There are 1234 ratings for the drug: ZYRTEC in the Askapatient database.

Key to ratings for zyrtec: 5-Very Satisfied: this medicine cured me or helped me a great deal. 4-Satisfied: this medicine helped. 3-Somewhat Satisfied: this medicine helped somewhat. 2-Not Satisfied: this medicine did not work to my satisfaction. 1-Dissatisfied: I would not recommend taking this medicine.

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Rating	Reason	Side Effects	Comments	Sex	Age	Time Taken and Dosage		Date Added
				F  M
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1	for allergies	Used this drug for about 60 days and my general health continued to decline. Although my allergy symptoms are reduced, the side effects are horrible	This is the drug from Hell. The side effects included: Extreem fatique,sore joints and mucles,rise in blood preasure,dizzeness,and overall lethargic feeling. Would never recommend this drug and I can not believe it is an over the counter drug. Over all rating (mean & nasty)	M	75	60 days		8/7/2008
1	hay fever	I used Zyrtec for one year, and it controlled hay fever symptoms very well. However, I developed dry, scaly skin on my face, dandruff in my eyebrows, and red, swollen cracked lips. The corners of my mouth were cracked, and it hurt to open my mouth wide enough to eat. I thought I had developed an allergy to my moisturizer and lipstick, so I changed to non-allergenic products with no effect. My nostrils were also dry and scabby. Recently, I had several nose bleeds. At my annual checkup, the optomotrist diagnosed chronic dry eyes and prescribed Restasis, which contains cyclosporine, a powerful drug used by transplant patients to prevent organ rejection. About this time, I had my teeth cleaned, and the dental hygienist diagnosed dry mouth, which is causing plaque to form at the top of my porcelain crowns. (In a healthy mouth, saliva helps rinse decay-forming bacteria from the teeth.) Chronic dry eyes, nose bleeds, and dry mouth motivated me to research Zyrtec. I stopped taking it immediate	I would not recommend Zyrtec to anyone.	F	69	1 years		7/12/2009
1	Allergies	I have been extremely angry and depressed for the last three days. I also started having flu-like symptoms, so I got on-line looking for Zyrtec side effects because I had just started using the Zyrtec Liquid Gels three days ago.	I am very glad I found the comments about Zyrtec causing mood changes. I had no idea that it might be the cause of my sudden anger. I feel very tired and have flu-like body aches. I will report back if my symptoms disappear after I stop the Zyrtec.	F	69	3 days 10mg 1X D		4/14/2010
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
2	Runny eyes, sneezing, allergies	irritable, tired	around day 8 did not work at all in relieving runny eyes, sneezing	F	66	10 days 10 mg 1X D		8/28/2010
1	rhinitis from eye medication	Amnesia and confusion. I suddenly became aware I was driving on the wrong side of the median on a narrow road. I could not remember how i came to be there. I had lost about three minutes or four minutes of time.	This was exceedingly scary. It took a lot of research and reading of fine print on medical websites to isolate Zyrtec as the only thing I was taking that could have been responsible for this period of amnesia.	F	66	4 days		6/21/2008
4	allergies asthma	None	It works very well. The only better medication was Seldane which was taken off the market due to a very few people with serious side effects.	F	65	9 years		2/11/2009
1	allergies	Wanted to sleep all the time, could not stay awake. Felt like brain was in a fog. Dizzy when walking.	Side effects are terrible. Yes, it stopped the dripping nose and eyes, but at what cost. It's been over 60 hours since last dose and I'm just now feeling normal again. Will never take this stuff again.	F	65	3 days 10mg 1X D		5/22/2010 Email
1	allergies	hands and feet swellings body aches. SLEEPINESS. DEPRESSION. I think it is a horrible drug. I stopped for a three days and was feeling much better. ( I was trying to see if Zyrtec was the problem) I took one last night. Nightmares hands,feet, backache body aches are back. I am THROUGH with Zytrec. I can take the 12.5 mg meclinzine You can ask druggist for it OTC. I will take that when I need it for allergies. I have been on Zyrtec on and off for years, and now I know I am not crazy!!!!	HORRIBLE DRUG!!!!	F	65	6 years		10/18/2006
1	seasonal allergy	upset stomach, loose bowels, diarrhea.	Within two days of discontinuing Zyrtec, my symptoms disappeared. The drug was effective in minimizing my allergic problems, but for me, the side effects are not worth it.	M	63	30 days		5/21/2008
5	allergic to cats, most grasses, tre	sleepiness not sure if the forgettfulness is caused by zyrtec		F	62	4 years		11/9/2005
5	general hay fever	Dry Eyes and Nostrils. Minimal side effects with a 5 mg dose. Significantly greater effects with the normal 10 mg dose.	I only use Zyrtec on an as needed basis about once per week most of the year and two to four times per week during the spring pollen season. A 5 mg dose works great for controlling my allergy symptoms. Both my doctor and pharmacist said it was okay to cut the 10 mg tablets in half, so, I am using a pill cutter to do that.	M	62	5 years		8/25/2006
1	allergy to dogs and cats	hives		F	62	6 days		10/30/2006
1	allergies	Utter fatigue and drowsiness.	I will not continue this medication, because I cannot function well being so fatigued.	F	62	1 weeks		12/24/2001
2	Chronic Hay Fever	Wired, anxious sleep, drowsiness, apathetic mood.	ZYRTEC was effective in stopping my allergy symptoms, but after 3 days on this medication, with very little sleep, and the sudden apathy, I stopped, and returned to "normal" within 2 days. There should be more extensive warnings for this allergy medication, and it should be taken off the shelf. I will go back to taking Claritin "D" full of pseudofed which makes me wired also, but with no mental side effects--and I can't take that for more than 1 or 2 days!	M	61	3 days		4/22/2009
1	Hives	severe sleepiness, akin to narcolepsy, lethargy,increased appetite with gross weight gain, mild depression, dermatitis, Dermatographia, mild forgetfulness of common terms and names. I gained 75 lbs while taking Zyrtec, fifty of them in the last 6 months. I suffered from severe intermittent urticaria (hives) for thirty years, until my doctor put me on Zyrtec 10mg. every night before bedtime. When prescription runs out and it takes a couple of days to renew it, hives return and are very severe. I suffer tingling in the hands and fingers, and sometimes the wrists, and dizziness, with a buzzing sound I seem to hear in my head, rather than as an outside auditory sound. It's like a bee buzzing quickly through my head. My feet swell without clinical rationale.	I became mildly depressed, believing I was suffering some serious disease, and perhaps actually at risk of dying. I asked my doctor if there were any side effects, and he didn't suggest any. I didn't question the Zyrtec until I finally saw a commercial on television which listed drowsiness as a side effect. Bam! That was it. I hadn't realized it, but the lethargy, sleepiness, drowsiness almost to the point of narcolepsy started about four months after beginning the regimen of Zyrtec. I was a nurse for thirty-seven years, and didn't have the sense to even consider that Zyrtec might be the culprit, since it worked so well against the Hives. When I began reading the comments of others here, I began to cry uncontrollably. I may have found relief from Hives, but Zyrtec has made my living Hell. I'm going off Zyrtec at once, and will advise other users who have presented with similar possible side effects to stop taking Zyrtec, and see their doctor at once.	M	61	1.5 years		2/14/2006 Email
1	Chronic allergies	It took me approximately 4 weeks to recognize that I was suffering from severe depression, anxiety attacks, and paronoia. A freind had recommended it as it is somewhat effective for allergy relief, but the side effects are terrible.		M	61	4 weeks		11/7/2009
4	Allergies	A very positive side effect! I have anxiety sometimes that causes chest pain, headaches and general lousy feelings. Zyrtec seems to prevent that from happening. I sleep well and can breath better.		M	60	2 months		3/26/2009
2	SKIN ALLERGIES	vERY TIRE, LACK OF ENERGY	LIKE TO KNOW IF OTHER USER OF THIS MEDICATION HAD ANY EXPERIENCE WITH ZYRTEC BEING A DRUG-INDUCED PARKINSONISM. CETIRIZINE AND CINNARIZINE A KNOWN DRUG-INDUCER OF PD AND BOTH ARE DERIVATIVES OF PIPERAZINE SEE BELOW Piperazine derivatives Buclizine • Cetirizine • Chlorcyclizine • Cinnarizine • Cyclizine • Hydroxyzine • Levocetirizine • Meclizine • Niaprazine • Oxatomide	M	60	5 years		4/1/2008 Email
2	sinus/allergies	At first, the drug was a godsend. I could only take it at bedtime, and I learned that the normal dosage for me was only 1/2 of a pill. If I took a whole pill at bed time, the next morning I could barely stay awake to drive to work. After taking the drug, seasonally, for about 3-4 years, I began developing new allergies. I once had an allergic reaction to two mosquito bites on the same leg. My blood pressure shot sky-high, but a dose of Zyrtec brought everything under control. I got so I could not sleep without it. Highly addictive for me in this regard. It took me four months to kick it. I spent many long nights awake. I finally weaned myself by taking half a pill on alternate days, then dropped to a quarter of a pill, then a quarter of a pill on alternate days. Finally, I am off the drug---Thank God! I am sleeping better than I have in years, and my allergies are much better.	Was paying $80. for 30 pills, then they made it an over-the-counter drug, wouldn't you know it, just as I was getting off the drug.	F	60	5 years		4/18/2008
1	Seasonal allergy	Took 1 24-hour tablet. Instantly effective on symptoms, but 4 hours later I became very drowsy, had trouble remembering things, and felt like I was in a mental fog.	I will not take it again, and cannot recommend it to anyone.	M	60	1 times		4/7/2008
1	allergies	I have been taking it for about 4 months. Bought it OTC and it was working as far as stopping my runny nose etc. Just stopped because I felt like I was "out of it" most of the time and didn't know why and mentioned taking it to a friend who is a nurse and she said "oh I can't take it ...it makes me crazy". So I decided to stop and see if I felt like my old self. I have been very very dizzy since stopping which has made me feel queasy in my stomach. This dizziness has lasted over a week now. Has anyone else had this side effect from withdrawal?		F	60	4 months		7/11/2009
1	SEASONAL ALLERGIES	Heart arrhythmia, palpitations, high blood pressure, weight gain, numerous vivid dreams per night, depressed mood, difficulty stopping med/itching	Unbelievable that Zyrtec is now OTC & so many people are exposed to it's side effects without sufficient warning! After I was finally able to wean myself off this drug, my blood pressure lowered to normal range and my EKG returned to normal. No more dreams or moodiness or unexplained weight gain. But I continued to feel itchy for many months. No one warns you how hard it is to STOP Zyrtec. So K-Mart shoppers BEWARE!	F	60	4 years 1X D		3/25/2010
4	allergy	Had become very tired at end of day. I take it at night. If I just sat still or laid on the couch in the evening (sometimes as early as 7:30) I could fall asleep for 2-3 hours. Before Zyrtec it was at most 10 - 20 Minutes. Also I would become very irritable by days end. However during the day it almost affected me like a mood elevator. I have been feeling very good and hope it was me rather than the Zyrtec. I didn't take it one night and slept fine. The next night I awoke around 2:00A.M and couldn't get back to sleep. Had anxiety and some wierd thoughts and also felt fearful. I had similar feelings when getting of of xanax many years ago. I am on no other meds than zyrtec now! Anyone else have similar feelings getting off of Zyrtec? I am trying to find the best and safest way to get off. Any suggestions are appreciated. My sleep had become so good with zyrtec I hope some previous episodes of insomnia do not return. D.		M	59	6 days		11/27/2006 Email
4	seasonal allergies	some drowziness, but not enough to curb activities.	I only take Zyrtec in the Spring/fall when I know that I will start having issues. Knowledge of what triggers each persons allergy symptoms and when the triggers first appear I feel is crucial to using this medication to make it work. I have been prescribed Zyrtec for about 8 years. So far so good.	F	59			7/25/2009
2	allergy	elevated blood pressure, rapid heart beat(normally 70 BPM, went to90BPM)difficulty sleeping, easily angered with others.	Initially helped relieve a cough related allergy. Was very concerned with the high blood pressure( never had it before) and was preparing to see my MD. Even thought of going to hospital because I thought I could be on the verge of a heart attack. I mentioned symptoms to a friend who said it could be the zyrtec. Stopped taking it and three days later heart rate down to 80 BPM and blood pressure 140/100 down from 155/105. Im hoping for continued improvement back to my normal 120/80. Wow this stuff scared me! Never had any heart issues before this. Going to go back to Claritin which had barely any side affects. Fortunately no negstive withdrawal symptoms others have reported.	M	59	30 days 10 mg 1X D		3/28/2010
2	seasonal allergies	Restless less syndrome, rapid heartbeat, a sensation of my entire body vibrating, occasional difficulty sleeping, anxiety, tired feeling during the day. I take the tablet at night, just before bed.	It did work on the allergies. I had constant post nasal drip from mold and pollen allergies. The drip caused coughing and other typical allergy symptoms. The generic Zyrtec did clear this up quite a bit, not completely. But the side effects are too much to put up with, so I'm quitting the Zyrtec. I'd rather have allergies.	F	59	90 days 10 mg 1X D		5/13/2010
1	Allergies, sinus congestion	Took at night as directed--had really disturbing dreams and a feeling of panic upon awakening. Also felt very sluggish...through process of elimination decided Zyrtec must be the culprit and discontinued, as there were no other medicines, foods or events in my life to cause this reaction. An ENT DR I saw soon afterwards said it crosses the blood/brain in about 1% of the population. My daughter-in-law and her mother reported that they had the same reaction to it.	I never experienced anything like this before with an antihistamine--drowsiness, yes, but not an overwhelming feeling of doom and panic. How can they make this an over the counter drug? It could send someone to the psych ward!	F	59	1 days		8/4/2008
1	serve allergies	hard to wake up in morning, mood swings, irrational thoughts, crying, anti social	It didn't occur to me that my severe mood swings had anything to do with zyrtec until I realized how out of control I was behaving and I started searching for side effects. Now I have a reason for my weird dreams in the morning and the agitation I'm feeling. There hasn't been enough coffee in the morning to help me function. I was beginng to fear I couldn't do my job and my husband was beginning to believe I was a lunatic.	F	59	31 days		9/30/2007
1	year-round allergies	Pounding heart, high blood pressure spikes, racing heart, extreme fatigue, chest pain	Helped allergies but side-effects sent me to ER thinking I was having a heart attack. Doctors said I had too much job stress. GP said I needed something for anxiety. My heart was pounding even when at rest. During the night I would wake up with a rapid fluttering. Thought I had heart trouble. I realized the problems started with the Zyrtec because I keep a blood pressure diary and it all coincides. Asked the pharmacist if Zyrtec could cause any of the symptoms I was having and had an AHA moment. All symptoms stopped after off of it for 4 days. When I get cold, I have an intense itch that I never had before. Hope that goes away. It is only where skin is exposed to cold - like face and hands. Will never use this drug again.	F	59	31 days		11/7/2009
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	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 Email
4	Severe allergies	Mild lethargy - severe heart palpitations and tachycardia	After six courses of allergy shots, and dozens of other prescription and over the counter medications throughout my life, Zyrtec was a Godsend for me. For the first time, it gave me a life free of itching, eczema, sneezing, asthma and recurring sinus infections, and all this with few if any noticeable side effects. However, over the past couple of years, I've experienced more and more nighttime heart palpitations, heavy heart thumping, as well as persistent tachycardia -- sometimes so much so as to keep me awake. I did not suspect it was Zyrtec until in desperation I stopped taking it. The heart symptoms completely stopped the first night. For two nights I slept like a baby. Beginning the third night after giving up Zyrtec, my allergy symptoms returned with a vengeance. I had forgotten how miserable I was before Zyrtec. I decided to take half a tablet around noon instead of before bedtime. It is better, but I am still, not sure what I'm going to do in the long run. I don't want to conk	M	58	10 years		7/31/2007 Email
3	adult onset spring allergies	lethargy, weight gain, rash on my neck, low libido	It has worked better than Claritin for my adult onset spring allergies; I originally tried "natural" remedies, which did nothing to help the sneezing, dripping and achy eyes. However since starting Zyrtec about 2 months ago, I have been needing 9-10 hours of sleep, and still have a hard time getting out of bed. And I have been gaining weight for no apparent reason, about 5 pounds in the last 2 months since I began Zyrtec this year. And a reduction in sex drive the last couple of months. And a mild itchy rash on my neck the last few weeks. As my allergies are seasonal, and they usually subside around now, I stopped Zyrtec 3 days ago and have been having trouble sleeping. Last night I lay awake most of the night. I am very happy to have found this web site and now know that these changes are because of Zyrtec. However, I would take it again next year, maybe try taking less, and taking it at night, or maybe try Claritin again because the constant sneezing and dripping and sore	F	58	60 days		4/2/2008
1	allergies	My heart felt like it was coming out of my chest. I gained weight. I had vaginal dryness. I used it for three weeks and was treated twice for a bladder infection.		F	58	21 days		2/19/2008 Email
1	to stop my cough from a cold	I had a cold and the syptoms went away except for my cough so my doctor told me to take zyrtec. I could smell before I started taking it but after 3 weeks of taking it I had no sense of smell.		F	58	3 weeks		7/16/2009
1	seasonal nasal allergies	Right sided cardiac failure and hypertension. I experience "cardiac asthma" ie.wheezing after exertion with difficult breathing	This should not be over the counter. Who knew, from the sweet little TV ads that this drug could have killed me.	F	58	2 weeks		4/19/2009
1	allergies	I became so angry over almost nothing at all. Co-workers and family noticed behavior. Would fly off handle for literally small issues. This is the second time I tried this with the same negative effects.		F	58	2 weeks 10 mgs 1X D		5/8/2010
1	seasonal allergies with migraines	itched everywhere--scalp, back, arms, chest, legs, face. Face also felt like it was burning at times--felt flushed.	I started out by taking zyrtec every other day and about the beginning of the third week, I noticed I started to itch/face would burn. So, I quit taking it after four weeks and for the next couple of days, the itching was horible! So, I went back to taking claratin every other day. The second time I took claratin, I noticed that day I did not itch as much but the following day, I itched again horibly. The third time I took claratin, I did not itch at all that day but the following day, I itched although not as much. Anyway, I've taken claratin four times now (like I said, I take it every other day) but today, the day I did not take it, I DID NOT ITCH!!! I think it is out of my system and my immune system is back to normal. I will not take zyrtec ever again!! The itching was so bad it made my blood pressure go up!	F	58	4 weeks		10/24/2008
2	allergies	Extremly sleepy, couldn't function. I felt confused and irritable after just one dose. Kept yelling at the dog. After one dose, I discontinued its use and called my doctor to ask for a different Rx. Now, just one night later, I'm still awake at 4:00AM because I've been itching. I didn't connect the itching to the Zyrtec until I crawled out of bed and read all the comments about itching and hives. Also I developed a bad cough that doesn't seem to have any cause. I didn't see that effect on anyone else's comments.	After just one day on this medication I can't even say that it helped my symptoms all that much. Maybe it takes more time to kick in.	F	57	1 days		4/22/2005
2	year round allergies	Usually would sleep a max of 6 hours. Started sleeping 10. No problem with falling asleep at night. Usually bounce out of bed ready to go in morning but not after taking this drug. Allergist insisted I take it at night and I see why. Also take Singulair. Don't like the fuzzy feeling and lack of focus with inability to start any projects. Just feel lost.	Stopped taking this two days ago. Shaky and weird feeling yesterday, and noticed hunger pangs which I haven't had for awhile and have been forcing myself to eat. Was never hungry. Great diet drug? I got two hours sleep last night. Could not fall asleep! 4:30 a.m. and woke up at 6:30. I had taken Allegra last night per my Dr and realized it's a drug I have to take in the morning. Clarinex is what we try next if Allegra doesn't work. Zyrtec had my nose running and drainage in back of throat so was it working on allergies or not?? My husband took Zyrtec and could not function, and my step-daughter tried it and can't function either. I have a two yr old granddtr on it and printed out these comments of parents who used it for children. Hope she quits giving it to her!	F	57	7 months		5/21/2008 Email
1	Seasonal allergies	Depression, moody, extreme anger over small problems, feeling of being overwhelmed and out-of-control	Took this for three days - noticed the extreme anger and depression on day two - I'll go back to Claritin	F	57	3 days		12/11/2008
1	hives, itching	Severe heart palpitations	I have been taking zyrtec for one year; also have been suffering heart palpitations and blaming other meds. After researching zyrtec I realize that's likely what it is and have stopped - just 2 days ago. I don't yet know what other symptoms I'm experiencing (anxiety, muscle twitching) have been related to zyrtec, but look forward to findout out when this drug is out of my system.	F	57	1 years		5/17/2007
1	allergies	itching all over my body, developed vaginitis		F	57	3 weeks 30mg 1X D		4/14/2010
1	severe allergies and sinusitis	Severe edema, elevated eye pressure, hives and itching upon trying to stop zyrtec. Anxious to see how long after stopping the zyrtec edema and eye pressure are affected.	Though zyrtec worked to control my allergies, the addictive nature of the drug scared me. I have tried numerous times to get off it and the terrible itching and near panic attacks drove me crazy. I have now been off it for a week and am trying to put up with the itching with OTC Claritin. I have found that ice helps calm the nerve endings. NO DRUG IS WORTH THIS KIND OF WITHDRAWAL! How long before it's completely out of one's system?	F	57	8 years		5/22/2006 Email
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
4	sneezing, itchy eyes, runny nose	headache, low energy, persistant cough	great for running nose and sneezing , but i am not sure it was worth it, due to the side effects,	M	56	10 days		5/11/2008
4	seasonal allergies	As I read in another entry, I slept better than I have in years and my mood was much better than usual, feeling positive and confident, more so than usual. I also had vivid dreams which are unusual.	Due to worries about side effects I quit taking Zytec two days ago and am already back to not sleeping well. Oh, well.	F	56	6 weeks		6/8/2008
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	sinus headaches	Graphic and disturbing dreams; some sluggishness	I started taking Zyrtec at night because I was waking up with sinus headaches every morning. It worked well for that, so I have rated it 3. It completely knocks me out, especially if I have had any alcohol at all, even a single glass of wine at dinner, and it takes me a while to get moving in the morning. I have constant, vivid, disturbing dreams almost every night. My husband told me I woke up after an hour last night saying, "Scared, scared" over and over. I have no memory of that. I am going to stop taking this, or at least cut the dosage in half. If you do take it, follow the label warnings - no alcohol.	F	56	30 days 10mg 1X D		2/20/2010
3	bad cat allergy		Took 24 hrs for my legs to get rid of the edema. I have not taken zyrtec to two days and so far no problems with the cat. I'm trying to see when the cat allegy kicks in so I know about how long I have between when I need to start/stop.	F	56	10 1X D		6/16/2010 History
2	hives	Dry mouth, sleepy, lithargic	Zyrtec was prescribed for hives, but on a scale from 1 to 10, it was a 2.	F	56	60 days		8/16/2004
1	To clear nasal passages, hay fever	Itching all over body, esp arms and legs and face. Lethargy and slight loss of mental focus. Very uncomfortable. Will never use it again.		M	56	4 days		10/8/2008
1	seasonal allergies	Bought this instead of Claritin which I have taken for years with noe problem. Within hours- stomach ache, bloating, no appetite and my mood changed. Symptoms did not go away. Took Zyrtec for three days and finally connected my gastroparesis with this OTC med. Vivid dreams started first night. Will never take this again.		F	56	3 days 10 MG 1X D		6/15/2010
1	Hives (urticaria)	Dizziness, full feeling in head, feeling of muzziness and dislocation	No effect whatsoever in reducing the incidence or severity of hives	M	56	2 months		9/26/2005 Email
1	CHRONIC COUGH FROM POST NASAL DRIP	THIS STUFF IS AWFUL! THE FIRST PILL KEPT ME UP ALL NIGHT. THE THIRD PILL GAVE ME HORRIBLE ITCHY WELTS ON MY FACE & CHEST. MY HEAD FEELS WEIRD. ITCHY ALL OVER & ACHEY--I'VE NEVER FELT LIKE THIS IN MY LIFE. I'D RATHER HAVE THE FLU ANYDAY.	DO NOT TAKE THIS DRUG! I GOOGLED THE SIDE EFFECTS AFTER I GOT THE ITCHING & WELTS. WISH I'D KNOWN SOONER. I'VE NEVER FELT SO ROTTEN IN MY LIFE. HOPE SOMEBODY OUT THERE PUTS THE COMPANY OUT OF BUSINESS.	M	56	2 days		3/27/2008
1	allergy symptoms	Extreme drowsiness, irritability.	I took this because it's advertised as non-drowsy. Not. I can't even function when I take it and it lasts all day. Not until I looked at this site did I attribute my irritability to the drug. But now I realize my edginess and anger coincides with the taking of this medication.	F	56	3 days		6/5/2008
1	seasonal allergies	Lethargy, sleeplessness, high blood pressure, irregular heart beat.	I started taking this drug because I was out of my normal presecription (Allegra) and I was travelling out of town. The result was a difficult few days as I tried to stay focused during meetings with little sleep the night before. The headaches and flushed feeling were constant. Upon returning home I took my blood pressure and it was through the roof. I would look carefully at your condition before considering taking this drug.	M	56	4 days		6/28/2008
1	Spring allergies	Mood and personality changes	My husband, a normally gentle soul, became depressed, angry, irritable, and short-tempered within a week or two of taking a generic brand of Zyrtec. This medication had been recommended by a co-worker who also runs an allergy office. My husband stopped taking the medication. In speaking with another co-worker whose child was taking Zyrtec, she said her daughter was experiencing the same symptoms.	F	56	2 weeks		5/27/2008
1	For allergies	This seemed to work fine but I always had a running nose. I decided to stop taking Zyrtec and the side effects were horrible. I was getting heart palpitations, depression and a feeling like I was going to die. I felt anxious and very tired. I had to go back taking it again. A week ago, I started taking 1/2 a pill everyday and only had slight side effects. Slight heart palputations and no feeling of depression. In a few days I am going to skip a day until I no longer have this poison in my system.	Don't ever start taking this medication. It messes you up and it takes away a part of you life. I rather suffer with allergies than to go through these symptoms again.	F	56	5 months		8/16/2009
5	allergies, eyes especially	none	this is the best medicine I have used for allergies.	M	55	3 weeks		7/12/2008
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		Nothing else gets rid of the headaches & runny nose like Zyrtec. It's great.	F	55	5 years		9/30/2007
5	Allergies		I think zyrtec is a wonderful drug. It keeps me symptomless when I am on it. A doctor told me once that it is too strong and can cause bacterial infections in the sinuses. So I sometimes only take it every other day. I have been very happy with the results, especially since loratidine and allegra do not work at all.	F	55	10 1X D		2/11/2010
5	severe chronic hives	I was asked by a doctor to take 10mg in am and 10mg in pm. As far as I know I had no side effects. I am currently looking into racing heart, however I believe mixing herbs with the zyrtec may have caused the problem with the racing heartbeat. Doctor recommends me to stop all herbs and zyrtec.	At first it did not work for me. It took several months to really kick in, weird I know. I was taking 2 per day at first. After a few years I found I could get by with 1 per day. Now I have been off for 72 hours and so far so good. I still have to give God the credit for healing me.	M	55	6 years		5/4/2006
1	allergies	heart palpitations-rapid and irregular heart beats; severe muscle pain-leg cramps and bursitis;chronic fatigue-felt exhausted all the time; nosebleeds; mental fog-unable to concentrate; difficulty finishing a sentence because I would forget what I was saying;major weight gain-40 lbs in a year.	The palpitations caused me to be diagnosed with atrial fibrillation in the ER a month ago. My leg muscle pain was so bad I couldn't walk 1/4 of a block. Bursitis so bad at night I couldn't sleep. I stopped taking Zyrtec 4 days ago and everything except the palpitations has disappeared. AVOID ZYRTEC !!!	M	55	2 years 10 mg 1X D		4/2/2010 History
1	Allergies	Dry mouth, had breath	Getting off is tough...heart palpitations, chills, sweats, sensation of yoke around shoulders, chest pains	F	55	12 months 10mg 1X D		4/2/2010 Email
1	cat allergies	Been taking this for a week. Pain up the back of my neck and ears. Strong headaches in the temple region. I never get headaches. This is pain. Tired muscles, felt like I had the flu.	I did not think the relief I might have felt was worth it. The pain is terrible--like a migraine. Even had a massage therapist work on me. After only one week, I have a very strong feeling this is the culprit	F	55	8 days		11/8/2008
1	Allergies	Zytec worked well for my allergy symptoms. Worked probably better than any medication I have taken, however, it is not worth the side-effects I experienced	After taking Zyrtec the first time (a few months ago), I experienced tireness to the point of not wanting to get out of bed. I thought perhaps the symptoms might have been coicidental and tried Zyrtec again recently. After 3-4 doses, I again had to drag myself out of bed and felt depressed to the point of tearfulness. Within a couple of days of not taking the Zyrtec, my energy and mood was much better and the symptoms have not returned. I had experienced similar symptoms during the peri-menopausal period of my life, but only after taking Zyrtec have I felt as bad since that period. I take no prescription medications and took only naprosyn and a vitamin when I took the Zyrtec, so a drug interaction does not seem likely.	F	55	4 days		1/2/2009
1	seasonal allergies	The allergy symptoms are gone, but I'll stop taking this medication because of the negative side effects. I've had headaches, dry mouth, cold sweats, nausea and extreme sleepiness. Didn't feel it would be safe to get behind the wheel of a car, as I could barely keep my eyes open even after a good night's sleep. I take the Zyrtec at bedtime.	I'll either suffer through the allergy season or seek a prescription for Flonase again.	F	55	6 days		8/8/2008
1	Sneezing & runny nose	About two hours after taking I have hives on both my hands. This is the second time I took it and this happened before but I thought I was mistaken about it being caused by Zyrtec. If it is doing this, what else is it doing inside?		F	55	1 days		8/11/2008 Email
3	allergic rhinitis / stuffy nose	some slight swelling on my ankles, noticed some weight gain by wanting to eat more.	I usually take this medication at night before going to bed, and I have to admit the medication does what it is suppose to do with allergy symptoms. I am allergic to dust, dustmites, pollen, grasses, mold, and my symptoms were very severe this spring, so my ent started me back on immunotheraphy.	F	54	21 days		6/19/2007 Email
3	congestion and headaches	I have been very sleepy, I still got headaches but fewer. I still was congested even though I didn't know how much until I went for a ct scan. It showed me fully congested in all sinuses(all areas gray). I am now on strong antibiotic with saline nasal washes with afrin(5 days of afrin) and 14 days on Augmentum 1000 mg two at am and two at pm. Now I have decided to stay off of zyrtec and I have been itchy all over my body. This happened to me another time I decided to stop for two days I was itchy all over all day long. After restarting I was ok.	I am not sure what happened since I've been on zyrtec for 3 years thinking it was helping me. This itchiness has never been mentioned as a side effect for stopping the zyrtec. Are there many others experiencing this. All I know is that I will never resume with zyrtec again, knowing that I will be itchy if I stop. It's not worth it. I have to find something else???	F	54	3 days		6/13/2005 Email
3	Cronic year round allergies	I have been on this drug for years to help treat my cronic allergies for mold and just about everything else. Over the last 2 years I have been having issues with heart palpitations, new sinus sensitivity and daily stomach distress. I have alway been in good health otherwise and take allergy shots for 1+ year as well. I tried the reflux otc drugs for my stomach with minimal improvement. I have been to the doctor about these problems with no answers yet. I now wonder if this may be a growing side effect from my years of zyrtec use. I take 10mg before bed. It works like a sleeping pill for me and I am use to the lower energy level. After reading many of the posts here. I believe it's time to get off this drug for several weeks and see what happens. I will post again with any results of my test.	This drug really does help stop post nasal drip problems better than any of the drugs that I have tried over the years. But it can dry you out to much and cause an accute sinus sensitivity and if compounded with a flonese spray can become what appears as a very painful sinus infection without any real virus involved. Doctors give you antibotics which have no effect. I learned that nitetime room humidity at(50%+) and nasal washes finally stopped this problem.	M	54	10 years		1/9/2007
1	Mold, dust mites, pollen, food	Memory loss, balance problems, extreme insomnia, heart pounding, high blood pressure. I have been off for a year and am doing the allergy shots and noticed a difference in only two months. Getting better all the time. Side effects from Zyrtec take a long time to shake. Zyrtec D(with sudafed) is even worse.		F	54	8 days		2/24/2006
1	ALLERGIES	HAIR LOSS AFTER TAKING THIS DRUG FOR LESS THAN A MONTH. ASIDE FROM OTHER SIDE EFFECTS LIKE LETHARGY, FATIGUE, DIZZINESS THE DRUG COMPANY THAT MANUFACTURES THIS PRODUCT DOES NOT LIST THIS AS A SIDE EFFECT HOWEVER THIS FREIGHTENING EXPERIENCE IS HAPPENING TO ME. I THOUGHT ABOUT OTHER POSSIBLE CAUSES FOR MY HAIR FALLING OUT BUT I HAVE COME UP WITH NOTHING ELSE. THIS IS THE ONLY NEW MEDICATION THAT I HAVE TAKEN IN THE PAST SIX MONTHS. I RECENTLY HAD BLOODWORK DONE AND EVERYTHING INCLUDING MY THYROID IS NORMAL. I'M HAPPY TO HAVE FOUND THIS SITE SO THAT WE CAN FIND OUT JUST HOW SERIOUS THIS DRUG IS.		F	54	25 days		6/28/2007 Email
1	SEASONAL ALLERGIES	HAIR LOSS! ASIDE FROM DIZZINESS, SLEEPLESSNESS, LETHARGY, MY HAIR STARTED FALLING OUT WITH THE ROOT INTACT WITHIN A WEEK OF TAKING THIS MEDICATION. I HAD BLOODWORK DONE AND MY THYROID IS FINE. THIS IS THE ONLY NEW MEDICATION THAT I HAVE TAKEN. I STOPPED TAKING ZYRTEC AFTER A MONTH AFTER I FOUND THIS SITE AND READ THAT OTHERS HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. MY DOCTOR COULDN'T EXPLAIN IT BECAUSE IT IS NOT LISTED AS ONE OF THE TOP 10 SIDE EFFECTS. I AM STILL WAITING FOR MY HAIR TO STOP FALLING OUT BUT I SEE NO SIGNS OF IT SLOWING DOWN.		F	54	30 days		7/8/2007
1	seasonal migraine headache control	5 pound weight gain after just 5 days of medication! cognitive impairment, vivid dreams		F	54	5 days		4/20/2009
1	allergies	depression and lethargy -- no energy.	i take prozac for depression and allegra for allergies. the insurance company suggested that i try something else because allegra is so expensive. i sleep great but am in a depressive state. coffee doesn't help. so i know what's happened and am waiting this out until Zyrtec leaves my system.	F	54	4 days		9/11/2008
1	allergies, headaches	It was prescribed years ago by my ENT Doctor and I said I'd never take it again because it made me very drowsy... I did. I really made a bad mistake. In December 2008, it made me act worse than having had several drinks. My friends stayed away from me. Eventually, I passed out. It made sense if years before it made me drowsy, passing out seems like a logical step.	I dumped the pills. My perspective: DON'T TAKE IT. We're inundated with side-effects from drugs so we think, what the heck, they all have side-effects. BUT THIS IS WORSE THAN MANY. You can also forget what the FDA approves or doesn't and you know how effective governmental oversight has been for years. People taking the drug know best.	F	54	3 days		2/25/2009
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 D		3/31/2010
4	allergies and hives	None that I was aware of at the time.	I stopped taking zyrtec about 1 week ago and have had horrible itching. I thought at first it was from a new detergent but switched back to the old with no relief. Now reading this site I think I am in withdrawl. However I have never taken anything that worked so well for my allergies. I did develop a ringing in my ears shortly after starting it and wonder it anyone else has had that as a side effect? It is not going away since I stopped but it hasn't been that long yet.	F	53	2 years		10/28/2006 Email
4	Allergies to pollen, dust and molds	5mg Zyrtec works just fine for my symptom control. I have been on 5mg for the last 6 years.(I now split the 10mg. OTC in half) 10mg causes blurry vision about 2-6 hrs. after taking it. I recommend it IF you monitor your symptoms vs. side effects. I tried Claritin but became EXTREMELY AGITATED AND IRRITABLE after only 1 dose. I tried Claritin again to make sure of the side effects. Same results.	Buy the generic when it is on sale at Rite-Aid. You will save a TON of money.	M	53	6 years		10/26/2008
4	Allergies	Deep depression and muscle and joint pain. Could not walk without pain. Sleep disorder as well. Could not fall asleep and then waking up all through the night.	It helps with the allergies but the side effects are not worth it.	F	53	40 days		2/23/2009
3	Allergies	Severe body aches, dry mouth, heart palpitations	I've been on Zyrtec about 2 years now. My severe body aches (to the point that at times it's very painful to move much) started a few months after I began the drug, but I never connected the two until now. My allergies are now nonexistent, though. I've missed a pill now and then and have never had any withdrawal problems.	F	53	2 years		7/15/2008
2	Year Round Allergies	I take zyrtec at night before going to bed. I find that I have problems waking up in the morning. It's as if I am in a drugged stupor.	I had been taking allegra-d but was told that I needed to switch up my allergy medicine so that my system did not get used to the medicine. I have been on allergy medicines since I was 20.	F	53	2 weeks		9/29/2008
2	seasonal allergies	When I first started taking Zyrtec 8 months ago it made me very tired. Now I can not sleep until I am exhausted. It definitely stopped the sneezing, runny nose, weepy and itching eyes. My doctor says to keep taking it because I can't hear out of one ear. After 8 months I am beginning to think the Zyrtec may be causing the hearing loss? I have been off it for two days and my blood pressure is up above 140 and I feel flushed. Would love to be able to sleep like a normal person again.		F	53	8 months		1/7/2005 Email
2	dust, mold, pollen allergies	loss of smell mixed with everything smelling like peanutbutter - - uncontrollable appetite and weight gain - - depression		F	53	2 months		10/28/2005
2	ALLERGIES	Drowsiness, lack of concentration, irritability, severe dizziness to the point of almost passing out and weight gain. My face was swelling due to seasonal allergies and the doctor put me on Zyrtec and instructed that I take it at night. I do but am still somewhat drowsy and disoriented during the day.	It did help with the seasonal allergies, which was a first for me. I thought initially that I had a sinus infection but not so. I might take these occasionally but don't want to stay on them continuously.	F	53	2 weeks		1/10/2007 Email
1	spider bite	terrible migraine lasting a week....changes in mood, depression, irritability, hair falling out, high blood pressure		F	53	12 days		4/26/2005
1	seasonal allergies	My son committed suicide because of this drug. He was 18 years old with seasonal allergies. He had tried Clariton before but didn't work too well. Heard about Zyrtec and decided to try it. Was on it for two months then committed suicide. We found out he had been depressed,became withdrawn, hearing voices, not sleeping well. Never took anything else, never had any problems mentally before. Was a straight A student, happy, had everything going for him. The only thing different in his life was taking the Zyrtec. I attribute Zyrtec to his suicide! Especially after reading all the negative comments from everyone else.		F	53	2 months 10 mg 1X D		5/27/2010
1	itching	sleepiness, irritability	NEVER AGAIN! I also have sleep apnea. This medication makes me so sleepy that I can not wake up when I stop breathing! I took it at 10pm and still feel the affects at 6pm the next day. When driving I had to pull over to sleep because I could not stay awake. I have also been yelling at my husband for two days for no reason at all. This medication is not worth my marriage!	F	53	2 days		2/17/2006
1	allergies	I only took 5 doses, I could smell before I took them even though I was sneezing,coughing, and having a runny nose. The drug cleared up my nose and took away my Total sense of smell.	Today is 4-2-09, I took the pills in the 1st. week of March 09, so I have been without my smell for about a month. I only took 5 doses,2 and 1/2 days. I can not smell anything at all and even though I can still taste,it seems not as much as before. Now I find that it's really dangerous because I can't even smell smoke. I rushed to the store and got 2 smoke alarms for safety.I will now have to be more mindful of my food spoiling, cause it could look okay, but now I can't smell to be sure. I think of all the things I'm going to miss,like puppy breath( only true dog lovers knows that wonderful smell). A new doctor has given me 7 days of an antibiotic, Nasacort nose spray and 2 shots, its now day 3 and I do not think it's going to work. If I have to live with this I sure won't like it, but on the upside, when I'm picking up the dog mess in my yard from my large dog I don't smell it. And I want smell the dead skunk in the road. Has this happened with anyone else like me in just days time?	F	53	3 days		4/2/2009
1	Allergies	Took with Avelox - major hypnotic effect. After Avelox kept taking - kept being very very dizzy - esp. when lying down. Stopped Zyrtec 6 days ago. Good news not dizzy at all anymore! But ITCHY. At first got very itchy palms and skin with red rash. Also eyes very itchy. Taking Benadryl at night now (can't take during day as it makes me too sleepy). Itch better but still there. Hope it goes away. I would not rec this drug to anyone. Side effects too serious. Esp. do not combine with Avelox!		F	53	60 days		4/19/2007
1	severe allergies/coughing	This was the first med that contolled my allergy related cough. I was thrilled. It took the drug for about three months. However, I began to feel that I was becoming very sad. It started so slow that I didn't realize it at first. I had achy bones, and was tired all the time. I thought I had a aerious illness. But worse than that was that over the three months I became more and more weepy and sad. Then I heard that Zyrtec can make you sleepy, so I stopped taking it. By the next day, I suddently realized I was happy again, I was my old self. Now looking back, I see how I was sinking into a deeper and deeper sadness, but didn't realize it. When on this drug, as the days went on, I went from being sad, having no energy, to crying over every little thing. For me, it was a slow progression into deep sadness. Looking back, i now see how bad off I was. So I will put up with coughing. I'm so glad I stopped it when I did. There is not telling how far down I would have gone. Please beware of this		F	53	3 days		4/18/2008
1	chronic (over 2 years) hives	severe leg aches, breast tenderness	I was prescribed Zyrtec to help control chronic daily hives. It didn't seem to have any effect at all on the hives and for the entire time I was taking the drug I felt like I had the flu with body aches that were particularly bad in both calves. All bad effects were gone the day after I quit taking it.	F	53	21 days		4/8/2008
1	hayfever	I took only 5 doses in March 2009, it cleared up my runny nose and I could breath again. BUT I lost my complete sense of smell! I can't smell at all and I use to have a very good sense of smell. Now days I might get a small whiff of something but it's very rare.	I had never taken this medicine before, this was my first and last time. I want my sense of smell back so bad.	F	53	5 days		8/23/2009
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
4	Sever Allergies	Trouble Urinating. Painful urinating.		M	52	7 days 120 mg 1X D		5/24/2010
3	allergies, mold, dander, pollen	it took me so long to figure out, but I would take it before bed because it made me sleepy, but then while I was sleeping, I'd get chills, teeth chattering, and insides trembling, and then I would be having these involuntary muscle contractions, pulling me into a ball, then I'd wake up gasping like I'd run a marathon, and bad dreams!	The PA told me better to manage allergies than use "rescue" medications like OTC stuff I'd used for years with no really bad problems except for sleepiness and constipation. I'd rather put up with that than this stuff. The Zyrtec worked, but I can't be losing sleep to all that other crazy stuff going on. Singulair had similar effects on me too, worked great on allergies and asthma, but was making me have involuntary muscle contractions all night. I'm talking about big muscle contractions and maybe every 2-3 minutes all night long.	F	52	1.5 years		11/15/2006 Email

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Average rating for drug: 2.1. This page is printer-friendly; use landscape print with background color turned on.

Key to ratings: 5-Very Satisfied: this medicine cured me or helped me a great deal. 4-Satisfied: this medicine helped. 3-Somewhat Satisfied: this medicine helped somewhat. 2-Not Satisfied: this medicine did not work to my satisfaction. 1-Dissatisfied: I would not recommend taking this medicine.

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