Levocetirizine and Tiredness: What Users Say

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 2, 2020

Levocetirizine for Allergies "Horrible experience with this medication. I suffer from chronic allergies (sinus issues, chronic cough, etc.), and Xyzal was recommended to me by my PCP because it is 'non-drowsy.' So wrong. I'm groggy, disoriented, irritable, and SO INCREDIBLY TIRED, and it's been two days since my last dose. (And this is my 3rd attempt with this med.) I was hoping these side effects would fade, but they have not. I'll save a few bucks and take Benadryl the next time I want to relieve my cough and be comatose at the same time."

• All...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 14, 2019

Levocetirizine for Allergies "I've had seasonal allergies for several years. I went back and forth between Claritin and Zyrtec for all of those years and had not great results that got less and less as time went on. I started taking XYZAL about a month ago when my nose itched and ran so much at night that I couldn't sleep anymore. The first week of taking XYZAL at night before bed, I was so tired the next day I could hardly function, and I had a really bad upper stomach ache. But it helped my allergies so well I stuck with it. Eventually, the tiredness and stomach ache got better, but it seems to take longer to kick in and wears off more quickly now with my allergy symptoms reappearing well before it's time to take another dose. I've also developed extreme moodiness and anger issues, which is why I came to this page. I see it's a problem for others too. Because my symptoms seem to be reappearing, I may try something else for a while."

• K A...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 12, 2019

Levocetirizine for Allergies "Took Xyzal for allergies, within 1 1/2 hours seeing spots in eyes, hard to breathe, heart racing, felt panicky and had a headache. Sneezing had stopped, but still had a runny nose. Made me feel crazy and exhausted. Scary!!"

• Fem...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 10, 2017

Levocetirizine for Allergies "I have been taking Xyzal now for 10 days. The first couple of days, I thought I had finally found the answer to my chronic cough and allergy symptoms. It helped me to sleep through the night without coughing and most of the day. By about the fifth or sixth day, I started having severe muscle aches and joint pain over my entire body. My mother is 88 years old, and I feel like how she describes her body pain. The last few days, I have been trying to decide if it's worth the pain and fatigue until this morning on the 10th day. On top of the joint pain, muscle aches, tiredness, oh, and crazy vivid dreams, I felt myself wanting to cry several times today. That's just not me. I'm done!!!"

• Wol...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 31, 2017

Levocetirizine for Allergies "Most allergy medicines have not helped me at all. I decided to try Xyzal. I could tell a difference after the first dose. It doesn't make me tired like Benadryl, so I guess it depends on the person. And since everyone is different, I don't understand why people say not to waste money on this product. Just because it didn't work for you doesn't mean it won't work for others."

• Sta...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 14, 2019

Levocetirizine for Allergies "I tried Xyzal, and it wipes me out for a few days. The first two days, I could hardly stay awake and slept most of it. The third day, I still felt tired and cloudy but didn't nap as much (still a lot). It helped with allergies, but I can't be a zombie for days. I tried it a few times, and each time was the same. I suggest that you make sure you have a few days that you're not expected to work or drive before you take it the first time, so you know how it affects you. Back to Allegra for me."

• Kai...
• April 25, 2017

Levocetirizine for Allergies "This is the worst allergy medication I have ever tried. It did not help with any of the symptoms listed on the box. Not only did it not help with what I took it for, it also made me unbelievably tired. I felt like I had taken some sleeping pills. Do not waste your money on this product."

• Cpm...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 8, 2022

Levocetirizine for Allergies "Healthy adult male, slightly overweight, itchiness from allergies. Half a tablet left me groggy and exhausted for nearly 30 hours. Also some minor chest pains. I cannot risk using it again. It got rid of the itchiness, but the side effects are a big negative."

• Mel...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 9, 2018

Levocetirizine for Allergies "I am so careful about meds and always I am cautious about side effects. I am feeling really stupid right now. I gave this a try as nothing else really has helped me with my severe allergies. It was amazing from the start, and I have had almost total relief. I take it daily, every morning, to stop the inevitable from starting. I wish I had looked into the side effects long ago. After 6 months of completely debilitating exhaustion, fatigue, mood swings, and daily diarrhea, I now realize my problem. I have been checked out head to toe by a doctor, blood work done, and we were left with no answers until now. I guess miserable allergies, sneezing, and coughing are my trade-off. Is there nothing put out by big pharma that won't cause more problems and anal leakage? I'm serious, this sucks."

• Ste...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 27, 2017

Levocetirizine for Allergic Rhinitis "This medication did not seem to work any better than others I have taken, but it has made me extremely drowsy. I was not feeling well when I started taking it, so it took me a full week to figure out that Xyzal was making me so tired. I do not recommend this drug if you are susceptible to drowsiness side effects. Since it is sold in a 24-hour pill, I'm stuck being sleepy for a long time until this pill is out of my system."

• Fla...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 25, 2017

Levocetirizine for Allergies "This medicine has severe side effects; that is, it causes irritability and tiredness. It does dry a person out, but the side effects necessitate cautionary awareness if you are going to drive or work with people. You have no patience. I do not recommend this product."

• Adi...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 3, 2018

Levocetirizine for Urticaria "Xyzal is horrible. I’ve spent the last 4 years of my life suffering due to side effects of antihistamines. These drugs are all the same thing. They make you feel annoyed, depressed, anxious, exhausted, dizzy, and just like absolute garbage! I thought Xyzal, being the 'newer and better' drug it was marketed to be, would be the miracle to save my life. However, it wasn’t. This drug is just as bad as the rest, possibly even worse. Also, keep in mind that Xyzal is no different than Zyrtec. It’s literally just the left half of Zyrtec, the part of it that actually works. It’s the same drug. If Zyrtec sucks for you, Xyzal will too. Honestly, I’m gonna go back to Claritin. It doesn’t stop my hives completely, but I am at least not a psychotic, depressed maniac on it."

• Tex...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 14, 2017

Levocetirizine for Allergies "I took this pill at bedtime twice, and it kept me awake until after 2:00 a.m. I woke up with worse symptoms than I had before I took the pills. When I woke up, I was stuffed up, and I stayed that way all day long. I also had lots of coughing - unlike my normal cough that is due to post-nasal drip. I also have a bad sore throat. On both Saturday and today, I have tiredness, and I am unable to function. I will go back to my normal medicine in the morning. These pills were a waste of money."

• Anonymous
• December 18, 2021

Levocetirizine for Allergic Rhinitis "I was a happy-go-lucky person, and nothing in the world had bothered me whatsoever. I was on Cetirizine, and it made me tired, so I started to take Xyzal. It worked well at first, then I noticed a change. I couldn’t sleep until about 2-3 in the morning. I was always irritated and paranoid about every little thing. One day, I had a complete anxiety and panic breakdown. I thought that it was something different, but after the reviews, I realized it was the allergy medication. It made me believe it was something else, and it wasn’t. I don’t recommend this medication at all."

• MLB...
• June 25, 2009

Levocetirizine for Urticaria "I have had chronic hives for a year and a half. It's awful. I have been taking Xyzal for almost a year now. Xyzal works to eliminate the itching and rashes, but it makes me very tired. If I take it during the day, I feel tired. If I take it before bed, I have difficulty waking up and getting started. It also makes me feel down, just not myself. I have not found anything better to help with my rash outbreaks, so I do continue to use it."

• Sar...
• December 13, 2018

For Allergies "I am a healthy, stable person. I took this for seven days. It was instantly effective at treating my allergies all night and day and helped me sleep at night. However, during the days, I started having moments of fogginess in my thoughts and physical tiredness that were intense... too intense as I drive an hour commute to university. One day in class, I felt confused about what time it should be on the clocks and what time events in my day normally occurred. I felt panicky, confused, and out of my body that day. That was the last day I took it. I am sensitive to medications, including anything that can make someone drowsy. Maybe I could lower the amount I take, but for now, I'm just going to be more consistent with meds I trust and that don't make me feel anxious, detached, and exhausted. Overall, I think it's effective and worth trying. It just didn't work for me because negative side effects outweighed the benefits."

• kim...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 26, 2024

Levocetirizine for Allergic Rhinitis "I've tried lots of allergy meds: Allegra, Zyrtec, Benadryl... None have really worked quite as well as Xyzal for me. I'd say if you just want a cheap allergy med to relieve some short-term symptoms, stick to Zyrtec. But if you have year-round rhinitis, I'd say give Xyzal a go! The side effects of the stuff really aren't so bad for me anyway; it helps me a little to get settled down for bed, but it's not like being roofied or taking morphine like a lot of reviews have said, in my opinion. My father has taken it, though, and said he felt super exhausted, but he is easily affected by antihistamines. If you do get tired easily from antihistamines, maybe try other things first? If not, give this a shot; it really helps with all-day relief and keeping you asleep! I struggle to stay asleep and I always wake up in the middle of the night; this stuff works wonders. TL;DR, I'd recommend this to people with year-round allergies who aren't super affected by antihistamines and their side effects!"

• kim...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 26, 2024

Levocetirizine for Allergic Rhinitis "I've tried lots of allergy meds: Allegra, Zyrtec, Benadryl... None have really worked quite as well as Xyzal for me. I'd say if you just want a cheap allergy med to relieve some short-term symptoms, stick to Zyrtec. But if you have year-round rhinitis, I'd say give Xyzal a go! The side effects of the stuff really aren't so bad for me anyway; it helps me a little to get settled down for bed, but it's not like being roofied or taking morphine like a lot of reviews have said, in my opinion. My father has taken it, though, and said he felt super exhausted, but he is easily affected by antihistamines. If you do get tired easily from antihistamines, maybe try other things first? If not, give this a shot; it really helps with all-day relief and keeping you asleep! I struggle to stay asleep and I always wake up in the middle of the night; this stuff works wonders. TL;DR, I'd recommend this to people with year-round allergies who aren't super affected by antihistamines and their side effects!"

• Tom...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• September 30, 2018

Levocetirizine for Allergies "It worked great for me. I get hives and become really itchy near dust. I thought everyone was itchy all the time, but it turns out it wasn't normal. The doctor said to take this. It hasn't made me tired or have any mood changes, though there are barely any medicines that do make me drowsy."

• QMC...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 13, 2017

Levocetirizine for Allergies "My doctor suggested this medication for allergies a few days ago. I was taking it for two days, and I was completely exhausted and wiped out both days (which never happens to me). So I decided to research it and saw that many people had a similar reaction. This was a significant reaction, so be careful before you take it. I have now stopped."

• Trl...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 29, 2017

Levocetirizine for Allergies "So I have terrible allergies, which most people on here say they do. I typically use Claritin and Zyrtec. I switch the two every other month. Also, I use allergy shots (three shots every time, which sucks!) Some co-workers of mine mentioned using Xyzal and having good experiences, so I decided to try it out. I decided to get the ten-pack first just to try it out since it's so expensive. As far as helping my allergies, the medicine has helped me a lot. The downside is it makes me extremely tired. Basically, I better be ready for bed soon after taking it. But I haven't had any grogginess the next morning. I just wake up feeling really good. But keep in mind, what works for me may or may not work for you. Benadryl and Allegra do nothing for me."

• Kay...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 1, 2017

Levocetirizine for Allergies "My allergies are terrible, it doesn't matter the season. I have tried Claritin, Zyrtec, you name it, I've tried it for my allergies. I finally can sleep at night and wake up without an itchy throat. No more constant sneezing, coughing. I can finally go outside and enjoy the springtime. I have read other reviews of people being tired the next day, and I haven't experienced that."

• Tra...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 31, 2017

Levocetirizine for Allergies "Bad experience for me. First side effect was tired. Turned into totally wiped out. Lack of energy, feeling sore, then the sore throat! This drug kicked my butt. It's not for me, I want to be outside active. This drug will keep you on your sofa. I'm going back to my old faithful. I tried this because of the coupons."

• Cry...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 28, 2020

For Allergies "Levocetirizine 5 mg was prescribed by my doctor for my nighttime watering eyes and runny nose allergies. I asked if it had any bad side effects, and she said it didn’t. I take no other meds for anything, so it was easy to realize why I suddenly was too tired to function and not my happy-go-lucky self who used to have energy! My husband thought I was developing dementia! I didn’t take it last night, and today I am myself again! I WILL tell my doctor next time I see her. Thank you for the reviews that helped me understand what was happening to me!!!!"

• Hiz...
• February 22, 2018

Levocetirizine for Allergic Rhinitis "I was hopeful that Xyzal would be the life-changing allergy medicine I’ve been searching for. The first dose I took at bedtime, woke up to fewer allergy symptoms, but as the day went on my mood went downhill... easily irritated, grumpy, depressed, and crying. This is so opposite of my typical mood. Took the second dose thinking it was just PMS or something, woke up dreading my day and more congested. The gloomy feeling is still there, and after reading side effects, I’m certain it’s the Xyzal. I don’t tolerate Zyrtec or Allegra either, but when you’re recovering from your third sinus infection in two months you search for the best remedy. My daughter, who has year-round allergies, took a dose at bedtime too, by morning it was as if she hadn’t taken anything. Gave her another dose (5ml), and the poor thing was exhausted at school, could barely keep her eyes open. Back to Claritin for me and Zyrtec for her. You truly have to try them all to see what works for you. This one, though, is getting tossed."