Drug Ratings for ZYRTECAverage Rating: 2.1 (1499 Ratings)
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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 | | | | |||
| 3 | Seasonal Allergies/ Skin issues | Our 4 year old son has been on and off Zyrtec for two years. We are just now connecting behavior, mood, and aggression to Zyrtec. We thought that his behavior was due to being 3 (an age we have found to be very difficult in boys). Our son has had sleep issues since he has been out of a crib and severe behavioral issues for the last year and a half. I have actually talked to the Pediatrician about his behavior and have even considered looking into therapy. Our son has been extremely tough to deal with, very strong-willed, emotional, and aggressive at times. We recently took him off Zyrtec for three weeks and noticed a definite change in behavior. Our "melancholy" kid was happy, fun, goofy, social, and a joy to be around. We didn't connect the Zyrtec and put him back on it after a visit with the Allergist. He has been on the full teaspoon for 2 weeks now and we have had rages, crying, out-of-control behavior. He will no longer be taking Zyrtec after tonight. He does | Don't put your kids on it! It's not worth it!!! | M | 4 | 2 years | 10/18/2009 | 3 | Year-round allergies, asthma | Itching, Weight Gain, Night Terrors, Many sleeping problems | It does help me with my allergies a lot, but the withdrawal symptoms after (severe itching, rashes/bumps) are not so awesome. | F | 16 | 2 years | 1/5/2010 | 3 | Constant runny nose, allergies | Doc recommended Zyrtec after a combination ear infection and sinus infection, so I started taking it every day. Been dealing with some really bad anxiety, depression, and constant fatigue and lack of motivation.... Ran out of my pills one day and got lazy about taking more, so I just stopped. Slept like crap for a week (withdrawl?) but suddenly realized I wasn't NEARLY as tired as I used to be, and have a bit more motivation to do things now. I'm convinced it was the Zyrtec. | Worked great for my allergy issues, but it's not worth it feeling like a worthless zombie EVERY SINGLE MORNING. | F | 30 | 2 years 1X D | 5/2/2012 | 3 | Allergies | Dry Mouth Very Random Dry Skin | I had pretty bad Allergies back in late High School and Zyrtec was the only thing that cleared it up, but you have a constant dry feeling for some reason. Not even drinking large amounts of water fixes it either. | M | 20 | 2 years | 12/13/2005 | 3 | runny nose, post nasal drip | I expereinced slow, steady weight gain with a very large appetite. Tried to cut back on portions and couldn't lose (and I'm a registered dietitian!). My dog died , so after a few weeks I decided to try and stop taking Zyrtec. All of a sudden I was able to lose weight and I didn't have such a voracious appetite. It's been great and I would never take it again, unless my allergies were very bad and even then only for a few days. Next pet will have to be hypoallergenic, because I am not taking it on a regular basis ever again. Feels too good to be thinner again! | F | 36 | 2 years 1 pill/day 1X D | 4/8/2011 | 3 | Nasal Allergies | none | Keeps me from having a full blowner but my nose won't stop running. | M | 48 | 2 years 1X D | 4/9/2011 | 3 | runny nose and other allergies | With my first son, I noticed that he only got in trouble at pre-school on the days I remembered to give him his zyrtec. We had to choose between good behavior and runny nose. Now my two year old has been taking zyrtec for a year and a half. I am considering taking him off the medication because his behavior is awful. I had no idea so many other parents have had the same problems. | Zyrtec worked wonderfully for both my son's when the had a runny nose and helped stop the cycle of runny nose then bronchial infection. | M | 2 | 2 years | 5/26/2006 | 3 | dermatitis | none | it didn't do away with dermatitis to my satisfaction, but helps. | M | 30 | 2 years | 4/27/2004 | 3 | seasonal allergies (hives) | drowsiness, dizziness | You only take it once a day, but the drug started to wear off long before the end of the day. However, relief is felt within about 15 minutes of taking it. | F | 31 | 2 years | 6/13/2002 | 3 | Hayfever | Only slightly tired or lethargic, well worth it for the releif from hayfever however it does seem to cause mild to serious depression and insecurity depending upon how much and how often you use it. | I've used zyrtec on and off for 2 years and i recommend that you use it to relieve short-term allergies, it works brilliantly, however I would hesitate before taking it for longer periods of time such as an entire week as this is when the side-effects seem to develop. | M | 22 | 2 years | 4/4/2005 | 3 | Hay-fever | Drowziness, sometimes mood swings... and maybe don't know for sure... hair loss? | Not that bad but I don't think it acts immediatly as when i have hay-fever... i take an extra pill and still i remain with the allergie through out the day... | M | 18 | 2 years | 4/6/2005 | 3 | Seasonal Allergies | Hair loss, weight gain. | I thought these things were caused by my thyroid disease, as well they may be. But now I'm wondering if the sudden increase in hairloss and weight gain are now attributed to my now regular dosing of zyrtec. | F | 28 | 2 years | 1/11/2008 | 2 | Allergies, Asthma | My daughter has been on Zyrtec for 2 1/2 years and has exhibited all of the horrible behavior problems other parents talk about on this site. We never made the connection. She was kicked out of a preschool; had a behavioral psychologist examination; was moved to private school and punished over and over again for poor behavior. I can not believe that pediatric allergists are continuing to prescribe this drug! | I can not believe that pediatric allergists are continuing to prescribe this drug. And if they are (because it does help with allergy symptoms) why aren't they asking the right questions at follow-up exams? Ask about behavioral changes? They always take careful weight and height measurements to ensure that steroid use for asthma is not inhibiting growth rates...why not ask about behavior issues? When I finally talked with our doctor about this site she did admit that some other parents were having problems and we should try something else. But we've lost more than 2 years during crucial brain development time. Is anyone suing? | F | 5 | 2 years | 9/6/2007 | 2 | Allergies | Sleeplessness,Severe skin irritation and weight gain | Until I found this web site, I had no idea that Zyrtec could be causing the problems that I was having. I have always had sensitive skin, but lately have been having a rash on my hands and arms that I couldn’t get cleared up (skin lesions, general rash). I went to the Dermatologist and he prescribed topical medication for the rash. I used the medication for 4 weeks and wasn’t getting any better. Rather than go back to the Dermatologist and get a biopsy (which according to the doctor was the next step) I started investigation the side effects of the prescription medications that I was taking and started eliminating the ones that I didn’t absolutely have to take and still no change in my skin irritation. Now I started eliminating the OTC medications that I take. I have been off of Zyrtec for about 4 days now and my skin is finally starting to clear up (YEA!!!). I would have never guessed that Zyrtec could be causing the problem. I have also noticed that in general I am feeling better (better outlook on life, more energy, and clear headed). | F | 41 | 2 years 10 1X D | 4/25/2010 | 2 | Hives, dermatographia | Extreme lethargy. Foggy brain. Mood swings. Spacey. | F | 44 | 2 years | 4/7/2013 | 2 | Seasonal allergies | Worked well , however in attempting to ween off during winter months.... Severe itching throughout body.... Today post nasal drip and sneezing w/ no exposure explanation !?! | Very concerned; am I to be addicted, why this intense withdrawal. Where is this addressed professionally ? I've read enough here to realize where there's smoke ; there's fire ?!? | M | 43 | 2 years 10mg 1X D | 1/30/2012 | 2 | allergies | I become so irritable and angry about 12 hours after taking this drug. I frequently am in dire need of an antihistamine and all my physicians recommend zyrtec over the others. But I have a 2 yo son that tries my patience enough; at least now I know that these feelings are irrational side effects rather than a legitimate existential crisis. I have never, fortunately, taken it for an extended period of time, only 2-3 doses max. But consistently I have this irritability 12 hours in. | F | 38 | 2 years | 9/21/2009 | 1 | HIVES/ALLERGIES | My son has been taking this for 2 yrs. and yesterday I decided to research the side effects and I came to this website and I was reading all the different reports I was frozen like a turkey. My son is super hyperactive, has leg cramps, nervouseness, is getting white stops in his face many symptoms that other users said they had. Omg! I've gone to bed crying so many nights and wondering what I was doing wrong. Only a few people really now my son and understand me, now I wonder if it's the medicine, he was only 1yr when he started to take it and from dawn to dusk he is a wild child :( My husband & I decided to stop giving him Zyrtex and it's been 1 day so far and hope and pray that it was that but at the same time I hope that the medicine did not do more harm. Now I'm just watching him closely for any changes. I will post at a later time the outcome. I just pray it's for the best and that my little guy gets better and undercontrol. I love Him so much :) | I give it a 5 because since he's been taking it, the Hives have not come back. But I give it a 1 if it's the cause for his abnormal behavior that we had to live with for 2 yrs. | M | 3 | 2 years | 11/6/2009 | 1 | My young son- allergies | Our little boy had extremely negative and agressive behavior. He had uncontrollable temper tantrums at home and in public. He also displayed seemingly depressive behavior. This is just to name a few of the side effects he experienced while taking zyrtec. | Our son began taking zyrtec on a daily basis at 15 months old. It was suggested to us by our pediatrician to assist in our ongoing battle with ear infections and allergies. Initially, we contributed his behaviors to his age and "being a boy" although our first child, also a boy, had never experienced quite these same things. As he got older, we saw a significant increase in his physical agression as well as his extreme temper tantrums. His behavior would turn on a dime and was almost impossible to anticipate. As his primary caregiver during the day, I was beginning to feel like I was losing my mind. By the time my husband came home at night, I was often in tears. Finally, on a whim, I googled zyrtec/negative behaviors...I found a world of parents experiencing the same things as us. At this point, my little boy had been on the medication for over a year and a half. I felt like we had never seen his real personality. After that day, we never gave him Zyrtec again, EVER. His behavior,literally, changed overnight. He is now 4-1/2 and has never ever behaved again as he did while on that drug. Although not all children will react in such a negative way, for us, it was truly a nightmare. When we look back on that time, both my husband and I feel so sad about the fact that we were constantly giving him consequences for behavior that was truly out of his control. | F | 35 | 2 years | 12/29/2009 | 1 | Allergies | Daughter was angry all the time, moody, flash temper, no patience for anything. | My daughter started Zyrtec when she was about 13, she became terribly angry at everyone and everything. We blamed it on hormones, peer pressure, etc. etc. She is now 15 and we just heard about theses problems with Zyrtec 8 days ago and you would not believe the change. I have my sweet daughter back! Not that there still aren't typical teenage drama etc. but she had become down right mean and nasty. I wouldn't let anyone take this medicine. | F | 15 | 2 years | 3/5/2009 | 1 | Allergies | Facial tics | My son who is 7 has been taking Zyrtec 2 years. Within the 2 years I noticed that he was blinking his eyes a lot. It went from blinking to "eye rolling" within 6 months. The eye tic was so bad that I thought that he had Terrett (sp) syndrom. I starting looking on the internet and found this web site. My son also had night terror. I stopped Zyrtec and was wondering if anyone knows how long it stays in the system? He is soooo much better without this drug although I don't know what to do about his seasonal allergies (it did work for that). | M | 7 | 2 years | 4/3/2009 | 1 | Severe allergies | I have been taking zyrtec for 2 years, it has worked well for my allergies. However, the side affects are terrible. I thought something ws wrong with my heart but now I know it was the drug. The withdrawal symtoms are the worst. I feel like I am going to itch myself to death. I feel like a drug addict going through withdraw! | Getting of Zyrtec sucks! The itching will drive you crazy. | F | 36 | 2 years | 8/19/2008 | 1 | allergies | Stopped taking this med and the itching was unbearable. Random red, itchy patches on chest, legs, under arms, neck, face, etc. | M | 45 | 2 years | 8/6/2009 | 1 | environmental allergies, ASTHMA | My son's behavior over the last 2 years have been worrisome to say the least...to the point that we have scheduled appts with child therapist. It is like he is constantly surrounded by a bubble of negative energy..moody, slight OCD, anxiety, facial ticks, etc. We constantly try to keep positive energy around him..He has had thoughts to hurt him self. A friend of mine who I totally respect and is very "science oriented" she would never rely on blogs..told me about her son who was on zyrtec and she took him off of it because of the behavioral changes he has experienced. it got me thinking. I was reading all of these blogs and felt like I could have written any of them. I plan to start to wean my son of Zyrtec immediately!!!! | M | 8 | 2 years | 9/7/2009 | 1 | Allergies | Extreme abdominal pain & constipation, urination problems, heart palpitations, anxiety, depression, cold/numb hands and feet, red/irritated/puffy eyes, insomnia, anger/rage and mood swings. | Allergies are a problem for me in the spring & late fall in Oklahoma. I felt great this summer and when October came the allergies hit like clockwork. The first few weeks went by seemingly uneventful and about the last of Oct I noticed I had no zest for life anymore. Anxiety and depression had set in on me and I was not even aware of it. I did not want to go anywhere, do anything or be around people. I am restoring an old car and up until late October this was my passion and I had no desire at all to continue working on my car. I also noticed that I hurt all over my body...muscle pain, joint pain, cold hands and feet. I also noticed that I would snap at my wife and kids for the smallest things and at the time I felt this was warranted. Rage was a problem as well. I had difficulty urinating and would spend what seemed like an hour for a process that usually takes 10-15 seconds. While zyrtec did control some very bad allergy symptoms for me I have decided that the allergy problems are nowhere near as bad as the side effects caused by zyrtec. As I look back over the last 2 years of my life I can clearly see the problems I had and were all due to zyrtec. I'll never take this med again. | M | 48 | 2 years 10mg 1X D | 1/6/2012 | 1 | Hayfever, sinus allergies | My daughter (age 4 when she started Zyrtec, now age 6) over time has been exhibiting increasing anxiety and nervousness. She always says she has "bad thoughts." She has lots of fears. Cries because she does not want to go to school, constantly checks her pulse to make sure her heart is still beating, expresses fears that she'll stop breathing in her sleep. We took her to a counselor and in the first few minutes of our initial visit she informed us that Zyrtec can be a cause for anxiety and depression. We were shocked! | We have stopped her Zyrtec now and are hoping that her anxiety will begin to get better. It breaks my heart to see my baby like she is. Doctors should never prescribe this to children. They do not know how to cope with these side effects. | F | 6 | 2 years 1 tsp. 1X D | 1/17/2012 | 1 | Allergies | I had been taking prescription Zyrtec for a couple years. I stopped. I recently took OTC Zyrtec a few times, one time here, one time there... And I get into a terribly bad and near rage-like mood whenever I take the OTC Zyrtec. I have discarded them and will never take them again. They also stopped helping my allergies. Something's changed from when I had the prescription and with the OTC now. | F | 51 | 2 years 10 mg 1X D | 2/24/2012 | 1 | year-round allergies | Headaches when it wore off an was time for next dose. Had to stop taking it for a week for allergy testing and found out about the heroin-level withdrawal. Unbelievably severe itching everywhere, and my allergies were NEVER in the form of itches before taking Zyrtec. Blood tests during this withdrawal revealed my liver hormone levels were 8x normal from it, and the itching was from how the withdrawal damages the liver. Took 6 months gradually lowering the dosage with the liquid version for infants to get off of it. | Absolutely unbelievable that this is FDA approved, let alone OTC. | M | 38 | 2 years 10 1X D | 2/21/2012 | 1 | seasonal allergies | Irregular heartbeat, sleeplessness, shaking/tremors, weakness, mental/mood changes, dizziness, anger/rage,floating sensation.It even affected my blood sugar level.These are very concerning side effects. | I stocked up because of coupons. Have been taking for about 2 years. Stopped about 3 months ago and started up again last week and noticed all the symptoms back again after the first dose. Then I knew all my symptoms were from Zyrtec. I want to return the rest but Walmart won't refund my money.How can I get reimbursed for the rest of them? | F | 35 | 2 years zyrtec-d 1X D | 6/27/2012 | 1 | Allergies | COUGH, ITCHING, FATIGUE, HEART IRREGULARITIES, DIFFICULTY WITH URINATION........ among others | Wouldn't recommend this drug to a squirrel! I went through 2 years of living hell until I decided enough was enough! My PC kept telling me cough isn't a related side effect..........BUBKUS! I had a nagging cronic cough, thought it was heart related but they always tell me cough isn't a heart related issue either..........BUBKUS! We have a significant family heart history and everyone of my blood relatives developed cough from their heart related issue.......makes you wonder about the quality of healthcare today. I used to go to ONE doctor for 40 years that treated everything I ever encountered........in his office 99.9% of the time.......$20 tops!! Today, you need to see 10 doctors, $$$$$$$$Thousands in unnecessary test, and generally they throw in some kind of proceedure, whether you need it or not.............it's all about the $$$$$$$$$$$$$.......average inquiry for an illness has to be in the hundreds if not thousands!!! I stopped the drug and the cough immediately subsided in a couple days time! I have significant heart issues to which I should never have been placed on this medication in the first place. It was my cardiologist that suggested stop the drug.......it's the best way of knowing and not guessing as he has done in the past with my heart medications when questionable events arose. And then there's the WITHDRAWL from this drug...........if you haven't experienced it yet, you're in for the ride of a lifetime...........weeks if not months of severe itching, to t | M | 58 | 2 years ????????? 1X D | 10/29/2012 | 1 | allergies | drowsiness, fatigue, numbness, and now intense itchiness and rashes in trying to get off of it. | I moved into an old moldy house surrounded by trees and developed allergies for the first time in my life. I took zyrtec daily for 2 years. Now I live away from what I was supposedly allergic to, so I wanted to stop taking zyrtec. Plus, the other day I noticed I had lots of energy and was unusually happy and optimistic. Then I realized that I'd forgotten to take zyrtec that day. So I haven't taken it since (about 3 days) and I have lots of energy, which is good because I have to itch myself everywhere constantly. But I am determined to get myself off of this drug and appreciated everyone else's comments. Any ideas for non-phamaceutical remedies to ease the withdrawal? | F | 31 | 2 years | 12/9/2005 | 1 | Allergies | extreme sleepyness, irritability and anger,depression, foggy weight gain. My Dr. blamed all of these symptoms on menopause. I had a hysterectomy to alleviate some of the above symptoms. It was xyrtec all along. I have discontinued for 2 weeks, and it felt like I was transformed from a raving zombie back to the land of the living. I did not have the withdrawl symptoms that some people have had. | To all physcian's when people complain of these symptoms, please review their medications, not remove organs!!! | F | 47 | 2 years 20 1X D | 2/25/2013 | 1 | Chronic Sinus Infections | Irritability, crying, sour throat, tiredness When we tryed taking her off, our normally well focused child has problems following directions, focusing, itching and stomach pain. None of these problems existed prior to medication. She was originally seen for sleep apnea type symptoms and chronic sinus infections. | If we use this drug in combination with Singular, the sleep apnea type syptoms seem to go away, but I wonder if their masking it because their making her sooo tired. I did sleep with her one night and she still had irregular breathing during sleep after taking just zyrtec. When we initially went to our Dr. about our daughter (she was 3 1/2) waking at night saying she couldn't breath and having constant sinus infections, we were sent to a ENT that said there was nothing wrong with her. We insisted something was wrong, her beathing was irregular at night. Our Ped. referred us to an allergist who put her on Zyrtec and when that wasn't enough, he put her on Singular as well. I hated the way she seemed like she was a zombie, so we just put her on nasal spray. We finally took her off everything and she experienced extreme itching in her ears and stomach pain. I agree that this drug is addicting, I put her back on and her itching and stomach pain stopped. After reading all these notes, I am t | F | 7 | 2 years | 5/18/2006 | 1 | sinus | dementia | My father was given zyrtec in september for sinus trouble & to help him sleep. Within 24 hours he was showing signs of dementia. After a month his Doctor said that it was an allergic reaction to Zyrtec. Week two and there is still no improvement. More tests will be run. My father is only 65. I have been taking zyrtec for 1 and a half years. I quit cold turkey. No more night mares, I have more energy. I do not want to sleep for two to three hours during the day. My temperment has calmed down so that I do not over react to the slightest things. Maybe now the 30 pounds that I have put on will come off. Please Pray that my father gets better soon. | F | 39 | 2 years | 10/30/2006 | 1 | Allergies | IRRATIONAL ANGER, constant irritability, mood swings, depression, brain fog, crying jags, "thought disorder", lethargy, weight gain, poor nights sleep, swelling around stomach, blurry eyes, lack of motivation.... I use to take this medication before going to sleep, so I didn't make the connection between Zyrtec and the side effects. I also took Claritin on and off for a year prior to Zyrtec which I now see was the beginning of my symptoms. I Googled Zyrtec and weight gain (because I've gained 20+ lbs since starting the med which I can't lose no matter what diet or how much exercise) and found this site. I was shocked by all the posts about the effects this medication had on people's thinking and moods, especially irrational feelings of anger and extreme emotional lability (eg crying over the simplest things.) | I stopped taking Zyrtec over a week ago and immediately noticed a difference in my thinking and mood. It was like a dark cloud lifted and the simmering anger I felt inside me all the time GONE. No more negative, obsessive thinking, or crying jags either. All my life, I have always been a positive, easy going, happy person. But over the past 2+ years I was slowly turning into an irrationally angry and over emotional disaster. Friends and family thought I was either having a nervous breakdown or symptoms of menopause. I have even seen a counselor to discover what *issues* were effecting my life, lol. Who'd of thunk that an ANTIHISTAMINE could cause such havoc! I had been attributing my change in mood and personality to the stress in my marriage, fighting, and divorce issues. I see now that Zyrtec has been THE ISSUE. In researching histamines, I discovered that they have to do with neurotransmitter and hormone regulation. Who knows what is going one when they are blocked by an antihistamine. No wonder there are so many psychiatric adverse effects being listed, rather like antidepressants. The children are the canaries in the mine. If so many kids are having such SEVERE emotional and mental reactions, you have to figure this med is TOXIC to ones brain. This med should NOT be OTC. I predict we will see black box warnings on this med pretty soon, maybe even see it be withdrawn from the market. One can hope. | F | 46 | 2 years 10 MG 1X D | 2/10/2010 | 1 | allergies | heart palpitations-rapid and irregular heart beats; severe muscle pain-leg cramps and bursitis;chronic fatigue-felt exhausted all the time; nosebleeds; mental fog-unable to concentrate; difficulty finishing a sentence because I would forget what I was saying;major weight gain-40 lbs in a year. | The palpitations caused me to be diagnosed with atrial fibrillation in the ER a month ago. My leg muscle pain was so bad I couldn't walk 1/4 of a block. Bursitis so bad at night I couldn't sleep. I stopped taking Zyrtec 4 days ago and everything except the palpitations has disappeared. AVOID ZYRTEC !!! | M | 55 | 2 years 10 mg 1X D | 4/2/2010 History | 1 | Hives | Didn't realize they wew side effects until I went off it for allergy testing. Lethargy, weight gain, bloating, aches all over, reduced libido. I am in day 4 of withdrawal and it is so severe I cannot even begin to express. As someone with lifetime itching...hives..excema I have never had anything like this. Everywhere..not hives or excema but this horrible internal itch. Scalp, face, lips, down throat, ears, down yonder, hands and feet terribly and then spreading everywhere else. When I finally went online there are thousands and thousands of blogs by people saying the same thing. They say they can't get off it and many resume due to the extreme discomfort. Some say it takes weeks or months to withdraw. But only 4 days in and going absolutely nuts I can say that the bloating has stopped..the aches are gone!!! I have been like a 90 year old progressively over the last 2 years and the weight is dropping off although my diet is the same | Be warned...don't start the symptoms show up later and then the withdrawal is....... | F | 45 | 2 years 1X D | 12/9/2011 | 1 | allergies | I took this crap for 2 years before I realized it was causing my anxiety ,depression, fatigue, dry skin,eyes,mouth, and severe cognitive function decline. I had to quit my job because it got so bad. I am glad to have found the cause. Zyrtec is going in the garbage can where it belongs. | M | 25 | 2 years 10mg 1X D | 7/19/2011 | 1 | severe allergies | anger, suicidal thoughts, severe weight gain, depression, insatiable hunger, feelings of hopelessness, lack of motivation | There is a woman who commented that there seems to be a 'made up' symptoms and side effects because she has never personally had any. That is ridiculous. Your skepticism doesn't help anyone. For years I have wondered why I continued to gain weight even though I lowered my caloric intake and increased activity. I've never had trouble losing weight in the past. I started taking it in Korea where we were stationed in the military. The allergies were awful. Both my son and I had the same symptoms. Both of us were angry, hungry, irritable and depressed. When we left Korea we stopped taking it and got better. We are in South Texas now and both of us started taking it agin--even though we are in a happy situation, we became depressed, angry, suicidal and had increased hunger and weight gain again. I am happy to have found this website because after I did, I got off zyrtec and I am my happy, healthy self again. I'm losing weight and my son is more stable emotionally. Please do not criticize other people's reactions. Just because you don't have them doesn't mean they don't exist. I am also severely allergic to morphine--just because you are not, does that mean by your calculations I will not die if I take it? | F | 40 | 2 years 10mg 2X D | 9/21/2010 | 1 | allergies | Headaches, behavior changes, throwing fits | My daughter has been taking Zyrtec for almost 2 years. The past year and half have been horrible. She is 6 years old and will throw fits and scream and cry like a baby. She has a hard time concentrating and in kindergarten last year, her teacher was worried she may have autism. We have been to a neurologist over her headaches. I had no idea about all of this and am so thankful for this website. Me and my neighbor were talking the other day and she had said that she had given her daughter zyrtec one time and it totally changed her and it made me think. So my daughter hasn't had any zyrtec in 5 days and yesterday her teacher called me to tell what a good day she had in school. I was amazed. I thought I would look up side effects of zyrtec today and it feels like I wrote a lot of these posts b/c my daughter has such similar issues. No more zyrtec for any of my kids!! | F | 32 | 2 years 1 tsp 1X D | 9/8/2010 | 1 | Seasonal allergies | Itchy hands and feet with occasional burning on the soles of my feet after 3 days without a dose | I have wanted to stop taking Zyrtec for the past year but the closest I've gotten is taking it once every 3 days which is when the itching sets in. I started my research today on the itching and realized, like so many others, that it isn't just me. My doctor told me the itching must be from an allergy to something in my house. Not so - it is definitely withdrawal from the Zyrtec. I am going to cut back to half a pill every three days and buy Claritin to help minimize the itching. After a week or two of half pill doses, I will try to stop completely. I'm determined to do this quickly. The sooner, the better. To everyone else having similar issues, I wish you the best of luck. This issue should be publicized and the exact effect this drug is having on our bodies needs to be discovered. | F | 40 | 2 years 10 mg 2X W | 11/30/2010 | 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 D | 2/9/2011 | 1 | year round allergies | My son has been taking it for 2 1/2 years! He had all of the same things that many of you are saying. He was having severe ANXIETY attacks and fits of rage. Our pharmacist rettired and we talked to the new one. He said he has heard of these complaints and told us to stop. I would rather he have allergies than the HELL our family has gone through. NOW I am convinced, we need to do something to get this stuff off of the market! My wife and I have been on it as well, and we have been severely depressed. We thought that it was from the situation with our child who had been happy now being in therapy, but since we have stopped taking it, we have started to feel like a cloud is being lifted off of the whole family!!! | Yes it works for allergies, but the side effects are far worse!!! Does anyone out there know of a good allergy meicine for kids. Claritin makes my son sick. PLEASE HELP!!! | M | 36 | 2 years | 9/16/2007 | 1 | Eczema | agressive behavior, can't focus, can't remember anything, can't sit still, can't pay attention and follow teacher's instruction. nose breeding. always tired | Teacher kept complaining about my 8-year-old son behavior, she even force me to put him as a ADD kid, after I found out this website, I did two things: 1. Reduced the medicine little by little (it took me two months to quit the whole medicine). 2. Transfer my son to another teacher's class. Now four months pass, I just got his report card, he got straight 'A' and citizenship marked as "Excellent".He is still in ADD status but he did not take any ADD medicine, I knew his behavior problem was caused by Zyrtec and Singular (he took two medicines everyday). My suggestion is: Quit those drugs as soon as possible, my son is under the treament of Chinese herb and there is no side effect. you may make a research and find another better way to treat your kid. Good Luck!! | M | 9 | 2 years | 5/26/2007 | 1 | seasonal and food allergies | My 5-year-old son was experiencing seasonal allergies and also hives, we think from berries, and the doctor prescribed him with Zyrtec. We didn't notice any major behavioral issues but he did begin periodically to have what we thought were night terrors - wide-eyed, screaming nightmares so vivid that it was increasingly difficult to wake him. We stopped the Zyrtec when the hives and summer sniffles went away, and the nightmares stopped, too. We still didn't put it together until last week, when spring allergies started and we resumed the Zyrtec, and the night terrors began again. | We call this drug "Nightmares in a Bottle," at least for our child. What a terrifying experience, for us and him. Please spread the word to parents. | F | 42 | 2 years | 4/21/2008 | 1 | ALLERGIES | DRY MOUTH HEADACHES HYPERACTIVITY IRREGULAR HEARTBEAT | I WOULD NOT RECOMMEND GIVING THIS TO CHILDREN. MY DAUGHTER HAS EXPERIENCED MANY SIDE EFFECTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE MEDICINE. | F | 32 | 2 years | 12/15/2008 | 1 | allergies and hives | insomnia, irritability, swelling of my body, especially my face (eyes and lips). I also experienced weight gain which I didn't notice until I abruptly stopped. After 24+ hours off the Zyrtec, I experienced stomach cramps and very loose bowels. This corrected itself after a day and I felt alive! Like a fog was lifted, however, the hives returned! My doctor didn't believe me, so I took another dose and experienced swelling of my hands, feet, face, especially my eyes and lips. I also became constipated. I feel terrible, but the hives are gone. I'm now frightened to take the medication, but don't know what to do! | F | 45 | 2 years | 5/11/2008 | 1 | allergies | mood swings not sleeping well dry skin extreme itching when stopping medicine loss of concentraton | I am taking my 17 year daughter off of this medication | F | 17 | 2 years | 3/11/2005 | 1 | allergies | mood swings not sleeping well dry skin extreme itching when stopping medicine loss of concentraton | I am taking my 17 year daughter off of this medication | F | 17 | 2 years | 3/11/2005 | 1 | allergies | mood swings not sleeping well dry skin extreme itching when stopping medicine loss of concentraton | I am taking my 17 year daughter off of this medication | F | 17 | 2 years | 3/11/2005 | 1 | allergies (swollen red eyes) | I have been taking Zytec for over 2 years, it works GREAT, I only take a half tablet daily to control allergies. But for the last 3 months I have been at a loss at to why my hair is falling out-I've read that this may be a side effect of Zyrtec-I've stopped taking it and must put much effort into ensuring my hair grows and get healthy again. I hope that stopping Zytec will help my hair grow back because I now have red swollen eyes and less hair-lovely! | F | 44 | 2 years | 8/23/2005 | 1 | Eczema | My son just turned 9, he started taking Zyrtec when he was 7, his teacher kept complaining about his behavior, he can't remember anything, he looked so lost in the school. He can't sit still, he can't focus on the classwork. His teacher suggested me to talk to the doctor because his behavior just like ADD, I made a research and found this website,I was so shock that Zyrtec will affect the child's behavior so much. I decided to reduce the medicine week by week, now my kid was very good in the school, he remember everything, He completed every sigle classwork/homework. I really think all of the doctors should give the parents warming before the children starts taking ZYRTEC. I feel so sorry for my son. | So many parents has no idea what will happen when their child start s taking this medicine, Please consider not to let the kid take this medicine........... | M | 9 | 2 years | 1/27/2007 | 1 | Nasal allergies | We started giving my son zyrtec at around age 2 for his allergies in the fall, his drainage was so bad that we would become sick every morning. He also started mother's day out at the same time, would cry every day and continued this into the next year would not talk to the teachers or interact with the other children. He also was stuttering when he would talk with us at home. After talking with the school I found out how he was not responding to them at all. So I had him evaluated by a speech pathotoligst and the evaluation was to take 45 min. because he would not talk to them took 2 hrs. At this time he got a severe sinus infection and the Dr. put him on a antibodic for 14 days and took him off the zyrtec during this time he did not stutter and at the 2nd testing they did not pick up on the stuttering but did have him evaluated at the school and after watching his action in the class room suggested that I have him tested for selective mutism. He has now been off the medication for 2 | I think he was just always in a daze, he was also very difficult to manage with crying alot and not wanting to particiate in any activties. | M | 4 | 2 years | 6/16/2006 | 1 | allergies | moody, trouble sleeping at night, agressive behavior, argumentative over the smallest requests | my son has been on zyrtec for 2 years on and off.He is moody and is defiant but I just thought it was normal 4 year old behavior.This week he started acting out, he hit two of his friends, he gets really angry over the littlest things.I was at my wits end and I just thought about looking up side effects and found this website and I am in tears over reading the other reports.I am taking him off zyrtec tonight. | M | 4 | 2 years | 10/13/2008 | 5 | Seasonal Allergies | None noticed. Doc suggested daughter take this at night as some experience drowsiness. She does take it then, but have not seen a 'drowsiness' side effect. | This drug has been a gift to my daughter. Summer of 2009 (pre-allergy-diagnosis) was a nightmare. Daughter coughed all summer long...many trips to doc. End of summer finally diagnosed with allergies. Put on Zyrtec and a nose spray and we finally had our 'normal' daughter back...including sleeping better as she wasn't coughing all of the time. Takes it only during allergy season...stops at first freeze and starts again about mid-March. Summer of 2010 has been GREAT for her! | F | 12 | 1.5 years 10 MG 1X D | 8/20/2010 | 5 | Hives | No noticeable side effects | My daughter had a horrible outbreak of hives when she was just a little over a year old. It happened over the weekend and the ER doctors didn't know what it was. We took her to a dermatologist the next Monday morning, he diagnosed hives. My daughter was taking Zyrtec, Xantac and Benadryl for several weeks to quell the outbreak. She was then put on 1/2 teaspoon of liquid Zyrtec a day to prevent further outbreaks. After a few months we stopped giving it to her, soon after she broke out again. She is now 2 and a half years old and is back on Zyrtec daily, she is doing just fine. She takes it at bedtime. I see no difference in her sleeping pattern or behavior on or off the medication. From the looks of what I have been reading about other children on Zyrtec, I now feel that we have been very fortunate with our daughter. If she would have had adverse effects I would definitely have stopped it. Though, I am concerned about the long term effects of prolonged usage, effects that may not be visible at this time. | F | 2 | 1.5 years 1X D | 2/28/2010 | 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 | 2 | Allergies | Significant weight gain. Went from 145 when I started taking it to almost 170 when I stopped. This was over a 1 1/2 span of taking the medication. | It worked great for my allergies. I slept better and had increased energy. But I could not lose the weight. Went cold turkey in December 2006 and down 5 pounds since stopping. | M | 28 | 1.5 years | 3/12/2007 | 2 | Seasonal allergies | I have been loosing hair... and lots of it. As a female this really seemed abnormal to me and quiet honestly scary. | This drug never seemed to work any better than allegra had. | F | 28 | 1.5 years | 1/26/2009 | 1 | seasonal allergies | My daughter started taking zyrtec when she was 4 1/2, she had trouble sleeping (always waking up in the middle of the night and coming into our beds), she would have extreme horrible tantrums, disagree and argue over the smallest details. | She started taking zyrtec under an allergists care when she was 4 1/2. The doctors never mentioned any possible side effects in children. So when she all of sudden started with the extreme horrible tantrums and the mood swings we thought it was just a phase. She is 6 now and has been off of zyrtec for 1 1/2 months, and we have noticed a change almost immediately. Her tantrums are very few now and can be controlled with a simple time-out. | F | 6 | 1.5 years | 10/24/2008 |