Cetirizine for Allergic Rhinitis User Reviews (Page 5)

• gnjbi...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 15, 2013

"It worked great on my seasonal allergies. I've had a real problem with insomnia. Decided to check for causes and here I am. I've been extremely sleepy during the day, but chalk that up to the lack of sleep. I can't sleep more than 2 hours nightly. It's killing me! After reading all these reviews, I'm going to skip it today. I hope I don't begin to itch like so many of you did. It's a shame. It made a world of difference to my head and sinuses."

• Kanek...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• June 27, 2021

Zyrtec (cetirizine) "I've been frustrated, in pain, and experience irritating skin with an uncontrollable itch over my entire body for the last two weeks. I stopped taking the medicine to prepare for an allergy test, a few days later I'm itching all over, it's effecting me mentally, it was so bad I took benadryl daily.... guess what, I wasn't able to take my allergy test. When I told my doctor about the uncontrollable itch, they never mentioned this being a withdrawal symptom from the Zyrtec; how is it possible they wouldn't be aware of this. I feel like I'm going crazy, the doctor prescribed prednisone to help but it's not, scalp, soles, palms, entire body is irritated and itching. I've cried. Why is this medicine still on the shelf and doctors not warning their patients."

• KTano
• July 5, 2021

Zyrtec (cetirizine) "I don't know what day I'm on. It's is a nightmare. I washed with apple cider vinegar. And I mixed tea tree oil with cocoa butter and rubbed tea tree oil on my scalp. It's helping. I'm also looking into doing a liver cleanse and currently drinking sassafras tea."

• Anonymous
• November 13, 2008

Zyrtec (cetirizine) "The best OTC antihistamine. Relieves sneezing and that stuffy feeling in your nose. Doesn't seem to do much about the post-nasal drip or the coughing though. A bit of a stimulant for me, it makes me a bit energetic and hyper, even with just 5mg."

• Ray
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• April 10, 2021

Zyrtec (cetirizine) "I began taking Zyrtec on a daily basis around 1.5 years ago. For allergy testing, I stopped Zyrtec cold-turkey. One day off Zyrtec, I was dealing with intensely itchy hands and fingers, and some dizziness. After 2 days, I was miserable with the itchiness on my arms, neck, chest, stomach and hands. I have never felt anything like it before. Even the intensity of mosquito and ant-bites pale in comparison. Three days off, I was in bed for 5 hours because I was so dizzy I couldn't stand up, and my whole torsoe was on fire with itch. I called my allergist, who told me to take Benadryl. Thirty minutes after taking the Benadryl, the itchiness and dizziness was completely gone. The next day, I started taking Zyrtec again. I thought that it was all because I was allergic to something in my environment, but I have never had those symptoms occur like that due to seasonal allergies before stopping the Zyrtec."

• 1o1
• September 8, 2016

"I used to take it for really bad hayfever and it used to the trick, hayfever not so bad. started taking it again at bedtime it acts as sleeping tablet for me. The problem is it seesm to last right through the next day thick head etc and general drowsiness, I rarely get through the day without having to sleep, which sometimes I don't mind but the general sedative effects continue throughout the day"

• Laura
• January 13, 2018

Zyrtec (cetirizine) "I used Zyrtec D for some really bad sinus pressure. It makes you sleepy during the day and anxious at night, but it has a very strong decongestant, and it works. I would never consider using it for a chronic condition, because the side effects are pretty heavy, but if you're just using it for a few days to help while you kick something, it works great."

• Miyuuu
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• July 31, 2022

Zyrtec (cetirizine) "I started taking Zyrtec many years ago, on and off only when I suffered seasonal allergies and it worked fine. However, a little over a year ago when it came to the end of spring allergy season and I got off Zyrtec, I started getting pruritus all over my hands and palms, arm, feet, and buttocks. I thought I was having allergic reaction from another medication I was taking at the time so I kept on taking Zyrtec to relieve the symptoms. Thankfully, my health improved and I was able to stop taking other medications recently so I also stopped taking Zyrtec, thinking that I wouldn't need it anymore. This is how I found out that this severe pruritus was from withdrawal itching due to Zyrtec! The withdrawal itching is really severe and although I can barely stand it during the day, I cannot sleep at night. I get hives all over my body, from top of my head to bottom of my feet including my private parts. It is an absolute nightmare. Don't use Zyrtec if you haven't yet or switch to another kind."

• RTenn...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 10, 2014

"I've been on this at 10mg for a few months to fight my hay fever. It has had some effect, my nose isn't running as frequently, but my eyes are watering and are itchy. If anything it has made my eyes worse. At 10mg it doesn't really do much."

• holly...
• April 24, 2016

"Started taking this medicine for iching after being given it by my doctor. Worked for 1 day and after it didn't. Made me feel so sleepy but couldn't sleep and make my iching worse, couldn't sleep at night Wouldn't recommend"

• tdkeand
• February 18, 2009

Zyrtec (cetirizine) "I have had allergic rhinitis for as long as I can remember. OTCs worked for a while but my symptoms always returned. My primary care provider prescribed Zyrtec and Flonase. Though prescribed to use each of these medications on a daily basis, I use them only when required and the combination halts my attacks within 20 minutes of taking them. I could not be happier with this regimen."

• Feeli...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• May 3, 2022

Zyrtec (cetirizine) "Zyrtec works great for allergies but I was having terrible anxiety. I remembered my son couldn’t take it because it made him so anxious so I stopped taking it and most of my anxiety disappeared within a day. Be careful with this medication. It can cause anxiety and depression."

• itchy...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• January 13, 2016

"My D.O. and I worked for years to find something that would stop my daily hives and stuffy, runny nose without much success until I tried cetirizine. My hives and extreme itchiness disappeared after the first dose, and I've been on it since. For this, I rate it a 10. Unfortunately, it didn't help my sinus situation at all. I can't take a decongestant because every time I take one, I get bronchitis. Silly, I know, but that's my body. Because cetirizine doesn't help my sinus situation at all, it rates a zero in this category, giving the drug an effectiveness rating of five."

• elate...
• July 8, 2009

Zyrtec (cetirizine) "My child cannot swallow pills so the chewable Zyrtec is wonderful. Quick tip: to avoid drowsiness the next morning take your dosage by early evening (don't wait until bedtime) by doing so you'll get a comfortable nights sleep while breathing easily too."

• Belle
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 25, 2020

"The side effects of cetirizine is horrible and not worth taking, it made me drowsy, nauseous and I could not go to work. I threw it in the trash and would not recommend it. It did nothing for the hayfever symptoms."

• Carol...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 21, 2017

"It works, no more sinuses but...after reading the side effects I'm slowly pulling back from taking them. I'm experiencing dry mouth, aches in my hands, hot flashes, and headaches. So I'm decreasing dosage to 1 pill every other day. I've been literally taking them everyday for about 4 months. Side effects gradually started happening."

• Catty
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• March 28, 2019

"It really works well for nasal problems but it makes very sleepy. Now I was on benzodiazepine for partial epilepsy and tension which made me sleepless at night. I stopped that because I needed Cetrizine for my allergic rhinitis which makes me sleep great but I never take Cetrizine everyday. 30 Min.before going to bed and can get minimun 8 hrs sleep I feel a little slow the next day but actually gives an almost similar effect to my epilepsy as benzodiazepine. For me it is a winner in all ways but I am careful with it. It is great for allergies and the side effect of sleepiness etc.can be good or bad depending on the individual and its brain function. Cetrizine if used sparingly is quite harmless unless you are allergic to it."

• Timoney
• April 5, 2017

"Took 20mg during a summer of very bad allergies when claritin and other meds were not helping sufficiently. Worked excellently for me. Only side effects I experienced were mild drowsiness the first few weeks on it and drying of skin and mouth, nothing extra water didn't fix."

• LPano
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 11, 2018

"I tried this in the equate brand for 4 days and my allergies got worse instead of better, my sinus swelled to the point I could not breath through my nose. I did not realize this may be part of it until I skipped a day and was getting a little better, until I took one again, the congestion came on strong again, and I realized within 30 min of taking this I was back to not breathing through my nose. I will not be using these again, this is miserable. I wish it did not last for 24 hours. I have had to do a pot of water with eucalyptus oil and that would open one side of sinus, but it does not last long."

• Funny...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• November 16, 2021

Zyrtec (cetirizine) "I take this daily as it helps my cat allergies, (I live with two cats), helps my mood swings (I am autistic) and generally just makes me feel a lot better due to decreasing all the inflammation in my body from all my health issues. Or maybe its just a placebo effect."

• ELA
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 25, 2023

Children's Zyrtec (cetirizine) "My 9 year old took this for 5 weeks and it increased his anxiety, made him angry, and he cried often. Like a different kid. I am so glad we figured out this was the cause. It was horrible and I hope the small percentage it happens to links it as an effect of the medication, as his doctor had to look it up when I brought it up."

• Iaman...
• April 9, 2013

"I have been on cetirizine for about 2 years now. I am now off it now. This medicine can cause severe itching when you come off of it. A full body itch that is completely distracting and makes you want to tear all of your skin off. I have tried to ween myself off of it, lowering my dose from 20mg to 10mg per day gradually over time, but this has had little effect. After about 48 hours of not having the medicine my body goes into full itch. I have to wear winter boots and oven mitts and jean clothing to prevent myself from itching. "

• Itchy...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• August 9, 2021

Zyrtec (cetirizine) "I had to go off Zyrtec for allergy testing and the itching was awful. I was able to get prednisone to take but by nighttime it wore off and I was up itching. I didn’t want prednisone at night as it wires me, but I guess the itching kept me up anyways. I also take Zyrtec at night. So morning are very difficult to wake up. I notice now that I’m off it, getting up isn’t as rough. What can I take to replace it that won't put me through awful withdrawl itching?? Please help! Don’t take Zyrtec."

• Wedne...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• July 8, 2019

"Pruritis is real, and trying to quit Zyrtec is the cause. I’m disappointed that more is not known or bring done - there must be some powerful drug lobbyists behind this company. I’m just glad to know I’m not crazy, and that some people have had success weaning themselves off of this garbage. I hope that I’m one of them."

• Andy
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• November 9, 2019

"I use to take one to two cetirizine every day at my old jobs. Two made me sleepy. I work in mouldy old building and 100 year old boat. I get 14 tablets for $1.00 @ dollar tree or 400 tablets for $16 plus tax at Sam's club. "