Kenya warns against misusing the allergy pill cetirizine after a viral trend
Health officials and pharmacists say the tablets are made to be swallowed and can cause injury and infection when used any other way.
Nairobi — Kenya's Ministry of Health has cautioned the public against misusing cetirizine, a common allergy medicine, after a trend on social media encouraged women to use the tablets vaginally.
Posts on X claimed the drug could dry natural secretions and create a feeling of "tightness". Citizen Digital reported that demand in Nairobi had pushed prices up threefold, with some pharmacies running short.
What the medicine is for
Cetirizine is an antihistamine used for hay fever, allergic rhinitis and hives. It is made to be swallowed as a tablet or syrup and has never been tested or approved for use in the vagina.
Doctors and pharmacists quoted by Kenyan media say the idea behind the trend is wrong: dryness does not tighten muscle, and natural moisture is a sign of a healthy body. Using tablets this way can cause friction, small tears and irritation, upset the natural balance of bacteria, and raise the risk of infections, including sexually transmitted ones.
Medicines should only be used as directed on the pack or by a pharmacist, and anyone with pain or irritation after using a product this way should see a health worker.
Source: Kenyans.co.ke, Citizen Digital, November 2026.
