Itching Withdrawal From Cetirizine Or Zyrtec (Page 25)

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 agree. It seems I start to feel like it's stopping and then boom it starts up again.

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I definitely do i have taken many zyrtec and Allegra pills for allergy and the side effects get me hooked on it because I itch all the time now I have to take it everyday to not itch. Crazy but what can we do?

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I am so outraged that I have suffered for years, listening to certain people telling me to calm down... I couldn't because of the side effects of this over the counter Zyrtec...insomnia for years, being a spaz, cause I was so hyper. I started drinking heavily, and was able to consume so much whiskey without passing out...I was so shakey, and always paranoid do to hallucinating from going 17 days with not a wink of sleep...then a drinking binge, well withdrawals from alcohol is nothing compared to ZYRTEC....my heart palpitated, hands shook, and I could never stand still, friends and co-workers asked or stated I was a tweeker!!! This pissed me off, cause people judge too quickly. Then I did a process of elimination and bam!!! I realized I haven't taken a Zrytec pill in weeks, cause I was broke. So I called up my Pharmacist and asked him if you can have withdrawals off of Zrytec? and told him I have been on Zrytec n Claritan for 20+ years, but developed bouts of insomnia since I switched to ZYRTEC....So that led me to investigate Zrytec, cause I was desperate. My hallucinations were visual, audio, and dreams. I scared the s*** out of my dad, and brother. I hate what Zrytec did to me...But, after consulting a doctor, and being in ER several times from insomnia, and being put on Temazepam it only took one pill, each individual visit. When I became cognitive I began to research Insomnia prior to me finding out what has caused this. I grew scared knowing that I could have permanently damaged my brain and stayed in a non lucid state. I then detoxed my body by no more than 2 qts of water in a one hour increment, blue berries all dark greens....and kept getting worse not better. I decided to change my doctor, and he listened but prescribed me trazodone....well I hallucinated and it didn't put me down..it was a bad visual hallucinations that went on for 1 week almost. It was so bad my brother thought I was a crazy lunatic... Thank God for good friends, and my strength to realize the voices in my head and the visuals were not real...it took me 3 days and drop that trazodone, I still had bad shakes extremely dizzy, loss of vision and hearing...

I am now sleeping like a baby with no Temazepam and I only had to take it for one night...I put up with the itching and I drove my family crazy, watching me scratch the crap out of my hands, feet, neck, head and eyes. I still itch, but I use Coconut oit, and vitamin c....If I do anything in this world, I am going to be sure no one suffers the way I did from this over the counter drug with no side effects or warning labels. (please consult your doctor if you experience side effects or if you want to discontinue consult your physician first). Nothing of this sort is on that pill box, bottle or the pop outs. Please lets all get our medical records, and stop our Physicians, and Pharmacists from distributing this medication to anyone else especially kids. I am positive these kids are diagnosed as ADHD OR ADD because they are taking Zrytec or Claritan...I don't care for the money, I care that no one goes through the horror I went through. Isolation, paranoia, insomnia, hallucinating, irritability, combative, nervousness, anxiety, confusion, dizziness, loss of vision, and hearing. I am getting better cause I am a strong person that knew there was something to this, and I just didn't go mentally crazy. My mom flew out after speaking to my brother, she paid an arm and a leg, and saw after sleeping one night after taking a Temazepam I woke up with no shakes or side effects, and have been sleeping with no more temazepam and no nightmares since, 8-3-16 I am extremely focused cognitive, and my lungs after being diagnosed with COPD, after being asthmatic for my whole life and hospitalized at least 11 times in the past 2 1/2 years from acute asthma attacks, then hospitalized for COPD and put on oxygen from Dec 2015 to February 2016. taking Albuterol several times a day and night, and Advair for a life time, but increasing got worse in 2015. My lungs feel 60% percent and climbing better since I stopped taking Zyrtec. I have read that Zyrtec has been the cause of 7 sudden deaths of people who stopped Zyrtec without seeking medical assistance, after that news, I was determined to finding out and seeking medical attention...

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Thank you DJ Paul P. for the information about Flood Law Group. On the site they invite people to contact them about Zyrtec withdrawal as they are apparently trying to find the best approach to take legally and need more information. I am happy to provide it to them with any time I can find in my life because I feel this wrong MUST be stopped and if I can do anything I will. If anyone else cares to look at a law firm that has acknowledged the problem, and that is great in itself, go to Flood Law Group.

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I took it on and off for 3 months. I am now on day 15 of withdrawal. My skin is still red and splotchy but I have no new breakouts. The itching is minimal and only around the edges of the splotchy spots. My forearms and chest are all that broke out. Now the skin is naturally sloughing itself. I HAVE FOUND SOME RELIEF. I started taking DoTerra Essential Oil Zendocrine internally. I rinse with Nubian Black Soap 3X a day (make sure it has aloe & oats - this soap has been the best relief I've had during all of this). After rinsing I use a mist of DoTerra oils: Lavender, Melaleuca, (Tea Tree), Purify and Arborvitae in a coconut oil carrier. The mist is also very soothing. I keep my nails cut down to the quick and I brush my skin with a very soft brush. I can now see my normal skin color popping out from the red splotches. My skin seems to be extremely dry at times so I keep an organic, fragrance free lotion (I use UP! Organics).

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How long did it take for your withdrawal to subside completely.

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I took it for 30 days. It took 60 days to finally stop itching This was helped by taking a steroid and Ativan so I didn't stress the itch

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In my case, it took about 4 months but I had been taking it twice daily for over 10 years! I'm now completely itch free. Even my sinuses have pretty much dried up and I no longer sneeze like mad in the mornings. Sleep back to normal too.

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OK so I called Flood Law Group and they are, as their web site says and DJ Paul also said, taking clients who have suffered Zyrtec withdrawal. Unfortunately for me, the state I live in has a 2 yr statute of limitations and I went through this in 2010-2011. But my advice to those currently suffering is to take pictures of any physical conditions, keep a journal of your symptoms, and call them before your state's statute runs out. Just another note, the people I spoke with there were easy to talk to, asked pertinent questions, listened to the answers, and followed through. It was a positive experience.

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I started taking Zyrtec because I had a very serious problem of itchiness and hives and it eliminated them. I take Zyrtec only when I start getting itchy - which is every five days or so. I wish I knew what caused the itchiness inthe first place - because at least for me and perhaps only me, it wasn't Zyrtec.

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How long did your itching last? Going through the horrible itching now. I am up to 72 hours without taking zyrtec .

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About 3 months in my case, but it came and went with less and less intensity. I used to take half a loratadine, if it became unbearable. I'm totally itch free now.

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This worked for me to get off Zyrtec and all antihistamines, finally. Come spring I will want to tear my eyeballs out of my head, stick a sharp stick down my throat or in my ear to get that itch you can’t reach, and carry a bucket around to catch the nasal drip. But I won’t do any of those things because I know those things are better than being hooked on antihistamines against your will. I will be empowered in my misery, and that will go a long way. So here’s what it took:
1. I replaced Zyrtec with Claritin and took it every morning for six months. This prevented the itching and gave the Zyrtec time to work out of my system. It takes a while in my experience.
2. At six months I cut down to one Claritin every other day, for another three months.
3. At nine months I went to half a Claritin every other day.
4. At one year I started taking half a Claritin only when some itching started up and felt like it was ramping up. I ignored the occasional short-lived itchies, which did happen a few times a day.
A month later I was free. Itch free, addiction free.
It seems to me that other antihistamines (other than Zyrtec that is) also have the ability to keep you coming back whether you like it or not. My sister is addicted to the old-school Chlortrimeton, she has tried to quit but got severe itching when she did. My theory is that Zyrtec is the most effective antihistamine and is therefore bound to have the hardest withdrawal.
I hope very much that this regimen works for someone else. Let me know if it does. Or doesn’t. Thanks.

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I too have switched to Claritin, and had attempted to wean off, but perhaps a bit too quickly.

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This weening method is very similar to what I am in the process of at this time. I am finally down to a half Zyrtec every 3 days, I figure 1 a week total is much better than 1 daily, but it's been a slow slow process. Ween yourself slowly and expect minimal itching. I hope to be completely off by this time next year.

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I'm so glad to share with everyone that after taking Zyrtec for more than 25 years for my allergies and failed 3 times on quiting this medicine ,now I don't need to take it any more and I don't even have allergies anymore. The only thing that I did was to remove all the amalgams fillers from my mouth. But I did it with an holistic dentist that took precautions for me not to get contaminated. That means using oxígen , a vacuum , cover my entire body , put cream on my face , take selenium , vitamin c etc.

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After multiple failed attempts at discontinuing cetirizine over two years with the cold turkey approach, I am finally free of the medication and withdrawal free. I want to share how I did it in the hope of helping others who -- like me-- tried and failed to suddenly stop taking this medication due to itching so severe as to make it impossible to function at work and as a parent. This is a kinder, gentler way to do it, but it will take a few weeks.

Week one- decreased my usual dose from 5 mg at bedtime nightly to 2.5 mg. I also started taking 1 gram a day of vitamin C, 1 pill daily of Les Labs Sinus and Seasonal supplement (I bought this at Amazon - contains Quercetin, Nettle Root Extract, Bromelain, and Butterbur Root Extract), and NAC Sustain (from Jarrow Formulas - also purchased on Amazon). The supplements are to support healthy histamine levels naturally. No Itching.

Week 2- changed to liquid Cetirizine dosed orally with a syringe so that I could precisely decrease the dose. Decreased dose to 2 mg at night and continued Vitamin C, NAC, and the Sinus and Seasonal supplements as above. No itching.

Week 3 - 1.5 mg nightly plus the supplements. No itching.

Week 4- 1 mg nightly plus the supplements. No itching.

Week 5- decreased dosed rom 1 mg by 0.1 mg nightly and continued supplements. I thought I was going to withdraw without any side effects. After all, I weight 120 lbs. this medication could certainly not be strong enough to be having any effect on my body in such small amounts, right? RIGHT? Wrong! As soon as I went off the cetirizine, the itching started within 12 hours of the last dose. It was markedly decreased from previous withdrawal (by about 80%), and manageable, but still bothersome: unpredictable patches of itching and burning skin affecting scalp, and strange areas like the eyebrows, and between the fingers and toes. I also found that my skin became hypersensitive- localized hives where my hair touched my shoulders, the neck line of my shirts. I had to stop wearing a necklace because I would break out where the pearls touched my skin. I also had flare ups of itching after showering, at night when changing clothes, and during changes of temperature. Of note, I have never had hives or suffered from sensitive or itchy skin before taking Zyrtec. I carried around with me Benadryl vials that can just be torn open and taken on the spot. The first week I took three when the itching got bad at work. All itching gone within 15 minutes of taking the Benadryl and did not return for 24 hours. The second week I only took Benadryl once. I have not needed any since, the itching essentially went away day 15 after I stopped the medication. I now feel great. I continue taking the vitamin C, NAC, and Seasonal and Sinus natural supplement since I do have allergies.

One thing I found extremely helpful was a heating pad. I don't know why, but applying the heating pad to itchy skin made my itch stop almost immediately.

Good luck. I encourage everyone who has withdrawal symptoms to report it to the FDA, as I did. This medication is too powerful to be over the counter and needs to carry strong warning against long term use.

{Editor's note: amazon affiliate links added}

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I have been on certirizine for over ten years and like thousands I would get terrible urticaria any time I stopped. I thought my allergies were getting worse so I returned to taking it. Thanks to so many testimonials online, I am on week 4 of cold turkey, I am still itchy with hives all over but my depressed feeling (never had depression before) is gone. I am also not having heart palpitations like I used to. Doctors could never find what was causing them. All the money spent, as this drug isn't cheap and what a shame on not being myself. I am determined to do this cold turkey. At times, I feel like I'm going into anaphylactic reaction. I really hope the Flood Group Lawyers take this on. There should be research studies, warnings on labels and maybe a legal suit because of the systemic level negative effects. Thanks again everyone for your comments.

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I am experiencing heart palpitations also. This symptom didn't start until I weened my dosage down to half a tablet every third day. I only had major itching fits when I attempted to go off cold turkey. I lasted a week before I was forced to go back on to save my sanity and my JOB! I'm still trying to get off but it's a grueling process! Ugh

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Me, I could not figure out what was happening to me until I started process of elimination as to what it could be...then last night 10/31 at 7pm I took one and it all went away. NOW how do I stop taking the dam pill and get thru the itching and withdrawal? its horrible.

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