Cetirizine or Piriton

[MaryBerrysBlazer]

dd2 (4) is anaphylactic to all nuts, eggs and CMP.

She has an epipen and has always carried Piriton.

Recently she went to hospital for a milk challenge. When she reacted they treated her with Cetirizine and subsequently her prescription was changed to this rather than Piriton. We were advised it was better because there are no drowsy side effects.

She's just started school so I went to get some Cetirizine to go with the epipen pack. The pharmacist said that Piriton is much better for food allergies as it stops the production of histamine whereas Cetirizine just prevents their uptake.

I said that dd has done fine with Piriton and had never been drowsy so he categorically said Piriton would be better.

BUT the hospital (allergy nurse) advised Cetirizine.

Does anyone know anything to help with this. Thanks!

Our GP and pharmacist advise Piriton, but like you, our paeds allergy consultant advises cetirizine and annoyingly changed our prescription.

I think that cetirizine is better for a regular, daily preventative dose but it isn't fast enough acting in my experience to deal with a reaction as well as piriton does. I still carry piriton with me all the time for when we have a reaction, I feel safer with it.

If we have had a reaction and in the next few days I just need to give something regular to keep her system on top of it then I give cetirizine, hope that makes some sense!