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 |
| 3 | Indoor and outdoor allergies | Weight gain is probably the worst side effect of this drug. I balloon 10-15 pounds when on it for extended time. Other side effect is loss of sexual interest. Once I go off of it, within 24 hours I'm fine again. | This is the only drug that works for me. I take it at night and it does cause a deep sleep like a sleeping pill. But takes a while to get going in the morning. I"m back on it now for about 6 weeks because of the Fall allergies. I plan to get off today and take a break. I'm tired of the weight issue and will seek someting to try at night and get by. Also I noticed if you use it regularly it does lose some of its working strength. | M | 56 | 12 years | 11/15/2008 | 4 | cat allergies | I experienced weight gain after only a week on zyrtec. I noticed that my clothes kept getting tighter, but I was running consistently. I also was very tired on zyrtec. | Zrytec helped my allergies, but I just can't deal with the weight gain. | F | 35 | 21 days | 11/13/2008 | 3 | environmental allergies | My daughter has been taking zyrtec for over 3 years. I never put many thing together because when she started taking the medicine was the same time children at the age of 3 start acting out - crying about nothing - temper tantrums - etc. Her doctor recommended that she take the 10 mg 2 times a day due to her itchy reaction to her allergies. Unfortunately, I never questioned the behavior side effects of this medicine. My daughters 1st grade teacher asked me to look into the effects of zyrtec and how effects children. I am shocked at what I have read! As of today she is no longer taking the medicine! We are looking for a natural alternative! However, she does get monthly shots to help build her immune system and we are as of now going to continue with the shots, BUT no more zyrtec! We are hoping that her emotional outburst will get better ... who would have thought ???? I'm so disappointed in the reality of the medical world! | If you have a child don't let them take this drug!!!! It might help their symptoms, BUT who knows what it is doing to their BRAINS! | F | 6 | 3 years | 11/13/2008 | 3 | plant and pet allergies | itchiness, dry mouth, sore throat | I LOVE this drug because I can breathe and be around my dog or in my garden. I DISLIKE this drug because I get so dried out it's painful, and the rebound effect if I miss a dose is twice as bad as my allergies were before I started taking it. After my dog is no longer with us I will discontinue and not get a new dog. Until then I will take this every single day, it is worth it. | F | 46 | 6 years | 11/11/2008 | 1 | Allergies | While taking Zyrtec, I noticed an inability to focus and organize my thoughts as well as a substantial decrease in attention span. My memory was not as sharp, almost porous, as though I was physically present but without awareness. I became forgetful. I started to procrastinate and found it quite difficult,not to start, but to complete projects, either work or personal. I was quite irritable and easily frustrated - not a fun person to be around. I only took Zyrtec for 2 month. When my seasonal allergy symptoms began to subside, I stopped taking Zyrtec and within a few days, I noticed all of the above symptoms begin to subside. | Although Zyrtec did work in relieving my allergy symptoms, I would never take it again due to the life altering side effects. There are other medications and ways to relieve my allergies than to take this medication. The risk is simply not worth the reward. | M | 44 | 60 days | 11/11/2008 | 1 | seasonal allergies | fatigue, anxiety, mood changes | I bought Zyrtec because I've been having a hard time finding 12-hour Claritin-D. I felt tired and anxious the whole time I was on it. The week before had been unusually stressful, so I assumed I was still getting over it. I saw a commercial that said that Zyrtec might make you tired, so I went out and found some more Claritin. Not only did the tiredness go away immediately, but the bad thoughts I'd been having all week immediately disappeared. | F | 30 | 7 days | 11/9/2008 | 5 | hives | Zyrtec has worked on my hives, but after 2 years, I've decided the side effects are no longer worth it. I have gained 15 pounds (never gained weight in my life - even during my pregnancies), and no amount of dieting and exercising has gotten it off, and I have been living in a stupor for the entire time I've been on it. I now try to get through the hives and I feel so much better. In the two months since I haven't taken Zyrtec, I've literally dropped 7 pounds. My clothes are all loose. I have done nothing differently other than stopping the Zyrtec. I feel so energetic now and will never take the drug again. I'd much prefer the hives thank you. | F | 47 | 2 years | 11/8/2008 | 1 | cat allergies | Been taking this for a week. Pain up the back of my neck and ears. Strong headaches in the temple region. I never get headaches. This is pain. Tired muscles, felt like I had the flu. | I did not think the relief I might have felt was worth it. The pain is terrible--like a migraine. Even had a massage therapist work on me. After only one week, I have a very strong feeling this is the culprit | F | 55 | 8 days | 11/8/2008 | 1 | asthma triggered by allergies | My 8 year old son has been taking Zyrtec for nearly 4 years. During that time, we have struggled with him concentrating in school and learning to read. We even had him repeat kindergarten and attend private reading tutoring for 1.5 years ($4760!!). We were about to invest $2500 in a private neuropsychological evaluation to see if he had a learning disability or ADD. Almost two weeks ago, I discontinued the Zyrtec in preparation for allergy testing. In that time, his teacher and reading tutor reported a measurable leap in his attention span and reading performance. We saw it at home too. Similar experiences posted to this site has confirmed my suspicion about the connection to this amazing turn-around and the cessation of his Zyrtec. It's the root of all evil. | Question any medical professional or change in your child's behavior if Zyrtec is involved. | M | 8.5 | 4 years | 11/7/2008 | 2 | allergies | spacy during the day, and sleepwalking at night from drowsiness right before I went to bed | F | 20 | 1 years | 11/6/2008 | 1 | Allergies to pollen | Muscle and joint pain. Iritable mood. | When I first started to take Zyrtec it worked great on my sllergies. But after a few weeks I started to develop serious pains especially in my neck, shoulders and chest muscles. The pain was on par with or worse than when I had a serious muscle pull. I did some research and saw that Zyrtec could have these side effects and stopped taking it. Within a week the pains subsided. After I stopped taking it I also realized that my mood had been severly affected. I was ready to leave my wife and a long planned vacation was almost completely un-enjoyable. These symptoms too ended when I stopped taking Zyrtec. However, the pains from this drug never fully went away and my doctors are trying to figure out if the chronic pains I am experiencing are related to the use of Zyrtec. All blood tests are normal, but since I took Zyrtec I have had no weeks when I have been fully free of aches and pains. Similarly, my mother-in-law recently started to take Zyrtec and is now saying that she is experiencing | M | 36 | 4 weeks | 11/4/2008 | 4 | seasonal allergies | I have been gaining weight and feeling bloated. My wedding ring does not even fit anymore. I'm beginning to think it could be from the Zyrtec. | It has definately helped my allergies. It doesn't make me feel spaced out and weird like other allergy medicines. | F | 28 | 2 years | 11/3/2008 | 1 | allergies | My daughter had increased negativity and low mood while taking this. When prescribed low dose of SSRI -- Major depression, Mood changes, irritability, sleepiness, inability to concentrate, personality change, PLEASE SEE RESEARCH ABOUT gene CYP2D6 which affects metabolism of this drug. | Please read up on CYP2D6 before taking Zyrtec or giving this to your children! It is the main pathway for the metabolism of zyrtec and if a person has a certain genetic variation, side effects may come on gradually and a large number of medications can cause serious drug interactions with it. About 6-10% of our population has this genetic variation which has do with the channels the medications are metabolized in the liver. Funny thing is, a side effect of one medication may lead to the prescription of the second .... and the downward spiral begins. Beware in children and adolescents! If you suspect you may fall into this genetic profile, please look to alternative allergy medications. A frightening experience. Thank goodness for good doctors, a caring therapist, and the internet. | F | 16 | 8 months | 11/2/2008 | 2 | allergies | I took Zyrtec for four years to battle seasonal allergies and cat allergies. I suffered headaches, stomach problems, and feelings of rage and anger that I thought were symptoms of PMS or stress related. Last weekend, I was visiting my sister, who has a cat, and I forgot to take my nighttime dose. I took it the next morning and drove four hours home. I was EXHAUSTED. More exhausted than ever, with an excruciating headache. I decided to stop taking Zyrtec. I am on day four and the itchiness is almost unbearable. My head, fingertips, back, everything itches! BUT, I feel so happy, relaxed, and with the help of my nettie pot, no nasal allergy symptoms. I now wonder if I could go off my Nexium--stomach medicine--because perhaps the pain was a side-effect of the Zyrtec. I will deal with the itchiness and will not take Zyrtec again. | If you start this medication, keep a detailed diary of any physical or emotional changes you notice. Try a nettie pot!! Demonstrations are available on YouTube, and they are sold in drugstores and online. | F | 38 | 4 years | 10/30/2008 | 1 | Allergies | My daughter had behavioral changes...she cried constantly. She was honestly depressed. She never smiled. She was also very itchy on Zyrtec. After about 6 months she developed a motor tic. It took awhile to link it to Zyrtec, but within a month of going off Zyrtec the motor tic went away. She was also able to smile and laugh again. | Zyrtec was a horrible experience for my daughter. | F | 7 | 1 years | 10/30/2008 | 1 | seasonal allergies | Behavior and mood changes (aggressive, moody, irritable). Skin irritations. | On a recommendation from our pediatrician, we gave this to our 2-year old son. We saw behavior changes, but thought it was simply the "terrible 2's". This should not be given to children!!! I'd be interested in hearing from other parents and what (if anything) you have found to give children for seasonal allergies. I am investigating more natural options from now on. | M | 2 | 45 days | 10/28/2008 | 4 | Allergies to pollen, dust and molds | 5mg Zyrtec works just fine for my symptom control. I have been on 5mg for the last 6 years.(I now split the 10mg. OTC in half) 10mg causes blurry vision about 2-6 hrs. after taking it. I recommend it IF you monitor your symptoms vs. side effects. I tried Claritin but became EXTREMELY AGITATED AND IRRITABLE after only 1 dose. I tried Claritin again to make sure of the side effects. Same results. | Buy the generic when it is on sale at Rite-Aid. You will save a TON of money. | M | 53 | 6 years | 10/26/2008 | 3 | | 10/25/2008 | 1 | Allergies | I ran out of my Allegra and took Zyrtec once. I became disoriented, confused, and could not remember a significant part of the evening. It was enough that my doctor is now making me get an MRI to make sure there wasn't another cause for the memory loss. | F | 37 | 1 days | 10/24/2008 | 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 |