Nationwide recall: Unique Pharmaceutical Laboratories is voluntarily recalling four lots of Cetirizine Hydrochloride Tablets USP 5 mg — a generic allergy medicine — because they may be cross-contaminated with ranitidine. If you take generic cetirizine from a 100-count bottle, check your lot number below. Brand-name Zyrtec is not part of this recall, per the FDA notice.
The Exact Lots to Check
| Product | Lot numbers | Expiry | Pack |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cetirizine Hydrochloride Tablets USP 5 mg (distributed by Rising Pharma Holdings) | GY825029 GY825030 GY825031 GY825032 | Oct 2028 | 100-count HDPE bottles |
The lot number is printed on the bottle label. If yours matches, stop taking it.
Is Zyrtec Recalled? No — Here Is the Distinction
Cetirizine is the active ingredient in Zyrtec, which is why headlines about this recall alarm Zyrtec users. But the recall covers only the generic tablets made by Unique Pharmaceutical Laboratories (a division of J.B. Chemicals) and distributed by Rising Pharma. Brand-name Zyrtec products are not included. If you take a different generic, check your label — only the four lots above are affected.
Why Ranitidine Contamination Is a Serious Problem
Two reasons. First, the FDA warns that for people with hypersensitivity to ranitidine, taking a contaminated tablet could trigger reactions up to anaphylaxis — throat and facial swelling, difficulty breathing and swallowing, hives, dangerously low blood pressure, even loss of consciousness. An allergy pill causing an allergic emergency is the cruelest kind of failure.
Second, the history: ranitidine — once sold as Zantac — was withdrawn from the entire US market in 2020 over NDMA (probable-carcinogen) concerns. It is not supposed to be in any American medicine cabinet, let alone inside a different drug’s tablets.
What to Do
- Check the lot number on your bottle against the four above.
- Stop using a matching bottle. Rising Pharma is arranging returns of all recalled product.
- Contact: 1-844-874-7464 (Mon-Fri, 8am-5pm ET), or pv@risingpharma.com / qa@risingpharma.com.
- If you have had any unusual reaction, contact your doctor, and report to the FDA’s MedWatch program.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Which cetirizine is recalled?
Four lots of generic Cetirizine Hydrochloride 5 mg, 100-count bottles: GY825029-GY825032 (exp. Oct 2028), distributed by Rising Pharma Holdings.
Is Zyrtec part of the recall?
No. Brand-name Zyrtec is not affected — only the generic lots above.
What is the contamination?
Possible cross-contamination with ranitidine, the heartburn drug withdrawn from the US market in 2020.
What is the health risk?
For people hypersensitive to ranitidine: reactions up to anaphylaxis, per the FDA notice.
How do I return recalled bottles?
Call 1-844-874-7464 (Mon-Fri 8-5 ET) or email pv@risingpharma.com — returns are being arranged.
Recall details, lot numbers and risk language per the FDA recall notice and reporting by CBS News, ABC News and AARP, July 2026. This article is informational, not medical advice — consult your doctor or pharmacist about your medications. Photo: generic medication tablets (Unsplash).
