Itching Withdrawal From Cetirizine Or Zyrtec (Page 24) (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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Hi nick
I have had dermagraphism many years ago then it went dormant
About 2 years ago it came back ,,,,when it got really bad I took zyrtec at night ... i then started taking it regularly because it helped with my allergies also ... One night I forgot to take it & I got extremely itchy
I put together that it was the zyrtec that was making me itchy & it made my dermagraphism get reAlly bad for out a month. It is now under control again
I'm wondering if you ad any signs of dermagraphism before coming off the zyrtec ?..whatever you do not go back on it ...I take 1/2 of a Benadryl when I get hives ... Hopefully your dermagraphism will get under control ..good luck
Lisa

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Several months?...this is disappointing. I have stopped taking them 6 days ago....and I still itch.

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Wow, I have the issue with dermagraphia and started taking Zyrtec and it did quickly help. I have tried to stop taking it every day and found that the itching would start but I never gave it a thought and felt like I "needed" it everyday. My husband started taking Zyrtec during the spring for allergies and decided that being it was winter he would stop. He has been itching uncontrollably and says that he is going crazy. Its been 7 days and it was better yesterday and then today was worse. He does not want to take it any longer as he feels like it is controlling his life. I am scared to death now wondering if the dermagraphia is worse to deal with or keep taking Zyrtec knowing that one day I will have to deal with all I am reading:(

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I had no signs of dermagraphism prior to taking zyrtec.

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I come back to post occassionally that Prednisone (a week regimen) did it for me. I had to take it for another injury I had and after the prednisone I didn't go back on zyrtec and was itch free. I warn all my friends and family about Zyrtec's nasty siede effect!!!
Maybe doctor will help you.

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I come back to post occassionally that Prednisone (a week regimen) did it for me. I had to take it for another injury I had and after the prednisone I didn't go back on zyrtec and was itch free. I warn all my friends and family about Zyrtec's nasty siede effect!!!

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Hi from Germany,
How are you now after 3 weeks?
I am on day 4 and it is the hell ...

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Hi Everyone, I am sure grateful for this board or I would have had no idea what is happening. I have taken Zyrtec steadily for about 4 years. I am on my third attempt to go off it. I have been trying to taper off. I am crushing the pills and am down to 1/16th, with trying desperately to skip days when I can. I've not had any of the poison (because that is what it really is), in two days. This is day 14 for me, and the itching is beyond belief. Deep inner ears and throat itch, along with numerous other places. The itch travels. First it might be my feet, and then my arms, then it will move to my waist, my eyes, my tougue, and sometimes, seemingly everywhere at once. It is totally random. This is truly a form of torture. This drug has definitely altered my natural histamine response. I also have the dermagraphia issue which I never had before taking this evil drug. I wonder what other issues are as a result of Zyrtec. Since being on it, I have been diagnosed with IBS and overactive bladder. I think there has to be a connection. It is very difficult to carry out your daily routine when you have to carry a hairbrush everywhere with you and your skin is beet red from all the scratching.

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I too experienced the extreme itching when I stopped this medication, it was horrible!!!!!! I was able to get relief with a natural solution and no longer need any allergy medication on a daily basis. If you would like to know how I did it feel free to email me {edited for privacy}

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Oh my goodness! I too, thought I was going crazy with extreme itching after suddenly removing Zyrtec from my nightly routine, after 3 yrs of taking this drug! I never suspected this would be a reaction and blamed it on (???) anything else. I will attempt to ween off by taking half a pill, but can not deal with the sleepless and intense non stop itching. Do any of you know what natural herb can help? I'm desperate!!!

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I too, thought I was going crazy with extreme itching after suddenly removing Zyrtec from my nightly routine, after three years of taking this drug. I never suspected this would be a reaction and blamed it on (???) anything else. I will attempt to ween off by taking half a pill, but can not deal with the sleepless and intense non stop itching. Do any of you know what natural herb can help? I'm desperate!!!

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ive been on the cetirizine h. drug for 15+ years..i will ask my doctor to confirm how many years...ive tried to kick it many many many times with no success..i suffered long enough I called my lawyer today.Marc

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Wow, glad I did a search! I have been taking the generic for Zyrtec for years. I started taking it because I tended to get a lot of really bad sinus infections. This med helped me to not get those anymore and if I did get a sinus infection it was very minor compared to how bad they used to be. Dr recently told me to stop taking any antihistimines because of heart palpitations so I quit taking it cold turkey. I have been itching all over so bad it's driving me NUTS!!!!!!

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Hello everybody, i wish strength to all of you. 10 years ago i have started to take Zyrtec cause i had hay fever and few other allergies. I have been taking Zyrtec sometimes, not every day. After 2-3 years, hives and itches show up. Only antidote was Zyrtec. I was using it for 7 years. Every 3-6 months searching for a reason which cause hives. Spend thousands on tests, doctors, homeopathic bulls*** cures for it. And all the time using the real poison Zyrtec. I am very glad that i have found this discussion, which showed me that my thoughts are correct. I am amazed how many of us, have a same illness, which is caused by corporate f***s which care only about the PROFIT. And we are the junkies. I have tried to loose Zyrtec about 3 times, could not make it to day 5. But now i will find strength, since i was taking 10mg daily, i will try lower the dose till 5 mg or 2.5 mg, and the go off zyrtec.

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I have been taking Zyrtec for about 1 1/2 years & realized it was causing my nose to be a little too dry so I have stopped taking it about 2 weeks ago. I have all of a sudden started itching so bad all over my whole body & didn't know why. I have gone over everything in my house. Nothing has changed in my life other than this, so I have been doing research to see if this could be it & then I found this page. Thank God. Now I know what it is. I at least can call the dr. or figure out what to do. I've NEVER felt anything this bad before. THEY SHOULD DEFINITELY LIST THIS AS A PRECAUTION ON THEIR SIDE EFFECTS!!!!!

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I have been taking Zyrtec for two years and last week I decided to quit it because it was making me feel drowsy during the day time even though I tried taking it at different times of the day. Three days after quitting I started having itches on my legs and arms to the extent that I almost tore into while itching with my finger nails.

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Hello. I'm from Portugal and for the last 10 years I am addicted to Cetirizine (Zyrtec's generic) due to the itchy withdrawal affects, as for the rest of you in this board.
The itching I've been subjected to is unbearable, UNBEARABLE! For several times I tried to stop taking Cetirizine but I just couldn't handle the horrible skin itching that seemed to get into my bones and burn my skin and eventually had to take the pill again. For those who could overcome the addiction - you are my heroes!!

I will write to Zyrtec and FDA to show my revolt as for the lack of listing the itching as a secondary effect and also to ask them for a solution to our problem. I beg all of you to do the same...

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Hi doses of vitamin c are helping me 3000mg 3 times a day and more when it flares up..

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This may sound weird but please try it. I am typing this message now as I'm doing it. What I'm doing to cool down the itch is wearing polyester pants (one for my arms and one for my legs). My grandma showed me this trick when I was a kid. It was my last resort and it actually worked! I noticed that my itch always come back when I stop using Zyrtec (the generic brand). I recently bought Allegra, but I refrain from using it. They used to work well before but then I noticed that my eyes always dried out to the point it was uncomfortable, so I discontinued allergy pills and it helped. However, it made my body itches became worse. Tried drinking vitamin C, taking cold showers, and aloe gel lotion but it only helped very little. After putting on my grandmother's polyester pants (as ridiculous that may sound) it is actually soothing my skin a whole lot better. Hope this helps all of you out.

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Sorry to hear ur state! That's awful. Thinking of going to the health store or google some natural ways of getting the itch away, like herbs or something. I'm still using my grandmother's polyester pants just to sooth the itch. It's helping but the itch is not completely gone. I'm afraid of what will happen when I take it off. I refuse to take the any allergy pill........that will be last resort.

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