Itching Withdrawal From Cetirizine Or Zyrtec (Page 14) (Top voted first)

I want to know how many are suffering from withdrawal from this drug that causes itching all over the body. At the people's pharmacy there is an article about this very problem, yet Zyrtec doesn't list the information on their web site. This is my third attempt to get off of this med and I'm going crazy from the itching.

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I had a reaction to an antibiotic for a UTI and ended up in the emergency room with severe hives. I had taken 1 Zyrtec each day for four days before they got so bad that I was totally covered and needed immediate help. Where I got in to see an allergist two days later he said I could take 4 Zyrtec per day plus Benadryl every six hours. The bottle clearly states not to take more than one Zyrtec in 24 hours but he said it had been tested and approved that you could take up to 6. He also said I should take them all at once - which I thought was crazy and I never went back to him. I took the 4 Zyrtec a day and Benadryl for a week before I was able to start tapering off. I first got off the Benadryl because I was like a zombie taking it. Within a month I was down to one Zyrtec a day before the itching would return. This continued for 3 and a half months when I began to question why I would still have hives. I realized that when I tried to quit the one Zyrtec, the reaction was actually different. Red spots would appear on my hands and feet and get hot and then spread and the hideous itching would start. It was also in my hair, inside my ears and the edges of my eyelids would itch. Any part of my body that was exposed to cold would itch. Desperately searching the internet, I found all of the posts about Zyrtec withdrawal. What a hideous drug and I was also appalled that knowing it is given to children's, why isn't there a warning? I have now reached six weeks in the withdrawal process. I started by taking about six Benadryl a day and wrapping myself in a very soft warm blanket. Hot baths seemed to stop the red spots from staring to itch. At some point I began to worry about the Benadryl and moved on to quercitin, Bromelian, vitamin C, probiotics, Vitamin B 12 and L glutamine. I have Celiac disease and believe that Leaky gut syndrome has slowed my withdrawal. I also have been careful during the withdrawal process to eat healthy, no gluten or dairy and no histamine producing food. Overall my total itching level has definitely improved but I am still taking 4 quercitin a day and seem to have hit a plateau in tapering off. When I take less, the itching is not unbearable but It is bad enough that I can not concentrate on anything else. I will never take Zyrtec, Allegra or Claritin again. I just want my body to return to normal. I won't give up but I am discouraged. I have seen another allergist who had heard of Zyrtec withdrawal but wasn't sure she believed it. She suggested I take Prednisone which I declined. I had a physical and all my blood work was normal. I am searching now for a functional medicine practitioner.

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I have been part of this blog since shortly after Carole started it. I've added many replys about lowering my dosage little by little until I eventually got down to taking 1/2 a tablet every 4 days. I never made it to 5. So, a new symptom came up a few months ago (dizzy episodes throughout the day). I thought it was vertigo and was tested and sent to a neurologist, after vertigo was ruled out. This Dr asked me why I've been taking this drug for 10 years and I told him about the severe itching if I go over 4 days without. He told me the Zyrtec is causing the dizziness. He put me on Omega 3 and Omega 6. (Life Extension brand specifically). After a week on the Omega's I was told to stop the Zyrtec. Well after all I've been though... praise God, this has been my saving grace. I've been 4 weeks FREE from Zyrtec!!! Please please try it, I'm not a sales person, I just know what your going thru!!!! I thought I'd never be able to do this! I'll never ever take another allergy pill as long as I live!

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I am on my third or fourth attempt to discontinue Allegra, after switching from Zyrtec. I am using the supplements recommended by EC in this forum and am down to about 20 ml liquid, from the original dose of 180 mgs. It's a tough challenge, the itching can be extreme!

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I have just finished weaning myself off of Zyrtec. I cut the pill down hey. 1/2 to 1/4 two 1/4 to 1/8 to a crumb. Every time I cut it down I stayed on that amount for about 2 weeks when I got down to a crumb I tried skipping a day and supplementing with Children's Benadryl. Even weaning off a crumb was difficult. The Children's Benadryl chewable tablets helped me completely get off Zyrtec. It took about four- five months..

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I've been on for almost two years and didn't realize it was the Zyrtec causing the problem until this past weekend after surgery. I went three days without because I had knee surgery and simply forgot. Day three I started itching on the scalp. I had the same reaction on a Baltic cruise last year. I didn't take it because I figured there was nothing I was allergic to that time of year. When I started clawing my scalp I assumed I was allergic to the sea sickness patch and too, Zyrtec and it went away. This weekend when I started itching it Dawson me I hadn't taken the Zyrtec and it made me wonder if there was a correlation. I started searching and found this group. Ugh. I went theee days and took a half. Now I'm at the end of day three and starting to feel itchy but gong to try to sleep through it. If it's bothering me tomorrow I'll take 1/4 and see what happens. I'm also going to order the omega 3&6. I called my allergist and he hadn't heard of a rebound reaction.

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I've experienced the horrible itching on three or four occasions when I didn't take the Zyrtec thinking it wasn't allergy season, etc. it never dawned on me what was happening. It wasn't until
Sat week when I had a knee surgery so only took essential mess morning of surg. Then because I was groggy and immobile I unintentionally didn't take it for 3 days and mid way through the third day I started the horrific itching. FInally the light bulb went off. I had only been taking a half daily so I took the half on day three. I planned on taking a 1/4 when the itching started again. I assumed it would be 3-4 days. I ordered the omega 3&6 as suggested. Then I waited. Lo and behold I'm on day 6 and very little itching so I think I got off pretty easily. I never even went down to 1/4. A
Though I had planned on waiting longer and longer and taking less and less till I was off but I didn't have to. Maybe helped that I already take krill oil daily as well as lysine which is good for healing. Good luck.

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I have been trying to withdraw from this drug. Ive only been taking it for about 6 months and im saying that it is HELL. I have tried to try benadryl to wean myself off and it seems to work however i get very sleepy. I cant get over how doctors prwscribe this without telling anyone that this will happen.

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GJC, Leslie: I am in the medical field as well and flabbergasted that this is not in the medical literature. Even allergists don't seem to know about it. I urge everyone to report this to the FDA. Go to fda.gov. Select the "report a problem tab", then select "adverse event reporting", and take it from there.

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But why would you want to suffer through ripping the Band-Aid off and have your body goes through horrible itching withdrawals when you can get off Zyrtec gradually in about the same amount of time with little to no major suffering? Just wondering.... it seems like a lot to go through and a lot of unnecessary suffering the way you attempted it?

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0n my 5th day, the itching goes from one spot to another. Even while taking it, which has been a few years now, I have had itching spells at times. I thought I was getting other allergies from foods. I was told by my doctor, that there was no side effects.

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Actually I think it caused my weight gain so I will see if coming off it results in weight loss. It's only been about 5-6 days and my appetite has decreased but maybe that's because I am not sleeping much due to the burning and itching.

Yesterday it felt like whatever was happening to my body reached my brain, causing weird sensations and now the interior of my nose is prickly.

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It will be the worst on days 5-8, but if you can tough it out it slowly gets better. Gold Bond green bottle body lotion helps! I also bought an Aveeno shower gel for itching skin. . I take MSM during the day which helps, zinc, vitamin c. I bought a bottle of quercetin Friday last week, I took 1 pill but found it made me tired.

Now I still have some itching but so much less. If you are like me, you'll have one night of hell that will be the worst.

I was so determined not to take any antihistamines that I was willing to go through it all and that saw me through the rough parts. I wanted off this stuff

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Day 5 and still itching all over. I have allergy testing next Monday. Hope this gets better. If I can stop itching I'm not going back on it. Also cloths and the heat make it worse. Too bad I'm not a nudist! Now I'm just miserable. Even the palms of my hands itch

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I took 1500 mg per day vitaman C and drunk a lot of water.
Omega-3 and -6.
Please prepare the side effect should be worst appropriate on day 3.

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Thank you! Yes I got to say three and was like WTF!!! Day five I couldn't take it and took half a reactine. Nothing today. Have taken 2000mg vitamin c as I have 1000mg caplets, and have taken my omegas.

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I am now on day 32 of being zyrtec/cetirizine free. I went cold turkey. As I mentioned previously, I had horrible itching, for the first couple of weeks. In addition, my nails began splitting and my skin became very dry. The itching and dryness were mainly about my face. I have been taking alfalfa, burdock root, probiotics, and vegan dha supplements. I also take naproxen sodium and for some reason it helps with sneezing fits. Lastly, I have found tea tree oil and essential oils in a humidifier has done wonders for my congestion. I use a diffuser at home, in my car, and have a diffuser necklace. While I think all the side effects of withdrawal are gone, I still rely on the natural supplements to cope with my allergies. I am beginning NAET therapy next month and will keep everyone posted.

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Re: Anna (# 613)

Please try to taper off. Break the pill in half and use it for a few days/weeks, break it again, and again, until you're taking a crumb. Much easier to stop taking a crumb than a full pill.

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Re: Celynne (# 615)

It will last about a month in my case.But it is worst on first 10 days.
Much better after 17th days.
I think you need to plan as it will greatly affect your social activities and work.
I am already recovered =) currently is one and half month

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Re: Grateful (# 618)

See post 495 or 497 for details as to how to get off this drug relatively itch free. I have been Zyrtec free over 6 months and I love it. My seasonal allergies have never been BETTER. Zyrtec was causing me to be hypersensitive to environmental allergens. I even wheezed at night! No more. Now for the occasional itchy nose, I take a natural supplement called D-Hist (available at Amazon). Great stuff, not addictive. Good luck to all. {affiliate link added}

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Re: Dee (# 45)

I was taking Allegra. You have the same itching withdrawals with it as well.

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