Cetirizine User Reviews & Ratings (Page 2)

• brk...
• April 13, 2015

For Urticaria "I would have hives outbreaks occasionally and went to see an allergist who just told me it had nothing to do with food and to take 1 Zyrtec, 2 if they were bad. I had an outbreak and they went down, but it took a while to work. I decided to get a second opinion with another allergist who ran tests and finally told me to take a Zyrtec every day for life. He said if I felt an outbreak wanting to come, to take a second one. I am happy to report this has actually worked, I have gone 7 months with no hives outbreaks! It feels wonderful to have my life back without worries of an outbreak! Please talk to your doctor about this recommendation my allergist gave me. I hope it helps someone out there."

• Nic...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 21, 2014

For Allergic Rhinitis "I took Zyrtec on the advice of my ENT for chronic sinusitis from hay fever. It worked wonders on my sinuses, but I cannot function on it due to extreme drowsiness and fatigue. I am going to have to stop taking it!"

• 55E...
• April 22, 2013

For Urticaria "I just started Zyrtec 10 mg one week ago for allergies. I have been plagued by intense palm itching with various other areas, including my arms, ankles, and legs, which developed into hives. I am happy to say... GONE NOW! Thank goodness! It was maddening, and my doctor never got excited about it! I'm so happy now!"

• JGo...
• August 19, 2014

For Urticaria "The feeling of being on fire started when I was 17, and the daily attacks didn't stop until I found Cetirizine HCL (Zyrtec) some 5 years ago. I'm now 50, I take a tablet every morning, and I'm good. For me, it's a miracle pill."

• Anonymous
• February 10, 2009

For Allergic Rhinitis "Zyrtec worked well to control my seasonal allergies as well as allergies to dust, cats, etc. It seemed to work faster than Claritin. However, when I stopped taking Zyrtec, I developed severe itchiness all over my body. It took a couple of weeks to get through the worst of it, but I am still itching after a month. It seems that my skin has become hypersensitive to detergents, soaps, contact with clothing, etc. It seems that certain other people are experiencing this as well."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• August 25, 2013

For Urticaria "I've had chronic urticaria for over 2 years now, and out of all the allergy medicines, Zyrtec works the best. My hives have become much harder to manage in the past year, so I need to take twice the Zyrtec I used to, but it still works much better than Allegra or Claritin for me."

• Anonymous
• February 27, 2012

For Allergic Rhinitis "I thought Zyrtec (cetirizine) was great at first because it worked so well on my allergies. I have gained 15 pounds over 1.5 years. I didn't think it was related to Zyrtec, but recently figured out that it is. I am an extremely healthy eater (no processed foods or white flours/sugars), a runner, and a triathlete without weight issues before Zyrtec. I attributed the weight gain to age, hormones, and finally my thyroid. Blood tests ruled out the hormone and thyroid issues. I only take HRT & Zyrtec. I stopped Zyrtec 3 days ago and have lost 2 pounds without any changes in diet. I am willing to suffer with allergy symptoms if I can lose this weight."

• emm...
• February 1, 2018

For Urticaria "I’m giving Zyrtec a 2 rating because the only good thing about it is it gets the job done (for the most part). I was diagnosed with chronic idiopathic urticaria two summers ago, and the only thing that popped up on my allergy blood tests was a low level of thyroid hormones. I was then also diagnosed with Hashimoto's, which later turned into hypothyroidism. I’m stuck taking Zyrtec every day, and if I try to get off or miss a dose, I’m covered in hives and my eyes, lips, and face are swollen. I cannot for the life of me get off of Zyrtec. Please consider safer drugs that your body won’t become dependent on! I’m trapped."

• Cin...
• August 6, 2014

For Urticaria "My husband has been having hive outbreaks, which seem to have gotten progressively more severe over the last 8 months. His doctor has been changing medications, trying to find the source. Husband is on blood pressure and statins. Benadryl is not as effective anymore, plus taking it every six hours makes him sleep all the time. I am so glad I found this website! Talked with the doctor about trying one of these antihistamine treatments, and she agreed. It has worked! No more hives! Fantastic! He has a life again. Who knew that a 10mg pill could make such a difference."

• Nit...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• August 13, 2020

"Be careful of this so-called Zyrtec drug, it’s awful! Here is what happened when I tried to quit because I have been gaining weight and feeling depressed on it: 1- Heart palpitation 2- Blurred vision 3- Severe nausea 4- Severe migraine 5- Insomnia 6- Uncontrollable weight loss 7- Irritability 8- Severe pruritus. I implore you do not take this Zyrtec, the FDA is pure awful to not mention the side effects of withdrawal. I have been 12 days Zyrtec-free, and I’m getting my life back!"

• Ire...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 2, 2020

For Allergic Rhinitis "I’d been taking Zyrtec for two weeks when I was suddenly hit with rapid, irregular heartbeat. I wasn’t doing anything much at the time, I’ve never had a heart problem. I’m 41, healthy, and active. I stood still and breathed calmly, drank some water, it got better, but I’d just taken the Zyrtec an hour before, so I was still at full dose for 24 hours after that. Zyrtec is the only drug I’m taking, and it was sudden and odd, so I checked. Tachycardia and cardiac arrest are indeed among the listed side effects for this drug. It’s now a few hours past when I should’ve taken my next dose, and I still feel a little jittery today. In retrospect, I’d been feeling jittery, impatient, and cloudy for hours before it happened, and I’d not been sleeping well for two nights. So I think if you’re feeling uncharacteristically jittery, it may be a warning sign. I was also having headaches two days before it happened."

• Kat...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• December 20, 2014

For Urticaria "I have had hives a few times now. I just got done with a horrible case from penicillin. Took prednisone for several days. Some hives appear in the morning. Now I control with one Zyrtec per day. It works for me. No side effects. Great product."

• ano...
• April 18, 2013

For Urticaria "I have had chronic idiopathic urticaria and demographism for the last 14 years with no identifiable cause. 10 mg daily works great and keeps the hives away. The drowsiness subsides after prolonged use."

• all...
• August 15, 2016

For Urticaria "My bf had hives for 3 weeks, more often than not. Claritin did really nothing. Allegra nothing. Benadryl helped some. I was scared he'd have an anaphylaxis reaction. I bought him vit. C, B, D, quercetin, probiotic, a DAO enzyme, and nothing was working great. Today is Monday, 6:11 pm. He started Zyrtec Saturday at 11 am. He has red huge hives on his back, legs, and arms. Well, I'm happy to say... the Zyrtec seems to be working... they are gone. We've even eaten normal and he's even had a couple of drinks. Also, he's taking Pepcid. But it's been over two days of no hives. I think the Zyrtec is a miracle."

• GmW...
• July 12, 2017

For Urticaria "I recently had testing for chronic urticaria with Hashimoto (with normal thyroid levels). And came out positive, which means I have to deal with hives and swelling. At first, I was only taking Benadryl, but it only put me to sleep and I would wake up with the same symptom. So my specialist suggested I take one Zyrtec a day, but I was still having symptoms two times a week (remind you I was having hives and swelling every single day from morning to night), so even though I was having symptoms two times a week, it was a relief, but I was looking for complete relief. So then again, my specialist suggested that instead of taking one 10 mg Zyrtec pill, I would move on to taking two 10 mg Zyrtec pills a day. And thankfully, it has changed my life! I don't get drowsy!"

• Riv...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• April 5, 2025

For Allergies "I’ve been using Zyrtec every day for the past 6 years. I used to live in a different place that had a lot of pollen and dust in the air. After moving to a better breathing location, I decided to stop taking Zyrtec. It has been well so far. If you have allergies, I recommend it, but I wasn’t expecting such a bad withdrawal because my whole body is itching like crazy. The most random thing is I can be itching, for example, in my right arm, and out of nowhere, it stops, and then I start itching on my left leg. It's like the itching moves across the whole body. Hopefully, it will stop soon. But yeah, 6 to 7 years taking Zyrtec and never had a problem. The withdrawal is messing me up, but I guess it's normal after your body gets used to something."

• lit...
• March 11, 2009

For Allergic Rhinitis "As another poster reported, many people who try to quit taking Zyrtec end up with uncontrollable itching all over. I am one of those people. It stopped helping my allergies, but every time I stop taking it, I itch all over. I never itched before taking it, I only had sinus issues."

• Dar...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 21, 2016

For Allergic Rhinitis "Zyrtec knocks me out. Period. I took a pill at noon, and by 2:00 pm, I lay down, virtually passed out. I slept for two hours straight. In the middle of the day. When I awoke, I could barely function. Brain fog, lethargy, no energy. To tell the truth, I was so spaced out for so long that I couldn't tell if it helped my sinus condition or not. I wouldn't dream of taking it if I had to drive. It would make a great sleeping pill."

• DAr...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 28, 2020

For Allergic Rhinitis "Allergy triggers have been ruthless this year, so I had to bring the ol' Zyrtec out of the cabinet. Everything was great at first, but then I started experiencing nausea that grew worse as the weeks went on. In between weeks three and four, I decided that it was becoming unbearable and also remembered this as being why I stopped taking Zyrtec when I got this bottle last year. My last dose was three days ago. I, like most here, developed the burning/itching withdrawal symptom about 48 hours after my last dose, but it has not been as severe as some describe, nor was it the last time I stopped. My guess is that most reporting intense experiences have taken Zyrtec long-term while I was only a month in this time and roughly two months the last time I took it. I can imagine how bad it could get if it's as noticeable as it is for me after only a month, though. My advice would be to not use this stuff regularly if possible, or at all if you can avoid it altogether."

• Zyr...
• August 3, 2016

For Urticaria "Had hives nearly every day for 3 weeks (at first, I thought I was getting bug bites). Went to the doc, and she told me to try Zyrtec. Last night was the first time in 3 weeks I've been hives and itch-free. It's amazing. I just wish I could find out what's causing the outbreaks!"

• Gai...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 3, 2015

For Urticaria "Zyrtec never helped my runny nose or itchy eyes, but it eliminated about 90 percent of my hives, and for me, that might as well be a hundred percent. My hives came on gradually and worsened over the years. It got to the point where my skin burned and itched pretty much 24/7. When I started taking Zyrtec regularly, I noticed immediate improvement. Before, I had just assumed my post-shave rash was normal, but now I know it was my hives' response."

• Sal...
• July 30, 2014

For Allergic Rhinitis "I was suffering really bad with my sinuses over the weekend and could find any relief. The doctor told me in the past to take Claritin, but it has never helped. I was at work this morning and my coworker told me about Zyrtec. Actually, she had one for me to try, and within 30 minutes, I could feel the pressure letting up in my sinus areas, and what a surprise, I could breathe so much better, no sneezing, dripping, coughing, horrible pressure in my sinuses. I was astonished that this little pill could work so effectively. I have to say that I feel like a totally different person today, thanks to Zyrtec. If you haven't ever tried it, be sure to, it is the best of the best. I love you, Zyrtec!"

• Mal...
• June 27, 2017

For Allergic Rhinitis "My eyes had been bothering me so much, they are constantly red and irritated, gritty feeling no matter what I do from the moment I wake up until I go to bed. I decided to try Zyrtec because my eyes were so bothersome, and antihistamine eye drops didn't work. I've been taking it for 2 weeks, and I have never seen my eyes so white and feeling so good. I don't have to use eye drops at all now. However, there is one downside: Zyrtec makes me feel exhausted. It's not like when you take Benadryl and you feel like you could fall asleep standing up, it's more of a foggy feeling, and you just feel like you could go for a nap, but the feeling never goes away even if you do nap."

• Mic...
• April 6, 2018

For Allergic Rhinitis "I took Zyrtec on Wednesday at bedtime, and I'm still drowsy now on Friday at 8 pm. I woke Thursday morning to severe drowsiness. I had breakfast, lots of water, and some glucose to combat this feeling of everything spinning around me and wanting to faint. I vomited twice so far. Trying diuretics and lots of water to get it out of my system, but I'm still drowsy, and any sudden movements leave me holding onto walls and furniture. I took 5 mg. I have taken it before with no side effects. I'm never taking Zyrtec again. Stayed out of work and going to my GP if I feel the same tomorrow. Most unusual, though."

• FPR...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• October 24, 2022

For Allergic Rhinitis "Been taking Zyrtec for 4-5 years. I started because I was having allergies, and I just continued taking it because I felt it helped, or maybe in my head it did. For years, I’ve had anxiety, depression, weight gain, and high BP. I have come off all other meds and still have these issues. My therapist found out I was taking it and said, 'You need to come off that right away, it’s not good for your anxiety or adrenals.' So I tried to stop taking it, and right away, I started itching like crazy. I googled it, and sure enough, a lot of people have this issue (Zyrtec withdrawal). People actually have gone to rehab to come off this and detox. So I decided to wean off slowly to hopefully help the itching. I went from a whole pill to half to 1/4. Each time I lowered, the itching started. Wheezing, neck ache, headache for days, anxiety, BP went up. The itching is less, but this is horrible. Today was my first day w/o any. I’m hoping this is over soon. I refuse to take it again."