British journal of clinical pharmacology
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Br J Clin Pharmacol · Apr 2004
Multicenter StudyRetrospective population pharmacokinetic analysis of cetirizine in children aged 6 months to 12 years.
To evaluate retrospectively the population pharmacokinetics of cetirizine, a second-generation antihistamine, in children. ⋯ Population analysis predicts a linear increase in cetirizine CL/F and V/F with age, with CL/F being slightly lower in female children, relative to males of the same age. However, this gender difference probably has no clinical consequences. Since V/F increased more rapidly with age than CL/F, a nonlinear increase in half-life was seen, from < 4 h in infants to near the adult value at 12 years of age. The current recommended dosing regimens that younger children should receive lower but more frequent doses, are confirmed by the present analysis.