Drug Ratings for ZYRTECAverage Rating: 2.1 (1499 Ratings)
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Results are sorted by Gender with females listed first (no age reported listed before females) Key to Ratings: 1=LOW (I would not recommend taking this medicine.) Page: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 |
| RATING | REASON | SIDE EFFECTS FOR ZYRTEC | COMMENTS | SEX | AGE | DURATION/ DOSAGE | DATE ADDED |
  | F M | | | | |||
| 5 | allergies | Our son was on this drug for a little over two years. His dosage continued to increase over the time period due to increase weight - he would eat all the time. That was the least of our problems. Our son was aggressive, moody, tired, I could go on forever!!! Jake was in preschool and having a difficult time focusing, getting along with others, and the teacher started to get concerned as well. I am a teacher and was going to ask the peds. for a full scale evalution, due to his behavior. To make a long story short, we had to find a new allergy dr, and he had us stop giving Jake the meds for his upcoming allergy tests. Within a few days we got our son back. He doesn't have the outbursts and other behaviors, Jake is that happy child he once was. We are grateful to have our son back, however, we feel cheated out of 2 years of his childhood. We were so grateful we found this site last year. | Would not recommend this medicine to anyone | 2 years | 1/25/2007 | 5 | please see website on zyrtec and psychiatric side effects:www.sidefxdrugs.com | | 1/17/2007 | 5 | zyrtec | HEADACHES FROM HELLLLLLLLLL! | Due to my Angioedema and hives I was put on 10 mg. of Zyrtec...awesome as for completely getting rid of the hives, however slight swelling currently in the upper left cheek. I was also put on Nasonex twice a day. I stopped the Zyrtec 2 days ago until I read these blogs and realized what the issue was. I had to wean myself off of it and did not due to the BAD headache and frustration. I just took half a pill and I am already feeling relief after about 25 minutes. Thank you to everyone for taking the time to write their own personal experiences, it's NOW helped me! GOOD LUCK!!!! | 40 | 2 days | 4/21/2007 | 3 | headaches from allergies | I came to this site to see if others are having the problem that I am -- and i see that they are: very sleepy in the morning, irritable, and hungry all the time. i've gained about 5 pounds already. also, when i stopped (for the above reasons) SERIOUS allergy symptoms like i've never had before -- 3 days of sneezing, migrane headache for the first time. i'm hoping to find another drug. | 6 months | 5/20/2005 | 3 | | 11/14/2002 | 3 | | 10/16/2001 | 3 | hives | I | | 2/26/2005 | 3 | | 10/25/2008 | 3 | Allergies | Check out Pfizer's fact sheet on Zyrtec: www.pfizer.com/files/products/uspi_zyrtec.pdf "The most common adverse reaction...was somnolence...6% in placebo, 11% at 5 mg, and 14% at 10 mg." Fatigue was a 5.9% incidence vs. 2.6% on placebo. Many of the other symptoms represented on this page were concomitant with Zyrtec use, albeit at less than 2% frequency. | | 8/3/2009 | 2 | allergies | | 5/19/2009 | 2 | hives | I experienced headaches, moodiness, decreased libido. | Not sure if it helped me. Even though I only took it for six days, I was still getting hives. I would have taken it longer, but I started feeling really weird; headaches, body aches, moodiness, decreased libido. I may try it again at half the dosage and/or maybe every other day. | 41 | 6 days | 7/21/2006 | 2 | allergies | | 12/25/2000 | 2 | allergies | easily angered, angry, near violently angry - I'm an old woman who likes people and I said MF... the swear word... for the first time in my life and then I sulked because I knew they didn't hear me... crazy mood swing... sleepiness and foggy brain (could be allergies), and piercing headache to forehead... I thought I was stroking out... | fortunately this is fourth time I've experienced a medication induced personality change/reaction.. I stopped the zyrtec immediately. I started on zyrtec because claritin ( 9 years of seasonal use) seemed to fail... something that happened with a previous med that I used seasonally for years. At the pharmacy, I asked for suggestions and was told to try zyrtec. It immediately did relieve my allergy reactions... which was nice... but the side effects were horrendous. Luckily for me, over the many years I have taken meds and did diets, I have had adverse reactions and knew after I thought about it ... that my personality change... extreme anger, vocal expressions of annoyance, and depression... was not ME. I am stun by my inability to control angry impulses over the last two days I took zyrtec. I only recognized the problem about 4 hours before I was goin' to take my next 24 hour pill. I was taking a over-the-counter dose.,,10 mg. and my adverse reactions started on the second day... I only used it for three days total. I'm goin' to be sure to include zyrtec on my med allergies | 64 | 3 days 10 mg 1X D | 5/22/2012 | 1 | Allergies | Swelling of eyes and face. Itchy eyes and face. Depression, bad dreams, tiredness | I could not understand why I was not getting better. I would get so bad I could not go out in public sometimes not being able to open my eyes. I would go to the doctor and he would tell me to keep taking this pill. Now I realize all along it was the zyrtec causing these reactions. Within 4 days of stopping the pill my face is back to normal, the red scally patches are gone and I have more energy. | 57 | 3 months 1X D | 1/24/2013 | 1 | Allergies | I previously wrote on this site about my son and the terrible effects from zyrtec. I am urging all parents and patients to also write the FDA on their experience with zyrtec with the hopes that something will be done so that other parents and children won't have to suffer like we all have. Go to WWW.FDA.GOV then down to LET US HEAR FROM YOU then to REPORT A PROBLEM WITH A PRODUCT. It's very easy to complete and will only take a few minutes of your time. It's important to let the FDA know what's going on. MAYBE we can get something done. Thank you! | | 11/3/2005 | 1 | Our law office is investigating the effects of Zyrtec on infants, children and teenagers. If you have a child who has taken Zyrtec and would be interested in speaking with us further about the adverse effects experienced while taking the drug, please contact Lisa Scherer or Harvey Franklin at 888/705-6800 between the hours of 8 and 5. We are located in California. | Our law office is investigating the effects of Zyrtec on infants, children and teenagers. If you have a child who has taken Zyrtec and would be interested in speaking with us further about the adverse effects experienced while taking the drug, please contact Lisa Scherer or Harvey Franklin at 888/705-6800 between the hours of 8 and 5. We are located in California. | | 9/5/2006 | 1 | | 2/9/2006 | 1 | eczema & itching | Our son (age 5) was put on Zyrtec to control his itching, which would improve his eczema. We saw amazing results the first week and were very pleased with it. After that week, he developed a severe cough, sore throat & severe headaches. Has miss school several days due to the headaches. We skipped the medicine for a few days and he is back to himself. Won't be giving it to him anymore. | 5 | 20 days | 1/27/2010 | 1 | Seasonal allergies | Extreme depression/anxiety, sadness, constant pulsing migrant that would not go away with any medication, eye pain/dryness, blurry vision, dry mouth, scarre to drive, gained 10 lbs in a week, muscle pains, very drowsy and just wanted to be asleep, weird ugly thoughrd of dying driving over the bridge, outrages bursts of anger towards my family and others, could not stand the site of others, everything and anything would tick me off and I would really blowup, anxious, constipation, drained out, no energy at all, its hard to say but I told my husband I just wanted to leave them all and I wanted to die I didn't know why I felt so much hate and anger to everything.around me Omnia sorry everyone.and ringtone I've been giving this medication to my children forbears that explains there side effects, I will throw away the zyrtec and never take this poisonous drug or give it to your children, uninstall waiting for my headache to go away. Thank you for this website it explains slot. | 29 | 3 weeks 10 | 11/30/2011 | 1 | We are investigating the effects of Zyrtec on infants, children and teenagers. If you have a child who has taken Zyrtec and would be interested in speaking with us further about the adverse effects experienced while taking the drug, please contact Lisa Scherer or Harvey Franklin at 888/705-6800 between the hours of 8 and 5. We are located in California. | We are investigating the effects of Zyrtec on infants, children and teenagers. If you have a child who has taken Zyrtec and would be interested in speaking with us further about the adverse effects experienced while taking the drug, please contact Lisa Scherer or Harvey Franklin at 888/705-6800 between the hours of 8 and 5. We are located in California. | | 9/5/2006 | 1 | ear infections | zoned out, tired, ill, rash | My little boy was on zyrtec for about 8 days. I could not figure out what was wrong with him. He was ill, tired, and he would not respond to me. He would wake up in the middle of the night screaming. He got a rash on him so I took him to the doctor and the doctors could not figure out what was wrong. He is 14 months old. I am shocked that children are prescribed this mediciation. | 8 days | 3/4/2008 | 1 | allergies | our son became irritable, moody, aggressive & had trouble sleeping thru the night. | a relative suggested I google side effects of Zyrtec on the chance this drug could be the cause of negative behavior in my son. Found this website & several others that made me discontinue Zyrtec. Literally, behavior improved overnight. Our son is much more compliant, sleeps great, generally happy & pleasant. I feel like my family has peace again ! | | 9/10/2009 | 1 | Seasonal allergies | DEEEE-PRESSION! | THAT stuff is terrible on my system. I had no idea what was making me feel so "dark." It crept up on me; but the literature didn't mention "Depression" - oh no. I thought about the meds in the first 10 days. I tried everything - meditation, relaxation, music, oh hec it was awful. I don't take any other RXs so I guess I'm lucky for my age. I hate that stuff. | 68 | 2 weeks | 9/1/2008 | 5 | year round allergies to everything | sleepy | zyrtec has been great for me. i take it every day at night. but now that i am reading about everyone gaining weight.. and that i am over weight... i think ill try going off of it. | F | 27 | 3 years | 8/10/2008 | 5 | cold urticaria(hives from cold) | weight gain and increased appetite, ( but I started taking it over the holidays.) Dry eyes in the morning and maybe some joint pain in my hands. | I have suffered from cold urticaria since I was 16 (now 45). It cycles through every 7 tears or so, so I do have some years when I don't get them. I have to say that zyrtec has been a miracle drug for me. I will deal with the weight gain. for me, nothing beats being itch free. My dr had also prescribed zantac which acts on a different histamine receptor site than zyrtec, but I haven't needed to use it yet. I guess sometimes the effects of zyrtec(which I beleive is an H1 receptor) wears off after a while which is why she prescribed the h2 receptor drug. | F | 45 | 3 months | 3/18/2009 | 5 | seasonal allergies | A little hyper, decreased appetite | I took this medicine about 2 years ago, but i was also taking antidepressants and didn't notice side effects. but now i'm just taking the over the counter zyrtec and i have a decreased appetite, which is great bc i tend to eat to much and am wanting to lose weight. and i am a little jittery, which is ok bc i usually don't have much energy. I would never give this too my kids tho...especially after reading the reviews | F | 26 | 2 days | 4/3/2009 | 5 | allergies | excessive weight gain! | Zyrtec really alleviated my allergic reactions (environmental and food allergies) but I gained approx. 15 lbs within a few months of being on it. | F | 36 | 500 days | 5/29/2008 | 5 | seasonal allergies | none | I have never had any side effects as described on this page. Zyrtec allows me to be outside in the spring and fall, and not to miss work due to allergy-related secondary infections. My 3 year old daughter also takes it seasonally and she has had no side effects either. I find it very effective for seasonal allergies. | F | 32 | 5 days | 6/12/2008 | 5 | Chronic urticaria | no side effects | Zyrtec controls my hives along with Allegra without making my heart race. | F | 58 | 5 years | 9/19/2009 | 5 | seasonal allergies | no side effects. controls allergies without making me drowsy. | F | 45 | 4 years | 10/2/2009 | 5 | I have suffered from seasonal allergies my entire life. I felt like I finally found a cure when I started taking Zytrec D. It was wonderful! HOWEVER, when I stopped taking the drug after allergy season, I had mind-numbing headaches, couldn't concentrate, severe panic attacks, beyond tired (and then, as if it was torture, insomnia at night), vivid dreams, no appetite, numbness, shallow breathing -- I am 24 years old and I feel like I have no energy!!!! This withdrawal is killing me! | I have stopped taking Zytrec D for over two weeks and I am still experiencing these symptoms. Please --- how much longer will this last??? I have been taking vitamin and herb supplements to help heal, but nothing is working! HELP! | F | 24 | 1 months | 9/2/2009 | 5 | itchy skin and allergies | No side effects. This drug is a wonder for me. | I love this drug. Nothing else worked for me. My itchy skin depends on it. I have to take it everyday or I am miserable. I have no side effects and am thankful since I see so many negative responses. I'm not anti-social, not depressed, not irritable, no panic attacks, no bad dreams,etc. Looks like I"ll be taking this drug for as long as it helps me. 10 years and couting. I'm very glad it's OTC now. | F | 29 | 10 days | 10/28/2009 | 5 | Allergies -Cough, Asthma | Only take in the evening because of drowsiness. Some dry mouth also. | I have been on various medications to find something to stop my allergic post nasal drip which produced a constant dry cough and asthma for the past two years. I tried Nasacort, Depomedrol shots, Claritin, Advair, and numerous other medications which either did nothing or had horrible side effects. Zyrtec finally has me functioning normally again! I have had to figure out the right dosage and that was 5mg every other day. I take it in the evening since it does make me very drowsy but I am fine in the morning. Zyrtec is great. | F | 47 | 1 months | 10/30/2009 | 5 | nasal allergies | I've taken Zyrtec for years with great results and have experienced no side effects. | Some of these postings are probably right for some people, but some of them are "out there". | F | 52 | 3 years | 11/12/2009 | 5 | Asthma, respiratory issues | My 11 year old takes this medication. No side effects at all when she takes it at night. Some slight drowsiness when she takes it in the morning. | This medication has been a blessing. My daughter used to miss school all the time becuase of respiratory issues. Her asthma was getting worse and lasted longer. Our doctor first suggested inhaled steroids but we tried zyrtec first and it has been a miracle for her. NO asthma for 6 months so far. This is unheard of for us. I have seen no negative behavior changes. If anything her behavior, mood, and concentration have improved significantly. I can only attribute that to the better health this drug has given her. | F | 11 | 6 months | 12/17/2009 | 5 | sinusitis from allergies | relaxes me when I take it at night | Zyrtec is the only allergy medicine I have taken that actually works and does not give me bad side effects. When I take it daily it keeps my sinuses clear, and I no longer have itchy watery eyes and ears. Without Zyrtec, I cannot breathe through my nose. This medicine has greatly improved my enjoyment of life and I am so glad it does not give me any bad side effects! | F | 52 | 6 years 10mg 1X D | 5/20/2013 | 5 | Allergies | None | My doctor prescribed Zyrtec for me because Claritin was not working very well, I get severe emotional reactions from Benadryl, and other antihistamines pushed up my blood pressure. I was surprised to see some of the reactions some people have had, but I guess no drug is right for everyone. This one is by far the best for me, and I am glad it is now OTC, which makes it more affordable. | F | 49 | 2 years | 3/9/2008 | 5 | allergies | drowsiness | I've taken zyrtec for a few years and never had any side effects except drowsiness. Take it at night! Works great for me, can't complain!!! | F | 32 | 2 years | 3/9/2008 | 5 | allergies | only side effect is some tiredness but i take it at night and it helps me sleep thru the night | LOVE it... been taking it about two years, ECSTATIC it went over the counter and generic cuz now i can afford to take a full pill every night. | F | 49 | 2 years | 2/19/2008 | 5 | year-round allergies | none | Once had to go off it for 10 days for a thyroid test of some type and experienced really bad itching everywhere. My doc said he couldn't explain that, but within months the drug became recommended for hives. Now I'm afraid to ever stop it, but it really does help my allergies. | F | 50 | 5 years | 10/19/2007 | 5 | alergic to mold, bad on rainy days | Tired most of the day. But at least, the pain was gone. | F | 56 | 2 years | 10/29/2007 | 5 | Chronic Sinusitis | None | I've tried everything. Zyrtec is the only one that makes me feel somewhat normal as far as my daily battle with my sinuses. I haven't ever noticed any side effects, weight gain? Mabye? But I work in an office where we eat poorly so I really dont think the Zyrtec caused any weight gain. TOO expensive and insurance doesnt help us with this medication. We have to go to TJ were we can get 30 pills for about 30 dollars. Perscription in the US costs me about $80 a month! But I need it to breath so we make the drive. If the other allergy medications they're giving you dont work...Give Zyrtec a chance. Its worth trying it to stop the horrible sinus symptoms. | F | 28 | 6 years | 11/6/2007 | 5 | palpitations | no side effects except for a little tiredness. | I was having runs of palpitations for 2-4 hours at a time due to a leak in my roof leading to mustiness in my house. We were tested for mold, which I'm allergic to, and that was negative, but there is still mustiness in my home that is triggering this symptom. Benadryl did not take my palpitations away so my MD prescribed Zyrtec. I take 1 per day and have been symptom free since day one of the med. | F | 51 | 4 days | 11/24/2007 | 5 | urticaria | None | This is a fantastic medicine. It completely keeps my itching at bay. I have to take one every day or I would be itching constantly. | F | 45 | 2 years | 12/17/2007 | 5 | Seasonal and pet allergies | Mild tiredness. | I love Zyrtec! I had to go off it during pregnancies and MAN did I miss it! I just went to renew my scrip and my insurance company has dictated that I have to try Allegra first before I can go back on Zyrtec so I'm completely irritated by that. Anyway - Zyrtec is the only drug I've found that allows me to be symptom free during the height of spring and fall allergy seasons. Plus, when I had a pet, I was able to be around it and not suffer. Yes, tiredness was a factor, but I could handle it since I was able to breathe! | F | 39 | 5 years | 5/31/2007 | 5 | severe allergies | some sleepiness--I take it at night | I wonder if some of the side-effects that I see on this board have to do with Zyrtec-D. I would be a mess if I took Sudafed daily. | F | 35 | 3 years | 7/29/2007 | 5 | seasonal allergies | none | very hepful | F | 47 | 5 years | 8/15/2007 | 5 | allergies | Nothing else gets rid of the headaches & runny nose like Zyrtec. It's great. | F | 55 | 5 years | 9/30/2007 | 5 | allergies | Drowsiness, increased fatigue and probable weight gain. | I have been taking Zyrtec for several years and it works GREAT in regard to allergies. BUT - I have always had a high metabolism and been skinny, very active, eat an incredibly healthy diet, etc. and so I have been unable to explain my mysterious weight gain over the past few years until I came across this site and learned that it could well be a side effect of the Zyrtec! I am also using Flonase which is likewise implicated. My hair has also been falling out over this same time period. I have not had any abnormal lab tests to explain this. I am going to quit both meds immediately. I would rather have a stuffy nose than be fat and bald! | F | 44 | 6 years | 7/16/2007 | 5 | Allergies | mild fatigue doesn't even compare to the fatigue and nausea that would result if not taking Zyrtec | PLEASE DO NOT CONFUSE ZYRTEC-D WITH ZYRTEC. Zyrtec-D contains a decongestant which shouldn't even be available by perscription because it causes hyperactivity, anxiety and sleeplessness in almost everyone who takes it even short term. My daughter has seasonal allergies, and allergies to dust mites, which essentially means she's allergic all year. She has been taking Zyrtec for 7 years with no noticeable side effects. Before taking Zyrtec she would wake up every morning with an upset stomach from the drainage going into her stomach. Zyrtec absolutely stopped this. It may have have a mild effect of drowsiness, but without it she would be facing nausea every morning, sinus infections every spring and bronchitus or pneunomia every fall. She had to get off of Zyrtec for a week to undergo allergy testing and she was so nausiated she couldn't go to school. She developed a sinus infection that required two antibiotics to clear it up. Long term studies show this drug is SAFE. If your side ef | F | 14 | 7 years | 4/3/2008 | 5 | year-round allergies | None | I've been throught every other prescription allery medication and they all stopped working eventually. I was on Claritin for for some years (when it was still on prescription), and it gradually stopped working. Now it's like popping a sugar pill. Zyrtec works very well for me. I take it at night so that I get a benefit from any potential drowsiness, though it doesn't seem to be a major factor. I've been on it so long that I've lost track, but probably 10 years. If I stop, I can go about 36 hours before the allery symptoms come back. And I agree with the comment about Zyrtec-D. I think it's pseudoephedrine that added to the zyrtec, and that completely spaces me out. I guess you have to figure out what works for the individual. | F | 55 | 10 years | 4/18/2008 | 5 | allergies | Hives on my neck and scalp base. Very itchy could not figure what was wrong until I read all the comments. Does NOT say that on the bottle!! They should disclose this!!! | Take allegra..... | F | 58 | 8 days | 4/21/2008 | 5 | hives | Zyrtec has worked on my hives, but after 2 years, I've decided the side effects are no longer worth it. I have gained 15 pounds (never gained weight in my life - even during my pregnancies), and no amount of dieting and exercising has gotten it off, and I have been living in a stupor for the entire time I've been on it. I now try to get through the hives and I feel so much better. In the two months since I haven't taken Zyrtec, I've literally dropped 7 pounds. My clothes are all loose. I have done nothing differently other than stopping the Zyrtec. I feel so energetic now and will never take the drug again. I'd much prefer the hives thank you. | F | 47 | 2 years | 11/8/2008 | 5 | allergies | If you're like me, you will itch all over for a few days after you stop taking it (such as, during your "off season"). My sister reported the same thing. It's a minor side effect in the greater scheme of things. I've actually got enough allergies that I should take this year round. | Zyrtec is the best pill-form allergy medicine out there right now. | F | 46 | 3 years | 12/9/2008 | 5 | Hives | No side effects as of yet (1 week) except possibly a little insomnia. The insomnia might be due to having just come off another antihistamine I was on previously, though. It put me to sleep, and now, without it, I find it hard to resume normal sleeping patterns. | I have quite a lot of food allergies which caused hives to break out all over my face. I know quite a few of my triggers, but avoiding that many foods often proves impossible. Zyrtec has taken care of the issue 100%, even when I'm badly abusing my privileges. I am taking only 10 mg per day, but I will double-up sometimes when it has been more than 8 hours and l know I will be heavily indulging in "bad" foods. It is a miracle worker. | F | 24 | 1 weeks | 12/16/2008 | 5 | hives | no side affects | I began taking Zyrtec 1yr ago, after Claritin stopped working for me. Besides being 100% affective in keeping my hives away, I have not experienced any noticeable effects | F | 41 | 1 years | 1/16/2009 | 5 | allergies | No side effects. | This is the best allergy med I have taken. No side effects and very effective. I had a problem with the generic not working, but the name brand is excellent! | F | 28 | 6 months | 1/26/2009 | 5 | Allergies | None for me. They told me that I'd possibly experience drowsiness, but I got no side-effects whatsoever. | I love this stuff. It works miraculously. I'm allergic to cats and I have six, so I pretty much have to take this every day, or whenever I feel an allergy attack coming on, and it just works so well. My only complaint is it being OTC now so it's MUCH more expensive, but I just get store-brand, and it works just as well. | F | 20 | 8 years | 1/31/2009 | 5 | allergies | first few times I was nauseous and extremely tired but it was the only medicine that helped me last through the day without having an attack. In the past 3.5 years I have experienced weight gain, decreased libedo, tiredness after taking the pill (I take at night) but then wake up regularly during the night. | As I will be starting fertility treatments in a few weeks, I stopped with the medication 2 months ago. I had found some very positive reviews regarding a vitamin called 'Quercetin' on the internet and so, I began taking it (in combination with vitamin C). I started with taking 4-5 tablets a day (my allergies are extremely high and year round), a month ago, I was down to 1 a day and I am amazed!! I am 39 years old and have been taking allergy medication / shots / drops since I was 16 and this vitamin (it is found in the skin of apples and red onions) really works!! and without all the wierd side-effects of the other drugs.... I have become a HUGE fan! | F | 39 | 3.5 years | 2/11/2009 | 5 | indoor alergies | None. maybe a little tired, but I take it at night. 10mg | I love animals. and if it wasn't for Zyrtec I wouldn't be able to lay with my cat at night or survive cleaning the house due to all the dust. It is an amazing thing that I just simply cannot live without. I have been on claritin too, doesn't work... for me. | F | 19 | 5 years | 3/11/2009 |