Patent ID: 8513259

Claim:
A method of increasing peak plasma concentration and/or providing immediate onset of plasma concentration of cetirizine in an individual in need of treatment for acute urticaria or angioedema associated with an acute allergic reaction, comprising administering to the individual an intravenous injection of an injectable cetirizine composition containing 2 mg to 20 mg of cetirizine at a rate of 10 mg per 1.0-1.5 minutes or faster, wherein the peak plasma concentration (Cmax) of the intravenous injectable cetirizine composition is greater than twice the Cmax of a reference immediate-release oral cetirizine dosage form having the same number of mg of cetirizine as the injectable cetirizine composition, and wherein the area under the plasma time curve measured as AUC 0-36 hr and AUC 0-inf is substantially the same for the intravenously injectable cetirizine composition and the reference immediate-release oral cetirizine dosage form.