11/25/2025
Cetirizine and loratadine are both used to treat allergy symptoms such as sneezing, runny nose, and itchy or watery eyes, and they both last about 24 hours. Cetirizine tends to work faster, usually within about an hour, and is often considered slightly more effective for conditions like hives, but it is also more likely to cause drowsiness. In contrast, loratadine usually takes longer to start working—about one to three hours—but is considered a non-drowsy option for most people.
So, which do you take?
