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Zyrtec vs Singulair

Cetirizine  ·  Montelukast

An antihistamine tablet against a leukotriene blocker for allergy and allergic asthma, including the mental-health warning that montelukast now carries.

At a glance

ZyrtecCetirizine
SingulairMontelukast
Brand names
Zyrtec / Reactine
Singulair
Drug class
Second-generation antihistamine
Leukotriene receptor antagonist
Route
Not listed
Oral
Marketed by
Kenvue
Organon
First FDA approval
8 Dec 1995
20 Feb 1998
US shortage
Not listed
Not listed

Key differences

What each one treats

ZyrtecCetirizine

An oral daily allergy medication used to relieve hay fever and hive symptoms.

SingulairMontelukast

SINGULAIR is a leukotriene receptor antagonist indicated for: Prophylaxis and chronic treatment of asthma in patients 12 months of age and older ( 1.1 ). Acute prevention of exercise-induced bronchoconstriction (EIB) in patients 6 years of age and older ( 1.2 ). Relief of symptoms of allergic rhinitis (AR): seasonal allergic rhinitis (SAR) in patients 2 years of age and older, and perennial allergic rhinitis (PAR) in patients 6 months of age and older. Reserve use for patients who have an inadequate response or intolerance to alternative therapies ( 1.3 ). Limitations of Use: Not indicated to treat an acute asthma attack ( 5.2 ). 1.1 Asthma SINGULAIR ® is indicated for the prophylaxis and chronic treatment of asthma in adults and pediatric patients 12 months of age and older. 1.2 Exercise-Induced Bronchoconstriction (EIB) SINGULAIR is indicated for prevention of exercise-induced broncho…

How each one works

ZyrtecSecond-generation antihistamine

An oral daily allergy medication used to relieve hay fever and hive symptoms.

SingulairLeukotriene receptor antagonist

12.1 Mechanism of Action The cysteinyl leukotrienes (LTC 4 , LTD 4 , LTE 4 ) are products of arachidonic acid metabolism and are released from various cells, including mast cells and eosinophils. These eicosanoids bind to cysteinyl leukotriene (CysLT) receptors. The CysLT type-1 (CysLT 1 ) receptor is found in the human airway (including airway smooth muscle cells and airway macrophages) and on other pro-inflammatory cells (including eosinophils and certain myeloid stem cells). CysLTs have been correlated with the pathophysiology of asthma and allergic rhinitis. In asthma, leukotriene-mediated effects include airway edema, smooth muscle contraction, and altered cellular activity associated …

Related comparisons

Zyrtec VS Claritin Zyrtec VS Allegra Singulair VS Flovent

Read more

Zyrtec profile Singulair profile Antihistamines All comparisons
This is not medical advice, and not a recommendation of one drug over the other.

Which medicine is right for a given person depends on their diagnosis, other conditions, other medicines, kidney and liver function, pregnancy, and cost or reimbursement — none of which this page knows. Two drugs in the same class are not automatically interchangeable. Never start, stop or switch a prescription medicine on the basis of a web page; that decision belongs to you and your clinician or pharmacist.

Class and summary text is written by the Priya Life Science editorial team. Label, mechanism, route, manufacturer and approval data come from the U.S. FDA via the openFDA API; shortage status from the FDA Drug Shortage Database. Approvals, indications and brand names differ between the US, EU/Ireland (EMA/HPRA) and other regions — a drug approved in one may not be approved, or may carry a different name, in another.