Should cetirizine be taken at bedtime or upon awakening? Claritin, Zyrtec, and Allegra are all considered second-generation antihistamines. Best of luck with your withdrawal. Has anyone else experienced heightened anxiety or depression while getting off of Zyrtec? As it spread, I thought maybe poison ivy. This needs to get researched! Glad you got your hearing back! I am on day six of the itchy withdrawal slog and my hearing has begun to return in that ear. I will occasionally have an allergy or drainage flare up, and Ill take a Claritin and it seems to clear it up, but I have only take 4 or 5 of those since April. Days 3-4 were the worst. These include antihistamines such as loratadine (Alavert, Claritin), fexofenadine (Allegra), cetirizine (Zyrtec), levocetirizine (Xyzal), and diphenhydramine In 2007, the FDA approved Zyrtec, or cetirizine, as an over-the-counter drug to treat allergic rhinitis and chronic urticaria, a skin condition characterized by recurrent hives 2. - The itch was minimal (or gone!) -Maintenance dose: 2.5 mg orally once to 2 times a day Thanks for commenting. This Zyrtec withdrawal reaction may be incredibly rare. She said sometimes it could last 6 weeks. Read More. Thanks for sharing what worked for you! But I suspect that stopping any antihistamines is going to produce some kind of rebound histamine production. I was surprised how good the results were. Heart palpitations in Zyrtec - how severe and when it was recovered? After two years of taking the allergy drug daily, Peter decided he wanted to stop, only to realize how dependent he had become on it. I was scratching so hard it led to welts and swelling. This morning I made the mistake of taking a warm/hot shower.that kicked off a 3 hour long burning hell all over my body! It also gave me something to share with my PCP, who is an open-minded FNP. Zyrtec (Cetirizine Orally Disintegrating Tablets). Benadryl is not known to be habit forming, and it helps. Because I had Covid beginning of April, I have been taking supplements to build my immunity, it has a lot of Vitamin C, zinc and selenium. Its not easy but it will get better! So, by and large, on this 4th week I considered myself completely free of Zyrtec withdrawal symptoms. The itching has been terrible and I just wanted to warn people that are substituting Claritin for Zyrtec that they may want to reconsider, as they might be going through another withdrawal if they decide to stop taking the Claritin. Uses: As a result of this review, the prescription levocetirizine Prescribing Information was revised to include the following information about pruritus after discontinuation of cetirizine in the Adverse Reactions-Postmarketing Experience section (6.2): Rebound pruritus- pruritus within a few days after discontinuation of cetirizine, usually after long-term use (e.g. Ive had the best luck with Benadryl (with breakthrough itching) as it doesnt seem to have any withdrawal symptoms. We searched high and low for the article that Dr. Dal Pan alluded to in his response. Trying to be patient! I have been on zyrtec for 2 and 1/2 years. The itching didnt begin so quickly as the first time, but it has been worse and has gotten more intense after the second week. Dr. Woodcock has asked me to respond. Heres what I did, what meds I took, and how I coped with my 2+ weeks of misery: Patience Patience is the most important thing. a discolored tongue. Had no idea what was going on, covered in hives, went to the urgent care, they had no clue, gave me steroids. zyrtec. Im glad it worked out for you, but my question for you and other allergy sufferers out there, is that once you are off Zyrtec, what are you doing now, or planning to do to alleviate the other allergies problems that we suffered before Zyrtec? The next day I had an appointment with my PCP to have a biopsy of the rash. Can I take Allegra in the morning and Zyrtec in the evening? Kathy Jutila has been writing health-related articles since 1979. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. Hands, feet, and arms first, then all over my body. After a few weeks, I took a half of a Benadryl just to take the edge off. Plan out when youll start and prepare by getting in theright headspace to tackle this challenge. It kept me grounded and sane as I went through my painfully itchy month from hell withdrawing from Zyrtec. Stimulants, including caffeine, nicotine, cocaine, amphetamines, and cold and cough medications that contain pseudoephedrine. 5 to 10 mg orally once a day -Relief of symptoms associated with perennial allergic rhinitis due to allergens (e.g., sneezing, rhinorrhea, postnasal discharge, nasal pruritus, ocular pruritus, tearing) in patients 2 years and older I had my daughters and husband to help me around the house when necessary. I have taken Zyrtec for years for hay fever every spring. P eter, 27, who doesn't want his last name published for privacy reasons, first started taking Zyrtec when he was a 26-year-old student studying in Switzerland. Ask your doctor before using opioid medication, a sleeping pill, a muscle relaxer, or medicine for anxiety or seizures. Common side effects of Xyzal include drowsiness, weakness/lethargy, such as anxiety, the college recommends non-sedating medications such as cetirizine ( Zyrtec ), and adrenergic activity in the body, dry mouth, When the heart rate increases, which is also called vasoconstriction, tremors, Hallucinations, loratadine ( Claritin ) or desloratadine ( Clarinex ). . Let us know in the comments! I want to cave and take a Zyrtec but then Id have to start all over. Im in week 2 of the anxiety and it is terrible. Ive been taking Zyrtec for years and it got to the point that its not even helping anymore so I decided to quit it. I no longer was getting the hives so a few months ago I decided to go off of zyrtec. Ive been trying to stop taking Zyrtec for many years. We appreciate your interest and perspective regarding this issue. I normally took 5 mg every nightsay for 5 to 6 weeks. We're empowering you to make wise decisions about your own health, by providing you with essential health information about both medical and alternative treatment options. When the heart cannot pump enough blood to meet the body's demands, this is called heart failure. Months later I went back on it due to severe seasonal allergies. As Susan said, this feels similar to scabies mites, which I have had years ago. Thanks for sharing your story. Cetirizine is classed as a non-drowsy (non-sedating) antihistamine, but it does make some people drowsy. Im on day 6 of no Zyrtec after a couple weeks of tapering. We comply with the HONcode standard for trustworthy health information. If I take my last dose Monday morning at 8 AM Ill start sneezing uncontrollably by 8 PM on Tuesday. I wish you the best of luck through your withdrawal. Right now I am itching like crazy; today I am calling my doc to see if she will give me anything for it. Thank you so much for sharing this! I decided to try another antihistamin called fexofenydril. . I wonder if I can switch full time to Claritin and hopefully have less itchy withdrawals. I wish I could just stop and take a month off of life but I have a very active lifestyle: exercise regularly, have a super active dog that requires daily walks/hikes, and Im on my feet running around at work all day too. I developed Urticaria for unknown reasons and was advised by my Allergist to take Zyrtec increasing the dose up to 60mg a day. Most commonly abused antihistamines include Benadryl, Zyrtec, and Allegra. I filed my fingernails down to nubs because I was starting to claw at myself but I dont want to hurt myself. An the full-blown itchiness is just.. torture. -Maximum dose: 10 mg/day But every time I missed taking it for some reason, I would end up way worse, with full-body hives. My cat allergy developed when I was a teenager. Thank you for your email of May 15, 2018 to Dr. Janet Woodcock regarding cetirizine (Zyrtec) and levocetirizine (Xyzal) and withdrawal reactions (pruritus). Anything to keep my mind off what my body was feeling. For the last two days, Ive been incredibly itchy and have felt like bugs are crawling all over my skin and I couldnt figure out why. After reading some of the stories on your site about Zyrtec, my experience started to make sense in retrospect. Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction to Zyrtec: hives; difficult breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat. Cant wait to finally be rid of this once and for all. Nasal sprays deliver a decongestant right where you need it. Note: This document contains side effect information about cetirizine. I was incredibly relieved to be through the worst of it! Cetirizine will start to work within one hour after you take it. hair loss. I feel so much better mentally now. Heart failure has many causes, including heart attack, uncontrolled blood pressure, metabolic abnormalities and drug effects. Read, Varicose veins arent just unsightly they can be detrimental to your health. At this time, I learned that some people actually have a histamine intolerance and have to avoid certain foods and medication. Tell your doctor about all your current medicines and any medicine you start or stop using. Zyrtec is an antihistamine that reduces the effects of natural chemical histamine in the body. About two days after halving the dose I started itching. Stay Hydrated Drink plenty of water to flush your body of histamine build up. Best of luck to you! And then I started still breaking out on one a day. Body tingles back. Zyrtec (cetirizine)." There were moments in the past where my skin would constantly itch and I did not know why. I think the worst areas were my palms, hands, chest, and forearms. -Maintenance dose: 2.5 mg orally 2 times a day OR 5 mg orally once a day I could go about my day much more normally because I wasnt feeling crawling sensations on my skin constantly. I later found an article about the itching and took it to her. The body needs to get back in balance without meds and that can take some time. Cold Water and Ice Packs Super cold water soothed my itchy hands. Allergies were terrible but Ive moved so am now off it for good. Sounds like youre on a great plan. I cant stress enough the importance to taper yourself off the drug. However, this medication also has the potential to cause sedation. Its infuriating that the FDA has allowed these medications to be OTC with this kind of withdrawal mentioned almost no where. Since that time, I have steadily gained about 30 lbs, and have constant tiredness and brain fog. Ive also been taking a supplement containing Bromelain, and a bunch of stuff (opti-recovery from vitanica) so far the itching has been super mild thank goodness. We now believe it is a Zyrtec withdrawal reaction. I started a very slow wean. Within 24 hours the itching started. Using a Body Brush By the second week of withdrawal, I was carrying around a body brush to scratch every itch. And my doctor just looked at me blankly as I reported this outcome. In addition, FDA continues to monitor and assess serious adverse events for all approved products reported by healthcare providers, patients, and others. Now day 9 and the tongue and lip thing was back. Thank you again for taking the time to do post this!! Keep us updated on that paper! Get Comfortable I made sure that anything that was touching my body was comfortable, so I wore long sleeved shirts, workout leggings, and cozy socks. Cetirizine does not increase blood pressure and blood pressure is not listed as a side effect in the product information. They make you sleepy but have worked better for me. Last updated on Jun 2, 2022. Why is this not listed on the bottle?! Readers have been complaining about this reaction for many years. Ive been taking Zyrtec daily for almost 10 years. When I miss a dose of Zyrtec, my symptoms come back tenfold almost to a textbook time lapse. Im so frustrated that there was no warning and my doctor doesnt even know what Im talking about , Not many people know about the effects of withdrawing from long term use of antihistamines. Clearly they cause problems for so many people. Follow your doctor's instructions. (I found this method on a Google search) I stopped the Claritin after 3 days, and there was no itching! She asked how long had I been off the zyrtec. Within 10 minutes of taking a tablet I was fine. If I didnt preventatively use ice packs on my forearms and hands, I would mildly itch until I fell asleep. You may report them to the FDA. When I reached the 3rd week the itchiness started disappearing but I started getting allergy symptoms like coughing and chest tightness( difficulty breathing). Zyrtec theory still held strong. How long does it stay in the body? Cerner Multum, Inc. "UK Summary of Product Characteristics." What will be your course of action if you develop seasonal allergies? I have been taking quercetin from citoplan.co.uk, called AllerG. Day 4 was the worst, and since I had read that, I tried to be patient, and the hives did finally go away, not to return. But I am scared as hell to become addicted to it too. If desired, you may drink liquid to help swallow the dissolved tablet. At two weeks of life without Zyrtec, itching was not the focus of my day. But the locations are not as isolated as scabies. Around day 10, my itch was a 4-5 out of 10 which made it more tolerable. My child has been on Zyrtec since infancy due to asthma and all sorts of allergies. So thats where I am right now. It is unconcionable that this is not widely known. I had real doubts as to whether or not I was doing the right thing. Its important for you to be your number one advocate at this time and take care of yourself first. The . Some do ok taking Allegra or Claritin, but I stick with Benadryl. OMG!!! Recreational marijuana is legal in Illinois and I have a medical marijuana license due to my degenerative disc disease. I couldnt understand what was happening, as I have never had allergy problems. I earn a small commission if you make a purchase.). Up to 14.3% of adults may be affected by drowsiness with cetirizine. Im so itchy all over. I wake up at night freaking out that bugs are crawling on me. Worst is that I also have my son on Zyrtec, and Im at a loss for what he will have to go through as well to get off this. This year was different! After deciding to go to an allergist and being told to go off any antihistamines for 7 days before testing, I quit cold turkey, not expecting much more than stuffy nose and watery eyes. I only take Benadryl when I need an antihistamine. I agree. Im taking it like a marathon, and looking forward to the finish line but I know its going to be misery until then. Ive been zyrtec free for almost a week now and the itching is horrid. We admit that we could be dense, but we suspect it is hard to find if it exists at all. The day before Z day, I still get the hives. This continued for a good year. Thinking that a hot bath would help, I sat in one for almost an hour. Goodness! However, Dr. Lin says antihistamines alone are "not bad for the heart in otherwise healthy people.". This includes alcohol, fermented foods, and some artificial colorings and preservatives because they can trigger histamine release. For day 2, I was at an 8-9. I left it on my scalp and body until I felt the tingle, then rinsed off. I also have MPV and need to take Atenolol, I will need to take Atenolol for the rest of my life. Pfizer U.S. Pharmaceuticals (2001): 2. In the shower I bring the water to almost scalding and then all the way down to cold and the few hours after are the longest periods of relief. Some side effects may not be reported. I began reading that Zyrtec could be the cause, so I have decided to quit once and for all. After 20 days I still had minor flare ups of itching, and by the 4th week, I was back to normal. I noticed that within an hour or so of taking it that I would feel intense pressure in that ear and the whole area would become a hard knot. Im hoping that it wont last long, and I will be able to see if the Zyrtec has contributed to the unexplained weight gain! This will increase your chances of success. increased sensitivity of the skin to the sun. I would love to never take another zyrtec but I dont think I can put myself through that agony again. Anything I can do to stop the anxiety? It is torture but you can get through this! You may take this medicine with or without food. get a good brand. Avoid drinking alcohol while taking Zyrtec. I will ride this through and hope that the allergy shots will help. Had a tough time over Christmas with anxiety which is somewhat better now, maybe the tapering of the drug has brought it on. Bleeding, blistering, burning, coldness, discoloration of the skin, feeling of pressure. I also decided not to throw other antihistamines into the mix while Im recovering/getting off zyrtec. antihistamines such as fexofenadine (Allegra), cetirizine (Zyrtec), loratadine (Claritin) and diphenhydramine (Benadryl) are very effective. During this fourth and final week of documenting my withdrawal, I was more or less itch free. I developed chronic hives about 6 months ago. Some recommend taking antihistamines like Benadryl, Allegra, or Claritin when you stop taking Zyrtec since these drugs will get rid of the itch and not complicate withdrawal. Store at room temperature away from moisture and heat. O 0. During this second week I had a lot more variation in the intensity of the itch. These include Zyrtec (cetirizine) and Claritin (loratadine). Common gastrointestinal (GI) side . I even read a study done in Europe that found antihistamines were linked to liver failure and brain tumors. 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