Reviews for ZYRTEC350 ratings: (age 12 or younger)Edit Filter | Clear FilterCompare 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.) |
More on ZYRTEC: Reviews Summary | Drug Safety Information
| RATING | REASON | SIDE EFFECTS FOR ZYRTEC | COMMENTS | SEX | AGE | DURATION/ DOSAGE | DATE ADDED |
| 2 | Hay Fever | frequent nervousness, trouble sleeping. | Not very good | M | 12 | 3 years 1X day | 4/30/2012 | 1 | Runny nose and itching eyes | My normally challenging child -- high energy, silly, rambunctious, etc., began to react with screaming at everything that he didn't like as soon as we started him on it. Yesterday, he absolutely melted down in a grocery store - screaming, growling, kicking, etc. He's never been a model for correct behavior, but he's never been an ANGRY child like this before. He will not be getting another dose. | Zyrtec has provided me with one of the most horrifying, humiliating experiences of my life. I feel horrible that my son had to experience this. I note that there are many people who did not connect their negative behavior with the drug and have suffered years because of it. What a shame. | M | 8 | 14 days 10 mg 1X day | 4/19/2012 | 1 | allergies | severe stuttering | I am a Speech Pathologist working with young children. I have a student who had sudden onset of severe stuttering. I tried every method of therapy with no real change. I met with parents and they noted that they started Zyrtec around time of stuttering onset. They took him off it and stuttering was GONE, completely GONE. The family did a couple trials and we are all convinced it was the medication. | M | 3 | 6 months 1X day | 4/12/2012 | 1 | for seasonal allergies | I gave this to my 6 year old son a few days ago because nothing else over the counter was working to relieve his symptoms. Swollen puffy, red eyes and running nose. Yesterday his teacher emailed me described his mood that day as erractic, emotional, sensitve etc. He told he he did not like his school or any of his classmates. He was throwing things and crying for no particular reason. He has never had a behavior problem at school to that level. Very scary. I took him off of it and am using something less effective. | M | 6 | 2 days 10mg 1X day | 3/23/2012 | 1 | nasal allergies | aggression, violent tendencies, tantrums, severe anxiety | We gave my son Zyrtec on and off for a year (age 5-6). At that time, he had exhibited some worrisome behavior--aggression and anxiety. But since we didn't give it to him all of the time (just seasonally), his aggression came and went. We thought it was a behavior issue, and even took him to see a therapist for a few sessions. After my daughter (3 yrs.) had a VERY bad reaction to Zyrtec (night terrors), we took my son off of it completely, thinking maybe it would help with his bedwetting, which it did. Unfortunately, a year later, my son's allergies were so bad that I, without remembering what I had read online, started him back on Zyrtec for his really bad allergies. I was truly just looking for some relief for him. Within a week, he was so violent towards his sister for no reason. He had uncontrollable rage, he told me he was stupid and he wished he was dead. Even his handwriting was illegible during this time! He was able to "control" his symptoms at school, but as soon as he got in the car to come home, the frustration and rage would start. He also experienced severe anxiety about things as simple as going to a new park or going to his basketball games. It took me 5 horrible weeks to put it together this time. Again, we tried a family therapist to help deal with the behavior. Good news is that within 24-48 hours of taking him off of the medicine, he was back! No rage, no hitting or throwing, he's able to resolve conflicts again. I am so grateful t | M | 7 | 5 weeks 1 tsp. 1X day | 3/9/2012 | 1 | Allergies/sinus infections | My daughter took this medication for allergies - at the advice of our pediatrician. She is an easy, mellow kid. Her behavior changed dramatically - like PMS - moody, prone to quick and sudden anger, anxious. It was extremely worrying. My husband suggested it might be the zyrtec. I thought that was unlikely, because it is so commonly prescribed for children far younger than mine. I finally stopped giving it to her - totally out of desperation. Within 48 hours, she was back to her old self! | F | 8 | 10 days 10 mg/day | 2/19/2012 | 1 | Allergies | When our daughter was around 2 years old, the doctor thought she was having allergies and told us to use children's liquid Zyrtec. She has always been a very laid back, easy going child, but she started having meltdowns at the smallest things, unable to sleep through the night (she would make this odd wailing sound off and on through the night), and was just overall EXTREMELY irritable. In short, she was the total opposite of herself - it turned her into a bit of demon child. At first we chalked it up to beginning the "Terrible 2's", but after a few weeks it finally hit me that it all started about the time she was put on Zyrtec. I Googled it and found similar stories in several places, so immediately stopped giving it to her. The difference was immediate - she slept through the night the very first night after we stopped, and within 48 hours her normal disposition had completely returned. | My guess is that majority of the population is not affected by Zyrtec, but for the people who are, it can totally change who you are as a person. Take careful note of your disposition (or your kids' disposition) after you start this drug. | F | 2 | 3 weeks 1X day | 2/14/2012 | 1 | Hayfever, sinus allergies | My daughter (age 4 when she started Zyrtec, now age 6) over time has been exhibiting increasing anxiety and nervousness. She always says she has "bad thoughts." She has lots of fears. Cries because she does not want to go to school, constantly checks her pulse to make sure her heart is still beating, expresses fears that she'll stop breathing in her sleep. We took her to a counselor and in the first few minutes of our initial visit she informed us that Zyrtec can be a cause for anxiety and depression. We were shocked! | We have stopped her Zyrtec now and are hoping that her anxiety will begin to get better. It breaks my heart to see my baby like she is. Doctors should never prescribe this to children. They do not know how to cope with these side effects. | F | 6 | 2 years 1 tsp. 1X day | 1/17/2012 | 1 | My 8 year old daughter became severely depressed on this medication. She could not stop crying, could not think of anything happy, and wanted to quit school because she was too afraid to walk out our front door. She is normally full of life and love, but described her heart on this med: "when I normally look through my heart everything is happy, but lately when I looked through my heart, everything was black". We thought she was going crazy and I cried at the loss of my sweet child, but then sat up in bed in the midst of this and realized the only thing different in our lives was the fact that she had started taking this med. When I did an internet search and discovered similiar anecdoes here, I was saddened for this drug's affect on many other children, but at peace because we found out what was wrong with my child. | F | 8 | 7 days 10 mg 1X day | 1/12/2012 | 1 | seasonal allergies | My son was given both zyrtec and flonase for seasonal allergies. It seemed to work ok when we first began them. I was not faithful in giving them all the times and usually gave them only when seasonal allergies were bad. We have finally figured out that both of these medications were effecting him negatively so we took him off them immediately. Symptoms were: stomach pain, headache, times of panic, heavy headedness, severe anxiety, insomnia, loss of appetite, weight loss and probably more that I am forgetting to list. Think carefully before giving this medication to your child. My son has been off the meds for 5 days and is feeling SO MUCH BETTER! | M | 10 | 11 months 10mg 1X day | 10/3/2011 | 1 | allergies | Child became irritable and irrational after 5 months of taking this awful drug. I barely even recognized him. After reading all of the comments on this website, I am unbelievably upset!! Why are doctors still even prescribing this to children???? I'm throwing this terrible stuff away....and going a more homeopathic route. | Doctors- STOP PRESCRIBING THIS TO INNOCENT CHILDREN!!! | M | 3.5 | 5 months 5 1X day | 7/20/2011 | 2 | Toddler Allergies | Took my toddler off of the Children's Zyrtec after a few months because when I used it, it made him tired and cranky. I had to switch to Claritin, which is not as good but less side effects. Doc said that sometimes the sensitivity to Zyrtec seems to be hereditary. I tried adult dosages and even half doses and it still made me too tired. | F | 2 | 60 days 1X day | 6/28/2011 | 3 | Year Round Allergies/Asthma | My son has several allergies, eczema, chronic sinusitis, and asthma. I know that the Zyrtec helps his itchy eyes, itchy throat, and helps control his sneezing. | My 7 year old son has been taking Zyrtec for years for his allergies. He takes one tablet with breakfast and also takes two puffs QVAR (steroid inhaler). It wasn't until reading all these posts that I realized that so many of his behaviorial problems are more than likely side effects. He has horrible angry outburst, hard to get him up for school, will say he hates himself and that he's stupid. Has a hard time focusing in school. His teacher and I assumed he is exhibiting ADD symptoms. I even researched ADD diets and was loosly treating him as if he had ADD. I do notice he scratches a lot - but he also has eczema. I will definatley start weaning him off. He will need another medication to control all his allergies though. He's been on Nasonex and some other med when he was little(about 3yrs old) that gave him night terrors and sleep walking. Poor kid has gone through so much - but never complains. | M | 7 | 3 years 10 1X day | 5/22/2011 | 1 | allergies | My daughter (almost 10) has been taking since March. She has become very depressed, irritable, goes into rages that last up to 2 hours. Her pupils become dilated and its like she is not even there. So bad we had to call police on her! | F | 10 | 1X day | 5/4/2011 | 1 | allergies | My 3 year old daughter had nightmares, stopped napping even though she hadn't slept well at night, and tantrums as soon as she started the Target-brand generic of Zyrtec. She is normally a very even-keeled child, and I can't believe it took me 4 days to figure this one out! Will never give her this again... | F | 3 | 4 days 2.5 mL 1X day | 4/9/2011 | 1 | 2yr old taking for seasonal allergy | Was going to give my daughter Zyrtec tonight. Her doctor prescribed this for seasonal allergies. She was taking Claritin before given this and from what I am reading ,the Claritin was giving my daughter the same side effects: Mood changes, not eating, not sleeping, just not my same baby! She was very beside herself. After reading these reviews I will NOT be giving Zyrtec to her either. It is awful that young children have to go through such side effects for something that is supposed to be helpful. | F | 2 | 1 days 1 MG 1X day | 4/8/2011 | 1 | My 10 yr old son, for allergies | My son is on a number of meds to start with, including Prozac and Lithium, however, it is far too coincidental that 10 days into using Zyrtec daily, he went from stable and happy, to a wreck...depressed, anxious, panicky, angry, tantrums, nightmares, stomachaches...and the last two days, hearing voices. I remembered this time last year when Clartitin also had a bad effect in him, so my first thought this morning was to search...and found this forum (thank goodness!) No more Zyrtec for him! I think some kids are just especially vulnerable to chemically triggered mood changes, but a kid with a mood disorder already diagnosed might be even more at risk. I would urge all parents to monitor their kids behavior if starting this med, previous disorder or not. | M | 10 | 10 days 10 mg 1X day | 4/7/2011 | 1 | seasonal allergies | anger, shouting outbursts, obsessive thoughts, long uncontrollable tantrums where he acts possessed and is unable to control is body or stop the tantrum | It took about 5 weeks for the side effects to build to where I was going to contact the school social worker, although his teachers said he was doing fine at school. Didn't think of the medicine right away because it wan't an immediate reaction. But then I thought I'd check if it could be the allergy meds he has been taking. Thank goodness for this website & comments. VERY HAPPY to report that 24 hours after his last dose he was soooo much better. 48 hours and I have my little boy back. I can hug him without him growling back at me. I just hope there are no lasting effects. He is still taking Flonase for allergies. | M | 5 | 6 weeks 5mg 1X day | 4/1/2011 | 1 | allergies | Severe rage, insomnia | 4 yr old DD would have bouts of SEVERE RAGE, couldn't sleep - not worth it... it only slightly helped her allergies | F | 4 | 3 weeks 1X day | 3/15/2011 | 1 | allergies | aggression, hiting, biting others, hyperactivity, irritable, change in behaviors, change in personality and sleeplessness. These behaviors occurred gradually. | I was not warned by my allergist that these are possible side effects. My son started zyrtec the same time my daughter was born so I thought his behavior changes were due to the changes in our home. After taking him off zyrtec, I immediately noticed an improvement in his behavior. He wil not be taking zyrtec again. | M | 2.5 | 4 months 1/2 teas. 1X day | 2/23/2011 |