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 |
| 3 | severe allergies | took it for 4 years or so and did great on it for a while. recently i've been suffering from depression, pretty severe fatigue and weight gain/increased appetite (anyone else with increased appetite?) | it wasn't until a very recent appointment with a psychiatrist that i started putting some of the pieces together. at first the zyrtec (and allergy shots) really helped with my severe allergies (including grass, trees, pollen, dust, cats and dogs and i have one of each). the allergies were so bad, i couldn't breathe and had serious sneezing attacks. i'm down to once a month allergy shots and was doing once every other night of zyrtec, but after doing some additional research and talking to some other people (includng the shrink), i've stopped cold turkey. i've been battling the fatigue, depression and weight gain for about 8 months now (so it took a good 3+ years of daily zyrtec for me to get these symptoms) and until now, never realized that my recurring excema and hives that i've been suffering with for about 8 months on and off is likely due to the zyrtec as well. | F | 31 | 4 years | 2/9/2005 | 3 | seasonal allergies (hives) | drowsiness, dizziness | You only take it once a day, but the drug started to wear off long before the end of the day. However, relief is felt within about 15 minutes of taking it. | F | 31 | 2 years | 6/13/2002 | 3 | seasonal allergies | Nausea, diarrhea, stomach cramps. This happens within a few hours of taking the pill. This happened last season, but I thought I'd try again. Still made me sick. I have to take one pill once per day for 3-4 days for this side effect to stop. Great for allergies, not for my stomach. Best allergy med I've tried if not for stomach issues. | F | 31 | 1 days 1pill 1X day | 3/22/2012 | 3 | 3 y/o son allergy | F | 31 | 1 years | 3/18/2006 | 3 | Allergy relief | While on the medication, I did not experience any major side effects. HOWEVER, that all changed as the medicine started to leave my body. I began to experience anxiety, cold hands and feet, difficulty swallowing, nausea, dry mouth, insomnia, shallow breathing, and tension in my lower abdomen. I experienced these symptoms just a week before when I first took the medication. I stopped taking Zyrtec because the withdrawal effects are much worse than my own allergies. | Beware for these possible withdrawal side effects: anxiety, heart palpitations, dry mouth, insomnia, nausea, difficulty swallowing, numbness, cold hands and feet, headache, lightheaded, dizziness, shallow breathing. Since I only used it briefly, the withdrawal symptoms seemed to last only about 24 hours. Still a horrible feeling none-the-less. I have not experienced any itching as others may have commonly experienced. That may be due to the prolonged use of the drug. I have been currently taking medications for arrhythmia (irregular heartbeat), blood pressure, and anxiety for about 2 years now. I have not experienced any anxiety until after taking Zyrtec. That is how strong the withdrawal symptoms can be. Bottom line is, CONSULT your doctor before using this medication! Especially if you have any heart or other health complications! | M | 31 | 2 days 10 MG 1X day | 3/21/2010 | 2 | Indoor/outdoor allergies | Exhaustion, fatigue, hives, unable to lose weight, foggy brain, depression, anxiety. | I found this site because I have been taking this for quite some time and have not really looked into side effects. It helps with my allergies as far as sinuses and itchy eyes. I have broken out with hives on and off most of my life, so i'm not sure if the medication has anything to do with it although i have been EXTRA itchy lately. Spots on feet and hands. I have had a hard time losing weight, depression and anxiety issues also. Again I had these symptoms before starting zyrtec. I stopped taking it yesterday and went back to claratin because i don't want to take any chances. I will update if i notice a change in energy, mood or breakouts. | F | 31 | 5 months 10 mg 1X day | 3/3/2011 | 2 | seasonal/occupational allergies | i started out taking one zyrtec/day. at first they made me incredibly sleepy and i took afternoon naps if i could. also, i'd get a bad headache that would pound with my heart beat, have nightmares, and not be able to sleep soundly at all. | slowly, even after i decreased the dose from 1 to a 1/2 of a pill per day (to avoid the exhaustion/drowsiness and general "weird" feeling), i noticed myself feeling more disassociative and depressed. i started seriously contemplating suicide, and the detached thoughts about wanting to die increased with every day i took it, as though it was building up in my system like a poisonous depression in a pill. yeah, my allergies were completely gone, which was relieving, but what's the use of living without allergies if all you can do is cry, feel generally irritated with life, and want to die after taking an allergy pill? weird to feel so indifferent, almost enthusiastic, about the idea of dying...never really felt that until i started taking zyrtec...the 1/4 of a pill dosage seems to be most manageable for me, but even at that dose, i can't handle it for long periods of time...every few days i have to stop taking it to avoid the highly negative side effects, as the medicine builds up in my system. also, crazy heart beat (even at 1/4 pill) if i'm doing anything that involves physical exertion. thankfully, for me, 1/4 of a pill somehow keeps my asthma, itchy eyes, sneezing, etc at bay with way less exaggerated side-effects than a 1/2 or a whole pill seem to cause. | F | 31 | 20 days 1X day | 4/13/2011 | 2 | allergies | intense paranoia at night; hallucinations; drowsiness | I've only been taking this for two weeks, but it has helped the sneezing at night. However, for the last three days I've taken it, I wake up in the middle of the night feeling incredibly scared (which is unusual for me). It's freaking me out too much to continue, I think. | F | 31 | 2 weeks | 12/6/2006 | 2 | ongoing allergies & sinus problems | This made me so drowsy I could not function. Could not drive, was lethargic, felt drugged. | Seemed to help my allergy symptoms tremendously but the extreme drowsiness and drugged feeling were more debilitating than the allergies. In other words, this made me feel worse than did the problem for which I was taking it. | F | 31 | 5 days | 10/17/2004 | 2 | allergies | I am satisfied when I take it. When I STOP taking it, I get itchy skin that feels like bed bugs crawling all over me. | F | 31 | 1 months | 7/13/2008 | 2 | Severe Allergies | Didn't want to wake up in the morning, drained all day till about evening time, moody, depressed, hair falling out, | I stopped taking Zyrtec and now I can't sleep through out the night, and I find myself anxious | F | 31 | 2 days | 6/14/2009 | 2 | Severe Allergies | Dizziness, seeing spots, irritable, moody, no ambition, in a fog | I started taking Zyrtec (1/2) at night before bed and did fine, I started to feel as it wasn't helping anymore cause I started feeling like crap so I took 10mg and did fine, then I started back again but feeling worse and noticing I was getting Migraines a lot more, I would roll over in the mornings feeling good only to flip the switch and be in a bad mood that quick! I have such severe allergies I don't know what to take anymore! But now that I have stopped the Zyrtec it almost like I'm going through withdrawl because I don't sleep well at night and I'm sick to my stomach, and feel like I can't concentrate. The last time I stopped I had to start back on it again cause I thought I was losing my mind! This medicine was wonderful at first but then you become dependent on it. Now I get Migraines! | M | 31 | 4 years | 7/6/2009 | 2 | Allergies/asthma | HORRIBLE. I've tried this drug three times now and each time things are a little worse and I'm only taking a half dose! Horrible drowsiness, anxiety, shortness of breath feelings. Despite taking it at night, I was such a zombie the next day that I could barely function. Never taking it again. | The only reason I gave this two stars over one is because it actually did dry out my sinuses and mucus. Too bad being on it is sheer hell. This drug should be banned. | F | 31 | 1 days 5mg 1X day | 9/18/2013 | 1 | coughing, allergies | My 3 yr. old son was taking this medicine, prescribed by our Dr., for 5 days. Since he started taking this he has had major breakdowns over the littlest things. I associated this with his age, but wondered why it just happened over night. I was telling a friend of mine about how he had became very angry, was back talking, hateful, and very emotional. He would have temper tantrums like I have never seen him have before, even in public...which never happened. She was telling me about how her Dr. wanted her son to take this too, and so she researched it. She found that many moms were complaining of these same symptoms so she chose not to use it. I decided not to give it to him this morning and I can not believe the difference it has made. We were blessed that he hadn't been on it long so hopefully he will just continue to quickly improve. | F | 31 | 5 days | 11/2/2009 | 1 | Severe Allergies | Moody, irritable, over sleep, seeing spots occasionally, light sensitivity, weird dreams, anxious, feel shakey inside.... | Well after taking Zyrtec for over 3 years at night for severe allergies, I have been expereinceing too much with his drug to take any longer so I decided to stop 3 days ago only to find myslef today in a horrible state, with flu like symptoms, I feel like a Zombie and not myself, I don't know what to do I don't want to get back on that dreaded stuff, It worked very well to control my dizziness due to my allergies but now I just am a mess cause of this drug. I called Pfizer only to find out that they sold this drug in 06 to Johnson & Johnson, after speeking to an agent I was told that you are not suppoosed to take this pill for more then 10 days, that was news to me so I asked him why he told me because its habit forming, so I 'm going through withdrawls I guess, I asked him how long this should last he couldn't answer that told me to contact my PCP, ended the conversation and ended up calling back and spoke to a different agen that told me it was basically in my head and that they have never had anyone call or complain about this drug, I made reference to all the research I have done on it and they still stated no issues with this medicine. So to make a long story short I guess I'm going through withdrawls...Has anyone else had any issues like this or has anyone called to report side effects? I also was getting migraines, not sure if its related but it would come with the irritability I was having....I never had so many issues until now! Please help me out, your input mig | F | 31 | 3 years | 7/8/2009 | 1 | Seasonal Allergies | Depression, anger, lethargic, indifferent, easily irritated, nasal congestion, brain fog, 'zombie' effect. | Love what it does for my allergies. HHHAAATTTTEEE what it does for my mood. Not friggin worth it. I'll have itchy eyea before I take this again. Its my second time trying it and it's just not worth the depression spiral or irritability for no reason. | 31 | 3 days 5mg | 6/23/2020 | 1 | allergies | I felt as if I were becoming depressed, but not sad or melacholic. It was as if I couldn't taste, smell, see, or hear things as clearly as I used to. I felt numb...emotional and (physical) sense-wise. Increased tendency to | I would never ever recommend that anyone take this med. Claritin makes you sleepy, but zyrtec makes you dull, in a very very bad way. If you are taking this med and you feel like this, talk to your doctor. I did and it turns out this is a known side effect, just not one that is made much of. It should be. I am honestly surprised it has not been taken off the market. It seems dangerous. | F | 31 | 3 months | 2/21/2003 | 1 | Hives | Mood Swings, Aggresive, Socially cut off, Lack of concentration, severe drowsiness. | This is an addictive drug. I have been taking it for past 6 years (5mg everyday). Finally gathered a courage to stop taking it and its my 3rd day and i am feeling SO HORRIBLE. The hives appeared and they are worst than what i started taking this medicine for. I have not tried anything else other than this med. I am going to doctor tomorrow to find alternative medicine. | M | 31 | 6 years | 1/22/2007 | 1 | Allergies/Rhinitis/Sinusitis | I gave this a 1-Dissatisfied, because that the lowest option I had, but would like to give it -100! That's right below 0! I wish I would have never started taking this medication! It only masqued my nasal runny nose for a little bit, then I still had the same symptoms of my allerigies. I have been taking this medication longterm, 8+ years, and tried going off of it 3 times. I am bound and determined to go off of it once and for good this time, it's like you're a drug addict going through withdrawal symptoms. By that I mean, I am itching all over my body and it is quite unbearable! If I scratch it, then I get a red rash and hives and the itching is AWFUL, to the point where you think to yourself, I'll just take the Zyrtec. But I have to step back for a moment and think, No, I can't, that is the reason I'm in this mess to begin with. Also, did they tell you this would be a side effect before you started taking it? NO! Of coarse not. Also, did they tell you that it can cause ki | HORRIBLE, UNBEARABLE, INTOLERABLE Itching when trying to go off this medication. It is awful! The itching is so bad, that it seems the only relief you get is during sleep. Plus, I'm very iritable, and irrational because of the painful itching. The itching is so intense, that it hurts, it's very painful. If you don't have to take this medicine, don't, trust me, because if you ever want to get off of it, it's very hard. | F | 31 | 8 years | 4/25/2006 | 1 | hives, itching, seasonal allergies | While I was on zrytec my appetite increased a lot. I gained over 20 pounds even though I exercised 5 days a week. I had always been very athletic and skinny and I am careful with my diet. Even on very healthy meals and with high levels of excercise I gained tremendous weight. I looked swollen and bloated. I also had high blood pressure and during doses I would get severe itching making me think I needed the zyrtec to stop the itching. I did not think it could have been the zyrtec that was causing or exacerbating it. I was always tired and sleepy. My mind seemed foggy. I thought these were symptoms of my allergies and that zyrtec was helping. Quite the contrary, zyrtec was in fact the culprit! | I came off zyrtec 7 months ago. I told everyone that I would write back if coming off helped. IT DID! The severe itching went away, my weight dropped off me almost immediately. My high blood pressure returned to normal. Clarity came back. Looking back on the experience, I could not believe that zyrtec could cause so much damage. No amount of exercise or diet would have prevented or reduced the tremendous weight gain. The other side effects (itching, feeling dreamy, sleepy) were due to zyrtec. As allergy sufferers we do not need these extra complications. Those symptoms are so close to your allergy symptoms you may not even realize they are side effects of the medication you are taking. Zyrtec is a dangerous drug. Ask your doctor to switch to something else. The relief from seasonal allergies is NOT WORTH the side effects of zyrtec. It should be taken off the market. It is a dangerous drug. | F | 31 | 8 months | 3/11/2007 |