Cetirizine and Sleepy: What Users Say

• fru...
• November 15, 2008

Cetirizine for Urticaria "I have had cholinergic urticaria for a few years now. I break out into hives when I start exerting myself physically or it's hot. After taking Zyrtec 1/2 an hour before my workout, I didn't experience that irritating itchy feeling all over, nor did I get hives. My skin got red, but no bumps. I don't care as long as I don't get the irritation, which works to create an aversion to exercise. I took a 5 mg dosage. After my workout, I went to sleep at 7 p.m., woke up for an hour, and then went to bed at 9 p.m., only to sleep the whole following day. I was unusually fatigued and sleepy. I'm going to try 2.5 mg today to see if that helps."

• sme...
• April 1, 2010

Cetirizine for Allergic Rhinitis "Zyrtec is the only medicine that controls my allergy symptoms, but it makes me so tired, sleepy, and I always seem to be 'zoning out.' I even passed a red light at an intersection a few days ago... thankfully, no one was hurt."

• Pat...
• June 23, 2019

For Allergic Rhinitis "I agree with the comments about making you drowsy and sleepy. Seemed to be okay with half a tablet, but as soon as I started taking a full tablet as the high grass pollen season approached, it left me a complete mess. Sleeping for 9 hours a night with 2-hour naps in the day. At work, I had to have power naps in the bog so I wouldn’t collapse at my desk. My brain was foggy, and it drains and sucks the life out of you to a point that I almost felt depressed."

• Anonymous
• June 11, 2008

Cetirizine for Allergic Rhinitis "I have had side effects with every single allergy drug I've tried-prescription and none-ranging from sleepy to practically comatose. Zyrtec is the only medicine that helps me and positively impacts my quality of life."

• hol...
• April 24, 2016

For Allergic Rhinitis "Started taking this medicine for itching 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 made my itching worse, couldn't sleep at night. Wouldn't recommend."

• Lau...
• January 13, 2018

Cetirizine for Allergic Rhinitis "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."

• nen...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 18, 2016

For Urticaria "I went in to the doctor's because I have a rash all over my body, and he prescribed cetirizine. All it did was make me sleepy, the rash got worse. Then a different doctor looked at me three weeks later and determined I had scabies. Cetirizine really messed up my schedule. Being a college student, I fell behind because I was not able to keep up with homework."

• And...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• November 9, 2019

For Allergic Rhinitis "I used to take one to two cetirizine every day at my old jobs. Two made me sleepy. I work in a moldy old building and a 100-year-old boat. I get 14 tablets for $1.00 at Dollar Tree or 400 tablets for $16 plus tax at Sam's Club."

• San...
• June 5, 2015

Cetirizine for Allergic Rhinitis "Zyrtec made me so sleepy I could barely perform my job. Also felt sluggish and dangerous while driving. All I could think of all day was 'I need to go to sleep.'"

• Anonymous
• September 23, 2008

Cetirizine for Urticaria "It works great for the symptoms of my allergies and hay fever. It does make me extremely sleepy, though. But, I suppose that is better than having a pounding headache or a sneezing/coughing attack."

• Anonymous
• November 14, 2010

Cetirizine for Allergic Rhinitis "It works well, however, it made me as sleepy as Benadryl."

• Din...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• June 18, 2023

For Allergic Rhinitis "Although it seems to help with my congestion and swelling, the itching is horrible, and I stay sleepy constantly."