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 |
| 5 | Allergies | None | Worked wonders!! Expensive but well worth it!! | F | 28 | 4 weeks | 8/9/2006 | 1 | Suspected allergies | My almost-2 year old daughter started taking zyrtec because we thought that her coughing and sneezing was due to springtime allergies. Her personality totally changed on the zyrtec. She threw terrible tantrums, was completely irrational and unhappy, and became extremely moody. She would wake up at night screaming and crying and was very difficult to soothe. She became almost like a different person. Once I suspected the zyrtec was the root of the problem, I took her off immediately (she was only on for about 4 days). Within 2 days, she was back to her old self. I STRONGLY adivse parents who are prescribed zyrtec for their children to monitor them closely and look for behavioral changes. No one warned me about it and I am just so thankful that we realized it so quickly. My ped had no idea about the side effects (and I am not sure I was able to convince him of it). BEWARE! | F | 2 | 4 days | 8/7/2006 | 3 | Seasonal Allergies | weight gain/increased appetite, irritability, mild depression | Zyrtec didn't really work that well for me by itself so my doctor gave me a nasal spray to use with it. That helped, but it still didn't get rid of my symptoms completely. The side effects aren't worth it to me so I'm going off it. | F | 26 | 60 days | 8/1/2006 | 5 | Cat allergies | Didn't think there were any, but weight gain might be one. I stopped taking Zytec and switched to Allegra for 1 month when insurance wouldn't pay, and lost 10 pounds without trying. Allegra didn't work so am happy to pay extra for the Zyrtec. | This is my miracle drug - nothing else relieves my symptoms from cat allergies. However, this year for the first time in my life I had spring hayfever and even Zyrtec didn't help. | F | 39 | 4 years | 7/29/2006 | 1 | Sinus Infection | I lost the ability to sweat during the summer of 2005. It all started after I had a sinus infection. I was given a Z-Pack and Zyrtec-D, which got rid of the sinus infection. However, my feet began to itch shortly thereafter. I visited several doctors, all of whom prescribed different antihistamines (Allegra, Hydroxizine, and Zyrtec) to treat the itching. After a while, the itching spread, and I eventually stopped sweating. Instead of sweating, my entire body was covered with a painful “prickly” sensation, as if my skin were being pierced with thousands of pins. The pain was most intense whenever I tried to exercise, and I frequently broke out in hives. Giving up all hope, I stopped taking all antihistamines in October of 2005, but the pain continued for several months thereafter. At one point, I was investigating the use of steroids to improve my condition. After considering my options, I decided to wait it out. I am very | I have done some research and discovered that in October 2005, a medical journal published an article called "Adverse Cutaneous Reactions of Systemic Antihistamines" (Current Medicinal Chemistry - Anti-Inflammatory & Anti-Allergy Agents, Volume 4, Number 5, October 2005, pp. 521-529(9). I would love to read this article. It seems the medical community is just beginning to realize that their prized antihistamines may be causing much of the trouble they are supposed to be curing. During the course of my affliction I consulted with three allergists, and they all refused to consider that I was having an allergic reaction to a drug they so frequently prescribe (even when I suggested the possibility). I only wish one of them had advised me to stop taking everything, rather than prescribing the alternative antihistamines which worsened my condition. It is my hope that my experience will assist those who have similar symptoms. | M | 28 | 5 months | 7/29/2006 | 2 | Allergies | I have gained 20 lbs in one month, am tired all the time, my hips, knees, ankles hurt, along with my lower back, my periods keep coming earlier and earlier and I am having leg and foot cramps. I went to an internist who thought I might have rheumatoid arthritis but that test was negative. He referred me to a sleep specialist for possible sleep apnea. My regular dr. ran tests for lupus, lyme disease, ms, diabetes etc and no one can figure out what is wrong. After reading this site I am going off zyrtec and see if my symptoms get better. | F | 44 | 2 months | 7/27/2006 | 2 | hives | I experienced headaches, moodiness, decreased libido. | Not sure if it helped me. Even though I only took it for six days, I was still getting hives. I would have taken it longer, but I started feeling really weird; headaches, body aches, moodiness, decreased libido. I may try it again at half the dosage and/or maybe every other day. | 41 | 6 days | 7/21/2006 | 5 | Allergies | Dear Families with children experiencing side effects from Zyrtec, I am seeking legal action. Please contact me if you are interested! NEW EMAIL ADDRESS. | CLASS ACTION POSSIBILITY! | F | 5 | 2.5 years | 7/20/2006 | 1 | Allergies | Dear Families with children experiencing side effects from Zyrtec, I am seeking legal action. Please contact me if you are interested! NEW EMAIL ADDRESS. | CLASS ACTION POSSIBILITY! | F | 5 | 2.5 years | 7/20/2006 | 4 | allergies | lethargy/exhaustion, increased appetite, weight gain | I have been taking Zyrtec almost every day for the past three months. It has worked very well overall so far, even controlling my allergies when the pollen is really bad. For about the first month and a half I was really exhausted, but unlike Benadryl it doesn't make me totally out of it, so I can deal with being somewhat exhausted now. But after gaining at least 15 pounds in the past three months (and I'm one of those people who can *never* gain weight), I decided to look it up online and discovered a lot of other people have been having the same problem. | F | 21 | 3 months | 7/18/2006 | 1 | seasonal allergies | my son was on it for about a month - he wanted to eat constantly! i'd say in that month alone he gained about 4 or 5 pounds - and that's alot! he already has svt - so he can't gain alot of weight at once, nor can he take any medicine. he also seemed a little altered - wasn't really into things. we took him off of it - he's a monster now. not sure if it's the withdrawal i've read about, or just the allergies driving him crazy -- i was on it for about two weeks. i couldn't function, wanted to sleep all the time, and had a really hard time getting up in the mornings. | after what i've read, i would not recommend this to anyone - especially children!! | M | 4 | 30 days | 7/17/2006 | 2 | seasonal allergies, itching, hives | WEIGHT GAIN!!! My gosh, it finally dawned on me yesterday...I haven't been eating a lot and since being on zrytec I have gained over 15 pounds. I have been exercising like crazy, nothing..and the weight was also in my face...I just looked bloated, like a puffed up fish. I didn't suspect zyrtec because there was nothing...repeat NOTHING in the insert that said anything about weight gain...now I will see. I will continue exercising and re-post if the weight has dropped. Dry mouth, high blood pressure, feeling dreamy, swollen and loss of concentration. | By the way, I always felt I was in a dream. AND my blood pressure was higher than usual. I have stopped taking zyrtec now for only one day and my head feels clearer, my body doesn't feel foreign and my dreamy state is evaporating. I have to admit I am nervous about the allergies returning. I will take my chances though. To anyone about to take zyrtec, I would say be very careful. | F | 30 | 8 months | 7/12/2006 | 1 | Extreme nightmares, stomach ache, tantrums and not sleeping. | My son was taking Zytec off and on since 6 months of age. He is 3 now. He is a wonderful child and sleeper. The last 2 weeks on Zyrtec - 1/2 dose has been hell. He saw a tv picture of a fire one day and hasn't been the same sense. He has been off of the poison for 5 days now and he is STILL having nighmares. This drug is terrible and we were not warned either. What to do next with his allergies???? | M | 3 | 14 days | 7/9/2006 | 3 | allergy | My son started talking two days after stopping zytrec. He was 2 years old and just jabbered. We were thinking we needed speech therapy. Two days after we ran out of his med on a long weekend he could suddenly talk were we understood what he was saying. We also went out to eat without him screaming. | M | 2 | 1 years | 7/8/2006 | 1 | Allergies | Hugely increased appetite and consequent WEIGHT GAIN. | I had to go off of this medication after gaining over 10 pounds in 6 months. I was always hungry, even shortly after eating. It was crazy and although the medicine helped my allergies, it wasn't worth constantly feeling hungry and gaining all that weight. It should be added as a warning on the label. Also major headache the first couple days off the medication. | F | 35 | 6 months | 7/5/2006 | 1 | iitchiness | Drowsiness, bloated stomach, hyperacidity | I have been taking Zyrtec for about 5 years now. I tried giving up a couple of times with no success. On both occasions, I am OK for a couple of days and then the burning and itching starts. First, it's the fingers and toes. Eventually, the whole body becomes 'sour' with the burning sensation and scratching. Also, eyes become itchy and water constantly. Dermagraphism starts and also pressure urticaria where any pressure applied to any part of the body becomes red and elevated like a hive. Today I have a started my third attempt to stop this medication which is definitely addictive. Only one day has passed. Will update everybody in a few days if I managed to kick off the habit. | M | 5 years | 7/4/2006 | 3 | Seasonal Allergies | The drug worked great for me the first few days then I started getting dizzy and it raised my blood pressure. I was taking Zyrtec-D once daily. | The Zyrtec-D helped me clear my sinuses and my ears. | M | 27 | 8 days | 6/26/2006 | 2 | allergies | increased hunger which lead to weight gain, some hair loss, panic attacks | It did help with my allergies but I found myself eating like a crazy person. I had panic attacks which prior I had completly under control. I never would have believed a allergy med. could have caused such side effects, thank goodness for this website I was scared I had lost my balanced over night. It is good to know this has happened to others on this same med. | F | 45 | 4 months | 6/24/2006 | 2 | Seasonal allergies | I take allergy medication in the spring when tree and grass pollen is in the air but then stop during the summer when I don't have problems. I take 10mg Zyrtec in the AM. When I missed a dose I began to feel itchy over my entire body but especially on my hands and feet. Like pins and needles or a nerve reaction. After the second day I had small subdermal blisters similar to eczema on my feet and ankles that developed into hives. The itchiness was unbearable. I used cortizone cream and when I resumed the zyrtec the itchiness subsided. Recently I stopped taking the drug again and the itchiness returned. This time I did not use cortizone but restarted the zyrtec and again the itchiness subsided. | Great website! I'm glad to konw others have had this side effect. Zyrtec works for the allergies, but the withdrawal is not acceptable. Will need to speak with my doctor on this so I can take another drug that doesn't cause the itchy hands and feet. | M | 48 | 3 months | 6/23/2006 | 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 |