ZYRTEC Reviews (CETIRIZINE HYDROCHLORIDE)Average Rating: 2.0 (1820 Ratings)Filter ResultsCompare ZYRTEC with similar:
Type: Over-the-counter Drug
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Results are sorted by Date added. 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 | FDA Adverse Event Summary
| RATING | REASON | SIDE EFFECTS FOR ZYRTEC | COMMENTS | SEX | AGE | DURATION/ DOSAGE | DATE ADDED |
| 1 | Allergies/Asthma/Rhinitis | Insomnia, weight gain, irritability, can't deal with people, flying off the handle for no reason, headaches, digestive issues, "spaced out" feeling, lack of concentration, can't seem to "grasp" what I'm reading, etc, etc. | Absolutely useless as an antihistamine and I've tried them all. Claritin and Zyrtec do nothing for me. Complete waste of money. I'm back on Benadryl and prescriptions eye drops. I don't understand why doctors/allergists seem so gung-ho on this medication, because it DID NOT help at all but did give me unpleasant side-effects. These pills completely changed my personality, and judging from the other reviews here, I'm not the only one. AVOID. | M | 37 | 5 years 20mg 1X day | 10/6/2012 | 1 | Allergies | Zyrtec has made me irritable, tired and nervous. | I can't function. Stopping this drug immediately! | F | 51 | 2 days 1X day | 10/3/2012 | 5 | general allergies (tree pollen) | none | I'm very sensitive to medication, and this one is the only allergy medication I have been able to take that does not make me want to sleep for hours or give me a groggy medicine head. I love this stuff! | F | 37 | 2 years 5 or 10 MG 1X day | 9/7/2012 | 1 | Ragweed Allergies | This med causes severe depression! Take at your own risk. They advertise it as non-sedating, that's almost laughable. It's as sedating as Benedryl. If you feel suicidal or dark depression, get off of it ASAP before you harm yourself or others. Take Quercetin for seasonal allergies from your local Health Food Store. It's a natural Mast Cell Stabilizer made from the white rind of lemons or onion peel. The allergy drug Nalcrom is the synthetic version of Quercetin. It's cheap, effective, and actually "good for you" in that it's a powerful anti-oxidant and will reduce free-radical damage (aging). | M | 40 | 1 weeks 20 MG | 9/7/2012 | 3 | corn pollen / working in field | I've been OK in the past taking zyrtec--drowsiness and feeling stoned shortly after starting. But this time, pollination season has gone on longer, and I'm getting side effects that last even on days when I'm not in the field, and not taking the drug. The headache in my temples is the worst, and now repeatedly recurs as the drug wears off. Also histamine-like symptoms (stuffiness, sore throat) which I assume is just a rebound effect. I feel like my salivary glands are also confused / sore--again, probably a rebound effect. When I try to take a full dose (10 mg pill) I might as well be a zombie for a few hours afterwards. | That said, zyrtec is the ONLY allergy med I have found that works in extreme conditions. So long as I have to (basically) keep dumping corn pollen all over my face and body, I will continue to take zyrtec. I also take a couple when traveling in case of emergency, for similarly extreme circumstances. I would recommend this pill only for short-term use, and not more than half a pill every 12-18 hours (adult dose). In fact, I can feel the half pill wearing off at around 17-18 hours. When I start to itch, I take another half quickly, before I start to wheeze, snot up, get swollen eyelids. It is very effective, but IMHO, not really appropriate for long-term use, nor for "convenience" use. If you can deal with the situation by removing the allergen (or removing yourself to an allergen-free space) or by taking something weaker, do that. I wish they made a 5 mg version that I could split into two 2.5 mg doses (which might also be more appropriate for pediatric use). The take home: meds are not candy. They do things to your body. Treat them with respect, and don't use them unless you really HAVE to. In contrast, some other allergy meds score barely above placebo as far as effectiveness. They have fewer side effects--but they empty your wallet, and don't do much for your allergies. | F | 46 | 15 times 5 mg 2X day | 8/23/2012 | 1 | seasonal allergies | Have taken this off and on for several years, this is the first time I've had such a quick reaction. Mega mood swings, anger one moment weepy the next. I have been diagnosed with Sjogrens which presents with dry mouth among other symptoms. Now I'm wondering if Zyrtec is the cause. | I knew this stuff made me very drowsy so I only took a half a pill, 5 mg. Yesterday I came home and took an hour and a half nap and still slept well at my regular bed time! | F | 62 | 2 days 5 mg 1X day | 8/20/2012 | 3 | Indoor and outdoor allergies | I would take the pill at night. I was so tired even at 2:00 the next day . I felt like a zombie and was having crazy and upsetting dreams all night. I did use a generic brand . I stopped cold turkey and I feel restless legs at night and headache. It definitely cured allergy symptoms , but is not worth the other feelings . | F | 46 | 4 days 10 mg | 8/17/2012 | 2 | Itching | Worst allergy med ever!! This made me feel crazy. I was soo easily irritated by anything. I was a crazy women. It also made me sleepy. My mood was constantly down and I'm usually an outgoing fun person. It took my itching away, but I rather itch then Be so nervous and die of a stroke. | Zyrtec withdrawls also stink from what i heard. | F | 26 | 2 weeks 5mg 1X day | 8/11/2012 | 3 | Allergies (pollen and mosquitoes) | Fatigue, mild depression, moodiness | It works on the allergies but the side effects are unpleasant. It depends on how bad your allergies are. I still take this about once a week in the summer if I spend an evening outdoors so the mosquito bites will not turn to hives. I also use it for a few days in a row if I have an acute pollen allergy attack. If you are so miserable from your allergies that you are tired and depressed, it is worth it to feel better physically and then the mild to moderate side effects (if that's all you have) are worth it. If you can be happy while having a full blown allergy attack, then I say don't take it. | F | 45 | 1 years 10 mg 1X day | 7/21/2012 | 1 | Allergies | Anxiety, depression, anger | My 5 year old son started taking otc zyrtec when he was 3 due to allergies per the doctor's suggestion. His allergies would lead to recurring sinus infections. While it seemed to help with itching and hives, it didn't help very much with the allergy/sinus symptoms. I would usually give the zyrtec to him as needed but the pediatrician said to start giving it to him daily. As soon as he was taking it daily, I started noticing changes in him such as irritabilty, crying over little things all the time, huge increase in separation anxiety, being scared of noises and darkness, and depression. I was getting concerned due to the comments he would make... "I hate my life." "I wish I didn't have a life". "I hate school". "Nobody likes me at school". "I hate my life". He also would start following me everywhere. Won't let me out of his sight because he says he's scared. Clings to be when I drop him at daycare when he was fine before. Although I am not 100% sure it is from the Zyrtec, I am taking him off immediately after reading all the posts about the bad side effects. I was not told to look for mood changes due to the zyrtec so had just chalked it up to him being a child and going through changes. I stopped the zyrtec yesterday so I'm hoping he will revert back to his happy and secure self. | F | 5 | 1.5 years 5 mg 1X day | 7/18/2012 | 1 | Stop reactions to allergy shots | Extreme itchiness that lasted for months after taking the medication. Jittery when not taking the drug. | M | 42 | 6 months | 7/8/2012 | 1 | allergies | The problem starts when you stop taking it. I get very itchy, recently I even got hives and I'm wondering if it's also a side effect from stopping Zyrtec. It goes away when I take another dose. Zyrtec helps w. my asthma & allergies but this uncontrollable itching is enough to drive someone mad! It's insane. I will try to wean myself off slowly. I was able to last year but then went back to using Zyrtec because it's the only thing that works. I will work on weaning off again slowly. I'm taking the liquid version now so I can easily control the dose. | Please contact if you have any other tips of getting off this drug! Every single person I know seems to have this effect as well and no one is willing to stop it. Even my friends' kids are on it! Awful. | F | 30 | 2 months 10mg 1X day | 7/6/2012 | 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 day | 6/27/2012 | 1 | Allergy to dust and mold | I'm generally a very calm person but by my 3rd dose of Zyrtec, I became a raging lunatic. I have never in my life felt so angry. I had absolutely no control over my emotions. It got so bad- I had to leave my home and stay in a hotel overnight because I didn't trust myself for fear I would hurt someone. My husband of 20 years was blown away by the effect ths medication had on me since I am the calm voice of reason in our family. The intense emotional reaction lasted about 18 hours. For the next 2 days, I felt as though my brain was "bruised" with a dull pain on the right side. It took 4 days to completely recover. | The FDA should investigate the complaints and undertake a complete benefit risk analysis. There are so many alternative allergy medications available, if indeed many others are experiencing the same adverse reaction (rage) the drug should be pulled from the market. | F | 51 | 3 days 10 mg 1X day | 6/25/2012 | 1 | Allergies | Nervousness, volatile, easily annoyed and enraged, generally irritable, frequently irrational and sometimes down right psychotic. | This drug, as well as Claritin and any other antihistamines for that matter (and their respective generic brands), are incredibly dangerous and destructive to some sensitive peoples psyche and emotions, and should carry MUCH STRONGER warnings of these risks. The problem is that they work well in addressing allergies so a person is anxious to get that relief; however, to some of us sensitive people, they cause an underlying feeling of nervousness, make you volatile, easily annoyed and enraged, generally irritable, frequently irrational and sometimes down right psychotic. I am so grateful that after 10 years of struggling with these periodic and totally uncontrollable emotional issues, my beautiful new boyfriend made me realize that it was the antihistamines causing all of my behavior issues. OMG I FINALLY HAVE MY LIFE BACK!! Do some research on the Internet the link between psychotic behavior and antihistamines is well documented. Since stopping these drugs, I am back to the calm, rational, loving and reasonable person I used to be. DO YOURSELF (and your loved ones) A COLLOSAL FAVOR - if you are taking any antihistamines get off of them immediately. Instead, address your allergies with a saline nasal rinsing system (I do it up to 3 times a day every day) like the SinuCleanse, readily available at Walgreens and CVS. I also use allergy drops in my eyes, when necessary. I am forever grateful to my loving partner for | F | 48 | 10 years 5MG/120MG 1X day | 6/24/2012 | 1 | seasonal allergies | I took this on and off for years after claritin stopped working for me. I have also battled episodes of intense anger and depression for years. I finally put it together with the zrytec after my second child. I stopped taking it for almost a year due to mild allergies season and started again. I became downright abusive to my husband and children. I had no patience only intense rage. I misplaced the pills and was finefor a week. Started them again for 3 days and the rage came back. I tried this 3 more times for different lenghts of time until I concluded it was the zrytec and stopped. I had no rage or anger for the following few weeks and havent since. I am trying to repair the damage with my children fromthis stuff. It did work controlling my allergies and has been the only drug successful at that so far but I will never use it again. | F | 41 | 1 years 10 | 6/23/2012 | 5 | Indoor and Outdoor Allergies | No side effects at 10mg. Higher doses tend to make me sleepy. | This is the best antihistamine for my allergies. I only take it during bad allergy season or if I am cleaning the house (dust allergies). I have tried both name brand and drugstore generics, both work well. | F | 40 | 5 years 10 mg 1X day | 6/9/2012 | 1 | pet allerigies | extreme lethargy, insomnia, weight gain, "foggy feeling", dizziness, irregular menstrual cycle, depression, anxiety, irritability | Stopped taking this drug 1 week ago. My brother was battling with severe seasonal allergies and I recommended that he take Zyrtec daily because it works very well for my allergy symptoms. 2 doses later he started complaining of all these symptoms that I had been battling with for years. Since quitting I have lost 4 pounds, have way more energy and I actually feel like I am happy again. The itchiness is uncomfortable and my allergies are bothersome but I would trade that for feeling happy again anyday. | F | 30 | 3 years 10mg 1X day | 6/9/2012 | 5 | allergies | Sleepiness | F | 30 | 6 days 10 | 6/7/2012 | 1 | Seasonal Allergies inside and out | zombie-like state, severe feeling of disconnect, inability to concentrate, poor motor skills, confusion, extreme tiredness, constant yawning, feeling of being in "slow motion". | I just developed seasonal allergies for the first time this year, so I was not familiar with the brands. I purchased a generic form of a Benedryl allergy pill but found I had to take it too many times a day, it was too weak. So my doc suggested Zyrtec and both he and the pharmacist said it's "non-drowsy" and works great. Well, I only took it for two days and that was one day too long. It turned me into a virtual zombie (which lasted into a third day after I had stopped taking it). Not only was I extremely tired and lethargic, but I couldn't concentrate on even simple things. I would literally stare at a word on my monitor for several seconds trying to comprehend what the word said. It messed up my motor skills so typing was difficult, and I was extremely distracted and disoriented. I've never experienced such bizarre side effects, it really zonked me out and rendered me virtually useless. I also felt like I was moving and thinking in SLOW motion. It was awful. I'm not even attempting a lesser dose, I want nothing to do with this drug. FYI: I am not typically sensitive to drugs either and rarely feel any side effects of typical medications. PS: Yes, it did eliminate the allergy symptoms by the way, but the relief was in NO WAY worth feeling like a mindless zombie. | F | 39 | 2 days 10mg 1X day | 6/7/2012 |