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 | sinusitis from allergies | relaxes me when I take it at night | Zyrtec is the only allergy medicine I have taken that actually works and does not give me bad side effects. When I take it daily it keeps my sinuses clear, and I no longer have itchy watery eyes and ears. Without Zyrtec, I cannot breathe through my nose. This medicine has greatly improved my enjoyment of life and I am so glad it does not give me any bad side effects! | F | 52 | 6 years 10mg 1X day | 5/20/2013 | 4 | Severe Allergies | I took two 10 mg tablets on the first day for extreme head and chest congestion and coughing. Worked immediately, but brought on a fast bowel movement. Continued to take 10 mg tablet in the morning for three more days while taking one 10 mg tablet of Monteluskast (Singulair) at night. Almost erased all of my allergy symptoms, but I began feeling rage and impatience, severe pain in my lower back, hips and knees. Not sure which med is causing what, but will slowly stop taking the Zyrtec first and call the allergist. | Good for immediate relief from severe allergic reactions. But do not suggest long term use because of mixed side effects. | F | 52 | 4 days 10 mg 1X day | 1/10/2020 | 4 | Sever Allergies | Trouble Urinating. Painful urinating. | M | 52 | 7 days 120 mg 1X day | 5/24/2010 | 3 | allergies, mold, dander, pollen | it took me so long to figure out, but I would take it before bed because it made me sleepy, but then while I was sleeping, I'd get chills, teeth chattering, and insides trembling, and then I would be having these involuntary muscle contractions, pulling me into a ball, then I'd wake up gasping like I'd run a marathon, and bad dreams! | The PA told me better to manage allergies than use "rescue" medications like OTC stuff I'd used for years with no really bad problems except for sleepiness and constipation. I'd rather put up with that than this stuff. The Zyrtec worked, but I can't be losing sleep to all that other crazy stuff going on. Singulair had similar effects on me too, worked great on allergies and asthma, but was making me have involuntary muscle contractions all night. I'm talking about big muscle contractions and maybe every 2-3 minutes all night long. | F | 52 | 1.5 years | 11/15/2006 | 3 | seasonal allergies | swollen ankles and feet; weight gain; fatigue | I am a 52 year old female. I've been using Zyrtec for four months, at first PRN, then for the last eight weeks daily. I found it to take care of the allergy symptoms, but not for a full 24 hours. I also take Norvasc and Atenolol for BP. I was already experiencing slight swelling in my ankles presumably from the Norvasc, and I have been gaining weight steadily since starting the Atenolol in December. I have had overwhelming fatigue during exercise to the point that I can hardly finish a one hour Jazzercise class (which I have attended on a regular basis for over 20 years.) All symptoms I've blamed on the BP meds, especially the Atenolol. I began complaining to my doc about the symptoms and had a complete blood work up to rule out other diseases that cause these symptoms. He suggested Weight Watchers and increased exercise to battle the weight gain, and reduced the Atenolol to half dose to over come the these issues. I didn't think to tell him about the Zyrtec I had started taking | F | 52 | 4 months | 6/8/2008 | 2 | Cat allergies | It helped the allergy symptons, but oh my the side effects!! It effected my mood and interfered with a good night sleep. I couldn't believe how it changed my mood. I'm usually pretty easy going and all I wanted to was fight. Also I have had very little sleep in the last two weeks. Woke up one morning and found a unopened can of pop and bag of candy by the side of my bed. Weird!! Not taking it tommorrow, I'd rather find another home for the cat!! | F | 52 | 14 days 10 MG 1X day | 2/28/2012 | 2 | Seasonal allergies | Vomiting, violent shaking, 17 hours sleep | Can't think of anything else that was different in the food that I consumed during the day and I haven't had symptoms this violent before. | M | 52 | 1 days 10 mg 1X day | 4/3/2010 | 2 | Chronic sinusitis | Extreme irritability, drowsiness, itching in hands and arms, very hungry in mornings and no appetite later in day. | Went on this drug for sudden onset of allergies and sinusitis. Experienced some minor relief at first, but then symptoms got much worse and other problems, such as extreme irritability, started happening. Very strange that suddenly my appetite completely changed, starving in the morning, and then no hunger and almost nauseous in the evening. I took the medicine at night. | M | 52 | 30 days | 10/2/2007 | 1 | seasonal allergies & environmental | 10 year user of Zyrtec.....75 pound weight gain, my daily thoughts revolved around wanting to sleep, feet and hand swelling, No energy at all, No joy, No affect in my personality, sad and antisocial thoughts & irrational rage. | Quite frankly, I'm scared....Hard to admitt that I didn't put this drug and what has been happening to me for the past 10 years together. I've lost a decade ... my 40's to being in the bad zyrtec haze. I did implore my doctors to help me but they never made the connection to my allergy drug.....Finally, my sister took action and researched this drug and found your website....Well, it's like reading my story over and over again. Okay, what to do....I'm trying to ween myself off and I too have the extreme itching...mainly my hands, scalp, welts on legs when I go 3 days off zrytec. My sleep patterns are so messed up trying to back off this drug. The one thing that I'm trying to be grateful for is that I feel happy for the first time in 10 + years...I'm engaging with others....I'm interested in things...Do you know how long it's been? I look at my body distorted by the awful weight gain and I'm thinking for the first time in ages...Okay lets start walking and running again....Before I w | F | 52 | 10 days | 8/14/2007 | 1 | hayfever | She-devil; off-the-charts mood swings | It cleared up my allergies, hands down better than any other I'd ever taken. I took it one day, and was a raving lunatic. I didn't know what my problem was, but I didn't take the pill again the next day and I was fine. A week later, I took another dose. I was ready to kill someone, literally. I will never take another one of these pills. | F | 52 | 2 days | 4/4/2008 | 1 | allergies - indoor and out | severe anxiety and panic attacks | Initially, I felt like this was a miracle drug. I am an RN, and remembered that when my daughter took this drug as a child she became very mean, and irritable. I did not think it would affect me this way. I have a history of sinus problems and have had sinus surgery. I was taking Claritin D 24 hour with a lot of success in the past, but lately found that I was having more sinus infections. I thought that the Claritin D 24 hr was causing too much dryness, and led to increased mucous collecting in my sinus cavities. So, I thought I would try Zyrtec D 12 hour to see if it helped keep my sinuses draining better, and thus help prevent infections. I knew it had recently become available OTC, and my physician had recommended it in the past. However, I never took it because of the experience I had with my youngest daughter when she had taken it as a child. At first I thought I had found the wonder drug of all drugs for allergies. But, after taking it for two weeks I began to have anx | F | 52 | 15 days | 4/28/2008 | 1 | sinusitis | I had the worst cast of hives after stopping the medicine after only taking it 4 days. Horrible welps on my arms, legs and torso. Dr. didn't think it was caused from Zyrtec but after reading other patients comments on this website, I was conviced. | Don't take - it is poison for your system - warn everyone you know. | F | 52 | 4 days | 2/6/2007 | 1 | counteract new allergy to Voltarin | Zyrtec was prescribed for it's antihistamine effects to counteract the effects of the drug Voltarin. (effects of Volatrin was that I was wheezing 24/7 and so bad at night I was unable to sleep) Doc said you are now alergic to all NSAIDS. Well one of the side effects of Zyrtec is it causes DIFFICULTY BREATHING. Now, not only am I wheezing but am even shorter of breath and coughing! | They really should tell you about ALL the side effects before you start taking it. The only thing they said to me at the pharmacy after I paid for it, was: Got any questions?? Seems like I am allergic to everything, and this was the first time I saw a doc in 25 years! Should have kept listening to my body telling me to stay away from the medical profession... | F | 52 | 4 days | 3/27/2005 | 1 | Seasonal allergies | Severe lethargy, depression, a numb feeling inside and out. No emotion, inability to make decisions, a feeling of despair, foggy brain, constipation, confusion. | Works for my allergies but not worth the horrible feeling that comes with it. | F | 52 | 7 days 10 MG 1X day | 4/12/2011 | 1 | Seasonal allergies--ragweed | Very sleepy, not feeling like myself, feeling depressed and out of it. | I was told to take zyrtec non-stop until the stuff builds up inside my body and protects me from the allergens. Well, I feel pretty dang bad..depressed, sleepy and hopeless. This is not worth it. :( | F | 52 | 4 days | 10/9/2005 | 1 | runny nose | Could not sleep at all! Spent the entire night awake. Very frustrating! Did not help runny nose. | F | 52 | 1 days 2 1X day | 1/31/2017 | 1 | Allergies | Have tried going off of it but intense itching sets in on day 2. Am now slowly weaning myself of it. Also have gained about 10lbs and have changed nothing in my diet/exercise. I am runner--I run 6 miles 4x week. | I wish I had been told about the weight gain possibility and how hard it would be to get off the drug. | F | 52 | 8 months 10 MG | 9/2/2021 | 1 | Allergies | Depression, enraged for no reason, irritability, sadness, hopeless, suicidal thoughts, negative self talk, anger, binge/comfort eating, lack of motivation, exhaustion, tiredness | Fortunately I discovered a couple days ago that Zyrtec was linked with depression and many of the side effects I experienced (listed above). You can Google 'Zyrtec and depression' as well as review Harvard Health for more information. From a lifetime allergy sufferer I will live with sinus pain greatfully every day before going back to the hell this medication caused me. I had no idea why I was so depressed and frankly becoming such a horribly intolerable person to be around. I hated myself and was in anguish over it. Two days after stopping and I'm close to being my old self. In control, patience returning, and have a general feeling of well-being. Works for allergies but destroys everything else. Also had burning and pain in my gut; that's now gone. Please find another path for allergy symptom relief as in this case the medicine is worse than the disease. | F | 52 | 40 days 10 1X day | 2/18/2022 | 5 | All year around allergies | none | First I would like to say is, Why would you give children an over the counter med without a Dr's approval. There are many over the counter meds for children but I wouldn't give my child it without an ok from the Dr. I love Zyrtec. I have major allergies and have tried everything. Over the counter, rx from Dr and nothing helped. Then one day a Allergy Dr gave me a sample of Zyrtec. It was new on the market. I loved it! Won't take any thing else. and when they can out with their eye drops I was in love all over again. Again before Zyrtec eye drops I tried all the rx drops, all the over the counter eye drops and my eyes still itched. My eyes itched so bad I have scars on my eye lids from rubbing them. One drop of Zyrtec eye drops and the itch was gone. I found heaven all thanks to Zyrtec. Thanks Zyrtec, your #1 in my book. | F | 53 | 10 years 10 mg 1X day | 9/13/2010 | 5 | hives | Heart pounding, vivid dreams, dehydration | I have a lifelong history of allergies and upon turning 40, possibly entering perimenopause, my allergies worsened. I have continued to take zyrtec after it being prescribed at Mayo Clinic. At times I was able to go down to 5 mg once a day with less side effects. Initially while at Mayo I asked "How will I ever get off this?" because of the rebound reaction every time I tried. The doc replied, "with an eye dropper". I think when I was in my forties the reaction to it was not so severe, but upon entering actual menopause, taking it at night has compounded my menopause symptoms. I am seriously looking into going to the desert (low allergen) to try a taper or wait until winter, maybe even trying acupuncture to help getting off it, because in a sense I am addicted to it. Until then I am trying taking it during the day to reduce the night symptoms and drink a lot of water. Any menopausal women experiencing the same? I would love to hear if someone has effectively switched to something better. | F | 53 | 13 years 10 mg 1X day | 3/31/2010 |