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 | Cat Allergies | None, it has work as supposed for me. | Pricey | F | 39 | 1 years 10mg 1X day | 12/10/2015 | 4 | severe year round allergies | initially, i was a bit groggy. this symptom wore off after the first week or so. otherwise no side effects. | just an FYI: i am a physician and ZYRTEC is NOT addictive. for those of you who are coming off of it and experiencing side effects: the effects you are experiencing are due to your allergies no longer being suppressed by ZYRTEC--or any other antihistamine for that matter. patients with severe allergies that take antihistamines chronically are used to not experiencing the side effects of their allergy and sinusitis and when they come off and experieince them again- they often blame their drug- when in reality it is their allergies/sinus problems that are to blame. please refer to your dr. or pharmacist if you have questions about these types of medications! | M | 39 | 8 years | 4/7/2006 | 4 | Seasonal Allergies | drowsiness | Since reducing my dosage to 5mgs per day I haven't felt the side effects listed before and, I still don't have horrible allergy symptoms. In short the lesser amount of Zyrtec is just as effective as a whole pill but the side effects are mostly gone except drowsiness for about an hour after waking. | F | 39 | 6 days 5 1X day | 9/21/2010 Patient History | 4 | adult onset allergies to everything | I take it at night before bed & it's really hard to get up in the morning. It really dries me out, lips, sinuses, mouth, etc. BUT if I forget to take it, all hell breaks loose & I feel like I'm going to die of a migraine or aneurysm. Mondo-Headache-Zilla! | I'm concerned that after 4 months I think I'm totally addicted to this drug because I go thru serious withdrawal if I miss a dose just for one day & I don't know if I really want to take this for the rest of my life. It does make me feel better, I get the best sleep of my life because it knocks me out, but it's so hard to get going in the morning. I find I need at least nine hours of sleep when I take it. Is it normal to have such a bad withdrawal syndrome from an antihistamine? And, will the morning lethargy get any better after a few more months of use? | F | 39 | 4 months | 1/24/2007 | 4 | Itching / hives | Mild sleepiness and not safe to drive for at least about 4 hours after taking it. While I may seem alert, my brain can just "malfunction" and cause me to run off the road. | While Zyrtec can cause some sleepiness, it is an angel compared to Ararax and Vistaril. In fact, 4 10mg pills a day (40 mg/day) of Zyrtec is MUCH less sedating than even 10-20 mg of Atarax, and has not led to near as many mistakes and memory loss. I found Zyrtec to be the most powerful drug that I've tried for hives, that doesn't screw up my brain royally. For my hives, it is proven to be 24-25 times as powerful as Allegra, milligram per milligram, and about 2-3 times as powerful as Claritin. If Zyrtec and Claritin together can't control my hives and itching, even when coupled with Zantac, an H2 blocker, I'll probably have to go back to the old and HEAVILY SEDATING crap, like Atarax. Mr. Itch, GO TO HELL! | M | 39 | 10 years | 2/27/2007 | 4 | anaphylaxis, allergies, dermatitis | Like most, I feel groggy most of the time. But it has saved my life a few times due to severe allergic reactions. The zyrtec slowed down reaction time and also gave me an opportunity to have a pet for the first time in my life. | I have taken Zyrtec for five years. I have developed a rash on my fingers and feet. My doctor called it hydro----? Anyway, I stopped taking zyrtec for a few weeks and it went away. Anyone else have this reaction? | F | 39 | 5 years | 6/29/2004 | 3 | pet and seasonal allergies | I've been taking it for a month it worked for a few weeks and then stopped, then I started to notice a change in myself. I've become very irratable and depressed. I'm tired and fatigued and sleep all the time. Also lately I've had a very dry nose and mouth and have had an increased appetite and have been gaining weight. I feel sick like I've got a cold and my asthma has been very bad. Guess what I looked all zytec side effects on the internet and I have about 80% of them. I am going to stop taking it immediately. | People thinking about taking this drug should research it on the internet. If you see how many side effects it has, you'll think twice about taking it. | F | 39 | 30 days | 10/17/2004 | 3 | Allergies | First few doses were well tolerated. After a week, thought I had lost vision completely...the zyrtec caused me to initially feel better which made me drink more beer and I passed out under my stairs where there is no light...not a safe drug at all! Vision problems continued a few more times without much warning. Do not take with more than a 12 pack or so...not safe! | M | 39 | 4 months | 7/18/2009 | 3 | Cat allergies | Drowsiness, weight gain, dizziness, shortness of breath, anger, mood swings, water retention, bloated and gas | Works great for allergies. It stops my itchiness, no heart palpitations or dry nose/mouth but the side effects aren't wonderful. Gained 7 lbs in 1.5 month, water retention, stomach pains, bloating and gas. Go homeopathic if you can. It doesn't "work" as well but there are no side effects!!!! | F | 39 | 1.5 months 10mg 1X day | 11/1/2013 | 2 | It was a GENERIC BRAND | Terrible nightmares. And non- generic Zyrtec does not cause these night terrors! | F | 39 | 5 days 10 | 4/20/2014 | 2 | Hay fever & sinus symptons | Heart palpitations, fatigue, achy joints, unsettled sleep, headache | I thought I had sinus and hay fever, Zytec made me feel like I had the flu. the heart palpitations made me feel absolute crap, all I wanted to do was sleep, just not practical with 3 small kids! | F | 39 | 3 days 10 1X day | 10/27/2013 | 2 | seasonal allergies | It did help my seasonal allergy symptoms; however, the side effects were not worth it...at all. I became tired, achey, and extremely irritable after just one dose. My husband, and two teenagers have begged me to never take it again. | consider the side effects, seriously before taking Zyrtec. | F | 39 | 2 days | 9/25/2009 | 2 | allergies | Made me so sleepy that I couldn't hold my head up at work. When I did fall asleep I woke up 10 hours later feeling as if I was drunk. Dissapointed. I wish it would have worked for me. | F | 39 | 1 days 10mg | 3/21/2016 | 2 | seasonal allergies | extreme exhaustion, headaches, body aches, flu like symptoms. Urinary tract infection | This medication worked great for me for the first 5 weeks. Weeks 5-8 were absolutely horrific. I thought had a horrible case of the flu. My body hurt so badly I could barely lift my arms. I could barely work all day (sitting at a desk) and have to come home and sleep for 2-3 hours just to make it to 10pm. The light bulb went came on for me when I read that a side effect is the urinary tract infection. I had an infection 3 weeks ago and had not ever had one prior in my life (39 yrs). It was such a gradual change for me that I had no idea that it was the zyrtec making me feel this way, just thought it was the allergies... 2 days off and I feel amazing again... allergies and all... I'd rather deal with allergies than feeling that way ever again. | F | 39 | 2 months 1X day | 5/7/2010 | 1 | seasonal allergies | sleeping issues, crying, whining, nose bleeds, stomach aches, attention issues, fatigue | My daughter was put on zyrtec last spring for seasonal allergies when she was 5. She took 5 mg. once a day. Her doctor just upped her dose to 10 mg. 3 weeks ago. Since then she has had chronic nosebleeds waking each night, she woke up one night and said she felt like someone was watching her and started to cry when she had to go to bed for fear of bad dreams. She was tired and crying over nothing. She couldn't express what was wrong. She said she felt lonely and sad. She had lost 6 pounds in 2 weeks when we returned to the doctor worried about the nosebleeds. She complained of stomach aches and was not eating well. I also began researching ADD and made her an appointment to get her eyes checked for excessive blinking, thought her eye sight was bothering her. Finally, it dawned on me that this all began when we upped her zyrtec dose. I am so disappointed in my doctor for not checking into this. She is a small child, only 40 lbs. and after researching Zyrtec, took her off immediately. We did have to ween her off as she experienced withdrawal symptoms, mainly extreme itchiness, overall fatigue and feeling crummy. I would use extreme caution with putting your child on this medication. It is supposed to be safe and we trust in our doctors, but my trust is gone. | F | 39 | 1 years 10mg 1X day | 3/21/2010 | 1 | Uticaria | Tiredness...so tired all the time, dry mouth, constant urination, forgetful, tinnitus, negative thoughts, unexpected rage | Initially this is a very effective drug. I guess it steps in for your immune system which may be overactive, etc,etc....(ahhh relief) .however while seemingly curing symptoms of allergies it's side effects and withdrawal for a lot of people are not worth it. I have tried several times to come off the meds without success. After 36hrs extreme dizzyness, nausea and itching begins.So I pop another third of a pill. A brilliant blog called "Quit Zyrtec, get itchy" has been removed....I believe by the drug company or forces that be. It had great tips on how to survive withdrawl. I discovered a blog called "Itchyanna " tho which details her withdrawal. I have decided that I need to begin my withdrawal during the school holidays where I'm not working & family can rally around me and support me...I will hopefully begin my own blog :called ItchyFi also...so stay tuned. Think twice before taking Zyrtec & I recommend NEVER NEVER give it to your children! Look for an alternative. Wish me luck!! | F | 39 | 10 years 3.5mg 1X day | 10/15/2011 | 1 | sinus | dementia | My father was given zyrtec in september for sinus trouble & to help him sleep. Within 24 hours he was showing signs of dementia. After a month his Doctor said that it was an allergic reaction to Zyrtec. Week two and there is still no improvement. More tests will be run. My father is only 65. I have been taking zyrtec for 1 and a half years. I quit cold turkey. No more night mares, I have more energy. I do not want to sleep for two to three hours during the day. My temperment has calmed down so that I do not over react to the slightest things. Maybe now the 30 pounds that I have put on will come off. Please Pray that my father gets better soon. | F | 39 | 2 years | 10/30/2006 | 1 | sinus headache/ pressure | Very rapid heart rate & palplitations....thought my heart was going to jump out of my chest...& that was while I was laying down watching tv (nothing exciting). And worse, it did nothing for my symptoms! | F | 39 | 1 days 10mg | 3/11/2012 | 1 | allergies | Severe itching of the skin, problems with vision, pressure in eyes, headache and stomach upset. Was having problems with anxiety and anger, was taking other medicines at the time, got off of all of them and just took zytec. I was having rapid heartbeat trouble breathing. Getting off the other meds just showed me that it was zyrtec causing problems. | Right now i am trying to get off the medication, i have had severe headaches, muscle pain, trouble breathing, nausea and dry vomiting, could not eat because i was nauseated. The withdrawal symptoms are severe. If you dont need to take this dont, just use it as needed. I am going to look into class action suit against the manufacturer. My doctor cannot figure out why i had problems and got mad at me because is slowly stopped each and every med i was taking to find out which one was causing the problem since he was not educated in side effects of pills. Sometimes you have to make yourself better. I am not crazy or a raging angry person, but zyrtec makes me that way. | M | 39 | 1 years 10mg 1X day | 3/12/2012 | 1 | Seasonal Allergies inside and out | zombie-like state, severe feeling of disconnect, inability to concentrate, poor motor skills, confusion, extreme tiredness, constant yawning, feeling of being in "slow motion". | I just developed seasonal allergies for the first time this year, so I was not familiar with the brands. I purchased a generic form of a Benedryl allergy pill but found I had to take it too many times a day, it was too weak. So my doc suggested Zyrtec and both he and the pharmacist said it's "non-drowsy" and works great. Well, I only took it for two days and that was one day too long. It turned me into a virtual zombie (which lasted into a third day after I had stopped taking it). Not only was I extremely tired and lethargic, but I couldn't concentrate on even simple things. I would literally stare at a word on my monitor for several seconds trying to comprehend what the word said. It messed up my motor skills so typing was difficult, and I was extremely distracted and disoriented. I've never experienced such bizarre side effects, it really zonked me out and rendered me virtually useless. I also felt like I was moving and thinking in SLOW motion. It was awful. I'm not even attempting a lesser dose, I want nothing to do with this drug. FYI: I am not typically sensitive to drugs either and rarely feel any side effects of typical medications. PS: Yes, it did eliminate the allergy symptoms by the way, but the relief was in NO WAY worth feeling like a mindless zombie. | F | 39 | 2 days 10mg 1X day | 6/7/2012 |