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 | hives | Zyrtec has worked on my hives, but after 2 years, I've decided the side effects are no longer worth it. I have gained 15 pounds (never gained weight in my life - even during my pregnancies), and no amount of dieting and exercising has gotten it off, and I have been living in a stupor for the entire time I've been on it. I now try to get through the hives and I feel so much better. In the two months since I haven't taken Zyrtec, I've literally dropped 7 pounds. My clothes are all loose. I have done nothing differently other than stopping the Zyrtec. I feel so energetic now and will never take the drug again. I'd much prefer the hives thank you. | F | 47 | 2 years | 11/8/2008 | 5 | seasonal allergies | none | very hepful | F | 47 | 5 years | 8/15/2007 | 5 | Itchy Hands and Feet | None that I can tell, except the relief from itching. | I've been reading all the negative reviews about Zyrtec because after 2 years I find I actually need to increase the dose to have the same effect. I spoke with my doctor first and went ahead with the increase. I decided to check what people were saying about it. For me, Zyrtec has been a miracle drug! Before I took it, I itched so badly that I couldn't sleep. It has completely removed all of my symptoms. My hands and feet (and ankles and wrists) used to itch so bad that I was scratching myself up trying to get relief. Now that I have Zyrtec (actually, I take the generic Aller-tec from Kirkland), I sleep at night and can wear my rings. I do get night sweats, but who knows if that is from this drug (I'm 47 years old). I'll take the night sweats over the itching if that comes from the drug. I take one 10mg pill every night. My only worry is that it will stop working one day. I used to take Claritin, but it became completely ineffective after about 6 mos of regular use. Zyrtec has continued to work for 2 years of regular use. So we'll see... | F | 47 | 2 years 10 mg 1X day | 3/30/2011 | 5 | Allergies -Cough, Asthma | Only take in the evening because of drowsiness. Some dry mouth also. | I have been on various medications to find something to stop my allergic post nasal drip which produced a constant dry cough and asthma for the past two years. I tried Nasacort, Depomedrol shots, Claritin, Advair, and numerous other medications which either did nothing or had horrible side effects. Zyrtec finally has me functioning normally again! I have had to figure out the right dosage and that was 5mg every other day. I take it in the evening since it does make me very drowsy but I am fine in the morning. Zyrtec is great. | F | 47 | 1 months | 10/30/2009 | 5 | Various allergies | None | I am happy using this drug. With other antihistamines I have experienced side effects, but Zyrtec works fine for me and relieves symptoms relating to food and air born allergies. | M | 47 | 3 years | 6/14/2009 | 4 | Sinus Drainage Due To Sleep Apnea | Vivid Dreams, very tired during the day although taking Zyrtec at night, can hardly get moving in the morning (and I'm a morning person, I love a new morning!) | I'm 47, male, 160 pounds and was disgnosed with sleep apnea during last summer. Went through labs and was placed on a CPAP breathing machine. Felt much, MUCH, better after getting use to the face mask. Had more energy, slept better and felt I was breathing fine. Dr. prescribed Zyrtec for sinus drainage that comes along with using a CPAP machine with moisture. Was getting use to that and just snorting and coughing in the mornings to clear my head. Have also been using Nasacort_CQ nasal spray once each morning (longer than using Zyrtec). After starting Zrytec (on it for over two months now) eventually began vivid dreaming, can hardly get moving in the morning, feels like sleep apnea all over again during the day due to being tired and just wanting to sleep. Also have been taking Lexapro for over a year with no problems from it. Zyrtec did work great for the drying of the sinus' but to put up with all the other "new" affects is not worth it. Quit Zyrtec yesterday, had a sinus h | M | 47 | 2 months | 1/5/2007 | 4 | Allergies | Tiredness, stomach problems | I've been taking 5mg of Zyrtec for the last couple of months on an "as needed" basis. Before taking Zyrtec I was taking Prevacid for my stomach and thought I was going to be able to go off of the Prevacid soon, as I was doing really well. After starting the Zyrtec my stomach started getting worse and I even had to up the dosage on my Prevacid. Then I developed stomach spasms and had to start taking Levsin. In the past I'd take one or two dosages and things would be back to normal. I have been trying to get my stomach settled down for a week and it's finally more calm. Just tonight when I was thinking about taking a Zyrtec I realized that might be the problem. I found this web site and now I'm sure my stomach issues are from the Zyrtec. I'm going to refrain from taking it and see if my stomach is better. It's most certainly the Zyrtec or Flexeril (5mg) I took from time to time. | F | 47 | 60 days | 6/27/2007 | 3 | allergies - pollen, dust mites, cat | dizziness, fatigue, weight gain | i was checking the web for side effects of zyrtec because of the almost daily vertigo. I was shocked at the MANY postings related to weight gain. For the last two years, I have expressed my dismay to close friends and family re: unexplained weight gain - despite sensible diet (approaching restrictive at times) and INCREASED exercise. I attributed this to my changing (aging) body. After reading this site, I realize that the weight gain may have another explanation. I am ending my use of this drug today, and will post again if i notice a change in the next six months. Unfortunate, really, because zyrtec controls allergy symptoms very effectively. BUT - tiredness, dizziness and, now i learn WEIGHT GAIN!! You cannot imagine (or perhaps some of you can) how mystified and unhappy i have been over this change in my body. I gained twenty five pounds in two years, with no significant change in diet (vegetarian, MANY fruits and vegetables) and a very deliberate increase in exercise. | F | 47 | 4 years | 10/15/2007 | 3 | Itchy Rash On Elbows, Knees, Ankles | Depression, exhaustion, extreme sleepiness. | Worked well in getting rid of rash, but side effects are a problem. Even when taken at night the medication's effects carry over several hours into the next day. | M | 47 | 14 days | 10/17/2004 | 3 | Seasonal Allergies | Stabbing headaches, drowsiness, stiffness in upper back and unable to get a good sleep. | I've been using Claritin for the past few years and decided to try Zyrtec for the first time this season. I don't like to take any meds unless I absolutely have to. It took a few hours for the meds to start working. It made me drowsy which is not unusual when you take any medications. For me it's always good to take the medication, wait and rest for it to start working. It worked okay for the most part, my nose stopped running and I stopped sneezing. One of the side effects is that I wake up with a dry nose and it's just a tad stuffed, but goes away. I took one pill on Saturday afternoon, by Sunday afternoon the medication should have started to wane, and I wasn't planning on taking another one. The side effect was that I started getting stabbing headaches that lasted for almost 24 hours. I'm not sure if it was the Zyrtec. So on Wednesday my allergies came back and I took another pill that afternoon. After 24 hours again, the next day, I started getting the stabbing headaches. Coincidence or side effect? I'm not sure if I want to tempt fate again, but I think....maybe I do it one more time, just to be sure. But not yet...I think I'll hold off...these headaches really hurt. | F | 47 | 2 days 1X day | 4/15/2011 | 3 | Year round allergies | Unexplained drowsiness, need for caffeine, unfocused, dispirited, easily prone to confrontations with loved ones, bouts of depression | I started back as a cashier with a grocery store about 2 1/2 months ago- everything has been great but one of the things we are measured on is how quickly you ring the customers through your line. I was at the bottom of the heap since the start. Just this week I STOPPED taking zyrtec and instantly I have jumped to being the middle of the pack, on my way to being way above average. And drinking LESS caffeine at work also. Yes, it had to be the zyrtec, thank goodness I figured that out! | M | 47 | 6 months | 6/26/2009 | 3 | allergy | I took it at night and slept 11 hours first night, and then felt drowsy all day. Second night slept 8.5 hours. But really low energy. Decided not to take anymore. I think it does dry up sinuses but is really a sleeping pill for me, which I don't need. | F | 47 | 2 days 1 pill 1X day | 1/29/2017 | 3 | Pet allergies | Totally exhausted like I haven't slept at all when I did - just dragging to get through the day - major brain fog. Body aches from head to toe. My mild mannered husband is also taking it and he has show restlessness, sleeplessness, and extreme irritability over small issues - so no like him at all!! | Bought the generic brand from Wal-Mart. So glad I didn't buy the huge bottle. It did help the stopped up hard to breath issues but it's not worth taking with all the side effects. | F | 47 | 7 days 10 1X day | 3/10/2015 | 1 | Seasonal allergies | I stopped taking cetirizine 5 days ago, the first night was horrible, itch all over my body, I took one pill of allegra 180 mg and all the symptoms were one, I kept having 1 pill of allegra for the next 3 days but I want to stop it today, I am itching but not so bad now, I'll see what happen when I stop taking allegra. | I guess I can not take any medication at all, every time I take one I get so many symptoms that are way worse than the reason I am taking it. Anxiety, panic attacks, social phobia, and I also lost my hair, I feel like I have aged 10 years since I started this medication. Too bad I did not make the connection before. | F | 47 | 1 years 10 MG 1X day | 9/12/2014 | 1 | Hayfever | I have had Hayfever for many Years, most drugs do not seem to work for me, with the exception of this drug, its side effects are severe though, however, from my experiences, I would recommend that it be banned and certainly not sold over the counter, within hours of taking this drug, I become extremely aggressive, with paranoia, I struggle to keep awake, my personality changes, becoming very depressed, the mental side is severe, it also seems to lower my testosterone levels and I become bloated and my blood pressure goes up. I used to think I was suffering from a seasonal mood disorder, but now realise it is this drug, it can cure hayfever in 15 minutes, but the side effects are extremely severe. There should be studies into this drug, particularly around violence, suicides and accidents. Take this under extreme caution and only if you really have no other choice. | Very bad mental side effects, I have never done any drugs or have any other issues, but this drug, makes me psychotic. | M | 47 | 4 weeks 10 1X day | 5/12/2015 | 1 | sinus/allergies. | Clear signs of depression. Mood swings. Weight gain. | Please I strongly recommend that everyone look at the clear side effects BEFORE TAKING ZYRTEC. | M | 47 | 7 days | 12/10/2009 | 1 | Pollen allergies | Dry eyes, dry mouth, sensitivity to sunlight, fatigue, tinnitus, increasing anxiety, mood swings, rage, adrenal suppression, mental fog, forgetfulness, decrease in Libido, weight gain, upset stomach, constipation/diarrhea, stomach upset, loss of appetite, craving salty foods, frequent urination, heart palps, irregular menses, loss of joy and happiness. Cortisol tanked yet DHEAs was very high, not in line with real adrenal fatigue, yet adrenal suppression. | Started Zyrtec for allergies when moved to a new area. Biggest mistake, it worked great the first few months, until I started noticing all these other crazy symptoms creeping in, I am such a happy person and to experience that type of anger and rage was just unsettling, Was sure I must be going into perimenopause as my period became unbearably irregular, even having two back to back. My mood was all over the place, anger on minute crying the next, although my eyes are so dried up tears would not come out. I was becoming a basket case. Was running all sorts of lab work trying to figure out what was going on and non if it made sense. I am a scientist, things must add up and make sense and nothing was. I realized the only thing I had changed the past 6 months was take Zyrtec, I do not take any other meds nor antihistamines etc. Only a very healthy diet, pharma grade supps and exercise, to which I was not able to do much of as of late due to the chronic fatigue setting in. I was losing site of all things important in life, losing my joy and happiness. It was quit scary. I thought I was losing myself. I finally put two and twp together, found this site and others who have had these similar experiences and finally all my labs made sense. So I quite the Zyrtec a week ago, horrid headache every since, the itching started setting in and I mega dosed on some Vit C, 5k mg 2-3 times a day. I have quercitine and DOA on the way to help me get past this awful withdraw. Crazy | F | 47 | 6 months 10 1X day | 5/11/2018 | 1 | seasonal allergies | Vivid, strange dreams, unable to wake up all of next day, dizzy, jumbled thoughts, afraid to drive in this condition | Totally disfuctional today. I am not usually over reactive to any drugs. I am on an anti-depressent (in case that info helps someone see a pattern and/or protect others or themselves). I tried this today because Claratin didn't do anything for me last season. | F | 47 | 1 days 1 pill 1X day | 5/3/2011 | 1 | runny nose, allergies, red eyes | fatigue, weight gain, bizarre dreams | I took Zyrtec for 3 months and it worked great in clearing up my runny nose and red eyes. Within that 3 months I gained 10 pounds and have no energy. I'm a very healthy eater and I've worked out daily for years so I couldn't figure out why I was putting on weight. Once I figured out the only change I've made to my lifestyle was Zyrtec, I got off it immediately. I've been off it 2 weeks now and my energy is slowly slowly coming back but I'm having a rough time losing the weight. | F | 47 | 3 months 1X day | 2/27/2011 | 1 | seasonal allergies | Took at night for the first few days, and it seemed to help, kinda. But i was also give flonase and singulair. I stopped the flonase and singulair and continued with zyrtec, i forgot to take one that pm so i took it before work, i was "dingy" all day, felt off balance and just not right and i was SOOO sleepy, i had to leave work early and go home!. Thought ok, i will take it at night from now on, started the next night, i had nightmares all night, i had people chasing me, i woke up SO tired. Tried the next night, more nightmares..... took it for about another week, nightmares EACH night!!! think i would rather have a stuffy nose and itchy eyes than nightmares, i gave it up!! | F | 47 | 2 weeks 10mg 1X day | 10/12/2010 |