ZYRTEC Reviews (CETIRIZINE HYDROCHLORIDE)Average Rating: 2.0 (1816 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 | Drug Safety Information
| RATING | REASON | SIDE EFFECTS FOR ZYRTEC | COMMENTS | SEX | AGE | DURATION/ DOSAGE | DATE ADDED |
| 5 | Allergies | None | My doctor prescribed Zyrtec for me because Claritin was not working very well, I get severe emotional reactions from Benadryl, and other antihistamines pushed up my blood pressure. I was surprised to see some of the reactions some people have had, but I guess no drug is right for everyone. This one is by far the best for me, and I am glad it is now OTC, which makes it more affordable. | F | 49 | 2 years | 3/9/2008 | 5 | allergies | drowsiness | I've taken zyrtec for a few years and never had any side effects except drowsiness. Take it at night! Works great for me, can't complain!!! | F | 32 | 2 years | 3/9/2008 | 1 | Dust mite and mild cat allergies | Erratic behavior without recall, irritability, WEIGHT GAIN (25 lbs in 8 months — with regular, vigorous exercise and healthy eating habits). N | I have never had problem losing weight if I happened to gain any for any reason. I have been struggling for months to lose and have in fact continued to gain instead. My wife and i have been arguing over meaningless issues. We thought b/c we have a baby coming and the stress of our first child coming, but this makes no sense b/c we're both thrilled and excited about it... I stopped taking Zyrtec Thursday and we haven't even so much as disagreed about anything, much less argued to any degree since. I have had a few episodes of erratic behavior. One night my wife asked me for an ice pack. I brought her a wet paper towel and was insisted that's what she asked for — then went straight to bed without getting her ice! This is EXCEPTIONALLY ATYPICAL behavior for me. **I did not remember this the next day. It was like I was acting in my sleep. Another time she asked me for ice and I brought her a bowl of soy milk, hoping that she could explai | M | 35 | 8 months | 3/9/2008 | 3 | hay fever | weight gain, breast tenderness and swelling, mood swings | I was taking Zyrtec couple years ago and noticed the constant desire to eat, and rapid weight gain. My doctor swore it couldn't be due to the Zyrtec, but I tried another med. When I noticed it was now available over the counter I decided to try it again about a week ago. In that time, my breasts are swollen, as if in the early stages of pregnancy (I'm not,) I've gained at least six pounds and I have no patience at all. | F | 42 | 7 days | 3/8/2008 | 3 | Severe environmental allergies | Weight gain, restless sleep, fatigue, lethargy | I couldn't understand gaining 15 pounds in 3 months when my diet and exercise habits had only positive changes. I attributed it to being a newly wed and moving into our newly built house. My energy and motivation level have dropped noticeably--again I assumed it was from being "settled". I'd recently started thinking I was pregnant, which isn't the case. Only today did I realize it could be the Zyrtec, which I started in November of 2007, so I ran a google search revealing I may be correct. I'm requesting my doctor prescribe something else and going off Zyrtec today. | F | 26 | 3 months | 3/6/2008 | 1 | allergies | Depression/moodiness, sleepiness, weakness/fatigue, memory problems, confusion, tremor, trouble focusing, etc..., etc... | It worked on my allergies! To be fair I typically have some mild depression, but this stuff was ridiculous. I was about to schedule and appointment with my psychiatrist and inquire about some anti-depressants or something. I couldn't think, sometimes I would want to just sit there and stare at the wall. | M | 26 | 6 weeks | 3/5/2008 | 1 | allergies | I would get violent and take it out on my wife, especially when she makes meatloaf. She would get a swift kick to the stomach and I would proceed beating her across the head and throat. I would then turn green and smash through the door. | It doesn't taste good. | M | 22 | 5 days | 3/4/2008 | 1 | ear infections | zoned out, tired, ill, rash | My little boy was on zyrtec for about 8 days. I could not figure out what was wrong with him. He was ill, tired, and he would not respond to me. He would wake up in the middle of the night screaming. He got a rash on him so I took him to the doctor and the doctors could not figure out what was wrong. He is 14 months old. I am shocked that children are prescribed this mediciation. | 8 days | 3/4/2008 | 2 | sinusitis and skin allergies | weight gain, tendinitis, plantar fasciitis, depression, mood swings, lack of motivation | I developed "skin allergies" while living in Japan. during that year, I was infested with scabies (twice) and developed hives and skin allergies as an after-effect.(???) One month before returning to the USA, i was prescribed zyrtec for my allergies and it provided great relief. When I first began the drug, I weighed 183 lbs. Within a month (and with riding 200 plus miles a week, running 25 plus miles a week, and swimming 20,000 yards a week) I gained 10 pounds. About 6 months later, I developed plantar fasciitis in my left foot, which impacted my ability to run. Within another 6 months, I gained 5 more pounds and I developed plantar fasciitis in my other foot as well. My elbows also became sore and I experienced increased muscle fatigue and cramping. . I am still on the medicine and my weight is up at 210 pounds with no real changes in diet and only a slight decrease in physical activity. (12+ hours of cardio each week). I have now suffered from plantar fasciitis for 2 year | M | 34 | 3 years | 2/27/2008 | 3 | Seasonal allergies | My 7 year old son experienced consistent weight gain, mood irritability and something more unusual, visual disturbances in the form of colored circles in his field of vision on a daily basis.He told me he had been seeing this for 2 years(questionable timeframe coming from a 7yr old).He was on Zyrtec for about 2.5 years. He rarely had a headache. Took him of the Zyrtec and slowly over 3 months the spots occur less and less. Most days he has no spots. He had a vision/visual field exam, MRI, EEG, blood work. No problem w/any of those. Any thoughts? | Based on my research and the comments of 500+ people on this website, more research should be done in the area of "Is my child's problem ADHD or is it a medication interaction causing behavioral issues?" Maybe the sudden increase in the ADD/ADHD diagnosis has more to do with drug interactions that go undiagnosed. | F | 46 | 2.5 years | 2/25/2008 | 1 | chroin autoimmune hives | irritability, irrational behavior, temper tantrums | My 5 year old daughter was prescribed zyrtec 3 years ago for the first time for her hives. I noticed extreme irrtibality when she started taking it and I took her off. I just kept giving her benadryl. She then started with hives this december and her doc recommended zyrtec again - end all and be all for hives - is what he said. I have noticed she does get irrtiable with her episodes of hives, so I thought that maybe my reaction to zyrtec was wrong. I started giving her zyrtec end of december until 2 days ago. She was having MAJOR temper tantrums, extremely irritability and would not even get dressed. It is tough for her to get dressed when she has her hives, but now she will not put anything on. Going to preschool is out of the question. I truly believe that it is the zyrtec that caused all the fights and heartache these past 2 months. She is becoming my daughter again. She still did not go to school today, had hard time getting dressed and she started getting irrtiable and then it | F | 32 | 45 days | 2/21/2008 | 1 | Runny nose, sneezing | My son has been on Zyrtec since November 2007. He has bitten serverly at school, having terrible behavioral problems. He wasn't doing this before taking the medication. His teacher had informed me of episodes with her own children who were taking this drug. It hasn't helped my son with his allergy that much, but I kept giving it to him because his pediatrician said so. How stupid could I have been. I have stopped this medicine immediately. | The FDA surely missed this one. Now it's an over the counter drug. How many more children will experience these horrible side effects????????? | F | 33 | 4 days | 2/20/2008 | 5 | allergies | only side effect is some tiredness but i take it at night and it helps me sleep thru the night | LOVE it... been taking it about two years, ECSTATIC it went over the counter and generic cuz now i can afford to take a full pill every night. | F | 49 | 2 years | 2/19/2008 | 1 | allergies | My heart felt like it was coming out of my chest. I gained weight. I had vaginal dryness. I used it for three weeks and was treated twice for a bladder infection. | F | 58 | 21 days | 2/19/2008 | 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 |