---
title: Cetirizine and Famotidine for COVID-19
nct_id: NCT04836806
overall_status: WITHDRAWN
phase: PHASE4
sponsor: Emory University
study_type: INTERVENTIONAL
primary_condition: Covid19
countries: United States
canonical_url: "https://parkinsonspathways.com/agent/trials/NCT04836806.md"
clinicaltrials_gov: "https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT04836806"
ct_last_update_post_date: 2021-08-20
last_seen_at: "2026-05-12T07:28:30.413Z"
source: ClinicalTrials.gov (mirrored, no enrichment)
---
# Cetirizine and Famotidine for COVID-19

**Official Title:** Randomized, Double-blind, Placebo-controlled Trial to Evaluate the Efficacy of Cetirizine and Famotidine in Reducing the Duration of Symptoms in Patients With COVID-19: A Pilot Study

**NCT ID:** [NCT04836806](https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT04836806)

## Key Facts

- **Status:** WITHDRAWN
- **Why Stopped:** Study stopped due to issues with enrollment and lack of funding.
- **Phase:** PHASE4
- **Study Type:** INTERVENTIONAL
- **Target Enrollment:** 0
- **Lead Sponsor:** Emory University
- **Conditions:** Covid19
- **Start Date:** 2021-08
- **Completion Date:** 2022-07
- **CT.gov Last Update:** 2021-08-20

## Brief Summary

This study is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial to evaluate the efficacy of cetirizine and famotidine in reducing the duration of symptoms in patients with COVID-19. Secondary aims are to determine if cetirizine and famotidine decrease severity and duration of symptoms, incidence of hospitalizations, ICU admissions, and death.

## Detailed Description

COVID-19 is a disease caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Patients with COVID-19 may present with a myriad of symptoms ranging from fever and cough to more severe symptoms such as shortness of breath. Cetirizine and famotidine are commonly administered medications that can be found over-the-counter. They are well tolerated and have low potential for drug-drug interaction. With it's anti-inflammatory properties via modulation of proinflammatory cytokines, cetirizine may be an effective symptomatic therapeutic for COVID-19. With possible antiviral properties, famotidine may have a role in therapy as well.

After a positive COVID test has been confirmed, participants with be randomized to take cetirizine and famotidine or a placebo for 10 days and the study medication will be shipped to them. Participants will record their symptoms for 30 days and any serious adverse events will be followed for up to 60 days.

## Eligibility

- **Minimum age:** 18 Years
- **Sex:** ALL
- **Healthy Volunteers:** No

```
Inclusion Criteria:

* 18 years old and above
* positive COVID-19 test (antigen or PCR)
* symptomatic from COVID-19
* symptoms less than or equal to 7 days

Exclusion Criteria:

* already enrolled in another COVID-19 drug study
* chronically taking a H1-receptor antagonist or H2-receptor antagonist
* have taken H1-receptor antagonist or H2-receptor antagonist less than 72 hours from expressed interest in the study.
* history of an adverse reaction to H1 or H2-receptor antagonists
* severe liver disease
* severe renal disease
* taking steroids
* taking hydroxychloroquine and/or azithromycin
* already participating in a COVID-19 vaccine trial
* already received a COVID-19 vaccine
* symptoms greater than 7 days
* have had COVID-19 more than once
```

## Arms

- **cetirizine and famotidine** (EXPERIMENTAL) — Participants testing positive for COVID-19 who are randomized to take cetirizine and famotidine for 10 days.
- **Placebo** (PLACEBO_COMPARATOR) — Participants testing positive for COVID-19 who are randomized to take a placebo to match cetirizine and famotidine for 10 days.

## Interventions

- **Cetirizine and Famotidine** (DRUG) — Participants will take 10 milligrams (mg) of cetirizine once a day and 20 mg of famotidine twice a day for 10 days (two pills in the morning and one in the evening).
- **Placebo** (DRUG) — Participants will take placebos to match 10 mg of cetirizine once a day and 20 mg of famotidine twice a day for 10 days (two pills in the morning and one in the evening).

## Primary Outcomes

- **Time to resolution of symptoms** _(time frame: Day 30)_ — Participants will record their oral temperature and the presence of COVID-19 symptoms of cough, shortness of breath/difficulty breathing, fatigue, myalgias, headache, loss of taste, loss of smell, sore throat, rhinorrhea, congestion, nausea/vomiting, diarrhea, and feverishness/chills, twice daily for up to 14 days. The number of days until resolution of overall symptoms of COVID-19 will be compared between study arms.

## Secondary Outcomes

- **Severity of Symptoms** _(time frame: Day 30)_
- **Time to Resolution of Individual Symptoms** _(time frame: Day 30)_
- **Incidence of Hospitalization** _(time frame: Day 30)_
- **Incidence of Intensive Care Unit (ICU) Admission** _(time frame: Day 60)_
- **Incidence of Death** _(time frame: Day 60)_

## Locations (2)

- Emory University Hospital at Wesley Woods COVID-19 Testing Facility, Atlanta, Georgia, United States
- Emory Healthcare Network Peachtree Immediate Care COVID-19 Testing Centers, Atlanta, Georgia, United States

## Recent Field Changes (last 30 days)

- `status.overallStatus` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `status.whyStopped` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `status.primaryCompletionDate` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `status.completionDate` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `status.lastUpdatePostDate` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `design.phases` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `design.enrollmentCount` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `eligibility.criteria` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `eligibility.minAge` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `eligibility.sex` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `outcomes.primary` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `outcomes.secondary` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `armsInterventions.arms` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `armsInterventions.interventions` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `sponsor.lead` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `results.hasResults` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `locations.emory university hospital at wesley woods covid-19 testing facility|atlanta|georgia|united states` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `locations.emory healthcare network peachtree immediate care covid-19 testing centers|atlanta|georgia|united states` — added _(2026-05-12)_

---

*Canonical: https://parkinsonspathways.com/agent/trials/NCT04836806.md*  
*Source data (authoritative): https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT04836806*  
*This page is a raw mirror with no AI summary, no editorial enrichment, and no Parkinson's-specific filtering.*