Itching Withdrawal From Cetirizine Or Zyrtec (Page 23) (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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EXACTLY !!!!!! I know I wasn't that crazy !!!!! The stinging itching all over, YES !!!!!!!
My eyes burn and the tears burn my skin also became so dry I felt I was turning to dust !!!
That,s why I took a break this is day 3. Thanks so much for you post. I now know what to do.

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Hi Esther ... My dermagraphism is worse now that I am off the zyrtec .. . It would always flare up now & then. But not how it is now ..... I am hoping it will calm down & my body will go back to normal soon ..... I don't ever want to take zyrtec again ...I can't believe the withdrawel symptoms.... And no one has ever heard of them either
I also had insomnia for a week ...thank god that is better now ...good luck to you

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Be careful with the relief of the hot showers or baths, and always apply a very good moisturizer. Otherwise you poor skin will get too dry and the itching will not subside. This is my experience. It is sure no fun to have to be constantly on guard for irritation, but it can get better. If you have a good way to relax, it helps a lot.

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19th day of withdrawal. . . I had dermagraphia prior to taking Zyrtec, so I'm not very sure where the withdrawal ends and the dermagraphia begins. I still itch a whole lot. . . but the burning sensation that I got after barely touching my skin is a lot less now. Like now, I can use the bathroom, or change my jacket, without setting off a burning-pins-and-needles reaction. It also seems to be a little better in the mornings and get worse at night. Before, it was just bad, bad, bad all the time. Since the start of the withdrawal, I have been loosing a lot of hair. I have tried to avoid scratching my scalp, but have broken down and scratched a number of times. . . I'm not sure if that's why I've been loosing hair, but it seems like every time I brush or wash it, I loose about 3x what I consider normal.

I feel more alert and rested now! I think I was just sleepy and tired as a dumb side effect of that medicine.

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I have been taking Zyrtec for almost three years and just the past couple of months have tried to get off it. Every time I did I would suffer from horrible itching that just about drove me bonkers. Especially my hands and feet. The areas that I would scratch would become raised marks. Well I found something that would stop the itching. It's called Heel Tastic. It's for cracked feet. I believe it's all natural. But I am now three days off of the Zyrtec and it's working. I'm not in the medical field but I am so happy I found something. Even though it's kinda weird it Works!!! Good luck to all.

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I have a long stretch of days off and decided to get off my 10mg nightly year round dose of Zyrtec. I experienced the typical side effects of watery eyes and dripping nose, increased mucus, coughing on the first two days. Today, the third day, I had a wheezing sound when I tried to breathe deeply and that came with an urge to cough. It felt like I was not able to breathe properly...and made me wonder if that is what asthma feels like. This was the absolute worst day so far. Day 2 and 3 I felt increased itching but this evening it increased after I took a hot shower.. Actually it started to get BAD while in the shower.... After I got out, I could not stop itching everywhere!!!! It was so intense, I felt that my scratching was not doing anything and I wanted to cry... it was that bad. I am not sure why the hot water made things so much worse!!!!

I finally caved and took another Zyrtec!! I could not handle it anymore!!! Now I am royally pissed that I have been on medicine year round for 10 years that I can't live without. I am not sure what I am going to do now.. keep taking it for life??? I am going to research more about this and will report back. This is so miserable and so messed up!

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I am nearly a year out from my last dose of Zyrtec as prescribed by my doctor and I am still having problems with itching and hives. My scalp and neck are always itching and if I scratch my skin turns bright red within minutes. This was not something I experienced prior to taking the drug. The horrible itching that I initially felt when I stopped taking the drug is gone, but I feel that my body's chemistry has been permanently altered. I don't understand why there has been no legal action concerning the symptoms that so many people seem to have as a result of this drug. Why is there still no warning on the label that you could could suffer permanent side effects and why when I visit my doctor does he seem totally unaware of the suffering that this drug can cause. Has anyone filed some sort of claim against a manufacturer or found an attorney to take a case? People should be made aware of the risks of Zyrtec and other generics containing the same active ingredient. Please comment on this if you have had any success in finding representation for a similar issue.

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Hi I also had withdrawal symptoms from zyrtec. It lasted about a month. I had dermagraphism ( constant hives ) Prior to taking zyrtec. .....and also now It really flared up after stopping zyrtec. But is now under control. When I first came off I called the zyrtec 800 number & asked if this was ever reported. The rep said that thy never had anyone report these s symptoms ...itchiness .... insomnia ( for a week ) ... Withdrawals. They reimbursed me by sending me a check for the last box I bought & they sent me a questioner in the mail Nothing further happened. I believe that they have had other people complain about theses symptoms , and are not sharing the information. Do you think you have dermagraphism ? When you scratch yourself does a big welt appear ? Maybe you should go to a dermatologist. I now take 1/2 of a Benadryl when I get hives. I will never take zyrtec again!

Good luck, Lisa

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For the past four I've been experiencing mild insomnia, itching all over my body (especially at night), and mood swings (mostly anxiety, but some depression). I assumed it was just due to stress, but my kind kept nagging at me and telling me that it was something else.

Finally, I realized a small change in my routine that might have contributed to it: I stopped taking Zyrtec. I've been taking Zyrtec pretty much every day or every other day since the summer, since it does a really good job of stopping all allergy symptoms. Eventually, I just took it as a precautionary habit. I ran out on Sunday, and didn't bother to buy more.

Yesterday I stumbled upon this site and have read through all of the comments. I'm thankful that I haven't had that painful "electric" itching that some people have described. Mine is mostly mild. I'm hoping and praying that I'm one of those lucky individuals who only experiences symptoms for a week or two, instead of months. I'll report back when things change.

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Post-Marketing Experience

In the post-marketing period, the following additional rare, but potentially severe adverse events have been reported: aggressive reaction, anaphylaxis, cholestasis, convulsions, glomerulonephritis, hallucinations, hemolytic anemia, hepatitis, orofacial dyskinesia, severe hypotension, stillbirth, suicidal ideation, suicide and thrombocytopenia.

I found this at rxlist, but what the heck does it mean?

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I am attempting to discontinue cetirizine using liquid and a dropper. The tablets are too difficult to break more than once and a dropper/liquid is easy. We really do need a legal case suit.

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I used 1/2 ofa Benadryl when I couldn't stand the itching
I Al's used Sarna anti itch cream which helped a lot
Zyrtec took about a month to come out of my system
And now I'm fine
I will never ever take it again
Good luck

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Richard, yes, avoid scratching if at all possible. The first 2 weeks were the worst. I thought it would never get better. Alas, it does get better, so hang in there! You can do it! It's worth all of the suffering to finally be able to be off of it completely. Best of luck to you!!!

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I have posted before and just want everyone to be aware that 10 days after I stopped the Zyrtec, the histamine rebound caused horrible symptoms and I was sick for a long time beyond just itching. Heart palpatations, feeling faint after eating, etc. I just had my blood histamine levels checked and it was high and I am waiting for the results of the 24 hr. u.a. I am taking 1.25 of oral baby Zytrec to keep myself from itching and stablilize a bit. I need to find out why I am making so much histamine as my results come up negative to allergies and only started it because of dermagraphic hives a year ago. The excess histamine can cause all kinds of symptoms and irregularities in your body. Susan

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My daughter who is 32, was given Zertec for seasonal allergies after the birth of her son, because the doctors said it would not dry up her breast milk. But it was affecting it, so she tried to get off of it. She went through this horrible burning itch - inside of her mouth, her tongue, inside her ears, her nose - the palms of her hands and the soles of her feet - even inside of her private area was burning uncontrollably. The doctors said she could take steroids and/or benedryl, but she didn't want it to dry up her milk. So she tried to tough it out. I went and watched her kids during the day because she was in so much suffering and pain that she couldn't function. She said it felt like she was crawling out of her own skin and she thought she would lose her mind. My daughter has hardly ever been sick a day in her life, so it was very difficult to see her going through that. It took over two weeks, and she finally broke down and took the steroids and benedryl to get her though it. But I hope nobody doubts the seriousness of the suffering these folks go through. I've read where some people say it's just itching. No - this is not just itching. This was hell. I just wanted to tell those of you still going through it that if your doctor will give you the steroids and/or benedryl - it will help you get through it. It won't completely take it away, but I don't think she would have survived it without something like that to help her. I pray that each of you is able to get the help you need too. This drug really needs to be labled with a warning about these withdrawal symptoms.

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I am having the same problem. I've been taking zyrtec daily for maybe 15 years and I want a healthier approach to my allergies. Stopped taking it a week ago. I take benedryl when I can't stand the itchiness. My feet, for some reason, itch the most. Tea tree oil seems to be helping that. Good luck.

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I am now on day eight of going cold turkey after being on zyrtec for a couple of years under doctors advice. I am a teacher and I have tried before when I've been home in the summer. I am having better luck this time. I think it is because it is so cold. When my hands start itching terribly I run them under ice cold water. It's not pleasant but better than the itching. I've done the same with my feet.

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Allergy doctor took me off Zyrtec so he can test me for allergies. Used to take Claritin but heard Zyrtec better. Been suffering for years with allergies and found Zyrtec with nasonex to work until I started dating someone with cats. About 3 days in I started going insane from itching. I tried dry skin lotion..nothing..palms..back..ribs...scalp...neck..feels like heat then mad itch. Last night I just about had it so I tried sunburn aloe green stuff...seemed to help...allergy dr getting call today... nuts!

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Carole, I don't know how many have this withdrawl symptoms. Zertec is not going to admit the problem. It would hurt their bottom line. My daughter (31) had the withdrawals when she had to get off Zertec to nurse her baby last year. She finally had to take Benedryl and prednisone to get off the Zertec and minimize the w/d symptoms. It took about 3 to 4 weeks, and she had to stop nursing after all. It's the pitts! Benedryl and prednisone stops the allergic reactions to coming of Zertec. My daughter still has the itching come back every now and then- and it's been almost a year since she got off it. I really believe it has to do some kind of neurological damage or neuropathy for it to still affect her after all this time. Now she takes Claritin - and only when she needs it for seasonal allergy symptoms. She can stop it at any time and it doesn't bother her at all. I hope this will help you.

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I am following up on my recent post. I am now a year out from going off zyrtec and today I went to see a dermatologist to discuss the ongoing issues that I am having since quitting. He diagnosed me with demographism. Essentially I can use a fingernail or object to write on my skin. Doing so creates a hive. I didn't have this condition prior to taking zyrtec. I plan to report this to the FDA and to the makers of the drug. I am wondering if anyone else on here has had the same reaction AND if they have previously reported this to the FDA or drug maker. I have been given a prescription which should help with the condition, but I don't want to be dependent on a drug for the rest of my life. I am seriously considering legal action and would like to establish whether or not the drug maker knew of both the initial withdrawal symptoms (first few weeks of itching) and of others who have come down with dermographism as a result of taking and going off of zyrtec. If you did notify either the FDA or the manufacturer, I'd be interested in knowing when you did so and what you told them. Thanks.

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