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 Age from youngest to oldest (reviews with no age reported listed first). 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 |
| 4 | mold, cat allergy | 6 yr old son - irritability, screaming at me, severe mood issues. When asked what was wrong, he would scream at me "I don't know". | My son also has asthma and has been taking zyrtec along with singulair and pulmicort. Works great for allergies. (I have another son on it as well) Originally taking every day then decreased to as needed w/cat & mold exposure. However, at the end began experiencing behavior/mood issues. When took him off of Zyrtec noticed a significant difference in his behavior. Switched allergy/pulmonolgist drs and he said not to give it to him. His behavior over all has improved drastically. My 3 year old doesn't seem to have "issues" because of zyrtec. | M | 6 | 3 years | 2/5/2007 | 4 | chronic idiopathic urticaria | My 6yr old daughter had to start taking zyrtec eveyday to control her chronic urticaria, as time went one her behaviors just have gotten worse. To the point we were thinking about taking her to a pshyc dr. Don't know what else to do I have taken her off for a few days now and the attitude is already getting better. But I had to give her benadryl to keep her from swelling. Which they told me not to give her that cause of the alcohol in it. Does anyone out there that has Chronic Urticaria know anything that helps, without the deppression/anger issues. Please help, thanks! | F | 6 | 8 months 5mg 1X day | 10/6/2010 | 3 | seasonal allergies | Not sure there were any until I see other parents linking it to moodiness and hyper activity. My child is now experiencing a lot of this and we only use it during certain times of the year. I believe I will switch to something else. Behavior is out of the norm. | M | 6 | 1/2 tsp 1X day | 3/22/2010 | 3 | environmental allergies | My daughter has been taking zyrtec for over 3 years. I never put many thing together because when she started taking the medicine was the same time children at the age of 3 start acting out - crying about nothing - temper tantrums - etc. Her doctor recommended that she take the 10 mg 2 times a day due to her itchy reaction to her allergies. Unfortunately, I never questioned the behavior side effects of this medicine. My daughters 1st grade teacher asked me to look into the effects of zyrtec and how effects children. I am shocked at what I have read! As of today she is no longer taking the medicine! We are looking for a natural alternative! However, she does get monthly shots to help build her immune system and we are as of now going to continue with the shots, BUT no more zyrtec! We are hoping that her emotional outburst will get better ... who would have thought ???? I'm so disappointed in the reality of the medical world! | If you have a child don't let them take this drug!!!! It might help their symptoms, BUT who knows what it is doing to their BRAINS! | F | 6 | 3 years | 11/13/2008 | 3 | Allergies, Env & cats year round | we endured her almost getting kicked out of preschool for basically torturing another child - extremely bad irrational behavior extremely bad outbursts - very unlike her - back to soy milk we went - some of the negative behavior subsided - however as she has grown her dose of Zyrtec has increased - 5 mg chewable each morning. She struggles not with drowsiness; but performing fairly simple tasks - and when failing that completely sobbing meltdowns. | I have said some of the same things "Where has my daughter gone?" "Please give her back" "Please go to bed and wake up as my sweet little girl" My daughter is 6 now, has been on Zyrtec 3.0 years for year round environmental and cat allergies. When she was 4 she had her tonsils removed - we thought she's be able to stop her medications - not true - she was worse with her behavior after that surgery - which at the time we switched her from her usual soy milk to cows milk - allergy tests showed only intolerance not allergy to milk - we endured her almost getting kicked out of preschool for basically torturing another child - extremely bad irrational behavior extremely bad outbursts - very unlike her - back to soy milk we went - some of the negative behavior subsided - however as she has grown her dose of Zyrtec has increased - 5 mg chewable each morning. She struggles not with drowsiness but performing fairly simple tasks - and when failing that completely | F | 6 | 3 years | 10/24/2007 | 3 | Seasonal Allergies | My 6yr old daughter had problems last spring with vaginal irritation and discomfort when urinating. We took her to the pediatrician 3 x's and a Gyn and they came up with nothing. This spring, same problem - went online and found this site stating some females had similar problems w/Claritan. I called Pfizer this morning and they told me that skin irritation is side effect of med(which they included her problem as part of that side effect). Incidentally, 4 yr old son had strange rash on face after starting Zyrtec, maybe is related to med as well? | My daughter has terrible allergies, don't know what to do to relieve suffering - she missed several days of school last year due to vaginal irritation - not to mention Dr's asking her if anyone "touched" her. Terrible experience for parent! | F | 6 | 30 days | 4/25/2007 | 3 | Allergies to several things | My daughter has statted Zyrtec for her allergies and she has always been our quiet and calm child. I have noticed though since she's been on it she has gotten worse with her attitude. She will scream at us, screams the hole time she is in time out, and will smack her sister for nothing. She just told me today she gets this feeling in her that makes her mad and want to hit people,scream,& throw things. This is not our little girl at all. I seriously think it is the Zyrtec because she was never like this until she was put on it. School she is stil quiet and shy but I am afraid she is going to start acting out and I do not want that for my child. I will be calling the allergy doc for sure after all these comments. | F | 6 | 1 days 8ml | 6/19/2015 | 2 | seasonal allergies | To all parents of young children--my 6 year old experienced the SAME behavior problems on Zyrtec. I contacted his allergist today, and he said Zyrtec crosses the blood-brain barrier (as do most anithistimines), and therefore could defintely cause behavioral changes. His allergist prescribed Allegra for children (which is NEW spring 2007), and Allegra DOES NOT CROSS THE BLOOD-BRAIN BARRIER!!! Will start this in a few days with my son...hopefully will work! Good luck, and get your kids off this terrible medicine! | M | 6 | | 4/10/2007 | 2 | seasonal allergies(spring only) | My 6 year old son took Zyrtec for two spring seasons since he experiences severe allergies to spring pollen and grass. The drug did wonders in clearing his allergies, but caused him to manifest behavior problems. When he first started taking Zyrtec in late March when he was 5 years old (right when seasonal allergies begin), his teacher started calling me from school telling me that he was breaking down, crying easily, and throwing tantrums. She said that if she didn't know him from the previous 7 months in her class (when he wasn't on Zyrtec), that she would have thought that was just the way he was. I did not make the connection, and so the poor kid spent 3 months screaming at school. The end of summer came, and I took him off his allergy meds. All is well at school, and then March rolls around again, and I start him on his Zyrtec. Sure enough, I get a call from the teacher (different teacher, by the way) reporting the same exact behavioral problems. This teacher, who is excel | M | 6 | | 4/10/2007 | 2 | allergies | Became anxious, bit withdrawn, obssessed over irrational worries.No matter how much we tried to disprove worries did not believe us. Said his brain would not stop worring even though he knew they were silly. Would melt down,cry,kick thought he was going to get into trouble.Symptoms of OCD and general anxiety dissorder. | Worked for nasal problem. Unfortunately when he was on 5mg(1 week) I did not pay attention to small amount of anxiety and dosage was increased to 10mg(1 week). This intensified anxiety,irrationality and worries. When zyrtec was stopped behavior calmed down. Now we are left with residual effect. I though something happened and he was now crazy.Feel helpless that I did not see this in beginning and must now suffer through effects and seek psychological help . | M | 6 | 1 weeks | 5/23/2007 | 2 | Allergies | Fits of irrational responses (screaming, hitting, rage), twitching, nightmares, sleep walking, extremely emotional. | My 6y daughter was put on Zyrtec at age 3 for various allergies. We thought she was being helped for those allergies and her irrational behavior typical of a 3y old. However; after talking with other parents of Zyrtec kids - We've realized her behavior was a result of the Zyrtec. She has now 11/03/07 been off of the Zyrtec since 10/24/07 - WHOA what a difference. A very calm child has reemmerged. Our family life is so much more relaxing. Now we see - she really is a normal 6 yr old girl. Not the irrational rageful luanatic she was. very scary stuff. | F | 6 | 3 days | 11/5/2007 | 2 | hives | irritability, making poor choices, mood swings, crying, not at all acting himself. | My now 6 year old son has been taking zyrtec for two years - off and on. This past fall we had to increase his dose due to increase hives, and have been giving it nightly. He also began kindergarten this fall and it has been a nightmare! My always sweet, polite child was hitting, not paying attention, the teacher was calling me daily about his poor choices. We never put two and two toghther with the zyrtec!! I took him off it last weekend, as it's always bothered me pouring this med in him every night, he has been a totally different boy. He's back to being well behavied, much more impulse control - I could go on and on. On a hunch I looked this up and found this site - I am floored that that I was not warned of this and how awful my son's first year of kindergarten has been! I will not put him back on this! I am now concerned on what we will treat him with when the body covering hives do come back - the zyrtec did take care of them. | M | 6 | 2 days | 2/1/2006 | 2 | Seasonal Allergies | My 6-year-old daughter went from a happy, beautiful child to an emotional trainwreck. Allergies and puffy eyes went away, but in their place was a teary, depressed, befuddled and evil child who slammed doors, broke glass, and acted out verbally. | I am mortified that I put this poison in my daughter's body. After reading the other comments on this site, my heart goes out to all parents who tried to help their kids and, like me, turned them into monsters. My daughter has 10 days left in the school year, and she will attend with puffy eyes and a booger nose, and be her happy, normal self again. I'll spend the summer finding alternatives that let me keep my daughter sympton free AND happy. Any other parents, feel free to e:mail me! | F | 6 | 30 days | 5/21/2006 | 1 | allergies | son becoming more anxious, seemed to get upset easily, c/o abd pains, headaches ect. | M | 6 | 30 days | 4/4/2006 | 1 | Allergies | My 6 yr old son was prescribed zyrtec syrup for seasonal allergies with nasal congestion. One hour after the first recommended dose of 1 tsp. he began trembling, complaining of severe stomach pain & dizziness and began throwing up. Quite a sudden change from a healthy (just congested) little boy who had previously been running through the house like he was trying out for the Olympics. | Proceed with caution. I think this stuff is a bit too strong for children in my opinion. If you have a small child, I would consider cutting the first dose in half. We were recommended to give this medication another try after waiting a few days...but we will not be doing that. We are done with Zyrtec here. | M | 6 | 1 days | 11/23/2005 | 1 | Hayfever, sinus allergies | My daughter (age 4 when she started Zyrtec, now age 6) over time has been exhibiting increasing anxiety and nervousness. She always says she has "bad thoughts." She has lots of fears. Cries because she does not want to go to school, constantly checks her pulse to make sure her heart is still beating, expresses fears that she'll stop breathing in her sleep. We took her to a counselor and in the first few minutes of our initial visit she informed us that Zyrtec can be a cause for anxiety and depression. We were shocked! | We have stopped her Zyrtec now and are hoping that her anxiety will begin to get better. It breaks my heart to see my baby like she is. Doctors should never prescribe this to children. They do not know how to cope with these side effects. | F | 6 | 2 years 1 tsp. 1X day | 1/17/2012 | 1 | for seasonal allergies | I gave this to my 6 year old son a few days ago because nothing else over the counter was working to relieve his symptoms. Swollen puffy, red eyes and running nose. Yesterday his teacher emailed me described his mood that day as erractic, emotional, sensitve etc. He told he he did not like his school or any of his classmates. He was throwing things and crying for no particular reason. He has never had a behavior problem at school to that level. Very scary. I took him off of it and am using something less effective. | M | 6 | 2 days 10mg 1X day | 3/23/2012 | 1 | My 6 yr old son had severe behavioral changes within 24 hrs of taking this drug. He was getting bad behavior reports from school that week. He was depressed, cried over little things, had angry tantrums, was violent,incontinence, sleep disruption and falls from the bed. The only change in his routine was the medicine. I remembered the pharmacist saying it differes from claritin in that it works using the central nervous system (we were not getting any results from claritin). I put the pieces together and took him off the drug and already 24 hrs later he is almost back to normal. This is not for every kid - watch their behavior closely if you try the drug. The label does warn of "mental or mood changes." | M | 6 | 10 days 1X day | 4/6/2010 | 1 | Allergies & Allergy Induced Asthma | My 6 year old was switched from Singular to Zyrtec when he was having too many problems with his Allergy Induced Asthma. Soon after we noticed a handful of changes in him. First we noticed that he was starving all the time, then he started to be moody all the time as well, throwing fits, being mean, rude, yelling, etc. We are taking him off of it as of today to see if my happy, polite, well behaved 6 year old comes back. That was the only thing that changed 3 weeks ago and I cant imagine there being any other cause. | M | 6 | 3 weeks 5 mg 1X day | 10/5/2010 | 1 | Allergies | aggressive bad behavior, irritability, temper tantrums over tiny thing. Would go crazy like a wild animal then crash down to a sobbing little boy. | Never will i give this to my son!!! We know it's the Zyrtec causing this behavior for we tried it two different times. Claritin has given him the same side affects also. We would rather see him suffer the allergies than be on these meds. | M | 6 | 6 days | 3/10/2008 |