Cetirizine and Rash: What Users Say

• Jas...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• November 4, 2020

Cetirizine for Allergic Rhinitis "I have been taking Zyrtec daily for allergies for a year or more. I have tried to stop, and like many others, I get extreme and intense itching. Scratching does not help and makes large red spots. It does not stop and is a horrible feeling. I also had chest and back pain after stopping. It's horrible, and you should not take it. Crazy that they allow this drug. Others posted about weight gain and being tired. This is also something that I have and may have been caused by this drug. Anyway, I have been off it for 3 days. I am hoping this nightmare stops soon because it is a horrible feeling."

• 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."

• Fin...
• March 11, 2017

Cetirizine for Allergic Rhinitis "My kids and I have taken Zyrtec for years. It has worked wonderfully for us all, but... It wasn't until my most recent migraine that I realized Zyrtec was making us deathly ill. It dawned on me that my migraines occurred once a month right when we ran out of Zyrtec. The horrible migraines were withdrawal symptoms! I immediately stopped giving it to my kids and taking it myself. Yes, nose started dripping and I have little hives on my arm, but OMG I haven't felt this good in YEARS. No joke, since all 4 of us have stopped taking it, we've all lost weight. I've lost about 7-10 lbs in a month. My kids' clothes are almost too big. My head is CLEAR, no fog, no drowsy, groggy feeling. I feel like myself again. Do not take Zyrtec!"

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 31, 2019

Cetirizine for Allergic Rhinitis "I would like to share my experience using Zyrtec to make anyone who may consider stopping it aware that it can cause severe itching when stopped. Although taking Zyrtec most definitely relieves my allergy symptoms, when I had to stop it because of allergy testing, within a couple of days of stopping Zyrtec, I broke out into an itchy rash that drove me crazy for days and nights. It caused me a lack of sleep for a while. So please, for anyone considering using Zyrtec as your choice of allergy relief medicine, be aware that stopping it could cause severe itching and discomfort."

• 55E...
• April 22, 2013

Cetirizine 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!"

• emm...
• February 1, 2018

Cetirizine 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."

• Ang...
• August 31, 2019

Cetirizine "Horrible. I started taking it because I was getting sinus pressure. Just took an odd one here and there. Then I started getting small hives on my forearms, so I took it more regularly. Then, every time the med wore off, I would break out in horrible itching, welts, and redness everywhere. NOTHING stops it except taking the med. I couldn't even touch my own skin lightly. After 5 days, I had to take it again. I NEVER had skin issues like this before Zyrtec EVER. I'm angry there was no warning. I'm trapped on this medication now, probably for life! It's impossible to get off of... it's not just normal itching, either it's intense fiery stinging hell."

• Jan...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 8, 2021

Cetirizine for Allergic Rhinitis "Severe itching when trying to stop taking the medicine Zyrtec. Hives that covered my whole body kept me from sleeping and caused me to feel like I had arthritis in my joints. Only mild relief from allergies. Not worth the pain."

• Anonymous
• March 15, 2012

Cetirizine for Allergic Rhinitis "Zyrtec worked well for my nasal allergies, but when I tried to stop taking it after several years, I got the skin itch/rash that many have reported. It was worst for the first few days, but now even a year later I still frequently get a skin rash when I get warm (cholinergic urticaria). I can't say for sure that the cholinergic urticaria was a side effect of stopping Zyrtec, but skin rashes were never a symptom of mine until I stopped."

• Itc...
• April 17, 2017

Cetirizine for Urticaria "Just writing this in case it helps another person to know what their 'trigger' was. I was given a cup of artichoke tea for the first time. Several hours later (during the night), I started scratching my shoulders and upper body. Itching stopped for a few hours during the next day and reoccurred later that evening and spread to many other areas of my body as I took myself to the emergency department of the hospital. I was given one Prednisolone and two Zyrtec tabs in the very early hours of the morning. Now, six hours later and (after a great sleep), I have awoken to no visible hives and no itching at all. I will get a script for Zyrtec later on today just in case it comes back. But, fingers crossed it will not do so."

• Dan...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 11, 2020

For Allergic Rhinitis "I'm a 21-year-old female. The worst allergy medicine I've ever taken, next to Levocetirizine. Besides being sedated and anxious, I most recently have been waking up with hives, shortness of breath, swollen eyelids and top lip, itching and burning skin, and panic attacks. I discontinued this medicine after like 3 months of taking it almost daily, I was absolutely miserable. I will never take this garbage again. I'm on day 2 of not taking it, and I'm starting to feel better."

• Den...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• October 13, 2019

Cetirizine for Allergic Rhinitis "Doc put me on ciprofloxacin antibiotic. Had an allergic reaction - head-to-toe rash and hives. Per doc's instructions, stopped the ciprofloxacin and took Zyrtec. Rash was gone within 24 hours. Also cleared up my chronic sinusitis that I had used Claritin for with little success. Still take Zyrtec generic for seasonal allergies and have had adverse side effects."

• Den...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• October 13, 2019

Cetirizine for Allergic Rhinitis "Doc put me on ciprofloxacin antibiotic. Had an allergic reaction - head-to-toe rash and hives. Per doc's instructions, stopped the ciprofloxacin and took Zyrtec. Rash was gone within 24 hours. Also cleared up my chronic sinusitis that I had used Claritin for with little success. Still take Zyrtec generic for seasonal allergies and have had adverse side effects."

• Deb...
• October 10, 2019

Cetirizine for Urticaria "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."

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

For Urticaria "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."

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

For Urticaria "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 for Urticaria "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."

• Miy...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• July 31, 2022

Cetirizine for Allergic Rhinitis "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 the spring allergy season and I got off Zyrtec, I started getting pruritus all over my hands and palms, arms, feet, and buttocks. I thought I was having an 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 the top of my head to the 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."

• Sne...
• January 14, 2009

Cetirizine for Allergic Rhinitis "I have been using Zyrtec for the last three years with great results. I am back to running outdoors without the urticaria, sneezing, and itchy eyes. Also, I can visit friends who have pets without needing to leave after five minutes."

• Can...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 5, 2021

Cetirizine for Allergic Rhinitis "I used Zyrtec for indoor allergies (dust and pet dander) for 2 months. I was directed by my allergist to quit taking it 2 weeks prior to allergy tests, and within 2-3 days of stopping the once-daily Zyrtec, I broke out in hives from the top of my head to the bottoms of my feet (I've never had hives in my life). The hives lasted about 10 days, with the first 3 days being the worst. After doing more research on Zyrtec, I found that withdrawal hives is VERY common. I will never use Zyrtec again!"

• ban...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• April 7, 2021

Cetirizine for Allergic Rhinitis "I was on Zyrtec for 3 years for allergies. I finally scheduled an appointment with an allergy doctor and had to stop the meds before the appointment. After two days, I had intense itching/burning on my palms and soles of my feet. To the point I had to cave and take half a pill, and it would immediately subside after 20 minutes. I stopped the meds after doing some research and seeing how bad withdrawals are. It’s been almost a month since I last took half a pill. I’ve broken out into random rashes on my neck and chest almost daily. Also, every time my boyfriend kisses me anywhere except for my face, I get a red rash. Fun times. Do not use Zyrtec!"

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

Cetirizine for Urticaria "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."

• Irr...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• January 3, 2021

For Urticaria "Taking Zyrtec LITERALLY... not only deceived me, but ABSOLUTELY DESTROYED my body!!! All this while eating organic & vegan plus teaching classes in the fitness industry (oh how humiliating)... & just deteriorating from the once healthy person that I was. My collagen & elasticity is SHOT after I went through the EXCRUCIATING withdrawal process!!! Not to mention that I still swell up and down nonstop monthly after taking this sick pill! Metabolism? What metabolism?! Not after Zyrtec! Skin/collagen/elasticity? Not after Zyrtec! And let's talk about my career... All of my credibility is LOST! Try going to work in the industry that once respected you & then look at you like a complete alien because I was covered head to toe in Zyrtec-derived hives & angioedema!!! I lost around $125,000.+ This drug is a silent addictive drug and should be torn off the markets!"

• Mag...
• January 23, 2016

For Urticaria "I have taken Zyrtec or the over-the-counter with a similar name like Walzyr. Anyway, other than a rare occasional large hive, and probably due to missing a dose, I have been great. But I got this idea (to save more money) that I should have the doctor prescribe cetirizine generic. You would think that would be OK, but I have been broken out in fine hives and a few welts. Also, some spots that are a little dry like my eczema. My skin has never itched this extremely. First, I had it on upper right arm, which has finally recovered, but it continues to move and I break out all over the last 26 to 28 days. I am switching back to the drug I used before. We will see if it is a medication issue. Wish me luck!"

• jb1...
• April 16, 2009

Cetirizine for Urticaria "I used this and got itchy all over. I developed red blotches all over my body, and it looked like hives. When I stop taking it, I get all itchy."