How quickly does Zerviate (cetirizine) work, and how long does it last?

Zerviate (cetirizine) can start to relieve your itchy eyes within [3 minutes](https://myzerviate.com/efficacy/) after placing a drop in your eye. The effects of the eye drops can last up to 8 hours.

Zerviate

cetirizine

Used for Allergic Conjunctivitis

Zerviate (cetirizine) is an eye drop that can help relieve itchy eyes caused by allergies in adults and children 2 years of age or older. It can start to work within 3 minutes after using the eye drops. It's only available as a brand medication, so it might be more expensive than other alternatives.

Reviewed by:

Cydnee Ng, PharmD

Michelle Nguyen, PharmD

Last reviewed on November 16, 2021

What is Zerviate (cetirizine)?

What is Zerviate (cetirizine) used for?

Allergy-related itchy eyes

How Zerviate (cetirizine) works

Zerviate (cetirizine) is an antihistamine. When you're exposed to an allergen, such as pollen or dust, your body releases histamine to help get rid of it. Histamine is a chemical in the body that can cause allergy symptoms. Zerviate (cetirizine) works by blocking histamine, which can help relieve eye itchiness.

Are you looking for information on cetirizine (Zyrtec) oral tablet or liquid instead?

Drug facts

Common Brands	Zerviate
Drug Class	Antihistamine
Controlled Substance Classification	Not a controlled medication
Generic Status	No lower-cost generic available
Availability	Prescription only

Common Brands

Zerviate

Drug Class

Antihistamine

Controlled Substance Classification

Not a controlled medication

Generic Status

No lower-cost generic available

Availability

Prescription only

Side effects of Zerviate (cetirizine)

The following side effects may get better over time as your body gets used to the medication. Let your healthcare provider know immediately if you continue to experience these symptoms or if they worsen over time.

Common Side Effects

Eye redness (1-7%)
Pain where Zerviate (cetirizine) was placed in the eye (1-7%)
Lowered sharpness of your vision (visual acuity, 1-7%)

Source: DailyMed

The following Zerviate (cetirizine) side effects have also been reported

Side effects that you should report to your care team as soon as possible:

Allergic reactions—skin rash, itching, hives, swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat

Side effects that usually do not require medical attention (report these to your care team if they continue or are bothersome):

Blurry vision
Eye pain

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Avg retail price

$272.99(Save 45.42%)

Manufacturer exclusive discount

$149.00

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Pros and cons of Zerviate (cetirizine)

Pros

Specifically targets allergy-related itchy eyes
Works within 3 minutes
Safe to use in older adults and children as young as 2 years old
Available as single-use vials or a multi-dose bottle

Cons

Only available by prescription
Only available as a brand medication, so it can be expensive

Pharmacist tips for Zerviate (cetirizine)

Wash your hands before using Zerviate (cetirizine) to prevent eye infections.
If you wear soft contacts, remove them before using Zerviate (cetirizine), and then wait 10 minutes after using the eye drops to put them back in your eyes. Don't put your contacts back in if your eyes are red or irritated, because contacts can make it worse.
After placing a drop in your eye, close your eye and press one finger to the inner corner of your eye by the nose for a couple minutes. This helps make sure your eye absorbs the drop.
If you're using more than one eye drop medication, remember to wait 5 minutes between each drop to give your eyes time to absorb each medication.
If you're using the single-use vials, keep them in the original foil pouch until you're ready for your dose. Use the eye drops right after you open the vial. Each single-use vial has enough medication for 1 drop in both eyes. Throw away the single-use vial right after using, even if there is medication left inside. Don't save opened single-use vials for later use, since you can't close them to prevent contamination.

Common questions about Zerviate

No, Zerviate is only available by prescription from your provider. OTC allergy eye drops can be a good alternative if you prefer an eye drop that's convenient to get at your local pharmacy. These OTC eye drops include Zaditor (ketotifen) and olopatadine (Pataday).

Zerviate can start to relieve your itchy eyes within 3 minutes after placing a drop in your eye. The effects of the eye drops can last up to 8 hours.

No, Zerviate can't be used to treat eye infections. If your itchy eyes don't get better after using the eye drops for a while or if you notice eye pain, discharge, or changes in your vision, talk to your provider right away. If it's an eye infection, your provider will prescribe specific antibiotic medications to treat the infection.

Zerviate and cetirizine (Zyrtec) contain the same active ingredient, cetirizine. Zyrtec is taken by mouth and can relieve many allergy symptoms, such as itchy eyes, sneezing, and runny nose. On the other hand, Zerviate is an eye drop that works locally to only relieve allergy-related itchy eyes. Zerviate primarily works on the eyes and has a lower risk of being absorbed into the rest of your body like Zyrtec tablets or liquid, so Zerviate doesn't typically cause sleepiness or dry mouth like the oral form of cetirizine can.

Generally, it's not recommended to take two medications containing the same ingredient (cetirizine) or two medications in the same class (antihistamines) at the same time. Doing so can raise your risk of side effects. To be safe, first try either Zerviate or cetirizine (Zyrtec) alone to see if one helps your itchy eyes better than the other. If either one doesn't help, ask your provider what other medications you can try.

Risks and warnings for Zerviate (cetirizine)

Zerviate (cetirizine) can cause some serious health issues. This risk may be even higher for certain groups. If this worries you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist about other options.

Risk of contamination

Remember to wash your hands before using Zerviate (cetirizine) to prevent eye infections. Don't touch the tip of the Zerviate (cetirizine) container onto your eyes, eyelids, or to any surface to prevent contamination of the medication, eye infections, and eye injury. Throw away each single-use vial right after using and keep the multi-dose bottle closed when you're not using it to prevent contamination.

Contact lens use

Zerviate (cetirizine) contains a preservative called benzalkonium chloride, which can get absorbed by soft contact lenses and cause damage. If you wear soft contacts, remove them before using Zerviate (cetirizine). Wait at least 10 minutes after your dose to put your contacts back in. It's also best not to wear contacts if your eyes are red. Zerviate (cetirizine) shouldn't be used to treat eye irritation from contact lenses.

Zerviate (cetirizine) dosage

The average cost for 1 carton of 30 single-use containers of .24% of Zerviate (cetirizine) is $149.00 with a free GoodRx coupon. This is 45.42% off the average retail price of $272.99.