Compare Zyrtec D vs. Nasonex
Head-to-head comparisons of medication uses, side effects, ratings, and more.
Relieves congestion and allergy symptoms.
Zyrtec D (Cetirizine / Pseudoephedrine) relieves allergies and congestion without causing daytime sleepiness. It can keep you up at night if you take it too close to bedtime.
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3.7/ 5 average rating with 927 reviewsforZyrtec D
Relieves allergy symptoms.
Nasonex (Mometasone) is a good first-choice treatment for stuffy and runny noses caused by allergies.
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3.6/ 5 average rating with 675 reviewsforNasonex
Upsides
- The antihistamine (Cetirizine) in Zyrtec D (Cetirizine / Pseudoephedrine) causes less drowsiness than other medications like Benadryl.
- The decongestant (Pseudoephedrine) in Zyrtec D (Cetirizine / Pseudoephedrine) is stronger than other decongestants. It can also help relieve congestion-related headaches and ear pressure.
- The stimulant effects of Pseudoephedrine can give you some extra energy during the day.
- Doesn't give you rebound congestion (worse congestion symptoms after you stop taking the medicine) like decongestant nose sprays can.
- It's available without a prescription, unlike other strong allergy medicines.
- First-choice medication for treating runny and stuffy noses caused by allergies. It works by reducing inflammation in the nose.
- Because it's used directly where the inflammation is happening, it has fewer side effects than oral steroids do and has a lower chance of causing withdrawal symptoms once the medication is stopped.
- Can be used as needed to help control symptoms in people age 13 years or older.
- Available as a generic, which is cheaper.
Downsides
- You can have more side effects when using combination pills than when using single-ingredient medications.
- The antihistamine (Cetirizine) can cause more drowsiness than similar antihistamines, like Allegra D (which contains Fexofenadine) and Claritin D (which contains Loratadine).
- The decongestant (Pseudoephedrine) can make your heart race or give you anxious or restless feelings.
- You might not sleep as well due to Pseudoephedrine's effects and you can also have strange dreams while taking it.
- Pseudoephedrine can raise your blood pressure, so don't take it if you have high blood pressure or other heart conditions.
- Although you don't need a prescription, you do need to show a photo ID to buy this from behind the pharmacy counter.
- Needs to be primed 10 times before it can be used, or re-primed if not used for more than 2 weeks.
- Doesn't have a counter on it, so it can be hard to remember how many sprays are left (each bottle has 120 sprays).
- Since the medicine in Nasonex (Mometasone) is a steroid, it can slow down your healing process if you've hurt your nose or had nose surgery.
Used for
Dosage forms
- Extended release
- Nasal spray
Price
Lowest price
$11.23
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$59.69
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Reviews
927 reviews so far
75%
saidit'sworth it
43%
saiditworked well
9%
saidit'sa big hassle
Have you used Zyrtec D (Cetirizine / Pseudoephedrine)?
Leave a review675 reviews so far
68%
saidit'sworth it
39%
saiditworked well
8%
saidit'sa big hassle
Have you used Nasonex (Mometasone)?
Leave a reviewSide effects
The Zyrtec D (Cetirizine / Pseudoephedrine) FDA package insert doesn’t have numbers about how common side effects are.
Risks and risk factors
- High blood pressure
- History of high blood pressure
- Heart problems
- History of heart problems
- Age 65 or older
- Seizure
- History of seizure
- Harm to fetus
- Women of childbearing age
- Taking the wrong medication
- Increased side effects
- Age 65 years or older
- Driving impairment
- Taking with alcohol
- Taking other medicines that make you less alert
- Overdosage
- Current kidney disease
- Current liver disease
- Thrush in the nose and throat
- Long-term use
- Changes in the nasal septum
- Long-term use
- Decreased wound healing
- Surgery or trauma to the nose or sinuses
- Glaucoma and cataracts
- Long-term use
- Reduced immune system
- Exposure to immunizable diseases (chickenpox and measles)
- Exposure to tuberculosis
- Decrease in growth in children and teenagers
- Long-term use
- Taking more than recommended dose