Version July 2025
| Medication | Adult dosing | Pediatric dosing |
| Cetirizine*¶ | Standard: 10 mg once daily New-onset urticaria: May increase to 10 mg twice daily Chronic urticaria: May gradually increase to 20 mg twice daily | ≥12 years: 10 mg once daily ≥6 to 11 years: 5 to 10 mg once daily 2 to 5 years: 2.5 to 5 mg once daily or in 2 divided doses 6 months to 2 years: 2.5 mg once daily NOTE: For chronic urticaria, dose may be increased to 2.5 mg twice daily for children aged 12 months to 2 years |
| Levocetirizine* | Standard: 5 mg once daily New-onset urticaria: May increase to 5 mg twice daily Chronic urticaria: May gradually increase to 10 mg twice daily | ≥12 years: 2.5 to 5 mg once daily 6 to 11 years: 2.5 mg once daily 6 months to 5 years: 1.25 mg once daily |
| Loratadine¶ | Standard: 10 mg once daily New-onset urticaria: May increase to 10 mg twice daily Chronic urticaria: May gradually increase to 20 mg twice daily | ≥6 years: 10 mg once daily or in 2 divided doses 2 to 5 years: 5 mg once daily |
| Desloratadine¶ | Standard: 5 mg once daily New-onset urticaria: May increase to 5 mg twice daily Chronic urticaria: May gradually increase to 10 mg twice daily | ≥12 years: 5 mg once daily 6 to 11 years: 2.5 mg once daily 1 to 5 years: 1.25 mg once daily (requires oral solution; not commercially available in US) 6 months to 1 year: 1 mg once daily (requires oral solution; not commercially available in US) |
| Fexofenadine¶ | Standard:
New-onset or chronic urticaria:
| ≥12 years:
2 to 11 years: 30 mg twice daily 6 months to 2 years and ≥10.5 kg: 30 mg twice daily 6 months to 2 years and <10.5 kg: 15 mg twice daily |
| EbastineΔ | Standard: 10 mg once daily New-onset or chronic urticaria: May increase to 20 mg once daily | ≥12 years: 10 mg once daily |
| BilastineΔ | Standard: 20 mg once daily New-onset or chronic urticaria: May gradually increase to 80 mg once daily | ≥12 years: 20 mg once daily ≥4 to 11 years and ≥16 kg: 10 mg once daily |
| RupatadineΔ | Standard: 10 mg once daily New-onset or chronic urticaria: May gradually increase to 40 mg once daily | ≥12 years: 10 mg once daily ≥2 to 11 years and >25 kg: 5 mg once daily ≥2 to 11 years and 10 to ≤25 kg: 2.5 mg once daily |
IV: intravenous.
* Cetirizine and levocetirizine may be more sedating than others listed; they can be taken in the evening if sedating. Cetirizine is also available as an IV solution that may be useful in a health care setting when a rapid onset is needed or oral administration is not available.
¶ Also available as a single-pill combination with pseudoephedrine.
Δ Widely available in areas other than United States.
