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 | Allergies | I quit taking it not far into 2006 (No coverage anymore), after 3 days I had a VERY itchy scalp/skin, dry mouth, and dry skin. All of it went away after a few days but was surprised to find out others had the same exact experience. I no longer really have allergies either and honestly I am glad I'm not taking it anymore. | Use it if you really need it as it does help but quitting it, the side effects are pretty rough for about a week. Bad enough where you might have to take time off work or put things on hold for a few days. | M | 22 | 3 years | 2/16/2008 | 2 | allergies | Increase in appetite and weight gain!!!! I couldnt undrstand why my clothes were getting snug even with my regular exercise. then i stop taking zytrec for a couple days and my appetite decrease tremendously. And I would have increase dream activity. | Although it did help with my allergies i am goin to discontinue use daily and only use when my symptoms are severe. | F | 37 | 30 days | 2/15/2008 | 1 | allergies and sinus infections | palpitations, feeling disconnected, euphoria, dizziness, hallucinations, weird dreams, mind racing, insomnia, frequent urination, spaciness, OCD, reckless behavior, fast and uncontrollable rage, anger, crying, itching upon withdrawal...depression, OCD, cramping, nausea, extreme tiredness, pain everywhere, inability to focus, loss of motor control, disoriented, waking REM, headaches, itching | This is a dangerous drug. I am so sick after taking this. I stopped taking it two days ago, and I feel so bad. A few years ago, I took a anti-epileptic drug (a dangerous narcotic) called Lyrica and almost lost my life. The side-effects and withdrawal that I am experiencing from Zyrtec are similar...although not quite as profound. I almost got in several car wrecks over the past few days...I hit my dog (hard) for no reason except this fast, uncontrollable rage that came out of nowhere (I love my dogs and would never hurt them)...I can't quiet my mind...I'm so tired and can't sleep...and I'm just not thinking straight. This is a scary drug. Please be careful. Before taking this, I was doing well in life...healthy, happy... Just be careful. | F | 35 | 2 weeks | 2/15/2008 | 1 | For allergy related dizziness | EXTREME ITCHING FOR WEEKS AFTER QUITTING ZYRTEC. I feel so sorry for everyone that will start taking this medicine now that it is OTC. When you try to stop taking zyrtec you will have the worst itching all over your body and it will last for weeks, maybe months. I have tried to stop zyrtec several times in the past 7 years and have been unsuccessful. I am trying again and the painful itching feels like fire ants are attacking every part of your body. There are quite a few sites popping up now with information in regards to this effect. PLEASE CHECK IT OUT!! Spread the word. There should be a major lawsuit against Pfizer for allowing this drug in the marketplace with no warning of this side-effect. | DON'T TAKE ZYRTEC - YOU WILL REGRET IT!! | F | 30 | 7 years | 2/14/2008 | 1 | runny nose, allergic cough | Facial tics (squinting), aggression, night terrors, depression, overly emotional behavior, halucinations, totally zoned out at school | This medication almost ruined my daughter's life. I had no idea this drug was the cause of so much of our misery until I found this site and took her off of it (very slowly to avoid the horrible itching that always happened when we skipped a dose). Try to find an alternative to this drug. We use Nasalcrom with no problems so far. | F | 8 | 5 years | 2/12/2008 | 4 | hives & rashes | I have been experiencing hives & rashes for about 5-6 years. Within the last year I was prescibe 10mg of Zyrtec and would use it when I would have the outbreak. In December 07 I was uncontollable and started taking one everyday. Then sometimes I would take 2. Now it is February and I am complaining because I have put on 10lbs! My weight has always been around 120. I thought this is odd I gain 10lbs in a few weeks? I increased my excersise, I am watching what I eat and I am only gaining more. I thought something was wrong. I will be 50 next month and I was thinking the hormone's are starting. Now it all makes sense especially after what I have been reading it is the Zyrtec! My libido is low too and now I think it is from the Zyrtec, probably along with my concentration level and tiredness. I am off this stuff and will use as I need it. Though I do have a prescription for a .25% cortizone cream that works great for the hives and rashes. I will see what happens in the meantime. | From what I have read I don't think it is as good as it says, yes it keeps the hives under control but who wants to gain 50lbs! | F | 50 | 2 days | 2/9/2008 | 1 | allergies | My two year old was a bear on the product. Did some research found other stories simular. | We started my kids on a natural product. I'm not saying it cures but our allergy symptoms are not a problem. Check it out for yourself www.monavie.com Any questions email me [email protected] | M | 40 | 2 weeks | 2/8/2008 | 1 | hives daily | sore joints, I wake up in the night with panic attacks, severe depression I feel like i have lost myself | I am so glad I found this web page I was totaly to a point that I just want to lay down and die. No pills worked on my hives, and I thought this was it when zyrtec worked, but the side effects are not worth it I don't get out of bed because I am so tired and depressed when i do interact with my children I am usually screaming and irritable. Befor zyrtec I was not this way and was starting to think I was loosing my mind I didn't take one today and I don't plan on it either I would rather itch and swell up everywhere | F | 33 | 8 months | 2/7/2008 | 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 | allergies | severe stuttering and vaginal irration | my daughter began this med when she was 2 years old. within 1 month she began to STUTTER. she has been on this med about 1 1/2 years. we have spent thousands of $ on speech therapy and it has not helped. the stuttering has become worse over time. the zyrtec dose was upped over time due to her weight gain. the more zyrtec, the more she could not complete a single sentence. i took her off of it 1 week ago and have seen mild improvement and severe withdrawl (itching, crying, sleeplessness, depression). she has also experienced vaginal irration for about 1 year, so much that i took her to a gyn 2 weeks ago and had her tested for ANYTHING and everything. all of her tests came back normal. i began to suspect zyrtec after praying about it. i am now convinced that it is the medication.. anyone else experience this? | F | 3 | 1 years | 2/7/2008 | 1 | All year round allergies | MIGRAINES! Anyone who's had them will tell you, NOT PLEASANT! The worst pain I have EVER experienced. P.S. To people who have, if you get a migraine, the minute you see the blind spot, take excederin migraine. WORKS soooo well. | I had gotten a migraine ONCE before I started Zyrtec, about 2 years back. Then I started taking Zyrtec. My whole family called it "The Miracle Drug" I thought, "I'll never ever have to suffer again! This is so great!" Then about 3 months in, I got a migraine. We thought, oh, well I've had one before, it's just a rare thing. Then about 3 months later, another! Then approx. 3 months later, AGAIN! Then I stopped taking it for finacial reasons, but saved ONE pill. We were going to a party that was outside, and so I took it. BOOM! Migraine. I KNOW that's what caused them. It's been about, oh, 4-5 months with no migraines. I would NOT take this medicine. FOR ANYTHING. | F | 13 | 1 years | 2/7/2008 | 1 | allergies | after the 4th day starting getting severe muscle & joint pain. Then starting sweating nonstop followed by cold chills ongoing for 48hrs straight. Stopped taking the Zyrtec and now I have hives which from reading others reports is part of the withdraw. Do not take this drug. | F | 46 | 6 days | 2/6/2008 | 1 | Itchiness when sweating | Uh, let me think... crushing depression, though i didn't realize it, each time i took this piece of crap, i would be depressed for up to a week afterwards, almost inclined to kill myself, that's how bad i felt | Do NOT take this, EVER. | M | 18 | 4 weeks | 2/6/2008 | 1 | Chronic post-nasal drip/allergies | increased blood pressure, heart palpitations, anxiety | 5 days ago my doctor prescribed Zyrtec to deal with chronic post-nasal drip due to allergies. After the first day of taking (at night), I woke up feeling anxious and my heart was fluttering/palpitating. Since these were not listed side effects on the insert, I thought that perhaps I was just having an off day. Five days later and feeling the same, I was having a check up with another doctor, who informed me my blood pressure was 130/96 when it had been 120/70 just 5 days before--which is also strange because I am fit and otherwise healthy. I called my primary care doctor, who said to discontinue the medicine because it can have cause increases in blood pressure and tachycardia. | F | 26 | 5 days | 2/5/2008 | 1 | seasonal allergies | my son is soon to be 7 yrs old and was prescribed zyrtec syrup when he was 2 yrs old for chronic ear infections related to allergies. He had then developed behavioral problems and has had them on and off since. After being off zyrtec for a couple of months now his behavior has turned around. Today he woke up stuffy and naturally I gave him zyrtec. Horrible day at school. Outbursts and aggressive. I couldn't put my finger on what was different about today except the zyrtec and when I found this site and all I have read I am horrified. I will never give him zyrtec again. | Thank you for sharing your comments. Because you shared - you may have saved my son. | F | 37 | 5 years | 1/30/2008 | 1 | allergy control for allergy asthma | I started taking the Zyrtec in December, and within 60 days gained 20 pounds. I was told I had simply reached 'that age'. While taking the Zyrtec non-stop over the year - the weight continued to add on at about 1 pound per month after I was told that Zyrtec could increase appetite. So - the increase continued even though I was re-doubling my efforts to change. Prior to taking this medication, I have NEVER had any problems with weight...EVER. And since taking it, even life-style changes in diet and exercise have had no impact. I find that shocking for someone who NEVER exercised to be able to get nothing out of it at all. It's counter intuitive, to say the least. I also experienced other side effects, which may also have resulted from the weight gain - I sweat ALL the time. I never used to sweat very much at all. | It was only partially effective in keeping my sinuses drained. I took it religiously as sinus infection preventative, and I still ended up with an infection at my usual time of year - the following winter. The infection cleared up more readily without antibiotic and it kept things flowing and prevented the facial pain. But, overall, especially with the side effects, I wouldn't consider this any better than any OTC sinus drainage drug that could be started AFTER the sinus infection sets in. | F | 38 | 460 days | 1/29/2008 | 5 | year round allergies, pet allergies | none | Wow...what a great website! I've been reading others comments and simply can't believe what I'm reading!! My son has been taking zytec for about 3 years now, and we have never, never experienced any of the horrible side effects some have described. At the risk of sounding like "one of those parents", my son is a great student, straight A's, no behavioral problems, just an all around well-adjusted kid who is a good friend and leader in his class. Good luck to all you parents who've had bad experiences, but we love and will continue to use zyrtec when it goes OTC. | M | 11 | 3 years | 1/23/2008 | 2 | Allergies | My son had been taking the Zyrtec 10 mg chewable for about 2 years. We recently switched to the liquid about three months ago. We have noticed some severe behavioral problems. He is extremely disagreeable, very moody, has outbursts daily and often seems very angry. He almost seems depressed. Often just minutes after an episode he will have a very calm and apologetic attitude. He has always been recognized by his teachers and other adults for his good behavior in the past. He has not been sleeping through the night. He's extremely tired in the morning and talks of very vivid dreams or even nightmares. He's also having great difficulty focusing both at home and at school. I was in the process of having him tested for ADD before learning that many children on Zyrtec are experiencing the same symptoms. It seemed to worsen these past few months when we switched to the liquid formula. Not sure if there is a connection. We have immediately removed him from the drug. | M | 8 | 2 days | 1/21/2008 | 1 | Allergies | behavior problems, didn't listen, angry, you name it. Also very tired during the day and very fussy. | In my opinion, this is VERY bad medicine for young children. Like many readers this was the only place that I found to confirm my thoughts about this medicine. The drug companies would loose lots of money if the truth were told. Once I stopped giving my son this stuff he returned to his normal happy self. For a while I thought he was possesed. I feel like a bad parent having given him this stuff for as long as I did. Don't make the same mistake........ | M | 4 | 1 years | 1/18/2008 | 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 |