Zyrtec

What Zyrtec does

Zyrtec is an over-the-counter allergy medication brand owned by Kenvue Inc., the publicly traded consumer health company (NYSE: KVUE) that was spun off from Johnson & Johnson in November 2023. The brand, first launched in the United States in 1987, sells cetirizine HCl-based antihistamine products formulated for 24-hour relief of sneezing, runny nose, itchy/watery eyes, itchy nose or throat, and hives. Zyrtec is positioned as the #1 allergist-recommended OTC oral antihistamine and the #1 pediatrician-recommended allergy brand for children. The product portfolio spans adult SKUs (10mg tablets, 10mg liquid gels, 5mg low-dose tablets, dissolving tabs, chewables, 10mg Hives Relief tablets), combination therapy (ZYRTEC-D with decongestant, sold behind the pharmacy counter), and a comprehensive children's line (syrup, dissolving tabs, and chewable tablets in 2.5mg and 10mg dosages for ages 2+ and 6+). The brand also operates the AllergyCast® mobile application, which provides zip-code-based pollen prediction, daily allergy forecasts, and symptom tracking.

The brand's underlying technology is cetirizine HCl, a second-generation antihistamine that blocks histamine receptors without sedation, offered in multiple delivery formats to address consumer preferences across age groups. All products are OTC (no prescription required) and FSA/HSA eligible. Distribution is concentrated in U.S. mass and drug retail — CVS, Target, Walmart — and e-commerce (Amazon, Zyrtec.com) — making the brand broadly accessible at the point of purchase.

Zyrtec's revenue model is one-time consumer unit purchases at retail price points across its SKU portfolio; pricing is unit-based with pay-as-you-go billing and varies by retailer and pack size. Marketing is primarily direct-to-consumer, combining educational content (59+ allergy guide articles on Zyrtec.com), social media (Instagram, Facebook, YouTube), email (ZyrTalk®), comparison pages versus Allegra, Claritin, Flonase, Nasacort, XYZAL, and ClariSpray, and event-based activations. A four-year strategic partnership with the PGA TOUR (starting March 2026) anchors the 'Yes Season' campaign, positioning Zyrtec as the first Official Allergy Relief Sponsor of the league. The brand also maintains a dedicated Healthcare Professionals portal (kenvuepro.com) supporting physician and pharmacist recommendations.

Name

Zyrtec

Legal name

Kenvue Brands LLC

Website

https://zyrtec.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1987

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Zyrtec is an over-the-counter cetirizine HCl-based allergy medication brand owned by Kenvue Inc., selling tablets, liquid gels, chewables, syrup, and combination products for adults and children through U.S. retail and pharmacy channels.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Over-the-Counter Allergy Medication

akta.pro primary industry

Allergy, Sinus & Respiratory (Non-Asthma) (HLAIADAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Cold, Flu & Cough Remedies (HLAIADAB), Pediatric OTC Medicines (HLAIADAL)

Keywords

• OTC allergy medication
• Antihistamine tablets
• Children's allergy syrup
• Hives relief
• Allergy relief products

Headquarters

HQ city

Redondo Beach

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Consumer OTC Allergy Medication Sales: Zyrtec generates revenue through the sale of over-the-counter cetirizine HCl-based allergy relief products sold at major retail chains (CVS, Target, Walmart, Amazon), pharmacies, and direct-to-consumer via Zyrtec.com. Revenue is derived from one-time consumer purchases at retail price points across multiple SKUs including tablets, liquid gels, dissolving tabs, chewables, and syrup products.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Zyrtec is a consumer health brand that sells over-the-counter cetirizine HCl-based antihistamine medications in multiple delivery formats—including tablets, liquid gels, dissolving tablets, chewables, syrup, and a combination tablet with a nasal decongestant (ZYRTEC-D)—for adults and children seeking 24-hour relief from seasonal and indoor allergies, hives, and nasal congestion. The brand also offers the AllergyCast mobile app for personalized pollen prediction and symptom tracking.

Product overview

ZYRTEC® is an over-the-counter antihistamine brand providing 24-hour allergy relief for both adults and children. The product portfolio consists of multiple formulations of cetirizine HCl medication: standard 10 mg tablets and liquid gels for adults, 5 mg low-dose tablets for mild symptoms, 10 mg hives-specific tablets, ZYRTEC-D® combination tablets with decongestant for congestion relief, adult dissolve tabs, and a full range of children's products including syrup, dissolve tabs, and chewable tablets in age-appropriate dosages (2+ and 6+). The brand also offers the AllergyCast® mobile app for personalized pollen tracking and symptom management. All products are based on cetirizine HCl antihistamine technology and are available without prescription at major retailers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• ZYRTEC-D: Allergy + Congestion Relief Tablets combining cetirizine HCl with a decongestant for nasal congestion relief
• Children's ZYRTEC
• ZYRTEC Hives Relief
• AllergyCast

Products and services

• ZYRTEC Allergy Relief Tablets (10 mg) Standard-dose antihistamine tablets containing 10 mg cetirizine HCl providing 24-hour relief of sneezing, runny nose, itchy/watery eyes, and itchy nose or throat for adults and children ages 6+.
• ZYRTEC Liquid Gels (10 mg) Liquid gel capsules containing 10 mg cetirizine HCl delivering 24-hour allergy relief in an easy-to-swallow format for adults.
• ZYRTEC Low Dose Tablets (5 mg) Lower-dose 5 mg cetirizine HCl tablets for mild-to-moderate allergy sufferers with flexible dosing—one tablet for mild symptoms or two tablets once daily for worst symptoms.
• ZYRTEC Hives Relief Tablets (10 mg) Specialized 10 mg cetirizine HCl tablets formulated to reduce hives and relieve itching due to hives (urticaria), starting to work in under 45 minutes.
• ZYRTEC-D Tablets Combination tablets pairing cetirizine HCl with a nasal decongestant for relief of allergy symptoms plus nasal congestion, sinus congestion, and sinus pressure; sold behind the pharmacy counter.
• ZYRTEC Adult Dissolve Tabs Dissolving cetirizine HCl tablets for adults that melt in the mouth without water and provide 24-hour allergy relief.
• ZYRTEC Chewable Tablets (Adults) Dye-free chewable allergy tablets containing 10 mg cetirizine HCl for adults seeking a non-swallow format.
• Children's ZYRTEC Allergy Syrup Liquid cetirizine HCl syrup formulated for children, providing 24-hour relief of allergy symptoms in a grape-flavored format with dosing cup.
• Children's ZYRTEC Dissolve Tabs Dissolving cetirizine HCl tablets for children that melt in the mouth without water, providing 24-hour allergy relief.
• Children's ZYRTEC Chewable Tablets (Ages 6+) Chewable cetirizine HCl 10 mg allergy tablets for children ages 6+ in kid-friendly grape flavor.
• Children's ZYRTEC Chewable Tablets (Ages 2+) Lower-dose 2.5 mg cetirizine HCl chewable tablets for children ages 2+ in a dye-free formula.
• Children's Zyrtec Hives Relief Liquid Pediatric cetirizine HCl liquid formulation launched in August 2025 to reduce hives and relieve itching in children.
• ZYRTEC AllergyCast Mobile App Mobile app providing personalized pollen prediction, daily allergy forecasts, symptom tracking, and allergy impact insights based on the user's zip code.

Quantifiable outcome

• Starts working at hour 1 on the first day of use (based on first dose in 2-day pollen chamber study)
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered flagship and core.

• PGA TOURflagshipGTM or Marketing Partner · 3 March 2026Zyrtec entered a four-year strategic brand partnership with the PGA TOUR as the first Official Allergy Relief Sponsor, starting March 2026. The partnership includes player ambassadors Akshay Bhatia and Neal Shipley, fan activations at five tournaments in high-allergen regions across the U.S., and the 'Yes Season' campaign targeting the 85% of PGA TOUR players and millions of golf fans affected by seasonal allergies.
• Akshay Bhatia (Player Ambassador)coreGTM or Marketing Partner · 3 March 2026Professional PGA TOUR player Akshay Bhatia serves as a player ambassador for Zyrtec's PGA TOUR partnership and 'Yes Season' campaign, helping promote allergy relief to fellow players and fans.
• Neal Shipley (Player Ambassador)coreGTM or Marketing Partner · 3 March 2026Professional PGA TOUR player Neal Shipley serves as a player ambassador for Zyrtec's PGA TOUR partnership and 'Yes Season' campaign, promoting allergy relief awareness among golf athletes and enthusiasts.
• Kenvue Inc. (Parent Company)coreOthers · 3 March 2026Zyrtec is a brand owned and operated by Kenvue Brands LLC, a subsidiary of Kenvue Inc. Kenvue publishes the official Zyrtec news and partnership announcements, and provides corporate governance (Trademark Law Department, Kenvue Inc., 1 Kenvue Way, Summit, NJ 07901).

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Benadryl: Benadryl (Kenvue Inc., same parent company as Zyrtec) is a diphenhydramine-based OTC antihistamine addressing allergies, hives, and itching. Although it is a Kenvue sister brand rather than a direct Cetirizine competitor, both operate within the same Kenvue OTC allergy franchise and share distribution and retailer strategy.
• Allegra: Allegra (Sanofi Consumer Healthcare) is a fexofenadine-based 24-hour OTC oral antihistamine competing directly against Zyrtec in the same retail channels and against the same allergy indications. Zyrtec's marketing explicitly compares its cetirizine HCl against Allegra's formulation for symptom coverage.
• Flonase: Flonase (Haleon) is a fluticasone-based intranasal corticosteroid spray positioned in the same OTC allergy category as Zyrtec, addressing the same consumer needs via a different mechanism. Zyrtec's comparison content explicitly contrasts its oral antihistamine against Flonase's spray.
• Claritin: Claritin (Bayer Consumer Health) is the most direct OTC allergy competitor to Zyrtec, offering loratadine-based 24-hour antihistamines across adult and children's formats. Both brands compete head-to-head in the same retail channels (CVS, Walmart, Target, Amazon) and Zyrtec's own comparison pages position directly against Claritin's hour-3 onset.
• XYZAL: XYZAL (Sanofi Consumer Healthcare) is a levocetirizine-based 24-hour OTC oral antihistamine directly comparable to Zyrtec given that levocetirizine is the active enantiomer of cetirizine HCl. Zyrtec's comparison pages call out XYZAL as a head-to-head competitor.
• Nasacort: Nasacort (Sanofi Consumer Healthcare) is a triamcinolone-based intranasal OTC allergy spray competing in the same shelf space as Zyrtec, with Zyrtec explicitly calling out Nasacort in its comparison marketing as a competing format alternative.

Broad incumbents

• Perrigo Company: Perrigo is a major OTC pharmaceutical manufacturer and store-brand producer across multiple therapeutic categories including allergy. As the dominant private-label supplier to Walmart, CVS, Target, and Amazon (key Zyrtec retailers), Perrigo's generic cetirizine and loratadine products directly compete with Zyrtec on shelf and price.
• Haleon plc: Haleon (the GSK consumer healthcare spin-off) owns a portfolio of OTC allergy and consumer health brands including Flonase, Advil, and Centrum. As a major publicly traded consumer health peer to Kenvue (Zyrtec's parent), Haleon competes across multiple categories in the same retail channels.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/zyrtec
• Facebookfacebook.com/ZYRTEC
• Instagraminstagram.com/zyrtecallergy
• Xx.com/Zyrtec

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Zyrtec