Drug Ratings for ZYRTECAverage Rating: 2.1 (1498 Ratings)
Compare ZYRTEC with similar: |
Results are sorted by length of time drug was taken from longest to shortest 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 |
| RATING | REASON | SIDE EFFECTS FOR ZYRTEC | COMMENTS | SEX | AGE | DURATION/ DOSAGE | DATE ADDED |
  | F M | | | | |||
| 1 | allergies | My children took this. My son turns into another person..no reasoning, hyper, mean, whining, clingy, waking up at night...He took it from the day he turned 2 until around the middle of the summer. I was at my wits end..I stopped zyrtec...new person? My daughter becomes clingy, emotional, has anxiety, emotional mess...no more, no more. Nordic Naturals ProEFA fish oil (369)literally stopped his allergies/eczema in its tracks...maybe another option for some of you out there..Never again..A runny nose for a few days is a whole lot better than this. My children are 2 and 5. | F | 5 | 6 months | 11/10/2009 | 1 | SON 2-3 yr old for allergies multip | Irratable Violent mood swings anxiety stubborn. Horrible side effects | please if your child is small. MONITOR THERE BEHAVIOR WHEN ON NEW MEDS. | M | 3 | 6 months | 12/5/2009 | 1 | Allergies | Severe anxiety | Provided some relief from allergy symptoms, but caused constant, major, debilitating anxiety. Did not make the connection at all until I switched to a different allergy medication to see if it would work better, and suddenly the anxiety went away. In hindsight, I realized that the anxiety had started when I started taking Zyrtec. Basically lost 6 months of my life to this medication. | M | 32 | 6 months | 8/8/2009 | 1 | allergy control and sleep aid | Was suggested I try a similar product after taking one benadryl a night for about 2 years. It was suggested to help aid skin irritation and sinus.Benadryl left me feeling a little groggy but workable. I took one 10mg Zyrtec at night. I was frustrated it didn't help all that much, I was surprised I felt more groggy for what I was told is not as strong of a medicine as benadryl. I didn't connect things until I decided to stop taking it about a week ago. I had become noticeably more sad and I was gaining weight and no longer up to working out. I was shocked I noticed the sadness went away that had been building and I dropped a pound, water weight likely almost immediately. I didn't connect any of this then and suddenly realized it had to be the Zyrtec, only new thing I had added to my system. I got online and saw many have had similar reactions. Thank goodness people have written about their experiences. I do NOT recommend Zyrtec. Not for sleep and nor for allergies which at lea | I did not connect the itchiness until I read others comments! Thank you for sharing,I was frustrated with why my skin was itching even worse than before the Zyrtec! And I had only been taking it maybe 6 months! | F | 48 | 6 months | 6/13/2009 | 4 | Hayfever type allergies | My 7 yr. old daughter has been taking this regularly for about 5-6 months. Until this year we had never had any behavior problems at school - not paying attention and not minding teacher. This is the only thing I can think of that has changed. | The medicine works very well at controlling her allergies but I am going to take her off of it and see if the behavior problems get better. CAN SOMEONE TELL ME IF IT IS SAFE FOR ME TO JUST STOP GIVING IT TO HER OR SHOULD I SLOWLY CUT THE DOSEAGE? | F | 7 | 5 months | 3/23/2006 | 3 | allergies | Low white blood count. | The drug works, but I do not want to risk walking around with a low white blood count. No Thanks! | F | 33 | 5 months | 10/7/2008 | 3 | uticaria / severe itching | severe fatigue, sluggishness, systemic body aches, depression, irritable, loss of interest, anxiety, weight gain, social withdrawl, difficulty concentrating | This drug had worked extremely well to treat my chronic uticaria (dermographism) and on most days completely eradicates the severe itching. However, the side effects that I experienced to this drug are simply not worth taking it. The most significant of these side effects would be fatigue. Since I've been taking cetirizine hcl (zyrtec generic), I have been able to sleep for hours and always wake up more tired than before. Throughout the day I constantly feel weak, unmotivated, and emotionally distraught causing me to have difficulty concentrating and doing well in school. I'm going to try switching to another antihistamine because I want to be able to enjoy life again. I recommend this drug for uticaria for people who don't care about the down side effects. | M | 19 | 5 months | 11/28/2009 | 2 | Allergies | I have been around the same weight my whole life, but I started taking Zyrtec 4 months ago when the doctor told me that an infection that I had may have been due to allergies. I continued taking it into the spring, b/c I always have seasonal allergies. In these four/five months, I have been gaining weight slowly, but surely. I eat very well and exercise daily, so I was very upset and confused that my clothes don't fit anymore. I gained about 10-15 pounds. I am going off this med today! Id rather suffer with spring allergies than not fit into my clothes! | The medication does work, (I have had NO allergic symptoms, and that is amazing, since I am very allergic to any plant, tree pollen) But I am NOT dealing with these side effects. Going off of it TODAY and staying off FOREVER! | M | 25 | 5 months | 4/25/2009 | 2 | hives | weight gain, mood swings, difficult to concentrate | my 8 y/o son was given zyrtec by the allergist for hives in july . it is december and my son has gained 7 pounds in 5 months. he has lower grade average, difficult concentrating, tearful etc. i will take him off this med today and will use benadryl if needed , not on a daily basis as with zyrtec. i should have checked this before. | M | 8 | 5 months | 12/23/2008 | 2 | Indoor/outdoor allergies | Exhaustion, fatigue, hives, unable to lose weight, foggy brain, depression, anxiety. | I found this site because I have been taking this for quite some time and have not really looked into side effects. It helps with my allergies as far as sinuses and itchy eyes. I have broken out with hives on and off most of my life, so i'm not sure if the medication has anything to do with it although i have been EXTRA itchy lately. Spots on feet and hands. I have had a hard time losing weight, depression and anxiety issues also. Again I had these symptoms before starting zyrtec. I stopped taking it yesterday and went back to claratin because i don't want to take any chances. I will update if i notice a change in energy, mood or breakouts. | F | 31 | 5 months 10 mg 1X D | 3/3/2011 | 1 | allergies | Mood disturbance, severe withdrawal symptoms | My 9-year old son started taking Zyrtec in the fall for seasonal allergies. He also has food allergies and has taken Zyrtec on occasion, but never for an extended period before. After two months, we tried to stop, but he developed the itching many other posters have complained about. Our pediatrician told me not to read blogs and to keep him on 10mg/day and to see the allergist. The allergist's nurse said we could not come in unless he'd been off the Zyrtec for 5 days, but he could not stop the Zyrtec without the itching - a vicious cycle. Finally, after reading more online, I insisted on talking to the allergist, who got on the phone and confirmed that the itching is a withdrawal symptom. Basically, he said, your body gets used to the histamines being suppressed; when they flood back, some peoples' bodies overreact. He said prednizone would help and that the itching would go over in 2-5 days, but I didn't want to give my son steroids, and the itching persisted and was unbearable. I switched him to Benadryl (shorter-acting) and followed a step-down approach. A week at 3/4 of a 25 mg pill at bedtime; then a week at 1/2 a pill; then a week at 1/4; then a week at 1/8 (After cutting the 25 mg pink pills in half, I bought the children's 12.5 mg fast melt tablets and cut those in half, then in quarters). My son has now been off all antihistamines for 4 days and is still slightly itchy from time to time, but I think we're over the worst. His mood has also improved markedly. | M | 9 | 5 months 10 mg 1X D | 2/21/2011 | 1 | Allergies | Heed my words: STAY AWAY FROM ZYRTEC! I discovered Zyrtec in May, 2010. Totally cleared up my allergies and I was sold. I used it off and on, whenever I had bad days. I started using it more consistently every other day in mid December. I also started to get dizzy when I tried to sleep on my sides - or try to sleep in general. What made this worse is it was making me extremely tired. Thought it might be BPPV or something more catastrophic. Went to the dr. and he prescribed me Trazodone - said the feelings must be sleep related. Didn't take them as I could tell he didn't quite know what it was and Trazodone's top side effect was dizziness. | Stopped a week ago after exhausting searches on the internet about anything related to dizziness. Zyrtec and this site finally popped up. I also learned through further reading it is an ototoxic medicine (great to know now since I'm a MUSICIAN/COMPOSER), quit and after about 4 days started to feel like myself again. It's been a week and I'm almost fully recovered but have some new humming in my ears. Everything else is normal again fortunately. Thanks for the new tinnitus, terrible brain fog, depression, misery, and terrible dizziness Zyrtec! Time to flush this deceiving drug down the crapper. | M | 33 | 5 months 10MG 1X AN | 1/24/2011 | 1 | seasonal allergies | After trying to wean myself off of the generic Zyrtec once allergy season had passed, I had trouble sleeping. I would wheeze and/or cough. If I fell asleep, I would wake up 2-3 hours later and go take an allergy tablet, which would alleviate my breathing within an hour. This isn't how previous over-the-counter allergy medicines worked for me, so I called the manufacturer and reported that I believe I have an addiction. | I would not recommend it after researching the public's reaction to taking this drug. I feel like I have to go to an allergist now to get off this drug and manage my allergies otherwise. In the past, I only needed allergy medication in the spring, late summer, and fall. | F | 44 | 5 months 10 1X D | 11/22/2010 | 1 | allergies | Child became irritable and irrational after 5 months of taking this awful drug. I barely even recognized him. After reading all of the comments on this website, I am unbelievably upset!! Why are doctors still even prescribing this to children???? I'm throwing this terrible stuff away....and going a more homeopathic route. | Doctors- STOP PRESCRIBING THIS TO INNOCENT CHILDREN!!! | M | 3.5 | 5 months 5 1X D | 7/20/2011 | 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 D | 4/18/2010 | 1 | allergies | My 4 year old son has minor alleriges so we decided to try children's Zyrtec. At first it worked to clear up his allergy symptoms that led to sinus infections, but after a while my husband and I noticed some negative side effects. My sewwt, lovable son became a nightmare. He was moody, wouldn't eat and very irritable. We had to stop for a while because of the recall and he was his normal self again. We started thinking it was because of the Zyrtec but dismissed it until he started on it again. He has been irritable again he didn't eat his lunch or dinner. We are DONE! | F | 31 | 5 months 1/2 tsp 1X D | 5/27/2010 | 1 | seasonal allergies | depression, lack of concentration in school, panic attacks, fear and anxiety, anger. | My 9 yr old son was prescribed Zyrtec by his pediatrician. We noticed an immediate change in his attitude, behavior and grades. He was a very happy, motivated, straight A student. His personality completely changed. We thought his mood and behavior problems were just caused by his age and a new friend. We had no clue about the side effects of this drug until he stopped taking it just to see if his allergies were gone. After stoping the drug. It took about 10 days for the panic attacks to start(multiple times a day). He would just cry and shake and say his head felt funny. After taking him to his doctor, getting lab work done, EEG, EKG, referal to a pediatric psychologist I was told about the effects of this drug in children. I can't believe doctors are not talking to their patients about these severe side effects!!! Take your child off of this drug immediatly!!!!!!! | M | 9 | 5 months 10 MG 1X D | 6/23/2010 | 1 | allergies | My 6 year old has been on zyrtec for a few months, and I am horrified to read the responses - the behavior, irritability, nightmares, intense anger, moodiness, yelling, just general nasty problems we've been having, our lives our upside down over this. A couple weeks ago, his dosage was increased to 2 tsp - the allergist said the only side affect was tiredness! I feel horrible, thinking the hell we've been through could be a result of zyrtec?! I am thankful I found this site today. Tonight I am dropping his dose to 1 tsp and then in a day or two 1/2 tsp, and then off, to see if his emotions improve. | F | 35 | 5 months | 3/25/2007 | 1 | Itchiness from allerg reaction | Weight gain, anxiety, nervousness, jittery, unable to think, forgetful, sad/depressed, weakness in my legs, increased migraines. | I was on Zyrtec under a doctor's advice following an allergic reaction to an antibiotic (itchiness/hives). I was on the medication for a total of 5 months. For the entire time, I was not myself. I was anxious and nervous constantly. I was very jittery and had a persistent weakness in my legs/thighs. I was very emotional and fragile with frequent mood swings. I was having migraines weekly. I honestly thought that I could be having a nervous breakdown. Then I stopped taking Zyrtec. My leg weakness disappeared and I was not anxious/jittery. Things went back to normal. I recently had another allergic reaction to antibiotics and was itching again and so I took it for three days. The leg weakness returned. So did the jitteriness and I had a migraine for the first time in almost three months. I consider this a harmful drug and will never take it again. | F | 41 | 5 months | 11/20/2008 | 1 | hives | weight gain, increased appetite | about 3 months after i started taking zyrtec i noticed that i was feeling heavier than usual. my breasts hurt (as if they were growing) constantly. i also thought about food all the time. i could eat a satisfying meal and 15 minutes later i'd be thinking about what i want to eat next. i'll take scratching pestering hives over weight gain ANY DAY! | M | 23 | 5 months | 2/7/2008 | 1 | Sinus Infection | I lost the ability to sweat during the summer of 2005. It all started after I had a sinus infection. I was given a Z-Pack and Zyrtec-D, which got rid of the sinus infection. However, my feet began to itch shortly thereafter. I visited several doctors, all of whom prescribed different antihistamines (Allegra, Hydroxizine, and Zyrtec) to treat the itching. After a while, the itching spread, and I eventually stopped sweating. Instead of sweating, my entire body was covered with a painful “prickly” sensation, as if my skin were being pierced with thousands of pins. The pain was most intense whenever I tried to exercise, and I frequently broke out in hives. Giving up all hope, I stopped taking all antihistamines in October of 2005, but the pain continued for several months thereafter. At one point, I was investigating the use of steroids to improve my condition. After considering my options, I decided to wait it out. I am very | I have done some research and discovered that in October 2005, a medical journal published an article called "Adverse Cutaneous Reactions of Systemic Antihistamines" (Current Medicinal Chemistry - Anti-Inflammatory & Anti-Allergy Agents, Volume 4, Number 5, October 2005, pp. 521-529(9). I would love to read this article. It seems the medical community is just beginning to realize that their prized antihistamines may be causing much of the trouble they are supposed to be curing. During the course of my affliction I consulted with three allergists, and they all refused to consider that I was having an allergic reaction to a drug they so frequently prescribe (even when I suggested the possibility). I only wish one of them had advised me to stop taking everything, rather than prescribing the alternative antihistamines which worsened my condition. It is my hope that my experience will assist those who have similar symptoms. | M | 28 | 5 months | 7/29/2006 | 1 | hayfever | Highly oppositional attitude, suicidal thoughts for the first time in my life, rapid-onset tinnitus | Behavioral changes took effect within an hour of a single dose. I tried dumping my partner of three years for "always trying to pick fights". I gave up my ipod and stopped listening to music in the car thinking I was blowing my eardrums out--Turns out it was zyrtec. I did not take a dose every day but cycled on and off over the course of five months in response to seasonal pollen. At the time I was taking the drug I had a 200mg/day caffeine habit going on. I'm unsure how they interact as I quit Zyrtec before I quit caffeine. | M | 34 | 5 months | 6/23/2009 | 1 | For allergies | This seemed to work fine but I always had a running nose. I decided to stop taking Zyrtec and the side effects were horrible. I was getting heart palpitations, depression and a feeling like I was going to die. I felt anxious and very tired. I had to go back taking it again. A week ago, I started taking 1/2 a pill everyday and only had slight side effects. Slight heart palputations and no feeling of depression. In a few days I am going to skip a day until I no longer have this poison in my system. | Don't ever start taking this medication. It messes you up and it takes away a part of you life. I rather suffer with allergies than to go through these symptoms again. | F | 56 | 5 months | 8/16/2009 | 1 | Seasonal Allergy | anxiety, panic attacks, very aggressive behavior, overly emtional, paranoid, memory loss, confusion, feeling stupid. | This drug is poison. Looking back, I now realize that 5 years ago it was probably taking Zyrtec that caused my need to go on anti-depresants and the onset of panic attacks. Never had a panic attack before taking this drug. This allergy season I have been a miserable person to be around. Ready to fight all the time. Feeling violent. Lots of rage. I never thought that I could get hooked on a drug I only used as needed. Been off it for four days now. Terrible withdrawl. Crazy itchy and feeling sick. I just feel like I'm going crazy. Tell everyone you know to stay off this drug. They may think you're crazy(which is the reaction I've received), but you might save someone some grief. | M | 46 | 5 months | 8/9/2009 | 5 | Severe Allergies | responding to person with smell complications. I did have this as well - until I did my nightly ritual of eatting something, taking Zyrtec/Singular then going to bed. | I now have one of the best noses around and can smell things that most people can't without any queeziness. My sense of taste hasn't really changed, at least nothing noticably. | F | 36 | 4 months | 9/20/2005 | 5 | allergy | I suffered severe allergys this year and I went to the doctor thinking it wall a severe cold/flu. He recomended allergy medication so I tried zyrtec. It was great. Than I noticed I had lost my sense of smell and taste, so I quit taking zyrtec and instead of regaining my normal sense of smell everything smelt like I described as a strong metal smell that made me sick to my stomach. That has gotten better but everything taste the same & I can not smell. | Has anyone else felt this way. | F | 50 | 4 months | 9/16/2005 | 5 | Severe Allergies | Very sleepy, cranky/crabby, had a hard time staying focused on duties while at work. Wasn't sure if it was Zyrtec or Singular that was causing the sleepiness. Stopped taking Zyrtec for 1 day found that my Allergies were Severe after the last dose wore off. The sleepiness wore off though..... Took 1 dose of Zyrtec and did not take singular was very sleepy, allergies were not as severe when going off of singular since Zyrtec was in system but found that the combined use was the best and most effective for my Severe Allergies. | was tired of being tired..... Then I had an idea and tried.... eatting something, taking dose of Zyrtec then going to bed. When I woke up the next morning, I was actually not sleepy like I was use to being after taking Zyrtec/Singular. My nature is normally one where it takes a litte bit to wake up, but now, after a cup of coffe (strong when asthma is really bad) I function wonderfully through out the day. I've been doing this nightly ritual of eatting a little something before bed, take Zyrtech/Singular for at least 3.5 months and I've become a highly productive individual. At work, I'm actually now doing the work of 2 people and am able to keep my head on straight with no sleepiness so that I can work on complex things and multitask at the same time. I'm so excited that I can actually do my normal duties and then some, while not being bothered with my servere allergy complicaitons. I feel like I'm a normal person for once. Try my nightly ritual and see if it works for | F | 36 | 4 months | 9/20/2005 | 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 | Nose and Eye allergies to pets | Iam tired if i take this medication in the morning.. So i take it at night. Sometimes i think its making me feel a little depressed or irritable. I went off the med for about a month and started taking it again for my horrible eye allergies. I guess the benefits out weight the side effects | F | 22 | 4 months | 2/15/2007 | 4 | Seasonal allergies | Weight gain! | I started taking Zyrtec in April 2008 and it is now July 2008. I have gained 20lbs! I know it is not due to poor diet. I eat lots of fresh fruits and veggies and exercise regularly. Zyrtec is the only new thing in my diet. I am going to the dr to rule out anything else. After reading the side effects on here I think my constant 'pms' may be part of this. I am extremely angry and I don't remember being like that. I am still angry about someone who cut me off driving 5 days ago. | F | 24 | 4 months | 7/23/2008 | 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 | 3 | Indoor & Outdoor Allergies | Racing Heart, EXTREME fatigue. It made me start sleep like 20 hours a day for awhile. Then after about 2 months, it won't let me sleep and I'm itching. Haven't been taking anything else except Tylenol. And some days, it wouldn't even work, like I hadn't even taken it. | Still taking it but wish I knew better. | M | 27 | 4 months | 9/3/2008 | 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 | Nasal allergies | Weight Gain... 20 pounds in 4 months. I just saw the link and I'm horrified. I didn't change anything else in the 4 months except starting to take Zyrtec everyday. | It worked really well for my allergies... but the weight gain is too much! | F | 24 | 4 months | 7/20/2009 | 3 | Allergies | Drowsiness, slight confusion. | My only real complaint was that it didn't work as well as other allergy medications, but the side effects weren't so bad when compared to other medications. | F | 21 | 4 months | 11/3/2009 | 3 | severe allergies, hives | numbness with tingling in all my extremities.Progressively worsened to point of pain. | I too thought Zyrtec to be a miracle drug. All my former symptoms completely disappeared. Now unfortunately I have a hard time walking; due to the numbness in my toes. I also have a hard time opening any type of jar and am overly sensitive to to heat and cold in my hands. I stopped taking Zyrtec 3 days ago and I am already getting normal sensation back to my fingers and toes. My feet feel normal. Unfortunately now all my old symptoms are starting to come back...fun for me! | F | 28 | 4 months | 6/20/2007 | 3 | Severe allergies,indoor/outdoor | Severe vaginal dryness with cracking and bleeding of skin with bumpy rash in and around the pubic hair. Ear infection and itchiness of the ears. | I am posting this side effect because it is NOT listed with the other side effects that people are posting. I have noticed weight gain as well. The reality is that I already had trouble with my vaginal area and I believe this drug increased and caused new issues. I have not had a sinus or ear infection in about two years, developed an infection in both ears which has lasted for about two weeks, ears are severely plugged and I have been woken up the last two nights with extreme itching in my right ear and much itchy discomfort in the vaginal area. | F | 37 | 4 months 10mg 1X D | 4/28/2012 | 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 D | 4/6/2010 | 3 | Dust mite allergies | None, actually, but I usually do not experience side-effects of any drug. | The stuff works great... Sometimes. And when it DOES, it's only for about a third of the time it says it should last. I have NEVER gotten 24 hours out of it. On the other hand, my allergies are pretty extreme. So I would recommend it to someone with less severe allergies. As for people like me, I'm planning on asking my doctor about something stronger. | F | 15 | 4 months 10 mg 1X D | 9/10/2010 | 2 | allergies (indoor/outdoor/pet | on and off sleepiness, rash, memory problems, possible wheezing and then headache after stopping use. | I have taken claritin for years. Other than the occasional heard palpitation or sleepless night...I can't find anything wrong with it. However, we acquired 5 kittens last June. I know i'm allergic but they were young and we were trying to find them homes. A vet recommended I switch to Zyrtec for pet allergies. I tried taking it in the AM and was sleepy all day, tried it at night and couldn't sleep or had nightmares. WEnt back to the daytime dosage and dealt with the sleepiness. BUT, since I began taking it, I've encountered dizziness, sleepiness, rash, wheezing, among other weird developments. I cannot be certain that Zyrtec caused them all because cats can cause me to wheeze. However, the cats habe been out of the house for 10 days and I just stopped taking Zyrtec 3 days ago...all of a sudden I can breathe!!! All I can say is, everyone is different. For me, zyrtec is not worth the possible risks and Claritin just works better with less issue | F | 43 | 4 months 10 Mg 1X D | 10/11/2012 | 2 | allergies | increased hunger which lead to weight gain, some hair loss, panic attacks | It did help with my allergies but I found myself eating like a crazy person. I had panic attacks which prior I had completly under control. I never would have believed a allergy med. could have caused such side effects, thank goodness for this website I was scared I had lost my balanced over night. It is good to know this has happened to others on this same med. | F | 45 | 4 months | 6/24/2006 | 2 | Allergies | Aggressive behavior, disorganized thinking, increased anxiety. When my son stopped taking it he developed hive like spots all over his back, which lasted for about 10 days. | Our son is diagnosed with a mood disorder, so at first we did not recognize that he was having a negative reaction to zyrtec. In retrospect we now realize that completely destabilized while taking this drug. Fortunately, the damage was not permanent though it took him about about two weeks without zyrtec to return to his prior state. The manufacturer appears to be aware that this type of reaction can occur. If you look at page 11 of the 14 page document issued by the manufacturer Pfizer you will see a list of psychiatric symptoms associated with this drug. The company states that zyrtec is unable to cross the blood-brain barrier and affect mental functions. This may be true but it appears to me that the drug affects the body's biochemistry in some other way that does extend to the brain. Bottom Line: NO ONE WITH A MOOD DISORDER SHOULD TAKE THIS DRUG. It may destabilize a person to such an extent that serious harm could occur. | M | 7 | 4 months | 12/16/2006 | 2 | year round allergies | My 7 year old has been on Zyrtec for 4 months. What I had started to think of as behavioral problems might very well be attributed to this drug....He has become angry, depressed, out of control, incredibly aggressive and argumentative. I did not know people were having these kinds of side effects so I would never have suspected his behavior and nightmares could be caused by this so called miracle drug. Also, these behaviors did not appear immediately upon starting Zyrtec, it has been more of a steady increase and intensity of symptoms. I read parts of this site last night and decided not to give him his dose. He used Claritin instead--it actually dried up his eyes, something zyrtec had failed to do. | I was not 100% satisfied with zyrtec even before I found out about all of these other unexpected possible side effects. It did nothing for his runny nose and eyes but did seem to decrease the frequency of the "flare-ups". | F | 36 | 4 months | 4/26/2007 | 2 | allergies | depression, uncontrolled eating, weight gain, waking up and worrisome obsessive thoughts hampering my ability to go back to sleep, lethargy, ... | Began taking in August of 2007. Immediately began the uncontrolled eating, weight gain (20 pounds and its only December 31, 2007) and lethargy. I have been taking an antidepressant for about 20 years with up and down results and thought I was in another down episode and/or some hormonal change. My doctor thought I needed something to help with concentration and prescribed metadate. I took it for about a month. The lethargy went away but not the excessive eating. So I stopped taking the metadate. I saw my doctor again and he suggested using a mantra at night to help with the obsessive thoughts. Sorry, no dice. I stopped taking vitamins the other day in hopes that would help with the excessive eating. I also decided to stop the zyrtec. Today is day 2. This morning I recalled reading something about certain sinus meds causing depression and I immediately went to the internet and googled "zyrtec and depression." WHAT A RELIEF IT WAS TO READ THE COMMENTS ON THIS SITE! Th | F | 51 | 4 months | 12/31/2007 | 2 | seasonal allergies | Depression, anxiety, Always irritated and lost pounds of hair becoming almost bald, appetite loss and very very sleepy!!!! Worked only if i took 2 tables a day. | Man i had no clue my depression and anxiety were because of zyrtec, i took zyrtec last year for the allergies OTC i tried it for 3 months and i took it regularly for almost 3 months, though my nasal symptoms have subsided i started having eczema and irritated eyes. During that period i had the hardest time in my life i was always depressed not at all interested to speak with anybody and had anxiety related issues.... i seriously thought it was my job search making me that way but now after going through this site i have realized it is the medicine and i even went to the doctor who could not even make out why i had anxiety issues as i never had these problems in my entire life ..... the worst part was once you i stopped taking this medicine i starting scratching a lot and lost so so much hair i thought i was going bald, thought i have recovered all that hair now and as the season has just started i was considering some allergy medicines and came across this site. Thank you guys so much i would not have none ZYRTEC WAS CAUSING DEPRESSION!!! I will meet an allergist and find out if i can get some other medicine. | M | 24 | 4 months | 4/28/2009 | 2 | seasonal allergies | urinary problems, possible visual disturbances | My 9 y/o daughter has been taking this almost daily for about 4 months for a chronic cough and seasonal allergies. Her cough has not improved and she says her throat is still itchy. Nasal symptoms/stuffiness seems better, but she's on Veramyst too. The disturbing part is she has been having problems urinating (feeling like she has to go, then can't go, or accidentally leaking a bit in her pants). She mentioned this before, but I didn't take much notice of it, till she told me again tonight and I got on this site. She also has had comments of "seeing horizontal blue lines" or shadowy "people' out of the corner of her eye a couple of times while she is watching TV. Took her to the eye dr. and her vision is perfect. I'm thinking both of these symptoms may be due to Zyrtec, so I will call her Dr. and take her off of it tomorrow. No point if it's not even helping the chronic cough they prescribed it for!! | F | 9 | 4 months | 9/7/2008 | 2 | Seasonal Allergies | Drowsiness, headaches | Worked well for my allergy symptoms. Caused extreme drowsiness. I slept great at night, but I could hardly stay awake during the day. I have recently tried to stop taking Zyrtec. I am having major headaches (not normal for me at all.) | F | 25 | 4 months | 6/29/2008 | 1 | environmental allergies | high blood pressure, weight gain, severe anxiety, aggression, unable to focus; when I miss a dose: migraine, severe nausea, heart racing | I have never been great about taking medications daily, so the symptoms kept coming and going. It was the nausea that finally made me look up side effects. After reading other symptoms on this site I was able to realize why I have been such "nut case" the last several months. I have been concerned about a sudden increase in blood pressure. I already suffered from migraines, but could not figure out why I was having them so frequently with no known triggers. I have been withdrawing now for two days; I am so sick. | F | 41 | 4 months | 6/2/2008 | 1 | allergies | I have been taking it for about 4 months. Bought it OTC and it was working as far as stopping my runny nose etc. Just stopped because I felt like I was "out of it" most of the time and didn't know why and mentioned taking it to a friend who is a nurse and she said "oh I can't take it ...it makes me crazy". So I decided to stop and see if I felt like my old self. I have been very very dizzy since stopping which has made me feel queasy in my stomach. This dizziness has lasted over a week now. Has anyone else had this side effect from withdrawal? | F | 60 | 4 months | 7/11/2009 | 1 | My son | His behavior gradually became very agressive. He was having sleep issues, anger problems and would cry very easily. He mentioned that he could not control it. I have stopped using the medication and I his behavior has returned to normal. It was so bad at one point that we were going to start him in therapy. Now I do not see the need for that. | M | 5 | 4 months | 6/7/2009 | 1 | Allergies | Everything felt very surreal to me. I felt blurry and spacey and nothing seemed quite real. I experienced rapid heartbeat, dizziness, and blacked out once after getting up. I would feel as though I couldn't breath, like I couldn't get enough air. All of this never happened before I took Zyrtec. I felt sad and hopeless and depressed all summer. Although Zyrtec definitely treated my allergies, the side effects were not worth it. | F | 41 | 4 months | 8/10/2009 | 1 | Seasonal Allergies | Agressive behavior, rage, sadness, sleeplessness, confusion. | My pediatrician recommended children's Zyrtec for my 3.5 year old daughter to relieve her allergy symptoms. After taking it steadily and then on and off for 4 months I finally put together that whenever she was on it, she was prone to random major rage events to include kicking, biting, spitting, screaming uncontrolably, whining, sadness, crying at the drop of a hat, Etc...it takes a good 3-4 days for her to withdrawl from 1 2.5 ml. dose during which she can't sleep at night and is a zombie during the day. We are DONE with Zyrtec! | F | 35 | 4 months | 8/11/2009 | 1 | Allergies | I can't believe that I am not the only one who has experienced this. This is both reassuring and disconcerting at the same time. I actually got very emotional when I started to read all of the comments, especially, those parents with 4-5 year olds taking these meds. My 4-year-old daughter has been taking Zyrtec for the past four months. A wonderfully sweet child transformed into this terribly-aggressive and noncompliant pre-schooler. Further, she became extremely emotional, aggressive towards me, my wife, and her brother, and catatonic at times. She started tantrums, talking to herself, destroying her toys and her room. In fact, she started a new daycare two weeks ago because she was dismissed from her previous pre-school because of uncontrollability. We immediately dismissed the notion that our daughter should be tested for ADHD. I feel so bad for our daughter because we also have taken so much from our daughter in attempts to correct her behavior -- toys, early bed, no snack | I agree with others that this information needs to be more readily available. My wife and I have had many sleepless nights worrying about our daughter. We really have to find a way to get this information out to others!!! | F | 4 | 4 months | 4/9/2007 | 1 | Severe allergies | I've been taking this for around four months, (10mg daily) starting a little while before the Summer began. From then till now, I've become extremely depressed to the point of being suicidal over the smallest things, very paranoid, feelings of worthlessness, had horrible, recurring nightmares of people being torn apart, (no joke) severe abdominal pain, (especially near my spleen) alternate between constipation/diarrhea no matter what I eat or how much fiber I get, (Colonoscopy and EGD came back fine.) have many bouts of nausea out of nowhere, (vomit sometimes) became an insomniac, never feel rested after sleep if I can get it, very irritable most of the time, get tons of extreme anger, (I used to be quite humble.) lots of headaches, muscle pain, lethargy, spaced-out feelings, can't concentrate, feeling withdrawn from reality, constantly lonely even around others, have barely any sex drive at all, been getting sick more than usual and doctors can't get a diagnosis, tons of swelling in | After finding this site, and another like it, I've seen that I'm not the only one who has been experiencing these sorts of things since they started this drug, and have stopped as of last night. So far, I've been having a lot of itching and feeling of being pricked with a needle over all of my body and head. I read a lot of people have these sort of withdrawals to Cetirizine. (Zyrtec) I stopped because I think this is truely the cause of my gradually ruined Summer and I am hoping to get all of those pieces of myself back, to stop being so depressed and irritable, and hopefully go back to how I was before and maybe even get some sleep. This is the only drug I've been on, so I don't think it is anything else and the descriptions here are too similar for comfort. Hopefully things will start improving. I just have to find something else for my allergies. The only OTC thing that works for me is Benadryl, but it makes me extremely tired and emotionally numb, so I save it for nights. I hope t | M | 18 | 4 months | 9/4/2007 | 1 | allergies | Um, allergies. | Does Zyrtec even work? | M | 29 | 4 months | 8/11/2003 | 1 | 9 year old daughter has allergies | My daughter's mood changed drastically. She was irritable and angry to the point we thought she was depressed. She also had a rash of white bumps around her eye and cheek. After we took her off zyrtec her normal personality came right back and the bumps went away. This medicine made our daughter miserable. I think it is dangerous. | F | 9 | 4 months | 8/22/2004 | 1 | environmental allergies | Allergies were better but noticed I put on 15 pounds and could not lose any weight. Mostly noticed in waist, hips, thighs. Now that I've been off for only 2 weeks I can tell my pants are fitting better, don't feel so "thick" in the middle. Now I realize my mind is much clearer and I have more energy! | I don't recommend this medicine if you're a woman who wants to avoid weight gain, or with concerns over feeling clear-headed. | F | 28 | 4 months | 8/10/2006 | 1 | Allergies, Eczema | Extreme Tiredness, Insomnia, Mental Confusion and loss of concentration, Irritability, Lethargy, Prostate Problems | I have suffered from hay fever, rhinitis and eczema my whole life. I recently had a severe bout of eczema (which I never had before) - itching, redness, sweating and scaling skin. Started to take Zyrtec daily over the last four months to control it. Worked great in the first month then I began to experience severe side effects (which up until now didn't attribute to Zyrtec). This drug caused extreme fatigue for me 24/7. It was like taking valium and speed at the same time. The tiredness was so bad I was falling asleep in the afternoons and generally was in a mental fog at work (forgetful - thought I had early alzheimers) but could never sleep during the night. I could not get out of bed in the morning. The sleep depravation and general lethargy become so bad that I became depressed and irritable all the time. I would literally pray to God at night to help me sleep. Mentioned my Insomnia to my MD and he said I may have to go to a sleep clinic to find out the causes (ironicall | M | 37 | 4 months | 10/17/2008 | 1 | allergies | dry skin, uncontrollable, angry behavior | We put my son on Zyrtec this spring for allergies and his allergies seemed much better but he did start to have more behavioral issues. I didn't make the connection to Zyrtec until we had to take him off it for a week to have allergy testing done. When we put him back on it again, he was absolutely a monster to deal with, culminating with him slugging a child several times at school (this from a boy who has no access to tv, movies, and doesn't even know what a gun is). I was so releived to find this website and realize that it might be the medicine and so angry that my pediatrician never warned me about these side effects, which they only admitted to when I called to ask. | M | 3.5 | 4 months | 8/2/2005 | 1 | Allergies | Rage, depression, suicidal thoughts, aggressiveness. I thought I was going insane and almost checked in to the hospital. | F | 25 | 4 months 1 pill | 12/31/2011 |