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 |
| 1 | seasonal allergies | dry mouth, sore throat, EXTREME irritability | I have suffered my whole life with seasonal allergies. I have tried many otc allergy medicines. Most do nothing but make me sleepy. Upon trying this medicine, I thought I finally found the one! I have had no allergy problems at all. Unfortunately, it did make me extremely thirsty and give me a sore throat. Those are side effects I could deal with. However, I noticed that I was not my normal cheerful self. I am a very happy person, but today, I was so negative about everything. The only change was the medicine. Everything made me so mad, even the littlest things. I teach elementary school and feel so bad about the way I treated my students today. I snapped at them for every little thing, even things they could not control. I will NEVER take this medicine again. I would rather go through months of being drowsy from Benadryl than dealing with these side effects. | F | 38 | 1 days 10 1X day | 4/2/2013 | 1 | Allergies | Rage. Severe unexplained rage and thinking of conflicts long over and wanting to hurt these people for no logical reason. Severe pain and swelling suddenly present in first joint of index finger. Feels like a small round hard object has appeared out of nowhere. Cystic almost. This happened to me three years ago and I took one pill back then. I was desperate for some allergy relief but this is unbearable. Can't sleep, freaked out. Anxiety. Want to hurt the people who snuck this crap thru. | I HATE YOU ZYRTEC. Die you rat bastage. | F | 38 | 2 days 1 1X day | 3/27/2012 | 1 | year-round allergies | Headaches when it wore off an was time for next dose. Had to stop taking it for a week for allergy testing and found out about the heroin-level withdrawal. Unbelievably severe itching everywhere, and my allergies were NEVER in the form of itches before taking Zyrtec. Blood tests during this withdrawal revealed my liver hormone levels were 8x normal from it, and the itching was from how the withdrawal damages the liver. Took 6 months gradually lowering the dosage with the liquid version for infants to get off of it. | Absolutely unbelievable that this is FDA approved, let alone OTC. | M | 38 | 2 years 10 1X day | 2/21/2012 | 1 | Severe allergies, hives | I moved to an area where I suddenly developed terrible seasonal allergies to trees, weeds, grass, and mold. It felt like I had a cold all the time with stuffy nose, itchy eyes and eyes, runny nose attacks, and hives. Then it became a food allergy where I had an itchy throat after eating fresh cantelope and carrots. So I started taking one zyrtec d in the morning and one zyrtec at night. And it was amazing how well it worked. All of the symptoms went away and I felt normal. But over the years my body has changed and I am finally realizing that this is all from the zyrtec. I developed dermatitis that no dermatologist could explain. As a woman this was devastating because my skin was rough, dry, and itchy. So I figured I was reacting to make up with my allergies. Then I developed acid reflux, and my joints ache and pop. I only pee 3 times a day and I just feel sluggish and have a hard time sleeping. So I even did a sleep study and got a cpap machine that didn't work! So i slowly ran out of pills and was in the midst of moving and didn't have time to get more. I decided to try not taking them and I've noticed a HUGE difference. My skin is normalizing, I'm peeing 7-8 a day, my joints feel better. I am getting out of the itchy phase but it wasn't terrible since I was itchy when I was on zyrtec. And I have had crazy vivid nightmares and trouble sleeping. Hopefully it goes away soon. On a side note, I even took doxycyclene to help with my skin and during a beach trip it damaged my na | F | 38 | 9 years 15 | 9/1/2013 | 1 | illness | strange coughing episode(s) that resulting in passing out | I'm commenting for my husband. He's been sick & the Dr prescribed this, generic, (along with other meds.) He noticed that, shortly after taking this (each night), he began to have 'odd' coughing episodes where he could not catch his breath. Last night was the worst. He was lying back on the sofa and after the coughing started, his hands shook, the back of his head got numb & tingly and he believes he actually passed out. I remembered this site & after reading comments to him, he will not take it again! Scary experience. Thanks to everyone who comments here. | F | 38 | 4 days 10mg 1X day | 12/31/2011 | 1 | seasonal allergies | bloated, sleepy, weak, moody, lightheaded | After taking it the night before, I was relieved that my allergy dissipates a little bit but the next day, I had a hard time getting out of bed and my stomach was bloated like never before. I can't work the whole day because I felt weak and sleepy and my head feels so light. | M | 38 | 1 days 10mg 1X day | 3/22/2010 | 1 | Year Round Allergies | Didn't seem to have many side effects on RX Zyrtec except head to toe stinging, burning rash when I had to go off it for more than two days. OTC Zyrtec side effects - irritability, lethargy and mild depression - possibly others but can't be sure. | I forgot to take my OTC Zyrtec one night and couldn't get to sleep - which is very unusual for me! The next morning, after just 4 hours of sleep, I sprang out of bed and felt much happier than I had the night before. This made me realize that the mild depression, irritability and severe lethargy I've been experiencing were side effects of Zyrtec! I have other health issues which have been reported as side effects of Z, but I have not gone off Z long enough to find out if those will be relieved as well. Unfortunately, the withdrawal symptoms - facial/lip swelling, head to toe stinging, burning rash and insomnia are a killer! This drug needs to be pulled now! Scary stuff! | F | 38 | 8 years 20 1X day | 8/12/2010 | 1 | Moderate seasonal allergies | Heart palpitations, dizziness, itching when I stopped taking it. | I only started getting allergies about 4 years ago. Most of the time the symptoms are pretty mild. My doctor recommended Zyrtec and I would take it for 2-3 days at a time when my symptoms were intolerable. 5 weeks ago I started having bad dizzy spells and hives and my doctor diagnosed allergies and said that since I was so out of it I needed to take the Zyrtec until they cleared up. The dizzy spells went away after about a week. I would take the drug for several days and then skip a day to see if the allergies had gone away yet. Every time, I started itching again, so I thought the allergen was still around and went back on the drug. Several days ago, the dizzy spells came back along with a pounding heart that would last for hours. I'm very fit and physically active so this seemed really weird. Went back to my doctor who told me that palpitations and dizziness could both be side effects of Zyrtec and gave me a new prescription. I didn't even try the new prescription but my dizzy spells are gone already so I assume this bout of allergies is over. My heart rate is also getting closer to normal. I do still have a little itching, but looking at what everyone else has to say, I'm now convinced that this is due to stopping the Zyrtec and not to an allergy. | F | 38 | 5 weeks 10 1X day | 10/28/2010 | 1 | Vertigo related to allergies | Weight gain, fatigue | Discontinuing it effective today--despite what my ear/nose/throat doc might say. | F | 38 | 2 months 1X day | 2/7/2011 | 1 | allergies | Have developed a dependency. If I miss a day, by that evening (36 hours after taking last dose), my skin feels like it's crawling and it's a miserable, itchy evening. As soon as I take even 5 mg, the itching stops within 1 hour. Looks like this is a common issue. | It's the only thing that has seemed to work for eczema and allergies, but it's NOT worth the addiction! I've successfully gotten my kids off the medication, but I am still dependent on it. | F | 38 | 3 years 10 mg 1X day | 11/19/2010 | 1 | Allergies | Iritable like no tomorrow. WOW for someone who was happy go lucky, I turned into a monster after 3 weeks on this medicine and to boot, I've still got the allergies. | F | 38 | 3 weeks | 5/3/2007 | 1 | allergy control for allergy asthma | I started taking the Zyrtec in December, and within 60 days gained 20 pounds. I was told I had simply reached 'that age'. While taking the Zyrtec non-stop over the year - the weight continued to add on at about 1 pound per month after I was told that Zyrtec could increase appetite. So - the increase continued even though I was re-doubling my efforts to change. Prior to taking this medication, I have NEVER had any problems with weight...EVER. And since taking it, even life-style changes in diet and exercise have had no impact. I find that shocking for someone who NEVER exercised to be able to get nothing out of it at all. It's counter intuitive, to say the least. I also experienced other side effects, which may also have resulted from the weight gain - I sweat ALL the time. I never used to sweat very much at all. | It was only partially effective in keeping my sinuses drained. I took it religiously as sinus infection preventative, and I still ended up with an infection at my usual time of year - the following winter. The infection cleared up more readily without antibiotic and it kept things flowing and prevented the facial pain. But, overall, especially with the side effects, I wouldn't consider this any better than any OTC sinus drainage drug that could be started AFTER the sinus infection sets in. | F | 38 | 460 days | 1/29/2008 | 1 | Allergies | Weight gain, constipation, bloating, swelling in hands and wrists, headaches, depressed mood, irritability, fatigue, difficulting concentrating | I am so relieved to have found this website. I thought I was going crazy. Since starting Zyrtec four months ago I have gained ten pounds despite a healthy diet and fanatically regular exercise including running and weight training. Many of my side effects mimic my premenstrual symptoms but I stopped making excuses when my wrists were swelling so much during the day my watch would get tighter and tighter. I am dumbfounded that a drug now available over the counter could have such significant side effects. I switched back to Loratidine three days ago and I already feel the "cloud" lifting over my head. | F | 38 | 120 days | 11/17/2008 | 1 | Allergies | Stomach pains, tired, emotional crying spells | This drug worked great for allergy problems, however, I am thankful I found this website. I have only taken for a week & I am a completely different person. I have experienced crying spells, depression, stomach pain, depressed & tired, contant hunger. I'd rather suffer from allergies than be an emtional wreck. | F | 38 | 6 days | 8/27/2007 | 1 | allergies | Completely painfully tired. Sudden extreme and heavy depression. Felt like I could not wake up. Completely unmotivated. Very surprised that an antihistamine could do this much damage to a person in three days. | Did not affect my allergies. I wasn't sleepy as much as I felt I felt extremely tired and was dragging. Took two days to feel somewhat normal again after stopping the medication. I would rather feel relief and a little sleepy while taking benedryl than feel like that again. Felt anxious and was losing my will to live. | F | 38 | 3 days | 5/18/2007 | 5 | Seasonal and pet allergies | Mild tiredness. | I love Zyrtec! I had to go off it during pregnancies and MAN did I miss it! I just went to renew my scrip and my insurance company has dictated that I have to try Allegra first before I can go back on Zyrtec so I'm completely irritated by that. Anyway - Zyrtec is the only drug I've found that allows me to be symptom free during the height of spring and fall allergy seasons. Plus, when I had a pet, I was able to be around it and not suffer. Yes, tiredness was a factor, but I could handle it since I was able to breathe! | F | 39 | 5 years | 5/31/2007 | 5 | Cat allergies | Didn't think there were any, but weight gain might be one. I stopped taking Zytec and switched to Allegra for 1 month when insurance wouldn't pay, and lost 10 pounds without trying. Allegra didn't work so am happy to pay extra for the Zyrtec. | This is my miracle drug - nothing else relieves my symptoms from cat allergies. However, this year for the first time in my life I had spring hayfever and even Zyrtec didn't help. | F | 39 | 4 years | 7/29/2006 | 5 | Itchy skin | Somewhat tired but if it stops the prickly skin itchy, I can live with it. | I started itching about 6 months ago all of a sudden, thought it was the detergent or soap. My doctor gave me zyrtec and the itching stopped within a hour. I have to take it three times a week to get relief. Without it the itching drives me crazy. Anyone else suffer from itchy skin for no apparent reason? | M | 39 | 6 days | 11/17/2005 | 5 | allergies | first few times I was nauseous and extremely tired but it was the only medicine that helped me last through the day without having an attack. In the past 3.5 years I have experienced weight gain, decreased libedo, tiredness after taking the pill (I take at night) but then wake up regularly during the night. | As I will be starting fertility treatments in a few weeks, I stopped with the medication 2 months ago. I had found some very positive reviews regarding a vitamin called 'Quercetin' on the internet and so, I began taking it (in combination with vitamin C). I started with taking 4-5 tablets a day (my allergies are extremely high and year round), a month ago, I was down to 1 a day and I am amazed!! I am 39 years old and have been taking allergy medication / shots / drops since I was 16 and this vitamin (it is found in the skin of apples and red onions) really works!! and without all the wierd side-effects of the other drugs.... I have become a HUGE fan! | F | 39 | 3.5 years | 2/11/2009 | 5 | Allergies,sinus pressure,itchiness | No side effects. | Zyrtec has provided better relief from allergies than Claritin. It has even reduced my allergic reactions to cats. The only time I had a problem was when I was taking benadryl, on occasions of visiting my girlfriend (who has a cat), in addition to the Zyrtec. That cocktail caused eustation tube dysfunction for some time. I avoid mixing my antihistamines nowadays. However, Zyrtec, by itself, never caused me any problems. | M | 39 | 2 years | 5/18/2009 |