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 | Allergies | None | My doctor prescribed Zyrtec for me because Claritin was not working very well, I get severe emotional reactions from Benadryl, and other antihistamines pushed up my blood pressure. I was surprised to see some of the reactions some people have had, but I guess no drug is right for everyone. This one is by far the best for me, and I am glad it is now OTC, which makes it more affordable. | F | 49 | 2 years | 3/9/2008 | 5 | Multiple allergies | Extreme itching if went 36 hours without a dose | I have been taking allergy medications for 40 years and went through several cycles of immunotherapy. Zyrtec was very effective (about 95%) in treating allergy symptoms and preventing recurring sinus and ear infections. In fact, I told anyone that I talked to with allergies that Zyrtec was the best thing since sliced bread. However, I was very concerned about the withdrawal effect (extreme itching) and felt the drug might somehow be affecting my immune system. I originally only used the Zyrtec seasonally, but for the past 2 or 3 years have used it year-round because of the itching I experienced when I stopped using it. I have developed some arthritis, dermatographia and gained 35 pounds since I have been on Zyrtec. All I know for sure is that I can attribute the withdrawal itching to Zyrtec. Since Zyrtec has gone otc it is an added incentive to get off of it. I tried going cold-turkey but went nuts with the itching. I am using Claritin which causes me headaches and drowsiness | M | 49 | 7 years | 4/19/2008 | 5 | allergies | none | so far it works great | M | 49 | 5 days 10 mg 1X day | 4/16/2010 | 5 | allergies | I don't believe there's been any - sleeping rather hard, dreaming alot. | Never had any allergy issues until this past winter - tried Claritin and others - Zyrtec did the trick, if I stop taking it, I start right back up with the symptoms - looks like a long term thing for me. So far, no issues that I can tell. | M | 49 | 9 months | 6/12/2009 | 4 | seasonal and pet allergies | Maybe makes me a little tired. | I have bad allergies and Zyrtec is the best; if I go off it, I am sicker than a dog within two weeks. Recently started Flonase, felt better, then thought I could give up Zytec. I have a sinus infection and asthma (just developed), because I went off Zyrtec -- now I am back on, and it is helping. When I'd tried to go off, after three days I was itching like crazy all over, but that only lasted a day and a half (I think until I adjusted to being off). Anyway, I obviously cannot go without Zyrtec. Not being on it makes me so sick; my allergies are so bad this time of year especially, but I need to take it all year round. | F | 49 | 5 years 10 mg 1X day | 5/2/2010 | 4 | bad allergies | mild drowsiness at times; most people I know take it before bed for this reason; I take in in the morning, otherwise I forget; if you go off, you will have intense itching, which makes sense -- you've been taking an antihisamine, which controls allergies -- when you go off, your body has to readjust itself | You people are nuts. I only checked these reviews because I have been on Zyrtec for years and if I go off, I am sicker than a dog in a week or two. I am about to go on Astelin spray also, and reviewers bashed it, so I thought I would see what the average person said about Zyrtec. And it was bashed also. It truly is great drug. I use the generic, and because my allergies are so bad certain times of year, I have to supplement with a spray. | F | 49 | 3 years 1X day | 6/8/2010 | 4 | Seasonal allergy to grass | Sleepiness, puffy below the eyes, but does help my allergies. | It was very helpful to read a lot of the comments. I've only been using Zyrtec one day, and have had a few of the side effects, but don't want to give up on it just yet as it has help immensely with my allergies. During this time of year, when the sun is finally out in Oregon, I would have been banished to the inside of my house. Was actually able to take a couple of wonderful hikes with my husband in the last couple of days without any sneezing, watery, itchy eyes or runny nose. From all I have read sounds like taking a smaller dose, not staying on it too long, and weaning yourself off gradually seems to be the best course of action, if you are not willing to give up on it. I'll cut back to 5 mg per day at 8pm each night and see what happens. Wish me luck :) | F | 49 | 1 days 10 1X day | 7/2/2011 | 4 | Year round allergies | None | I had been taking Zyrtec for many years until it went over the counter. I then switched to Allegra, but it didn't help my symptoms as much as the Zyrtec did so I'll be going back to the Zyrtec. | F | 49 | 7 years | 4/4/2008 | 4 | allergy -not sure to what-pollens? | I was a eating machine and gained a few pounds(10LB)I was never to tired with it only the first wk.Now I dont seem to get very much relief so Im switching to claritin 10s.-its ok.. | ONE OF THE BETTER MEDICINES FOR ALLERGIES | M | 49 | 5 days | 4/17/2007 | 3 | Bad sore throat, Earache in one ear, headache, mussell pain in neck and in back and shoulders, arms,felt really strange and had a hard time thinking straight. | This drug works for allergies but causes great discomfort in the body as a whole. Nothing helps much so u suffer with the side effects for many hours after taking it. I have taken this drug off and on for many years each time having to stop taking it because of the bad side effects. Today i had enough and I took my bottle of Zyrtec and I flushed it down the Toilet!! | F | 49 | 7 days 10 1X day | 5/26/2011 | 3 | seasonal allergies | it seems I can't stop taking Zertec now. Used to only use Sept-Nov every year when allergies kicked in. This year, however, when I try to stop taking my allergy symptoms come in with a vengence after missing one dose. Not sure if this is some kind of rebound or addiction happening. Also a lot of weight gain since Sept. | After reading all these comments I feel my suspicions that it is addictive may be true | F | 49 | 5 years 1X day | 1/22/2012 | 3 | itchy skin due to allergic reaction | Well at first starting about 2 months ago I took it maybe once a week and I stopped itching within a few minutes to 15 minutes and didnt seem to have side effects. Although I do remember feeling dizzy sometimes but didnt realize it was the Zyrtec. But then in the past week whenever I felt itchy I would take it. So in the past week I took it every day. The 10mg over the counter product. I would say maybe 4 or 5 days in a row and now I feel wired, and yucky like if I had caffeine. I avoid caffeine cause I dont like that wired feeling. I also have mild nausea. And overall dont fell right. And I do feel bloated. I took a 10mg pill this morning at 10am. I will not take it ever again and will have to report back to tell the changes in how I felt not taking it. I think adding in a caffeinated soda excelarated the side affects. | F | 49 | 2 months | 7/21/2009 | 2 | allergic reaction, seasonal allergi | depression, mood swings, disturbed sleep, apathy, very wierd dreams, weight gain, memory loss | not really sure what made me wake up yesterday and say I'm not taking that any more--the difference in just one day is scary enough that today I went looking for side effects for Zyrtec--I agree with the others-I'd rather have a stuffy nose than feel like this anymore | F | 49 | 3 months | 6/9/2009 | 2 | Seasonal Allergies | Low energy, very drowsy, malaise. | I took it because my wife said it wasn't supposed to make you drowsy. The day I took it I slept 11 hours that night. The next day I was zonked and out of it, and finally had to take an hour nap at 4 pm. Took it for two days and won't take it again. | M | 49 | 2 days | 4/6/2009 | 2 | Indoor/Outdoor allergies | Joint pain in elbows and knees, frequency/urgency of urination. Abdominal bloating, right upper abdominal pain,constipation-diarrhea. Fatigue. Weight Gain. Headache/Eye Pain when stopping. | Over a year ago I started taking Zyrtec for seasonal allergies in the fall. We had moved and my symptoms increased. Typically after a hard frost I didn't have allergy symptoms anymore, but when I stopped taking Zyrtec for a day, my symptoms returned with a vengeance, I then thought I was having indoor allergy symptoms. So I continued taking the Zyrtec. It has always made me groggy, but that seemed to increase over time. I was also having joint pain, but then again I do work hard. After several months I started to have frequency of urination and symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome, I also gained weight. One day I forgot to take my Zyrtec and allergy (itchy nose/eyes/throat) were worse than ever, but I noticed my stomach felt normal and the joint pain was much less, but I developed a severe headache and itching hands/feet. I haven't taken any today and I am not sure what is worse..taking it or not. | F | 49 | 12 months 10MG 1X day | 3/10/2012 | 1 | Allergies | I took just half a pill of Zyrtec and it caused some of the worst asthma I have had from a drug (probably due to the potent antihistamine in it). This lasted for an hour and I was wondering if I would make it. I decided to never take it again after this incident. | Caused asthma (just half a pill) for about an hour. I decided to never take it again. | M | 49 | 1 days 5 MG 1X day | 10/25/2011 | 1 | Allergies | Started taking zytrec about 2 years ago as Allegra and Clariton werent working anymore. Doc suggested the change. Just this Dec. 2010 I started getting hives on my hands - went to the doctor who was "bewildered" since it was only there and my eyes kept swelling up, he said I must have alot of allergies and told me to keep taking zytrec and put me on preidsone for four days. The hives cleared up for the most part and I started wondering about the long term use of zytrec and looked it up on the internet - I decided to stop it cold turkey and recalled how I thought my allergies were getting worse in the fall of 2010 as if I went off the zytrec for a few days I would start feeling awful and once I started it again I felt better. However the hives on my hands started up while I was still taking zytrec. So I went cold turkey off it, I am currently on day 21 off this nasty drug. Its been tough, but Ive been drinking ginger tea and using apple cider vinegar on the hand hives and am s | F | 49 | 2 years 10 MG 1X day | 2/9/2011 | 1 | Dr. diagnosed - atopic dermatitis | sleepy, irritable, angry, can't think clearly, illogical thoughts | The side effects of this drug sneaked up on me. I thought it was one of those non-drowsy drugs so the sleepy lethargic feelings were blamed on the fact that I thought I was getting older really quick. I am usually a nice even tempered person and responded with rage to someone that I love for something that may have otherwise made me mad but not vengeful. I also lectured a man in the grocery store yesterday because he took too long to pick out his lemons. Oh my gosh -- who is this insane woman? After I snapped at a few other people today I tried to analyze what was going on with me. I remembered that the Dr had given me zyrtec for my itchy skin a couple of weeks ago. I decided to look at the side effects and irritability is not given as one of the most prevalent side effects listed by the drug company. Anyway, I decided to look further and found this website and was relieved to hear that I'm most likely not losing my mind but suffering from taking this drug. I'll not take it again and hopefully my nasty alter ego will go away. | F | 49 | 2 weeks 10mg 1X day | 4/28/2010 | 1 | Allergies | My son who has seasonal allergies told me about it so I thought I'd get off the Allegra D and give it a try. I take allergy medication year round. At first it was great, but then now after finding this site, I know why I felt the way I did. I am usually an upbeat and happy person, I was crabby, depressed, hungry all the time, could not explain why I gained 20 pounds in 5 months, I was blaming menopause, but the amount of weight gained was ridiculous. Also had blurry vision, didn't have too much trouble sleeping like some people. Anyway after another depressing day of no clothes fitting, I googled Zyrtec and found out about the weight gain issue. Thank goodness, I immediately went off the medication cold turkey. | It's been 7 days, I've lost 3 pounds so far without trying, feel like my head is out of a fog, but the worst part is the itching! Unbelievable itching! It just started yesterday and I thought I was going to go crazy, at one point it started at my calves and worked it's way up to my shoulders, very weird. Today so far my palms just itch, hopefully it won't last too long. I'm trying to go without allergy medication to see exactly where I stand since I've been on it so long. | F | 49 | 5 months 10 mg 1X day | 4/18/2010 | 1 | allergies/asthma | extreme drowsiness, fatigue, depression, | I feel this drug is addictive and a sedative and if you stop it, your allergy symptoms are worse than ever. | F | 49 | 1 weeks | 3/23/2005 |