Cetirizine for Urticaria User Reviews (Page 2)

• Tam...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• November 24, 2021

Cetirizine "I'm absolutely miserable right now... I've been using Zyrtec for almost 10 years because when I was younger, I developed a condition called dermatographia. When I would lightly scratch my skin, it puffed up and created hives. The doctor told me to take Zyrtec, and sure enough, my skin wouldn't puff up anymore. I continued to blindly take Zyrtec for almost a decade. Periodically, I would miss a day or two and would get very itchy, I thought this was my dermatographia coming back. What I didn't realize is that the itchiness was a withdrawal symptom of cetirizine. I probably could have stopped taking Zyrtec YEARS ago. It's been 4 days since I stopped, and I have EXTREME itchiness everywhere on my body, even inside my mouth. I'm so sad to read this is a problem for others as well. I want the itchiness to STOP. If anyone is going through the same struggle, write a comment. I'm so upset that there is no warning about this miserable side effect anywhere...."

• Jpp...
• December 29, 2017

Cetirizine "I suffer from chronic hives. Zyrtec doesn't really help anything at all. I've had hives every day for 2 years until my doctor told me about a shot called XOLAIR. I take 2 shots per month, and it made my hives completely go away. I was on the shots for about a year. After 1 and a half years, my hives came back. I'm already in the process of going back on the shots again. I really recommend anyone with chronic hives to ask about XOLAIR."

• Mic...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• January 5, 2022

Cetirizine "I stopped taking Zyrtec 2 days ago and was woken up by the uncontrollable itching last night all over my body. It was terrible. I tried to use a topical cream to control the itch, but it got so bad I cut a pill in half, and the itching went away within the hour. I wish I knew about this when I started taking a pill every day for the last couple of years. I am going to wean off slowly and never buy this again. The fact they do not warn the user of this side effect of rebound itching is extremely concerning - who knows what else this is doing to our body."

• The...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• January 4, 2020

Cetirizine "I have been using Zyrtec for about a year now for my allergies and hives. I have gotten no relief from my allergies or the hives when taking Zyrtec, basically, it does nothing for me at all. I was even told by my doctor during an allergy attack to take it twice a day, and I still got no relief."

• Ham...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• June 4, 2022

Cetirizine "I am currently suffering from Zyrtec withdrawal. I have been taking Zyrtec for about 2 years. I never used to take this drug as much as I do now. But because I noticed that I would need to retake the pill after 2-3 days after the last dose, I decided that something didn't add up. I started to believe that it had to be dependency. I am grateful for this forum that it confirmed my suspicion. I started quitting Zyrtec, and I am now on my 5th day... The itching/burning still continues, affecting my hands/neck/scalp/back/chest/legs/feet, pretty much everywhere. I take Benadryl to help relieve the itch before I sleep. Hopefully, my body recovers from the withdrawal from cetirizine, so that my body doesn't start to grow a dependence on the Benadryl!"

• Pet...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• November 14, 2020

Cetirizine "So, suddenly when I was 29, I started getting terrible itchy times, scratching myself till I bleed, swollen skin. Doctors failed to diagnose anything, but I asked them to at least give me something, and the doc made me try Zyrtec. I take one every 2 to 3 days, and I can't keep going without it. I just did an experiment and lasted 5 days without it, but the 4th and 5th were horrible. Zyrtec is, in my opinion, not addictive, if you had itchiness and rash before, then of course it will come back when you stop taking it. It has some pretty nasty side effects for me, though: - drowsiness - horrible realistic nightmares - mood swings, anger issues. I am right now looking for better alternatives."

• Mom...
• May 21, 2017

Cetirizine "Hives is directly linked to autoimmune disorders such as Hashimoto's, a thyroid disease. Chronic hives can't be treated with Zyrtec if this is the case. I give Zyrtec 8 stars because it is a great OTC fix for allergies. However, if you are suffering from chronic hives and find nothing helping, perhaps you need to research... I am experiencing this firsthand. I have found oatmeal baths and coconut oil with essential oils to soothe my chronic hives, specifically lavender, lemon, Melaleuca, and peppermint. My next step is getting a full blood panel done to confirm Hashimoto's. Zyrtec can't fix that but is good for common allergies."

• Deb...
• October 10, 2019

Cetirizine "I have had chronic urticaria for 1 year. Been to my own GP, an allergist, a dermatologist, and a rheumatologist. I was taking Zyrtec, Zantac, and Xyzal twice a day, sometimes 3 times when hives were really bad. Also several doses of prednisone. It has been a horrible year. But the Zyrtec did help, and I still take it now once a day. Rheumatologist recently prescribed Singulair, and finally I have not had any hives or angioedema now since I started taking it 2 full weeks with no symptoms. One Zyrtec in the morning, one Singulair at night."

• bas...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 16, 2019

"Very effective, but way too many side effects. Cetirizine is noticeably sedating, and it gives me headaches. I prefer other antihistamines to control my symptoms (fexofenadine or loratadine). Cetirizine is very effective for hives and itching, but it will ruin my day because of the sedation and headaches."

• tri...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 17, 2015

Cetirizine "I have been getting viral hives over the last 6 months. I went and saw an allergist (who diagnosed me), and he recommends this instead of Benadryl. For me, it hasn't helped. I guess I'm not as lucky as the others here."

• New...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 29, 2021

Cetirizine "I am having hives for the first time in my life, I am 40. This started soon after I gave birth a few months ago. Blood tests don’t say anything, but I am just sad to know if there is going to be an end to this ever. I take Zyrtec every two days. I was never on any medication, and my hive disease has not shown any improvement on days without Zyrtec. Any advice is welcome. One of the things I want to know: will I get addicted to Zyrtec (prescribed)?"

• Old...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• July 31, 2017

"In my 40s, I started getting contact hives when lifting heavy objects on my arms. As I got older, it started getting worse, and I often would also get rashes. After multiple visits to various doctors, one finally took a biopsy of one of the rashes. It turns out I was allergic to the sun, a form of lupus. I basically lived outdoors in shorts and a T-shirt, and the hives and rashes did not correspond to where the sun hit my body. I take one to two cetirizine pills per day (day/night) and also one ranitidine 150 mg (another histamine inhibitor) and stay out of the sun. I cover up at all times, and the hives are mostly gone. Before this, I would get thick large hives from any pressure, even sitting."

• Hiv...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 25, 2019

Cetirizine "I began with getting a swollen lip one day, then the next day it was a part of my lip that was swollen. Then came the hives episodes. No blood test could figure it out for me. I just gave up. Until my doctor said to take 2 Zyrtec in the morning and 2 at night when they are really bad. Then take one in the morning, one at night. This has saved my sanity. I don't get more than the occasional single hive once every few days with a strict Zyrtec regimen."

• No...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• January 3, 2013

"Good for my runny nose, sneezing, and watery eyes and itchy eyes due to the allergy with dust, pollen, or any other thing like dog and cat fur, even chemicals and food, especially nuts. But doctors give 10 mg a day, and it's been good since; although I am taking it less and less as and when I catch those allergies. Causes me some drowsiness and constant yawning!"

• xte...
• April 13, 2017

Cetirizine "I've had chronic hives for most of my life. I can't tell you the different types of medical 'cocktails' I've been on. I've tried doxepin up to 100 mg... made me loopy all day long. Don't really want to take anything that will mess with my brain. I've taken Benadryl, Claritin, Zyrtec, Zyrtec with Zantac, I've switched antacids---be careful with Prilosec. That will lower your B12 quicker than anything. Mine got so low, I had to start giving myself B12 shots from taking the Prilosec. Nothing is working for me! I am miserable beyond comprehension! If anyone has any other suggestions, please post. Thank you."

• Wel...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• February 24, 2020

"Started taking cetirizine in 2014, at first 5 mg occasionally, then needed a bigger dose a day to control my urticaria. Now, wanting to get retested by my allergist, I tried stopping my antihistamine for 7 days but only lasted 3 days due to severe cetirizine withdrawal syndrome. Incredibly itchy all over my body, like fire ants crawling over me and wanting to jump out of my skin. Itchy eyes, intensely itchy ears, red and swollen palms and soles, and super large welts on my back by day 3. I couldn’t handle the itching anymore and needed to restart the cetirizine. Now I need to try and wean off this drug with the help of another antihistamine, such as Allegra (fexofenadine), so my body won’t be dependent on cetirizine. This drug worked well for my symptoms, but if you try to get off it, like me, you might regret ever starting to take it. No, I do not recommend cetirizine!"

• Zyr...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 30, 2021

Cetirizine "DO NOT take Zyrtec. The withdrawal symptoms of Zyrtec are not worth it when you try to go off of it. Intense, unbearable itching. Hands, arms, legs, feet, chest, scalp. Itching that makes you wish you could shed your skin like some kind of bug. It's been over a week, and I'm still itching. Claritin helped on day 4 and a half pill on day 8 to reduce itching to get me functional again. Although now I'm super dry. Be aware of that if breastfeeding. Only time will tell how long it takes me to get back to normal. Save yourself and don't get started with this med."

• Not...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 9, 2022

Cetirizine "OMG, it REALLY works!! I don't know why I've been having hives, but it's amazing how this works!! I was having them so bad that I can't figure out which clothes to wear. I don't know what is triggering it. But I haven't had an itch in hours! I took it today for the first time, and I'm back to normal."

• Pep...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 26, 2021

Cetirizine "Had an allergic reaction to Pepcid AC (first time taking it) about half an hour after taking it, my face started to itch and swell, also felt like pins and needles on top of my head. I went to the emergency room, waited about 4 hours to see the doctor, by that time, swelling had gone down and symptoms were improving. They sent me home at 3:30 am, slept for about 2 hours, when I woke up, I had very itchy hives on my legs, arms, and stomach. They would go away during the day, but would come back every night. Day 3 took a Zyrtec and woke up the next day with no hives!! Probably will take a Zyrtec for the next couple of days."

• bee...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 27, 2021

Cetirizine "Unfortunately, I had a severe reaction to generic Zyrtec last night. I took 10 mg before bed. I woke up with severe heartburn, nausea, and an abnormal heart rhythm. I took sodium bicarbonate to relieve the acidic heartburn. I went back to bed only to be awakened with another severe heartburn, but in addition, I was extremely dizzy, nauseous, had cold sweats, and a sick feeling. I went to the bathroom nauseous. I barely made it back to bed as I was about to faint. Fortunately, my bed isn’t far from my bathroom, as I almost fell from faintness and dizziness. My head was soaked in cold sweats. In the late morning, I found out that there is a percentage of women in my age group, 60s, that have fainted with Zyrtec who have taken it for less than a month - in which I have only taken it since my Patch Test allergic reactions on Thursday. No other symptoms since the drug wore off."

• Anonymous
• May 20, 2009

"Every night for the past 3-4 months, I have been breaking out in hives due to severe allergic reactions to dust. Since day 1 of taking cetirizine (which is the generic form of Zyrtec), I have finally found relief. Highly recommended."

• Lol...
• January 7, 2017

Cetirizine "I had never heard of hives, and I'm 54! We moved to my mother-in-law's house after she passed away. I just thought it was something in the house. I have been to the ER 2x in a month. The doctor in the ER diagnosed it as urticaria both times, got steroid shots and prescriptions the same both times. The nurse said to take Pepcid and Zyrtec. But some days are so bad!"

• Jun...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 1, 2016

"I experienced a continuous outbreak of very itchy, irritating hives for four months, at which time I took Benadryl once daily, bathed in cool water, and doused myself with calamine lotion to get relief. Just as I was anticipating seeing an allergen doctor, I asked my best friend's daughter, who is a nurse, if she could recommend anything other than Benadryl. She vehemently responded, 'Zyrtec.' She explained that her 20-year-old daughter is an eight-year hives sufferer and her only relief is Zyrtec. I began taking one dose of Zyrtec on a Wednesday, had no breakout on Thursday, Friday, or Saturday. In a week's time, I've taken a total of three Zyrtec - no hives. Thank you, Zyrtec maker!!!"

• Sha...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• December 23, 2015

"I have been suffering from chronic hives since 1 year. Every night I'm taking cetirizine, which makes me fall asleep. Now I couldn't survive even a single day without taking it. My hives are killing me if I miss a dose. As you all know, tablets are not that good for health."

• Sec...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• August 10, 2012

"I suffer from giant urticaria, which is caused by several different things, like Pepsi Max and Persil washing powder. My doctor provided 10 mg cetirizine, and I take it only when the reaction starts, and within 30 minutes the itchiness stops, and after a few hours the hives and redness have completely gone. It does make me very drowsy, but that's a small price to pay for relief. Great product, highly recommended."