extracts, DailyMed labels, and CMS drug-pricing files, no number is typed in by an editor. FAERS counts, recalls, shortages, and price figures on this page are queried live from those federal extracts. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of 2026-05-15. Primary sources: openFDA / FAERS, DailyMed and CMS Part B ASP.

Data currency: FDA FAERS adverse-event reports through 2025, CMS NADAC acquisition-cost pricing effective December 2024, compiled from the source snapshot dated . See our methodology for per-source dates and refresh cadence. Spot a figure that looks wrong? Report a data issue.

All federal data sources used on this page