By the 254.ke Newsroom
The Ministry of Health has warned Kenyans against misusing cetirizine, a common over-the-counter allergy tablet, after social media posts promoted an unapproved use that medical guidance does not support. Principal Secretary for Medical Services Dr. Ouma Oluga raised the alarm on Wednesday, November 4, 2026, saying the online trend pushes some members of the public to misuse medicines. He also floated a system to trace who buys the drug.
What did the Health Ministry say about cetirizine?
Oluga spoke at a High-Level Health Products and Technologies (HPT) Stakeholder Meeting in Nairobi. He said: “I saw people discussing this medicine in a manner that is like a joke, but this also influences some sections of the public to misuse products and medicine.”
The Ministry cautioned the public against experimenting with medicines based on claims made online, according to Kenyans.co.ke.
What is the viral claim about?
Reports differ slightly in how they describe it. Kenyans.co.ke says cetirizine went viral over claims that it can suppress sexual desire, and that some women have reportedly started using the tablets internally. Pulse Kenya says the claims spread on X and suggest that inserting the tablets intravaginally can reduce moisture and create a temporary sensation of tightness.
Cetirizine is an antihistamine taken by mouth. It is used to relieve allergy symptoms such as sneezing, a runny nose, itchy eyes and hives. Pulse notes it was never formulated, tested or approved for use inside the body in this way, and Kenyans.co.ke reports that medical guidance does not recommend it and that it could expose users to irritation or other unintended effects.
Key facts at a glance
- Who: PS for Medical Services Dr. Ouma Oluga, Ministry of Health
- When: Wednesday, November 4, 2026
- Where: High-Level HPT Stakeholder Meeting, Nairobi
- Approved use: Oral relief of allergy symptoms
- Listed oral side effects: Drowsiness, headache, dizziness, dry mouth
- Status of tracking idea: Proposed. No decision or timetable reported
Will the government track people who buy cetirizine?
Not yet. Oluga said the Ministry could develop a system to trace buyers: “What we can assure Kenyans is that we can develop a system that can trace everyone, for instance, who has gone to buy cetirizine.”
He added that from a medicine control perspective, it is important to trace who manufactured the drug and who sold it, and to which patient. Both outlets report that authorities could consider measures such as directly observed therapy where necessary. Neither reports a formal decision, a rollout date or a legal framework, so how any tracing would work, and how it would handle patient privacy, remains unclear.
Are there shortages and price hikes?
Pulse Kenya reports that pharmacists in Nairobi have described panic buying, stock shortages and prices rising to about triple the usual rate. The report names no pharmacy and gives no specific prices, and the Ministry was not quoted on shortages. Treat the claim as unconfirmed. If you take cetirizine for a genuine allergy, check with your pharmacist before switching products.
What has the Pharmacy and Poisons Board said?
Kenyans.co.ke reports that the Board said medicine safety does not end once a product is approved. It said it monitors medicines in use through pharmacovigilance and acts on reports of suspected side effects, and it urged Kenyans who experience one to report it through its pharmacovigilance system.
FAQ
Is cetirizine safe to take for allergies?
Taken by mouth as directed, it is an approved antihistamine. Common side effects include drowsiness, headache, dizziness and dry mouth. Ask a pharmacist or doctor if you are unsure about dosage.
Why is the Ministry of Health warning about it now?
Because of a viral social media trend promoting an unapproved use. Dr. Oluga said such conversations can push people to misuse medicine.
How do I report a bad reaction to a medicine in Kenya?
Report it to the Pharmacy and Poisons Board through its pharmacovigilance system, and see a health worker if symptoms are severe.
Has cetirizine been banned or restricted?
No restriction has been announced in the reports reviewed as of November 5, 2026. Tracing buyers was floated as an idea only.
The Ministry’s warning comes as it also faces a looming industrial dispute: see our report on the doctors’ strike notice covering 17 counties, and our earlier piece on the health sector’s reform pledges. For official guidance on adverse drug reaction reporting, see the Pharmacy and Poisons Board.
Sources: Kenyans.co.ke (Nov 4, 2026); Pulse Kenya (Nov 4, 2026).
