FDA approves Zyrtec for non-prescription use

FT. WASHINGTON, Pa. McNeil Consumer Healthcare on Friday received approval from the Food and Drug Administration for its allergy treatment Zyrtec (cetirizine HCl) to be used without a prescription for adults and children.

The Zyrtec approval comes one week after the FDA granted the company approval to market Zyrtec-D 12 Hour (cetirizine HCl 5 mg/pseudoephedrine HCl 120 mg).

Both formulations will be available in stores nationwide in late January 2008, the company stated.