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 |
| 5 | sinus and skin allergies | I suffered for years with allergies, until about 12 years ago when my (female) dr. finally listened to me and did allergy testing. I reacted to everything. I took Claritin for a long time, which changed my life. After awhile it stopped working as well, and I've taken Allegra and then Zyrtec. Zyrtec works better than anything I've tried and I don't notice any side effects. However, recently two doctors have told me I have to get off of Zyrtec and I'm wondering why. Maybe it's because the HMO doesn't like to pay for it. | F | 44 | 1 days | 10/23/2005 | 5 | allergies: sneezing, itchy nose | Weight gain; sleepiness. | I was sneezing about 80 times per day. Sneezing stopped immediately, dropping to 1 to 2 times per day. Was puzzled by the weight gain until I read the comments on this site. This side effect not listed in the nsert, but enough people commented on it here that it seems to explain it. | F | 44 | 10 days | 6/6/2006 | 5 | allergies | Drowsiness, increased fatigue and probable weight gain. | I have been taking Zyrtec for several years and it works GREAT in regard to allergies. BUT - I have always had a high metabolism and been skinny, very active, eat an incredibly healthy diet, etc. and so I have been unable to explain my mysterious weight gain over the past few years until I came across this site and learned that it could well be a side effect of the Zyrtec! I am also using Flonase which is likewise implicated. My hair has also been falling out over this same time period. I have not had any abnormal lab tests to explain this. I am going to quit both meds immediately. I would rather have a stuffy nose than be fat and bald! | F | 44 | 6 years | 7/16/2007 | 4 | Allergies and related asthma | Withdrawal causes terrible itching. The drug works great for me. It stops allegic symptoms and does not cause me side effects. However, if I miss a morning pill, the itching begins by early evening. It starts on my palms and feet, and then spreads up my legs. If I scratch, it gets all red and itches worse. I went to an allergist who was skeptical that it could be withdrawal. She said that the drug might be surpressing underlying hives that return when the drug stops. But I have never had hives and it happens every time like clockwork. So, I am just staying on the drug for now. | M | 44 | 7 years | 4/18/2008 | 4 | pollen allergies | I can't seem to breath if I stop taking this med. My allergies always went from late Aug-beginning of Oct. This year every night that I try to not take a zyrtec (I take one in the morning), I wake all night long, have terrible dreams and feel like I am choking and can't breath. Not sure what to do. | This medication helped tramendousely during allergy season, trouble is allergy season is long past and i can't stop taking the drug! Has anyone ever heard of this? | F | 44 | 2 years | 12/7/2007 | 4 | ALLERGIC TO POLLEN, MOLD,CATS | EXTREME WEIGHT GAIN.I STARTED TAKING ZYRTEC DAILY AFTER CLARITN STOPPED WORKING ABOUT 3 YEARS AGO. I HAVE GAINED 40 POUNDS IN THAT TIME. I AM STARVING ALL THE TIME AND NO MATTER HOW MUCH I EAT I'M NOT SATISFIED. I KEEP COMPLAINING TO MY DR. BUT HE SAYS ZYRTEC SHOULDN'T DO THIS. I'M GOING TO STOP TAKING IT RIGHT AWAY.MY WEIGHT GAIN STARTED WHEN I STARTED TAKING ZYRTEC.I WAS SKINNY ALL MY LIFE.AT 44,I'D RATHER SUFFER WITH ALLERGIES AND BE HOT THEN ALLERGY FREE AND FAT! | M | 44 | 3 years | 12/19/2006 | 4 | pet and seasonal allergies | Increased hunger and weight gain - I asked the pharm and the dr. about this and they do not have any proof that it is related to Zyrtec but I have never had a weight problem and now I am 7 stubborn pounds overweight in just 3 months | My allgergic reactions are pretty severe but very sporadic. I have been pleased to be rid of them but I think I will deal with them as they come and take something else. | F | 44 | 3 months | 4/8/2005 | 4 | Allergies | None | I believe the sincerity of those posting here who've experienced problems with Zyrtec. However, Zyrtec works for many adults with no side effects and I would hate to see the drug denied them. My sister led me to Zyrtec after Claritin proved increasingly ineffective. Zyrtec has been wonderful. | M | 44 | 1 months | 4/2/2009 | 3 | seasonal allergies | tiredness | F | 44 | | 4/27/2008 | 3 | seasonal allergies | Extreme tiredness, weird feelings, spaciness, slight depression, headaches, hairloss, and dizziness. | I started taking Zyrtec about 3 months ago instead of Xyzal or Allegra because my insurance wouldn't cover those anymore. I am just now realizing that perhaps that is why I lost alot of hair the first month I was on this. I can not take a full dose because I get a terriable headache. I cut the dose in half and take it every couple of days. It's much too strong for me. I also get so tired to the point of being unable to function and have to go to bed. I become real depressed and have weird thoughts. When I went off it for a few days all the symptoms were gone. It's unbelievable the side effects drugs can give you even when they may help you at the same time. I also get dizzy and have some racing heart feelings and palpatations. That could be the drug or some other issue I have with perimenopause of low vitamin levels. Anyhow...it has mainly been going on while being on Zyrtec. I am definately going to search for another option for me. | F | 44 | 3 months | 8/2/2009 | 3 | sinus problems caused by allergies | crazy and bizzare dreams and unrestful sleep which caused waking up and feeling like I'd been drugged which all led to being exhaused all the time. | I only gave a rating of 3 because it has helped my sinus problems/allergies; however, I can't handle the craziest dreams I have ever had in my life. I spend all my time asleep with my thoughts/dreams going at lightening speed all night; the dreams are all scattered snipits and don't make sense at all. Not to mention, they are dreams that have an underlying constant feeling of panic and stress. I think I would rather of sinus headaches. I have always slept very well and rarely dreamed - this pill will age me in no time flat. | F | 44 | 1 months | 10/3/2009 | 3 | Seasonal allergies | Fatigue, lethargy, increased hunger, weight gain, feelings of nausea several hours after taking it, irregular sleep. | While Zyrtec does a great job controlling my seasonal allergies it comes at a high price. I find it hard to believe that only 2% of Zyrtec users are affected by weight gain. Seems like a tons of complaints about it. I've always been a 3 meals a day person but since I started taking this I'm hungry all the time and my stomach is growling between meals. I take it around 8:00 at night so that I can sleep off the drowsy side affects, but they still linger through the next day. I've also encountered some waves of nausea 7-8 hours after taking it (and yes I take it with food). Adding Zyrtec is the only change I've made to my routine so I can't attribute these problems to anything else. | F | 44 | 3 weeks 10 mg 1X day | 5/9/2013 | 3 | seasonal allergies | High feeling, inappropriate laughter, wooziness, fatigue, loopy behavior, saying inappropriate things that offend people, confusion, slow reflexes and dropping things, making errors of judgment | The drug works well for allergies, but the damage it does to my social life is not worth it! I'd rather itch than be so inappropriate--it's like it turns me into a rude drunk. | F | 44 | 1 days 10 MG | 3/17/2017 | 3 | itching | Forgetfullness, tiredness, brain fog, headaches, Weight gain | I have been taking zyrtec for over 2 years, nearly everyday. On several occasions I have tried to give this up, but by the 3rd day my itching becomes so severe that I am almost in tears. So back I go to Zyrtec. I have put on over 30 pounds in the 2 years, partly due to lifestyle but also, I feel, due to long term use of this drug. It's as if my metabolism has completely slowed down. I also walk about in a semi-daze for most of the day and find socialising is difficult as I am too tired to enjoy any event! Yes, Zyrtec works better than any other drugs I have taken in the same class. However, doctors have told me there 'should' be no side affects from taking this drug long term, but alas, I truly believe there are!! However, to stop all together is equally as frightening as the itching seems to come back much more than before.... | F | 44 | 2 days | 3/11/2007 | 3 | allergy symptoms | Muscle twitching especially in the feet and jumping during sleep. Anxiety to the extent of breaking out in a sweat. Depression, strange thoughts, moodiness. Sleepiness during the day. | I took Zyrtec years ago to help me get over a bout with asthma under a doctor's care. It really works great for my allergy symptoms. I posted here because I read someone else's similar symptoms. My girlfriend complains that I'm jumping and twitching during my sleep and it is keeping her awake. The only time I take Zyrtec is when I visit her house on the weekends. She has cats and it helps with my allergies. I usually take 1/2 a pill just before bed. Strange that it took me so long to make the connection between Zyrtec and the sleep disturbances. I will stop using it now and see what happens. | M | 44 | 3 months | 5/19/2007 | 3 | seasonal allergies | very real, anxiety-causing dreams just prior to waking up in the morning--not fun! | While it was an effective antihistamine, I had to stop taking it after several weeks due to the anxious-dreams side effect. Also, as with all antihistamines and nasal steroids I've tried, Zyrtec caused me to eat more. I couldn't put food down, even when I figured I was full. | F | 44 | 8 weeks | 5/10/2006 | 3 | Asthama/Severe Allergies | WEIGHT GAIN! About 15-lbs or more? Extreme fatigue, sometimes jittery even though I feel like I can sleep too. Turned into a rip roaring "B" to my boyfriend if I drink alcohol with it! Dryed out nostrils in the morning, stuffiness. | I'm glad to hear that it wasn't my imagination about the Zyrtec causing the weight gain. I can't win...I suffer from allergies/asthma or gain weight and don't suffer. Wonderful. | F | 44 | 4 months 5 MG 1X day | 4/6/2010 | 2 | allergies | I was so tired & exhausted all the time. It only helped some of my eye symptoms, it didn't really help my nasal symptoms. | I took a generic version. | F | 44 | 20 days 10mg 1X day | 5/17/2010 | 2 | Itchy ears,throat,runny nose,sneezi | I took just under 1tsp of the children's liquid at 9:30 last night. Within five minutes of taking this, I noticed a little bit of dizziness. My arms and legs felt like lead, and I started to be extremely tired. I felt some loss of coordination as well, ended up dropping things,etc. The worst symptom was feeling anxious, and not being able to really catch my breath. I am not normally an anxious person, nor one who writes reviews, but just wanted others to be aware. I felt slightly better after 2 hours, and able to breathe a little easier, but I still feel tired and slightly uncoordinated today 17 hours into it. | I have been giving this to my five year old for a while now. I hope he doesn't feel like I did! I usually only give him half a dose(1/4 tsp or 1.25 mg). It does work well against his allergies, but I will definitely be more cautious now! I didn't know anything about the emotional aspects until finding this site, so I will watch for those. As far as I am concerned, I will never take a full dose again. If I ever try it again, it will be at half the recommended dosage. Even at that, I don't know if I will ever dare try it again. It was a pretty strong reaction! I was really wanting it to work out for me too because it worked really well against the runny nose, sneezing and itchy ears and throat. | F | 44 | 1 days 5mg 1X day | 6/6/2013 | 2 | Hives, dermatographia | Extreme lethargy. Foggy brain. Mood swings. Spacey. | F | 44 | 2 years | 4/7/2013 |