Is Cetirizine banned in India?

Cetirizine is the most widely used antihistamine in India, sold under brands such as Cetzine, Okacet and Zyrtec and by every generic manufacturer. It is on the National List of Essential Medicines and it is not banned.

What was banned on 2 August 2024, in the 156-FDC notification, were two combinations. The first is cetirizine + paracetamol + phenylephrine, the cold tablet formula used by Cheston Cold and dozens of generic "cold" brands. The second is cetirizine + terbutaline + ambroxol + guaiphenesin, a four-drug cough syrup. In both cases the expert committee found no therapeutic justification for the fixed combination and some risk, which is the standard test under Section 26A. The exact S.O. numbers for these entries should be read from the CDSCO's official PDF.

Cetirizine on its own was not in that list, nor in the 2016, 2018, 2023 or 2026 waves, nor in the April 2025 list of 35 unapproved combinations. Levocetirizine, the refined version of the same molecule, is in the same position: the molecule is legal, and only specific cold combinations containing it were banned.

For allergy sufferers nothing has changed. For anyone using a "cold and flu" tablet, the ingredient list is what matters: cetirizine with paracetamol and phenylephrine in one tablet is a prohibited product, and a pharmacist can suggest taking the components separately if a doctor agrees.