Cetirizine and Headaches: What Users Say

• RJa...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• December 5, 2019

Cetirizine for Allergic Rhinitis "Stay away from this drug (Zyrtec) for seasonal allergies - there are better alternatives. While taking Zyrtec, especially if you are older, you may experience dry mouth and accelerated dental caries among others (drowsiness, headache, constipation, and miscellaneous other adverse effects). Upon discontinuing Zyrtec, you may experience disabling generalized and severe itching without a rash or sometimes with a rash. The itching can occur anywhere on your body - but almost always on the palms and soles. The itching is often severe and unrelenting and often is not associated with a rash. The itching can last for days and weeks. The FDA is aware of this 'Zyrtec withdrawal syndrome,' but to date does not appear too concerned about it. Several hundreds of cases have been reported."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• September 3, 2020

Cetirizine for Allergic Rhinitis "I am taking Zyrtec for over 4 years, almost every 1 to 2 days or as needed (Allergic doctor's suggestion). It makes me feel relief of the itching and pollen symptoms, but if I stop taking it, my whole body starts to react - itching everywhere and producing stress on me. I'm trying to quit this medication little by little. Drinking a lot of water with mint plant (3 L.) daily. IT WORKS, BUT NOT EASY AT ALL. I increased 1 day each time after taking the Zyrtec and believe it's not easy, but I ignored the side effects and drank a sip of water each time my body itched. Slowly decreasing. I have gone 8 days without taking this medication. Other than light itching, insomnia, headaches, and muscle stress are side effects so far. I will keep going ahead. Pharmaceuticals business using us to keep doing their income. It might have a natural replacement, if you know, please share!"

• JJa...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• May 3, 2020

Cetirizine for Allergic Rhinitis "There is not a single good enough reason to start taking Zyrtec. I’ve tried to quit multiple times, and I end up having to take it again because of the relentless itchiness. On top of that, it makes you quite drowsy and doesn’t fix the allergy symptoms I started taking it for. Since trying to quit for the 3rd time, I’ve also experienced severe headaches and neck pain. Weaning yourself off seems to be the best option."

• Aan...
• March 13, 2021

Cetirizine for Allergic Rhinitis "I started taking Zyrtec for seasonal allergies. It seemed to help after a day or two, so I kept taking it. But then I ran out and didn’t take any for a couple of days, and that night became severely itchy all over my hands, head, and chest. I thought I must be allergic to my new cats. I got a new bottle and started right back up the next day, no more itching. I was sure I was allergic to the cats! Then fast forward a few months and I’m consistently feeling very tired, irritable, have horrible headaches, jittery, plus other symptoms, so I looked up the side effects of the medication, and sure enough, they are all listed. I then stumbled upon people talking about the severe itching when stopping taking Zyrtec, and I realized I’m not allergic to my cats, it’s a VERY common thing when you stop taking the drug. I was shocked. I quit cold turkey and am on day 10 without it and am still itchy. It’s been awful, especially on my hands, chest, and scalp. My body feels like it’s burning all over at times."

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

Cetirizine 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."

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

Cetirizine 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."

• Sar...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 6, 2020

Cetirizine for Allergic Rhinitis "After taking Zyrtec with a cough medicine, I became so lightheaded I thought it was the end of me. My neck got stiff, and my head was hurting on top, and lightheaded, unable to drive. I was sure I’m having a stroke. I stopped taking it for 2 days, and all those symptoms are gone."

• Kha...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 31, 2018

For Allergic Rhinitis "Started taking this for my dust allergy, worked great for that! Except at the same time, I started experiencing severe dizzy spells and a really heavy head throughout the day. I had no clue it was related to Zyrtec, when I visited the doc today, he suggested stopping taking it, and that's when it hit me that these symptoms only started when I started these pills! Terrible medication that sucks the life out of you and sends your brain into a haze!"

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

For Urticaria "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."

• Luc...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• January 13, 2019

For Allergic Rhinitis "I started taking this regularly about 8 months ago. I would skip a dose and notice uncontrollable itching. And then the migraines started and the crazy dreams. I quit this drug 5 days ago. The drug also made my eyes incredibly dry. Itching is better, but I had another headache. I rarely had headaches before this medicine. I am 53. Do not take this drug. I hope this goes away soon."

• Vio...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• February 24, 2023

Cetirizine for Allergic Rhinitis "I only take it when I feel itchy and have watery eyes, an itchy nose and throat, and sneezing mostly due to seasonal allergies. I try not to take it on a daily basis but only if I feel hay fever symptoms are coming. I feel the effect within an hour and for the rest of the day, I’m allergy-free, which is great. However, the next day I’m exhausted, lethargic, find it hard to concentrate, I get a headache, and I feel like my head is super cloudy. If I have no more allergies that day, I won’t take it again, and the next day I’m back to having normal energy. I’ve sometimes had to take it for days and weeks in a row when the pollen levels are very high, and I get the same low energy lethargic feeling every day I take it, but it does prevent a sinus infection, which I am prone to, and stops me from ending up having to take antibiotics."

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

For Allergic Rhinitis "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 every day for about 4 months. Side effects gradually started happening."

• ace...
• October 1, 2009

For Allergic Rhinitis "I have seasonal allergies, I realized several years ago when I started getting headaches and got stuffy drinking beer and certain other foods/drinks. So, I tried various medications, but all had some side effects that limited my use. Cetirizine is now available as a generic. The trick with this drug is to take it at around 4-6 in the afternoon. It takes a while to work for me, like the next day. By taking it in the early evening, you miss the getting tired side effect, which many have noted because it takes a while to react, and you are already relaxing after work/school/kids to bed, etc. By the next day, it is in your system, but your body can adjust to it. The best drug."