Zyrtec User Reviews & Ratings (Page 4)

• All...
• January 26, 2018

For Allergic Rhinitis "Stayed at my friend's house who had a cat. I knew I was allergic, so I stayed far away from it. It still got to me enough to where the symptoms bothered me. Sore and itchy throat, itchy, watery eyes, coughing, etc. I decided to take a 10 mg Zyrtec. I normally don't like taking pills. This one said non-drowsy, so I thought it would be safer. BIG mistake. I was so drained that after I woke up from an 8.5-hour night sleep, I was so tired, I couldn't keep my eyes open. It was so scary that I ended up going to the ER. They gave me fluids to flush it faster, but I still suffered the rest of the day. Never again. Although it did help my symptoms, the side effects were not worth it."

• Itc...
• April 17, 2017

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."

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

For Urticaria "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...."

• Yub...
• February 6, 2009

For Allergic Rhinitis "This medicine works, but you start having different side effects. When I was taking Zyrtec, I started having pain in my back and then stabbing pain in the spine, and also an irritating pain in the knees and non-stop twitching of the eyes. I just recently discontinued my prescription of Zyrtec due to the above side effects. Now I have no pain but have started itching all over my body. I prefer the itching to the pain."

• Cha...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 12, 2018

For Allergic Rhinitis "Works alright on getting rid of allergies, I guess, but every time I’ve taken it, it’s made my throat extremely sore, and my voice hurts. It gets so bad it hurts to talk while taking it, so I’m finding something else."

• Jpp...
• December 29, 2017

For Urticaria "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."

• sme...
• April 1, 2010

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."

• Cur...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 18, 2016

For Allergic Rhinitis "Have always had severe allergies since a child. I first used Zyrtec about 14 years ago. Worked great, but I could barely stay awake at work. It was bad. I'm a dental assistant, and I actually fell asleep while assisting (sitting on the assistant chair!). I could barely drive. I confided in a co-worker, and she asked me if I was taking anything. I told her just allergy pills. She asked which ones, and she said her daughter takes them, but she has to take them a couple of hours before bed. I could have easily had a car accident. Anyhow, now I'm researching what to take for mango skin allergy. I have Allegra, which isn't as good, and since I don't work now, I'm going to take Zyrtec for it after reading the reviews on it."

• Cli...
• February 21, 2017

For Allergic Rhinitis "I used Zyrtec for years, not because I wanted to, but because if you stop taking Zyrtec, you itch all over constantly. You don't just itch for 3 days like you do when ceasing other allergy meds, it doesn't stop ever. I was finally able to kick it by decreasing the quantity very gradually for a few months while also taking Benadryl. It can be done."

• Zyr...
• June 9, 2011

For Allergic Rhinitis "Make the itching stop. I took this for hay fever, and it worked. BUT, it then caused me to have head-to-toe bumps and itchiness even after stopping taking it. The itching is keeping me up at night. I am hoping to wait it out and never take it again. Also, while I was taking it, my eyes and face got really, really swollen. I am still not sure if this was from an unusually bad allergy season or the Zyrtec, but I am going to guess it is the Zyrtec because my allergies have never caused this before (usually I just have sinus and itchy eyes)."

• 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."

• Unk...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• June 17, 2023

For Allergic Rhinitis "This medication has its ups and downs for me. I was originally prescribed this medication because of congestion, the pressure I would feel in my ears, and a lack of appetite. I felt like the product worked for a while. It cleared up my allergic rhinitis issues and gave me the appetite I never had. Except for the fact that it came with side effects. I started to have extremely painful muscles in my legs and arms. For some reason, I responded that way to this medication. On the flip side, I was underweight and diagnosed as anorexic, and my white/red blood cell count was very low as a result of my lack of appetite. This medication gave me a strong appetite! As a 6'10 male, it allowed me to bulk up to a healthy 270 lbs. My most recent lab work came back healthy, and I feel really great! I just couldn’t continue this medication due to the intense muscle pain I would get. The pain quickly subsided after a few days of not taking Zyrtec. Do not go cold turkey, I got intense itchy skin when I did."

• Anonymous
• April 16, 2008

For Allergic Rhinitis "I have used Zyrtec for a couple of years to reduce my allergy symptoms and avoid asthma flares. I have a dog that causes symptoms if I play too much, or if I touch my eyes. We got a cat about 1 year ago! Zyrtec met the challenge, the cat sometimes sleeps on my pillow. I am still careful about touching my eyes, but Zyrtec has done a great job. Now that Z is OTC, my doctor switched me to Clarinex, but after a few days, I am experiencing symptoms again: swollen lips, eyes, etc. I'm going back to Z!"

• the...
• July 28, 2009

For Allergic Rhinitis "Two of us have used Zyrtec for many years because it is stronger than the other so-called non-drowsy antihistamines, such as Allegra and Claritin. We need relief mostly for sinus itching, throbbing, pressure, and discomfort; also useful for itchy allergic skin. This medicine will usually cause pronounced drowsiness for the first three days, so the best way to get used to it is to take half a pill daily for three days, then the whole pill daily. Also, it may increase urination. But as I say, it is very effective."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 22, 2020

For Allergic Rhinitis "The winds started up 3 weeks ago, and my nose from my allergies was just stuffed with sticky phlegm and severe lethargy. I bought the generic brand of Zyrtec, and it alleviated the problem somewhat. Today I went to buy more and couldn't find any, so I bought the Zyrtec brand, and it is sooooo much more effective. Not just clear breathing, but my usual hyperactive self once more."

• 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."

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

For Urticaria "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."

• Cap...
• June 6, 2011

For Allergic Rhinitis "I have just decided to stop taking Zyrtec. It worked well on my allergies. However, I have had an increase in back and joint pain, i.e., knee and hip, the past two weeks. Not sure it's Zyrtec, but felt I'd eliminate it to see if symptoms resolve."

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

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."

• 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."

• 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!"

• Anonymous
• September 5, 2011

For Allergic Rhinitis "This is the only medication that has worked for me so far (besides Benadryl), but it gives me horrible dry mouth and eyes after using it for a few days, and if I take it for longer than that, my tongue starts to hurt because of the dryness. I would give it a 10 if it weren't for those symptoms."

• 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."

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

For Urticaria "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

For Urticaria "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."