ZYRTEC Reviews (CETIRIZINE HYDROCHLORIDE)Average Rating: 2.0 (1816 Ratings)Filter ResultsCompare ZYRTEC with similar:
Type: Over-the-counter Drug
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Results are sorted by length of time drug was taken longest to shortest. 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 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 |
More on ZYRTEC: Reviews Summary | Drug Safety Information
| RATING | REASON | SIDE EFFECTS FOR ZYRTEC | COMMENTS | SEX | AGE | DURATION/ DOSAGE | DATE ADDED |
| 3 | Allergies | Dry skin, dry mouth, irritability, anxiety, lack of motivation. | Works really well on allergies. But I can't stand the loss off attention, dry mouth, anxiety. | M | 22 | 15 years 10mg 1X day | 4/3/2013 | 1 | All year allergy and astma | Non expect a bit drowsy | After taking zyrtec over 15 years (first 5 years seasonal afterwards all year long) it doesn't seem to help anymore. It used to work really good. But now still sniffing and sneezing all day long. But if I don't take it, (I tried to quit zyrtec) I'll be itchy all over and can't sleep. Can't go walking with the dogs 'cause my legs start to itch unbearably. However reading all these comments I will quit this evil Zyrtec.... | F | 30 | 15 years 10 mg 1X day | 5/12/2010 | 1 | Seasonal allergies | Lost in bad thoughts, rage, forgetfulness, anxiety, severe mood swings, weight gain, excessive comfort eating, and depression | Controls my symptoms, but at a severe mental stability and health risk. | M | 53 | 15 years 1 every 12 | 5/28/2019 | 1 | Allergies | EXTREME ITCHING WHILE TRYING TO QUIT. I cannot get off zyrtec due to the extreme itching after not taking it for 2 days. I will have to slowly wean off and I am so nervous for this journey. | I imagine if I were to quit Zyrtec I will feel much better than I have in years. I have read countless reviews about the brain fog, forgetfulness, anxiety, and emotional toll it takes on people. I am wondering if my anxiety and bursts of emotion are coming from this and maybe I can even get off my anxiety medication. I am excited to kick this drug, but it is going to be so hard slowly weaning off to not experience the itching. I highly recommend NO ONE EVER TAKE THIS. | F | 30 | 15 years 10mg 1X day | 6/14/2021 | 5 | allergies | None | Stops my allergies, but over years I have to take more Zyrtec pills to make the same allergies to go away.... | F | 46 | 14 years 10mg 2X day | 7/23/2010 | 5 | hives | Heart pounding, vivid dreams, dehydration | I have a lifelong history of allergies and upon turning 40, possibly entering perimenopause, my allergies worsened. I have continued to take zyrtec after it being prescribed at Mayo Clinic. At times I was able to go down to 5 mg once a day with less side effects. Initially while at Mayo I asked "How will I ever get off this?" because of the rebound reaction every time I tried. The doc replied, "with an eye dropper". I think when I was in my forties the reaction to it was not so severe, but upon entering actual menopause, taking it at night has compounded my menopause symptoms. I am seriously looking into going to the desert (low allergen) to try a taper or wait until winter, maybe even trying acupuncture to help getting off it, because in a sense I am addicted to it. Until then I am trying taking it during the day to reduce the night symptoms and drink a lot of water. Any menopausal women experiencing the same? I would love to hear if someone has effectively switched to something better. | F | 53 | 13 years 10 mg 1X day | 3/31/2010 | 5 | allergies | moodswings, drowsiness | I've been taking Zyrtec off an on for seasonal allergies since I was a kid. It's the only thing I could find that really helps with the minimal side effects. HOWEVER, If i take zyrtec too late a night i just cant get up in the morning. so obviously i suffer drowsiness with it. Also, I get really moody and sensitive a few hours after taking it. I find taking it at about 8 PM is best.. I'm asleep before the moodiness sets in, and I'm able to wake up on time. Abiding by these rules I'm fine with it | F | 21 | 13 years 10mg 1X day | 9/13/2010 | 5 | hives | Not sure I actually have any side effects, after reading all the side effects that some of these people had does make me wonder. I have never been depressed, anxious, or anything else that these bloggers are posting...bout the only thing I can relate to is the night sweating... | After 6 months of dealing with hives, My wife suggested I go to the doctor. He prescribed Zyrtec. It was the best thing that has ever happened to me. My only concern is that I have been on it for so long that if I do come off of it I may experience a huge withdrawl issue. So I may attempt this soon and see what happens. If my hives come back then I will most likely stay on it until I; well either find something better or when the good Lord takes me ...then I wont have to worry about anything, it'll be all good then | M | 46 | 13 years 10MG 1X day | 8/5/2011 | 5 | Kimura's & chronic conjunctavitis | extreme somnolence, agitation, dry mouth, mild 'delirium' | Zyrtec is the only treatment ive found for Kimura's disease, a rare inflammatory condition Zyrtec is also very effective in treating my chronic conjunctivitis Zyrtec (cetirizine) is most effective with a healthy metabolic system. If you have metabolic problems it will increase the intensity of side effects such as extreme somnolence, agitation and dry mouth as the drug will stay in your system longer. Using the drug has been very effective over the years. I was originally prescribed this over 10 years ago for chronic red-eye and found it was, when taken consistently for a 1-2 weeks will improve inflammation and will remain effective for a period of upto a month. The problem with taking zyrtec for this amount of time is the side effects become much more noticeable and compound to the point where I have to decide on to continue or stop taking zyrtec for a time. After continual doses over a few days i become agitated, have confused dreams, and lose sleep. The immediate side effect is extreme somnolence that persists for hours or days after the last dose if i havent taken it for a period of time. Yes, zyrtec is a life saver for my conditions but it comes at a cost of effectiveness vs side effects. I am trying to stay healthy to improve the effectivness of zyrtec so I can take less of it and still get the benefits. | M | 30 | 12 years 25 1X W | 10/3/2015 | 4 | Rash/ Allergies | Tired, emotional withdrawal. I have also experienced diarrhoea, IBS and alot of stomach problems. | I have been taking Zyrtec since I was 12. Without it I can not function as I suffer from rashes and itchiness, so I thank it for that. But I've been noticing the side-effects for the past 4 years now and it is getting worst. | F | 24 | 12 years | 5/24/2007 | 3 | Allergies | I have taken Zyrtec probably since about 1996. I noticed whenever I tried to stop taking it I would get itchy. If I take it then it stops. I always thought that was why I was taking it to stop the itching. Now after reading other people's ratings, I am finding out that trying to stop it is what is causing the itching. I always take it at night, because at first it did make my sleepy. If I don't take one at night by morning I am starting to itch, palms of hands and feet, head, arms. I am going to see if I can get off of it and the itching goes away. Claritin just doesn't stop the itching. | I am shocked that what I might actually be experiencing is withdrawal from this medicine. Another way the pharmaceuticals get you hooked. I didn't notice a weight gain that I would blame on that, but maybe if I start losing then I'll know. | F | 50 | 12 years | 3/31/2008 | 3 | Indoor and outdoor allergies | Weight gain is probably the worst side effect of this drug. I balloon 10-15 pounds when on it for extended time. Other side effect is loss of sexual interest. Once I go off of it, within 24 hours I'm fine again. | This is the only drug that works for me. I take it at night and it does cause a deep sleep like a sleeping pill. But takes a while to get going in the morning. I"m back on it now for about 6 weeks because of the Fall allergies. I plan to get off today and take a break. I'm tired of the weight issue and will seek someting to try at night and get by. Also I noticed if you use it regularly it does lose some of its working strength. | M | 56 | 12 years | 11/15/2008 | 3 | Year round allergies | If it was the zyrtec, as my new allergist claimed, extreme lethargy, dizziness, foggy thinking, never able to fully wake up, worse depression, ADD and anxiety. | Never related these symptoms to zyrtec. I was happy that my allergy symptoms were better (never fully gone, but better than any other med) that when Dr's would suggest getting off of zyrtec b/c of lethargy/complete tiredness, I told them they were crazy; My allergies would go nuts. But now I've been off of it for 3 days and feel so much better. Almost human right now. Symptoms got worse every year I was on it. I just assumed my allergies were worse every year as I heard others in this area talk about. | F | 42 | 12 years 10 mg 1X day | 11/5/2010 | 3 | Year-round allergies & sinusitis | severe sedation for 6 months, weight gain, possible others | I have been on this medication since its introduction over 10 years ago. While I have not experienced a tolerance to the med, I have, over all of these years, been treated for almost ALL of the side effects listed in this forum (significant weight gain despite high activity, depression, sedation, etc.). Until recently, I was on 2 antidepressants simultaneously (Wellbutrin XL and Lexapro).The thing that is freaking me out is that on 2 occasions that I have stopped taking it, I experienced WITHDRAWAL SYPTOMS like I would expect from going off of a narcotic (abdominal cramping, diarrhea, fatigue). This is my final attempt and I am weaning myself off of it (Zyrtec every 3rd day and taking Claritin on the off days). Pharmacists assured me there was no such thing as withdrawal from Zyrtec. Thanks to this forum, I finally understand. | M | 48 | 11 years | 6/19/2007 | 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 | All year around allergies | none | First I would like to say is, Why would you give children an over the counter med without a Dr's approval. There are many over the counter meds for children but I wouldn't give my child it without an ok from the Dr. I love Zyrtec. I have major allergies and have tried everything. Over the counter, rx from Dr and nothing helped. Then one day a Allergy Dr gave me a sample of Zyrtec. It was new on the market. I loved it! Won't take any thing else. and when they can out with their eye drops I was in love all over again. Again before Zyrtec eye drops I tried all the rx drops, all the over the counter eye drops and my eyes still itched. My eyes itched so bad I have scars on my eye lids from rubbing them. One drop of Zyrtec eye drops and the itch was gone. I found heaven all thanks to Zyrtec. Thanks Zyrtec, your #1 in my book. | F | 53 | 10 years 10 mg 1X day | 9/13/2010 | 5 | Seasonal and pet allergies | None | Zyrtec has been the only allergy medication that has worked for both seasonal (pollen/dust, etc) and pet allergies. I have never suffered from any side effects from Zyrtec and I love it. I was taking the prescription pill, then the prescription liquid when my insurance no longer covered the pill, then I switched to the OTC Zyrtec when you no longer needed a prescription. They have all worked exactly the same. | F | 28 | 10 years 10 MG 1X day | 8/16/2010 | 5 | Year round allergies-Pollen | Drowsiness-But just take it at night time and you will be fine. | The ONLY allergy pill that worked for me. I LOVE it! | F | 21 | 10 years 10MG 1X day | 10/12/2011 | 5 | Allergies | None. Ever. In 10+ years of taking the medicine, from brand name to generic Kirkland and Equate versions when it came off-patent. | You people are nuts. Part of the human experience explains many of the "symptoms" that are being stated here. We all have our up and down days, but guaranteed if you kept a log of what happened and when in relation to your taking medicine (of course over a relatively long period of time), you'd unlikely find any trend suggesting that the drug creates these symptoms. I still get headaches when there are large atmospheric pressure changes, and get a little bit of a runny nose in the winter. Zyrtec helps me day to day, but in the heaviest of allergens (or even unknown events) benadryl or sudafed are the way to go. There are no panaceas for any disease. I know you all believe that the big corporations are lying to you as part of some crazy mind-control scheme, but perhaps you should take a venture into reading the literature on the drug. Just google "uspi_zyrtec.pdf" for the data sheet. The data sheet states "Most adverse reactions reported during therapy with ZYRTEC were mild or moderate. In placebo-controlled trials, the incidence of discontinuations due to adverse reactions in patients receiving ZYRTEC 5 or 10 mg was not significantly different from placebo (2.9% vs. 2.4%, respectively)." That means that there were NO patients in all 6000 patients who felt uncomfortable or experienced uncomfortable enough symptoms to stop treatment that could have been explained by more than random chance. | M | 25 | 10 years 10mg 1X day | 5/24/2010 | 5 | allergies | slightly drowsy. I use half tab for anxiety, itchiness from Cymbalta withdrawal, and seasonal allergies | F | 33 | 10 years 1 1X day | 8/27/2018 |