Itching Withdrawal From Cetirizine Or Zyrtec (Page 2)

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 am ready to start a lawsuit. I'm looking for a lawyer that has experience with pharmaceuticals. I started taking Zyrtec-D last April and I took it for four or five months. The itching started after a couple of days afterward (mainly my scalp, but legs, back), but I did not see the connection with Zyrtec. I thought it was a new lotion or body wash I was using. After I tried everything, I started searching the Internet and found Zyrtec to be the culprit. I tried stopping cold turkey for about three months, but the itching continued.

So, I went back on Zyrtec (non D) and the itching stopped. I took one every two or three days for the past month or so. However, this time, I went into serious depression. My wife suspected the Zrytec, but I did not believe her until I did searches on Zrytec and depression (try it and you'll see). Then we both discovered that the mood changes started last April. I stopped taking Zyrtec on Monday and by Wednesday, the depression went away and the itching came back with a vengeance.

Tonight, it was five times worse than it has ever been and totally intolerable. I vowed tonight to sue them. This is crazy. I don't know what I'm going to do in the meantime. I have tried herbal remedies and took a Benadryl tonight, which has only worked lightly. I can't go back on Zyrtec because of the depression. If it were not for that, I would just go back on it, the itching is that bad.

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loyd =again update= im still hooked on zyrtec but ive been trying to ween my self i ich like a fool half to take one ever few days to keep from iching so bad i can't stand it . now i have iching scabes in my head since trying to get off it that iches very very bad. geting off of it does not look very good at this point its very hard to not pick at them .

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I had the itching two times. It wasn't until the 2nd time that I realized that the common thread was the Zyrtec. I only used it for about a week. I used Biofreeze and Vick's vapor rub on my legs and stomach to take the itch away. I stopped cold turkey! I will never take Zyrtec again and will never give it to my children. I can't believe that with all of the cases out there, that this is still on the market!

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I found this site thru google. I have been on generic cetrizine hydrochloride for almost 2 years. I decided to take myself off it because my cuticles are dry, my skin is dry, my hair is dry and worst of all my mouth is so dry that my gums bleed. I have been off the medication for almost a week and my dry symptoms, especially my gums, are diminishing fast. Unfortunately, I have the itsch everyone is talking about. It's a nightmare. My whole body is red from scratching all day long. I have one form of relief, Cold. Roll your cold pop can on the itch, grab an icepack. It's better than scarring your skin with scratching or hot water burns.
PLease note, I was not taking Zyrtec the brand. I was taking both walmart and meijer generic versions but the key ingredient is the same.

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Hi Carole, I am currently weaning. I am down to 5 mg every other day. I am itching a little as I step down. I am terrified of the withdrawal. However, I want to get pregnant again and do not want to be on meds for that so I MUST stop this drug. I will keep you all posted on my progress. I was thinking of starting a blog.
Scottie, I am willing to start a class action. Anyone know a lawyer that specializes in this?
Beth

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How can you class action this product. The manufacturers of Zyrtec are only one of many companies who sell cetirizine hydrochloride allergy meds.

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Sorry, Ginger, but you sound like you are an employee or lawyer for McNeil, the makers of Zrytec!

If not, I'm sure someone from McNeil is monitoring these posts. It's a standard practice for big companies to do that and have employees and others supporter post comments.

I have not been able to find much about the generic brands causing the itching. 95% or more of the posts on the Internet are about Zrytec.

I contacted Williams Kherkher law firm and they sent me a nice letter stating, "I appreciate the confidence you have expressing in our firm but, for various reasons, the firm has decided o to represent you in a Pharmaceutical claim at this time".

They stated "The firm is not expressing any opinion on the merits of your potential claim." It went on to say, "You should not regain from seeking leg an assistance from another lawyer because of any interpretation you may place on the firm's decision not to go forward with this matter."

I'll keep pursuing it! Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks!

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Also, I plan to make a central blog site regarding this issue and post on all the other sites to direct their posts to mine.

That way we will have a central site to tackle this issue.

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Go Scottie!!!
Are you in the U.S.? I am. I will ask around. I've filed with the FDA. Let us know you blog site. I find comfort knowing I'm not alone. By the way, are you off of Z?
I'm weaning now. Doctors are of no assistance to me. Said it doesn't matter what I do. Very emotionally devastating, stressful, and terrifying. I have to get off this med. I can't even imagine what it would do to a fetus. This drug is stopping me from continuing my family. I will not put a baby through this. Damn it!!! Why did I ever start taking it? Because the ignorant doctors told me to. And now,...they abandon me after I question their reasoning. Can't believe that human being can act like they've never heard of this! Seriously, pathetic.

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Actually I work for a children's educational software company. I am currently experiencing ridicuous itch withdrawl which is how I found this post to find out I'm not alone. I used to use Zyrtec but it was too expensive so I bought the walmart and meijer versions that have the same active ingredient.
Although I am suffering a bit as I type this, I am against frivolous lawsuits that further increase the cost of medication development that I might need, like my blood pressure meds. Then again, I'm against frivilous lawsuits over anything. It devaluates the suits with merit.

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@Amy- I am in the same situation. Despite my fear of an awful Zyrtec withdrawal (which I've tried several times just to see if I could live without it), when I take Zyrtec it does what it promises to do- it helps me gain control over all my allergy symptoms. Allegra, Benadryl and Claritin never helped me. I used to be miserable in the spring and fall, and now that's not an issue anymore. I'm thankful for that.

On the other hand, I've been on Zyrtec for over 5 years now and I do feel "addicted". It scares me to think that I'm chained to this medication for possibly the rest of my life. I don't know what to think anymore!

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I am stuck in on Easter Sunday on day 6 of horrible withdrawal from this drug I call poison. I have now missed 4 days of work. I have very bad mornings, hours of intense itching, scalp buring, crying, scratching my skin raw. I take 3000 mg of vit. c. and drink nettle tea, and take oatmeal baths in hot water. It seems to take some of the edge off, This drug needs to be taken off the market. I took it for 3 years because of food allergies. I have never experienced anything like this. I am determined to get free from this pain and never take zyrtec again. The public needs to be made aware of the dangers of taking this drug.

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@ Scotti
I am interested in filing a suit. Feel free to include me. I did take the store brand and I see no difference at all in the pain and suffering from coming off of this dangerous drug. I am now on Day 7 and hoping I am able to go to work tomorrow. I don't thing weaning down does much good. I only took half for months and still went through the same thing when I quit for good. Good luck to all of you.
Dee

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@ Scotti
I am interested in filing a suit. Feel free to include me. I did take the store brand and I see no difference at all in the pain and suffering from coming off of this dangerous drug. I am now on Day 7 and hoping I am able to go to work tomorrow. I don't think weaning down does much good. I only took half for months and still went through the same thing when I quit for good. Good luck to all of you.
Dee

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I only took Zyrtec for one week (I posted 5 months ago back on 11/4/11, post #10). Well, it's now been 5 months since I stopped. The itching isn's as bad or as often but I still get stabbing and painful itching on my right inner wrist. It makes me wonder if this is going to be a permanent thing. I can't even imagine what the rest of you are going through. This stuff can ruin your life.

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OMG I am so glad I found this site....I thought it was in my head. I've been on zyrtec, generic for at least 10 years.......I came off of it do have some testing done, need to have it out of my system for two weeks. I am itching all over....so uncomfortable. I am going on day 4 and can't stand it....how long will this last.....I am trying to go cold turkey also,,,,this is so wrong, I started taking it to get rid of itching and watering eyes from allergies and now I have this to deal with!!!

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To answer your question as to why anyone would want to get off of it ... I have had to stop taking it twice now to prepare for allergy testing. Ironic, right? I figured out this Zyrtek withdrawal nightmare a few years ago, when my palms and fingers were so hot, red and swollen that I could barely bend my fingers. And the itching was UNBEARABLE! I'm in withdrawal again now, because I have allergy-testing again next week. I started the weaning a little earlier this time in the hopes it would help. I'm alternating Benadryl with Zyrtek for now. While the symptoms aren't as bad as when I went cold turkey, they are definitely still there. It's amazing how many people are talking about this now. When I researched this a few years ago, I couldn't find any postings about it!

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So it took me 8 days of intense itching to get this out of my system. Have been told it's because I had been on it so long that once I stopped the histamines in my body went crazy. So I got through the itching, I still break out when I work out or exert myself at all. But now, since I'm not on it my allegies have gone crazy. I have to wait another week for testing, then hoping they can take care of those without putting me on zyretc. Zyrtec certainly helped the allergies, but I really don't want to go on it again after what I went through to get off of it.

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Since my last post I have gone back to work, it is now day 17 and I am still itching, not as bad but my mornings are the worst. btw I have also suffered severe hairloss over the last few years and I am now convinced it is because of this drug. Took me a while to put all the pieces together. I can only hope my immune system is able to repair itself after the damage zyrtex has caused my body.

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I stopped taking Zyrtec (the 10 mg generic cetirizine hydrochloride tablets) two days ago because I recently heard that antihistamines, including Zyrtec, can cause weight gain. I started taking cetirizine for nasal allergies about three to four years ago (not long after Zyrtec went OTC), and I actually put on six pounds over a period of two months the year I started taking it! I did not make the connection at the time, and just attributed the weight gain to other things then, but now I believe it was the cetirizine. There has been a study that links antihistamines to an increase in appetite:
fyiliving.com/research/antihistamines-may-cause-weight-gain


Now, after two days of no cetirizine, I have been experiencing the crazy itching that everyone else here has described. I suspected the itching might be a withdrawal symptom, so I googled it and found this forum. It is a relief to know the cause of the itching. I am trying to go cold turkey, and I hope the itching goes away within a few weeks. However, I've read about people five months out who still have occasional itching.

On the bright side, I am happy to report that my urge to snack has decreased, and I actually lost two pounds! This might seem like a coincidence, but I don't think so.

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