Zyrtec and Itching: What Users Say (Page 2)

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

For Urticaria "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."

• flo...
• February 10, 2012

For Allergic Rhinitis "All day I have had a runny nose, itchy, watery eyes, sneezing, throat closing. I finally could not take it anymore. I did some research online to determine the best OTC medication to use, Zyrtec stood out the most. I figured that it must be pretty strong due to the fact that at one time you needed a script to get it. I took my first tab at 3:00 pm, it's now 3:18. I am starting to feel the effects of Zyrtec, I have not sneezed as of yet. My watery nose and eyes are starting to clear up. I'm beginning to breathe easier."

• Anonymous
• February 28, 2012

For Allergic Rhinitis "It works better than any other medicine I have tried. Downside is the itching, which is caused by its negative effect on the liver. Therefore, I do not take it every day. I have to wait a day or so in between."

• Ble...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• March 10, 2021

For Allergic Rhinitis "I have been on Zyrtec D for about 10 years. I take this once a day. I have tried to go off this medicine numerous times in order to have allergy testing done, but I can’t get past the itching and horrible withdrawal symptoms. This is currently the longest I’ve been off of it, and I’m on day 3 and in misery. After 24 hours, the itching started. The palms of my hands, feet, legs, and even inside of my mouth are itching. I wish there would have been a warning on their medication because I would not have ever started it. This is horrible. Completely miserable, and all I want to do is take a pill to stop this itching. I have been taking Benadryl, which is helping to make the itching not as intense, but it doesn’t make it go completely away, and the Benadryl makes me so sleepy. Hopefully, not too many more days of this because it is absolutely horrible."

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

For Urticaria "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!"

• Riv...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• April 5, 2025

For Allergies "I’ve been using Zyrtec every day for the past 6 years. I used to live in a different place that had a lot of pollen and dust in the air. After moving to a better breathing location, I decided to stop taking Zyrtec. It has been well so far. If you have allergies, I recommend it, but I wasn’t expecting such a bad withdrawal because my whole body is itching like crazy. The most random thing is I can be itching, for example, in my right arm, and out of nowhere, it stops, and then I start itching on my left leg. It's like the itching moves across the whole body. Hopefully, it will stop soon. But yeah, 6 to 7 years taking Zyrtec and never had a problem. The withdrawal is messing me up, but I guess it's normal after your body gets used to something."

• Sne...
• January 14, 2009

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."

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

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!"

• DRS...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• December 22, 2020

For Allergic Rhinitis "I suffered from reoccurring respiratory infections 2-3 times a year, as well as seasonal allergies. A nurse recommended I start taking Zyrtec daily, so I did. It has been over 3 years now, and I have not had so much as a cold in that time. Now, in the spring, I have to supplement it with Benadryl, as the hay fever can get bad at certain times and make my eyes itch. But overall, I am much better off respiratory infection-wise. I also take L-Lysine daily, and my doctor had made the comment that these 2 combined could possibly act as a prophylactic against COVID as well. Thank you, Zyrtec!"

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• April 12, 2022

For Allergic Rhinitis "It sucks if you quit taking it. I had been taking it for 2 years. Just be prepared for your skin to itch and crawl like you have bugs all over you. Don’t take it because if you stop, it’s miserable."

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

For Urticaria "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."

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

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."

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

For Allergic Rhinitis "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 pales 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 torso 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."

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

For Allergic Rhinitis "I've been frustrated, in pain, and experiencing 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 affecting 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 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. My scalp, soles, palms, and entire body are irritated and itching. I've cried. Why is this medicine still on the shelf and doctors not warning their patients?"

• Mom...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 12, 2021

For Allergic Rhinitis "I have taken this for the first time ever and feel absolutely awful. I lost all appetite, am so tired and lethargic, and have been so itchy tonight that I cannot sleep. I will never take this ever again. I just hope it leaves my body very soon. It did not even seem to help my allergies at all. I was so moody and depressed from this medicine on top of everything else. Never again. :("

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

For Allergic Rhinitis "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 mornings 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 withdrawal itching? Please help! Don’t take Zyrtec."

• Sea...
• April 22, 2008

For Urticaria "I love this product. I've been taking the generic version lately and have had to take two with no symptom relief (still sneezing violently and itchy, watery eyes). I recommend Zyrtec as the first option."

• Mis...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• February 15, 2022

For Allergic Rhinitis "I went off of it because I had the flu and needed to take cold medicine, and it interacted. I have itched for days. Miserable itching, my entire body is raw from scratching, and I felt like I was losing my mind. I realized today the itching is from not taking Zyrtec. Please don’t start this if you haven’t already. It’s not worth it."

• Ano...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• May 30, 2025

For Allergies "I have taken Zyrtec for at least 10 years. I ran out and kept forgetting to get more. My head started itching so badly. I could wash my hair and scrub my scalp, and it didn’t matter, I would still itch. So I would get to the store as quickly as I could after that and get that Zyrtec. Now I am trying to get off it once again, and my entire body is itching. I have scratched areas into large scabs. Part of me wants to get back on it just so I’ll stop itching, but I’m not inclined to do that and I don’t know what else I should take."

• Mel...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 25, 2021

For Allergic Rhinitis "I had been perplexed how I put on 12 pounds so fast within two months. I started thinking about what I have been doing differently. It was I started taking Zyrtec. I stopped taking it 5 days ago and have lost 4 pounds. My appetite is controlled and my energy level is starting to increase. I am having extensive itching on my back and head. I am never taking Zyrtec again. I will research homeopathic options. Beware!"

• jb1...
• April 16, 2009

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."

• MNM...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 25, 2019

For Allergic Rhinitis "Tried the 24-hour Zyrtec for a week. Each day got a runny nose and itchy, watery eyes. Zyrtec doesn't work for me."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 12, 2021

For Urticaria "I haven’t suffered any breakouts/itchiness in weeks."