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 | Uncontrollable coughing, vomiting, drowsiness. Taken a night as Zyrtec manufacturer recommended. | Our son is 5 and our doctor wanted to try something other than Loritadine which we've taken for 2+ years to see if it would increase allergy symptoms. He's been on Zyrtec for 3 days (taken at night) and all three nights has had uncontrollable coughing until he throws up. We have done albuterol to try to control the coughing, Benadryl to help dry him out, and nothing is working. To use the nebulizer he can barely hold his head up in the middle of the night. I don't recommend this drug for anyone, especially children. I doubted the medication before I found this website and now I'm afraid of it. It's amazing how fast the negative effects of this medicine affect his little body. (Also on Pulmicort, Benadryl, and Singulair). Going back to Loritadine, sent this site to our doctor, FLUSHING THE ZYRTEC. | F | 32 | 3 days | 4/2/2007 | 4 | Food Allergies | Weight gain - Stretching and bending exercises become difficult because the omentum packs on pounds. My belly has gained girth, but not my chin or any extremities. Frankly I have to stop because I need to breathe. Antihistamines in general seem to make people pack on pounds. I know very few habitual hayfever sufferers. Threshold itchiness - it can feel like you're about to get hives all the time, but you never do. It feels like electricity to some people I've talked to. Lethargy - While I don't feel tired, I notice that my day ends considerably sooner than it did before I started taking Zyrtec. My already considerably short attention span is even shorter, and I find that my attention to detail is easily side tracked, and end up doing stupid things of little use or consequence. Ironically, I fall asleep as soon as I take Zyrtec at night, but find myself staring at the ceiling with my mind racing | I started taking this because everything I ate was causing me to break out in hives and fall asleep. Zyrtec stopped that enough so that I could function during the day, but the beneficial effects are wearing off now. I'm tired again after I eat and am beginning to get itchier. After ceasing Zyrtec for a few days, I've noticed that I feel pretty itchy all the time, so I try not to scratch. I am wondering if this particular antihistamine might have been blocking some itchiness it would have been better to be aware of. In fooling the body into not reacting for some things, it may fool the body into not reacting for important things - like yeast infections. This is not good. Frankly, I don't think this should be given to children. It seems to make me not care about some important things. Childrens' bodies are too formative to be exposed to something that could have lasting or permanent effects on their bodies, brain chemistry and social wiring. | M | 42 | 7 months | 4/1/2007 | 2 | allergies | I am supposed to start taking Zyrtec... I wasn't able to pick up my prescription yesterday and now have to wait to Monday. I was curious about this drug and found this website. After reading about all these horrible experiences I must admit I am terrified to start taking this. I have allergies and eczema, no other medications have worked for me and zyrtec is my last option. Is it worth it? Will I experience all these terrible things? | F | 27 | | 3/31/2007 | 2 | seasonal alleriges; red, itchy eyes | Extremely lethargic all day after taking before bed. Experienced hallucinations as well. Yelled at my son for something that didn't really happen. | I will not be taking this drug again. | F | 38 | 2 days | 3/31/2007 | 5 | Allergies | I loveeeeeeeeeeeeeee this stuff. I can't belive people have side effects at all. But then again if you read above a lot of them are so called "parents" feed this stuff to kids under like 8. Stick to bendryl for the little ones. The less meds they take the better. WAKE UP! For everyone else over the age of 8ish and not a parent there are truly few side effects to it. If you get a little lightheaded that little label on the bottle tha says dizzy explains why. Take the stuff with food or go back to bendryl. Stay inside more and change your filters in your house. There are a lot of things that dont require medicie look into them before taking anything. | I only take it when i NEED it. AKA im about to totaly pass out bec i can't take it anymore. otherwie dont take it. let our body learn to deal! | F | 22 | 2 years | 3/29/2007 | 1 | Allergies | WORST MEDICINE EVER. I am so glad that I found this website, although I had to search google to find it. I have been giving this to my 5 yr old daughter and I will stop immediatly. She has been crying when she goes to preschool for no reason. She has been having temper tantrums and just so moody. I feel so bad that I've been punishing her for her bad attitude, taking away cartoons, early to bed, taking away toys, etc... She tells me the reason she cries is because she is afraid that her grandma isn't going to come back and pick her up. I was so confused by this. She has been in preschool for over a month and hasn't ever felt this way. She didn't go to school on a Monday due to having the flu over the weekend and I took her that day to the doctor to deal with the allergies she has been having. My husband takes Zyrtec and it has worked well for him, so we started my daughter on it. I started on Monday evening. On Wed morning at preschool is when the crying started. This has been happenin | F | 5 | 2 weeks | 3/28/2007 | 1 | allergies | Aggressive behavior and irritability in 5 year old son. He would become upset over small issues. | My 5 year old has taken Zyrtec on and off with colds and allergy symptoms over the last year. We always thought his aggressive behavior and irritability was due to the fact he was sick during the time he was taking the medicine. (He also takes Singulair, Nasonex and Pulmicort.) This makes it hard to determine what med is causing his problems. He is experiencing a very difficult allergy season now and his 5mg/day dose was not working as well as it once had. My pediatrician recommended increasing his dosage to 10 mg/day. I checked the internet to make sure this was appropriate for his age and came across this website. We took him off Zyrtec 2 days ago and have already noticed a significant difference. I am so relieved and what a joy to have my son's happy personality back! Now we just have to determine what medicine will work for him without the side effects. Any suggestions? We do have appointments with an ENT and allergist over the next two weeks. Hopefully we will get some r | F | 36 | 1 years | 3/28/2007 | 1 | Environmental allergies | I am both relieved and horrified that I am not alone in dealing with the side effects with our six year old son. He was recently increased to two tsp....coincindentally his anger and aggression doubled at this time. We took him off, only to deal with hives but I don't care. The change is so positive, we have a bright, happy, loving child instead of a crazy screaming irritable one. Some one should do something, esp. since so many ADHD and autistic children might be having symptoms aggrivated with this drug. | Anyone know how to get the word out on possible side effects for our little ones? | F | 42 | 6 months | 3/26/2007 | 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 | 2 | Allergies | I was alert and awake the day before I started taking this. I slep t very well, but the next day I felt like I needed more sleep. On my second day I feel like I haven't slept right in over a week. I feel sleep deprived, but I have zero allergies. I don't think it's worth it. | I'd rather take Benadryl. Zyrtec makes me feel exhausted. Benadryl makes me drowsy, but not to such an extreme. | F | 30 | 2 days | 3/21/2007 | 5 | year-long allergies/sinusitis | VERY drowsy when I take it in the morning, so I take it in the early evening, though I'm STILL drowsy the next day, like I could just lay my head down and fall asleep anytime, I have a hard time wanting to get out of bed, feel lazier in general. BIGGIE~ 30 lb weight gain in ONE year, and ALWAYS hungry!! AGGHHH!!!! | For its intended purpose, this is the BEST antihistimine I have ever taken, started on Clartin, progressed to Allegra180, and now Zyrtec 5-10mg/day. It wipes out the itch in my eyes, post nasal drip I thought I would drown in, sinus pain and pressure and, also got rid of a 'big ball of fur' type of feeling in the back of my throat (probably irritation from Post nasal drip..). The weight gain is horrible, after losing 135 pounds and keeping it off for 5 years (before starting Zyrtec), to gain this much weight is VERY troubling to me, I have tried to get off of Zyrtec and wind up with horrible sinus headaches, so maybe some day I can wean slowly off of it.....!! Some day SOON | F | 37 | 1 years | 3/17/2007 | 5 | Recuring Hives - unknown allergy | Occasional drowsiness. | 1 pill/day 10mg taken in the morning. I have been very pleased with Zyrtec's ability to keep the hives away. I still get redness and hot patches (skin gets very hot to touch) where the "itchy hives" would have been. When the Zyrtec starts wearing off, the "itchy hives" come back. Occassionally, the hives falre up badly and I have to take an extra Zyrtec and a few times had to dose way up on Benedryl. Benedryl seems to help far better during severe cases when I get a snout full of whatever my allergin is. Zyrtec is not a cure. It is a suppressant. | M | 36 | 9 months | 3/17/2007 | 2 | severe allergies/sinuses | Totally lethargic - I could not get through the day without having to take a two hour nap; decreased sex drive; increased irritability | Not worth all the added side effects- I'll stick with Claritin | F | 24 | 2 months | 3/16/2007 | 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 | 3 | itching | Forgetfullness, tiredness, brain fog, headaches, Weight gain | I have been taking zyrtec for over 2 years, nearly everyday. On several occasions I have tried to give this up, but by the 3rd day my itching becomes so severe that I am almost in tears. So back I go to Zyrtec. I have put on over 30 pounds in the 2 years, partly due to lifestyle but also, I feel, due to long term use of this drug. It's as if my metabolism has completely slowed down. I also walk about in a semi-daze for most of the day and find socialising is difficult as I am too tired to enjoy any event! Yes, Zyrtec works better than any other drugs I have taken in the same class. However, doctors have told me there 'should' be no side affects from taking this drug long term, but alas, I truly believe there are!! However, to stop all together is equally as frightening as the itching seems to come back much more than before.... | F | 44 | 2 days | 3/11/2007 | 1 | hives, itching, seasonal allergies | While I was on zrytec my appetite increased a lot. I gained over 20 pounds even though I exercised 5 days a week. I had always been very athletic and skinny and I am careful with my diet. Even on very healthy meals and with high levels of excercise I gained tremendous weight. I looked swollen and bloated. I also had high blood pressure and during doses I would get severe itching making me think I needed the zyrtec to stop the itching. I did not think it could have been the zyrtec that was causing or exacerbating it. I was always tired and sleepy. My mind seemed foggy. I thought these were symptoms of my allergies and that zyrtec was helping. Quite the contrary, zyrtec was in fact the culprit! | I came off zyrtec 7 months ago. I told everyone that I would write back if coming off helped. IT DID! The severe itching went away, my weight dropped off me almost immediately. My high blood pressure returned to normal. Clarity came back. Looking back on the experience, I could not believe that zyrtec could cause so much damage. No amount of exercise or diet would have prevented or reduced the tremendous weight gain. The other side effects (itching, feeling dreamy, sleepy) were due to zyrtec. As allergy sufferers we do not need these extra complications. Those symptoms are so close to your allergy symptoms you may not even realize they are side effects of the medication you are taking. Zyrtec is a dangerous drug. Ask your doctor to switch to something else. The relief from seasonal allergies is NOT WORTH the side effects of zyrtec. It should be taken off the market. It is a dangerous drug. | F | 31 | 8 months | 3/11/2007 | 5 | Allergies/post nasal drip | Zyrtec makes me a little tired, but I take it before bed and have no complaints. | I suffered from year round allergies which caused post nasal drip that lead to severe sore throats and swollen glands. Since taking Zyrtec I rarely experience sore throats and feel that my immune system is stronger since I no longer have to constantly fight with my allergies. I am also VERY sensitive to most meds and experience the full range of side effects, but not from this drug. | F | 27 | 2 years | 3/7/2007 | 1 | Allergies | Irritability, aggressive behavior, loss of appetite. After a couple of days on the drug, we had to take our son in for extreme drunk-like behavior. He walked around with a limp all day and was slurring his speech. At the time, I was thinking the worst, like a brain tumor or something. At the recommendation of his pediatrician, we took him off it for two days then started him back on it at half the original dose. He was walking and talking better, but we still definitely noticed increased irritability and moodiness, as well as having problems getting along with his friends, and he would cry at the drop of a hat. I felt like I was always disciplining him over his behavior, when all along it was the effects of this drug. Then we took him off it completely for about 3 days, and he got a rash all over his body, but his temperment was back to normal--we got our sweet, calm son back! | DO NOT PUT YOUR CHILDREN ON THIS DRUG!!! | M | 3 | 1 days | 3/5/2007 | 4 | Itching / hives | Mild sleepiness and not safe to drive for at least about 4 hours after taking it. While I may seem alert, my brain can just "malfunction" and cause me to run off the road. | While Zyrtec can cause some sleepiness, it is an angel compared to Ararax and Vistaril. In fact, 4 10mg pills a day (40 mg/day) of Zyrtec is MUCH less sedating than even 10-20 mg of Atarax, and has not led to near as many mistakes and memory loss. I found Zyrtec to be the most powerful drug that I've tried for hives, that doesn't screw up my brain royally. For my hives, it is proven to be 24-25 times as powerful as Allegra, milligram per milligram, and about 2-3 times as powerful as Claritin. If Zyrtec and Claritin together can't control my hives and itching, even when coupled with Zantac, an H2 blocker, I'll probably have to go back to the old and HEAVILY SEDATING crap, like Atarax. Mr. Itch, GO TO HELL! | M | 39 | 10 years | 2/27/2007 | 3 | allergies | Another story about the itching when you try to get off it: when I told my allergist I was experiencing itching, he insisted it means I have exema and the zyrtec has been suppressing it (I have never had a sign of exema). Could he really not know it's a problem? | F | 43 | 3 years | 2/26/2007 |