Itching Withdrawal From Cetirizine Or Zyrtec (Page 17) (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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update: I replied on 14/07/12. I don't know if this will help anyone. I did some research and thought it was fibromyalgia so I looked at what relief works since the nervous system was too "sensitive" hence the itching.I tried (by their suggestion) Vitamin b12 ("solgar" 1000μg), and Theanine 100mg from "Higher nature". Theanine to calm nerves till cetirizine withdrawal is out of my system. Now I'm no doctor and please please check your health practitioner but MAN it is MUCH better, not totally gone, but better big time. Example: if I'm sitting reading I get "spikes" every so often (or no itch at all) then it dies down in minutes. If I move about, a bit more iching then dies down (tolerable). Right now I should be screaming in itch pain but I'm not. Watch this space I suppose....

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That's interesting Tony. My experience, and occasional remedy, is vigorous movement. I'm a cyclist, and when I'm on a hard or long ride, I forget all about the itch. When I stop though, ugh.
I also have developed the nervous habit of bouncing my leg(s) like some tweeker. double ugh, but it soothes the itch somehow.

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Hi Scott. My itch is the same. But now it's seriously improved. Now the itch comes when I move. As if my nervous system has trouble getting an even balance on sensitivity. It's at the point where I say "oh here it comes, brace for impact..." And itch itch itch, NO MORE THEN 3 MINUTES OR SO though,then stops dead. As if I took cetirizine and it kicked in.

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@mb
I've been off it for about 8 weeks or so, and I still itch bad, though it is less frequent with less duration, and like Tony said, stops suddenly and completely.

So, I guess the answer is "I don't know yet". ;)

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Hi All, I have been taking cetirizine for at least 5 yrs now. I took it for constant stuffiness. It seemed to help. Now though it seems like I'm developing the side effects as if I just started taking it. They seem to start in the afternoon after I eat my lunch. Heart palpitations, dry mouth and crying /sadness. SOB! I just realized the time line. I took Prozac for anger issues starting about 9 years ago. It worked wonderfully. But after a couple years I found myself depressed. The doctor said sometimes Prozac can depress the system too much and I was already on the lowest dose possible. I've been taking the cetirizine for at least 5 yrs, about the time the depression started. Over the last three years I have read numerous self help books and mentally I feel I am prepared for anything. However, I still have the physical reactions to stress, anxiety, nervousness, shakes. I know in my head I have absolutely no reason to feel like this but no matter what I cannot stop it. Last Oct 2011 I finally started eating healthy and lost about 20 lbs by January which is when I had my first anxiety attack. It seems like the more weight I loose the shakier I get. I'm down 33 lbs now. At my last physical my doctor could find no reason for my shakiness and I never even thought to tell her I was taking cetirizine. All my blood work came back normal. I know this is all speculation but i stopped the cetirizine last night and I'll see what happens. Please let this be what is wrong. I'll take the itchiness if it means I can stop the shaking(which is just internal. I cannot see my hands shaking) the dry mouth and this constant crying these past few months. Wish me luck and good luck to all of you!

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Update: 28/07/12 : Itch is almost GONE. I now can ride the occasional bout, usually when I change what my skin experiences ( water drops, different fabric, temperature changes etc ). I HAVE GONE 1 FULL DAY WITHOUT AN ITCH. It comes and goes WITHIN 1 to 2 minutes. I will wean myself off Theanine 100mg and b12, because I want my body to deal with the itch itself.
"IF YOU GO COLD TURKEY. MAKE SURE YOU HAVE WARM CHICKEN TO HELP YOU COPE" in other words I used theanine and vit b12 ( works for me without side effects ) and do research. Ask HONEST doctors, sorry I have to say that. But we're often not told the truth. There IS light at the end of the tunnel, DON'T GIVE UP....PLEASE !!!

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ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Only been on citrizine for about 2 months and when I try to stop I make it about three days until I cant take the itching and I start again.

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Yes. Im 4 mts post zyrtec and still itching daily. I have lost so much hair it is really depressing me. I can say it is better but not gone and i just want it gone. I miss my old body. I will not give in to this drug that i feel is poison. I read that it can take many many months for our bodys to heal. Hang in there and stay strong.

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I also took zyrtec for allergies for 6 months due to cedar fever and other airborne allergies. The product worked for my allergies but when I stopped taking it, I developed intense itching all over my body that has lasted 4 full months now. It won't stop no matter what I do. This was the first time taking it and the more I read about it, I realize that I am having withdrawal symptoms to this product. It is driving me crazy and I can't find anything that will take the itching away. I itch "everywhere" and now my body is full of bumps and embarrassing marks. I don't know what to do and my doctor has been no help. Guess what he prescribed when I told him I had itching all over? ... Zyrtec. Of course this was before I found out this is what has been causing my problem.

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I'm going through the itchies right now & it's driving me crazy - I'm only on day 2!
So, did the itchiness ever stop? If so, how long did it take?

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It's been 3 months for me now, and I occasionally itch, but doesn't everyone itch sometimes?
I'd have to say, for me, somewhere between 2 and 3 months I stopped noticing the itch.

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I was prescribed a generic of Zyrtec and Zanac today for my allergies and hives. I took my first dose tonight before stumbling upon this discussion. I am thinking that tonight will be my one and only dose of the citrizine. I have been suffering from hives for almost 3 months now and have managed just fine with Clariton and sometimes Benadryl at night. I am wondering though should i consult my allergist before making this change?

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Thanks for the kind words Dee. I am glad this group/site exists.

My friends and family that I have been sharing my struggles with initially thought I was a little cuckoo and was making it up or exaggerating, or that something else was wrong, but thanks to this site, I know I'm not alone, and hopefully others will spread the word that this drug (aka poison) is not to be messed with.

I wish medical professionals would take note. I wonder if it would do any good to print all the pages of this group/site off and mail it to my health care provider and her group of doctors...

QUESTION FOR OTHERS/ANYONE:
Has anyone gone to an allergist to find out what exactly their allergies are and to establish a treatment plan?

(I'm trying to determine if seeing an allergist would be worthwhile. And usually an allergist will have you stop all your antihistamines for a period prior to the appointment, so for those of us detoxing, it is awful, but it might serve a great good and allow the allergist(s) to properly diagnose?)

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i had posted a question regarding mazetol 100. i am taking this twice daily for the last about 5 years. when can i stop this medicine. any side effects of mazetol 100. eagerly looking for a reply.

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Hi C C C
I will share with you my experience with going to the allergy Dr, . I was 2 weeks off of zyrtec and still going crazy with the worst itching, we all know how that feels. She told me it was fine to continue with my test because it only takes 3 days to get out of my system. All of the test were negative. I have food allergies, shell fish, and was possitive for dust mites 5 years prior, those allergies just don't go away. I read several other posts on here that said the same thing. Their tests were coming back negative. This zyrtec has such a long lasting negative effect on our body's natural histamine level that I would wait as long as possible to have any testing done. Good Luck.

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Hello Carole. My iching has now (I think) died after a number of months. I've had (yes had) horrible skin ripping itching. I had to sit down close my eyes and ENDURE the torture. My problem now is not to be tempted to take the makers of the cetirizine into a room filled with the strongest skin irritant, see how they feel! But I didn't waste energy on that. I stopped taking it, took vit b12 and theanine. And ate organic. THAT ALL WORKED. For your body to heal itself feed it good food. PEOPLE THIS IS CONQUERABLE, SUFFER THE WITHDRAWAL FOR A WHILE, CHECK OUT EXCELLENT SITES LIKE THIS, EAT WELL. LIVE WELL. THANKS TO EVERYONE FOR YOUR POSTS OTHERWISE I WILL STILL BE TAKING THOSE DAMN PILLS NOW!

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I've had a similar result: 2 lbs lost in 3 days and reduced urge to snack. However, the itching was too much. I've asked my doctor how to manage it and how best to go off zirtec to minimize withdrawal.

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And did you eventually stop the Claritin too? If so, what was the result?

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loyd still can't get off zyrtec 10-31-2012

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I was on Aller-Tec (Costco) for almost two years. Decided for the past few months, it was not doing the job for my seasonal allergies...so I stopped. 3 days later the itchy, stabbing feelings/aches, headache, nausea, and cloudy feeling took place. I was ready to call the doctor and decided to Google my symptoms only to find this site. Thank you for the many suggestions on relief. I have decided to continue the cold turkey approach. I have found that using fresh aloe from my garden works wonders on relieving the itches. I do need to reapply every few hours. The smell is awful but so very helpful. I just hope this goes away very soon. Took back a brand new bottle of unopened Aller-tec to Costco and got a refund. I spoke to the pharmacy department and asked if anyone else ever had complained about withdrawing from this OTC drug. NONE but she did say it made sense and to ride it out or call the doctor. I have alerted everyone in my family and friends about this drug.

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