The paper is concerned with the formulation of the antihistamine cetirizine into hydrogels. The cellulose derivatives hydroxyethylcellulose (HEC) and methylcellulose (MC) were employed to prepare hydrogels. As auxiliary substances from the group of humectants are indispensable components of hydrogels, the paper examines their effect (glycerol – GL, propylene glycol – PG, and sorbitol – SO) on the rheological properties and pharmaceutical availability of cetirizine in its formulation into hyrogel. The obtained results show that from the viewpoint of dermal administration for cetirizine at this stage of research hydrogels of the following composition are optimal: 3 %HEC + 15% GL and 2.5% MC + 10% SO.

        Key words: hydrogels – cetirizine hydroxyethylcellulose – methylcellulose – humectants