Itching Withdrawal From Cetirizine Or Zyrtec (Page 27)
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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 took Allertec for an year, and got severe itching whenever I stopped it. Finally, went cold turkey and took Benedryl during the night since that's when I get most itching and can't sleep. That didnt help much either, and I had rashes all over my body. Finally saw a dermatologist today, she gave me steroidal cream and heavy hydrating cream. Said body needs to wean by itself, which should happen in 2 weeks. Never did I expect Allertec (certrizine) to give me such bad side effects after stopping it. Terrible.

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I am having this very same reaction right now. I took zyrtec every day from April on until three days ago and now I'm itching itching itching. UGH! So I just took one to stop the itching. How frustrating!

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What were your doses of prednisone? I've been on 60 mg of zyrtec and a slow taper of prednisone to manage the hives. It didn't work so I have an appointment with an allergist and they want me 7 days off zyrtec so 2 days ago I stopped. I had a massive breakout of hives this morning I took 22 mg of prednisone about 3 almost all cleared up. I used some cortisone and a few hours later I felt nauseous and then started itching with a few bumps. So I took 5 mg of prednisone which makes 27 mg in 24 hours, might be a little too much.

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I too have crazy itching around 9 hours after taking Zyrtec. I have been taking this medication for 10 years. Initially started taking it because of itchy skin and once I started taking it the itchy skin went away. Do anyone get localize, raised hot spots periodically thru the day? This is the reason for my post as my skin has been doing this for about 3 weeks and its annoying and worrisome. I can not last more than 2 days off this medication:(

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Wasn't thyroid nor anything else detected. I'm convinced its about zrytec withdrawal.

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Hi, everyone. About 4 weeks ago I started getting hives. I went a few days until I realized I needed to do something as it wasn't just going to go away. So I started to take Zyrtec about every other day. It still hasn't gone away and is just as bad or even worse so I have decided to stop taking it to see if the hives are coming back as a result of taking the Zyrtec or from the original outbreak. I last took it 4 days ago. I am really hoping the itching will go away because it has been awful. I would hate to have to go back on it since it makes me feel very off.

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I tried to go cold turkey with Zyrtec. However, I couldn't. So I tried what some others have stated had helped them. I used a 6 day tapered course of prednisone. Worked like a dream!! After the 4th day, no more itching!!! Call your docs and ask for prednisone to stop this craziness!!

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I went cold turkey after 2 years and until reading these postings couldn't figure out what was happening to me. Itching, headaches, weird bumps on my face back of my thighs and arms, horribly dry skin, waking up 7 times a night while on ambien...the worst is my hair falling Out! I have an appointment with my doctor. She is internal medicine and I'm sure she'll first look at my thyroid because of weight loss...but if you look at the side affects of zrytec weight GAIN is an issue...so I'm not sure what this is about but never thought I'd have to phase my way out of the zrytec wod!

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I went off cold turkey for 5 days, was nervous about the itching and swelling hives that started on day 5 and took one dose and now it has been 8 with no zyrtec and now im noticing a little itching and hive here and there. I'm going to wait as long as I can. At least I am down to 1 every 8 days...

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ZYRTEC ITCH CURE!!!! AT LEAST FOR ME!!!!!. REPOST. Finally off of zyrtec. I accidentally got off of Zyrtec! I had to take a 6-day regimine of prednizone for an injury I suffered and I hadn't taken zyrtec since before the injury. No torturous itching. I had been on zyrtec for about 4 or 5 years. Not stopping because of the itching. I'm thinking of trying over the counter Allegra...Any word if that would have a similar side affect?

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i know this is gona sound messed up but i got tired of being itchy and the only thing i had was preparation h instant relief i kid you not

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REPOSTING EARLIER MESSAGE. Finally off of zyrtec. I accidentally got off of Zyrtec! I had to take a 6-day regimine of prednizone for an injury I suffered and I hadn't taken zyrtec since before the injury. No torturous itching. I had been on zyrtec for about 4 or 5 years. Not stopping because of the itching. I'm thinking of trying over the counter Allegra...Any word if that would have a similar side affect?

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I am in the same boat!! I had to go back on Zyrtec as I was so sick with the hives and angioedema and histamine issues that I might have missed my son's wedding. I am trying to taper down but if the symptoms appear I will continue to take it as I had no quality of life and will work on balancing my body.

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Hi all, I think we have forgotten why we are on Meds in the first place, for me its simple.
Chronic Urticaria/Angeodema. I was taking meds off prescription scale! and it did no good, i found no relief. So to keep ticking over, I take 10 mgs of ceterizine. I get hives as soon as I have taken it and i get hives when I dont take it. I have had many tests to try and find a resolve but to no avail. The meds are just a sticky plaster, the actual wound is never healed= I have been advised by 2 consultants that there is no cure.
I do have border line Thyroid and Ferratin levels very very low. On Meds to try and address the issue. I DETEST taking Meds but sometimes you just have to do what you have to do just to get through the day. I think the best thing is good mental attitude and just live your life the best way you can= be positive= be happy as there is always someone worse off than yourself. Much happiness and good health sent to you all.

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My doctor suggested I stop taking it to see if I had any more episodes of Angioedema, so I did, however, I went back on within 10 days. I couldn't handle the itching, my head, my body everywhere.

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Hi guys,

Small update from me after a while...took me three months to be "almost" itch free. Getting the rashes occasionally after a shower or gym workout. But to be honest those three months were a friggin nightmare! I was on ceririzine for the past 6 years, taking one pill every week. Stay strong guys and gals, it's worth it! I know it might not be a good solution to going cold turkey....but a lil bit of alcohol helps with the histamine, when you're getting the itches, at least it helped me few times;) just don't overdo it.


Best,
Simon

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Like everyone else has already said, I am so thankful that I found this message board. I didn't intend to stop taking my generic Zyrtec, I just ran out and hadn't had time to get more. But after only a day or two without it, I have been have the craziest itch fits I have ever experienced! I have always been itchy on occasion but this is obviously something else. I thought it had to do with starting at a new college and having a new routine, etc. But uncontrollable itchiness seemed like a weird side effect of being nervous. I also hadn't been able to sleep since stopping the med, but that part I figured COULD have been because of stress. But now that it's been about 5 days and the itching hasn't ceased even after the stress has all but vanished, I'm pretty sure it's from stopping Zyrtec. Wow, this is awful. I'm currently at work, trying my hardest not to scratch with customers around. I barely scratched at my neck a little while ago and now it's all hot and inflamed with little bumps and welts. I can't imagine putting up with this for upwards of 6 weeks but clearly it is time to get off this stuff. I had been taking it for about 3 years straight.

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I'm so thankful that I found this site! I've been taking Zyrtec for year but have recently started having issues with fluid in my ears, dizziness, etc. AENT doctor wanted to do allergy testing, so I had to stop taking the Zyrtec for the week prior to the test. About 36 hours after stopping the Zyrtec this insane itching started on my hands and feet! They felt like they were on FIRE! I had no clue it was withdrawal from Zyrtec! I'm not sure what do to as I'm not supposed to be taking any antihistamine because of the upcoming tests, but I've had to take benadryl once every 10 hours just to make the itching somewhat bareable!!! WHY didn't my AENT doctor know about this???

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A low histamine diet may help those with the withdral symptoms.

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What I'd like to know is: are there other, more hidden reasons to stop the loratidine?

Three of my family members (including me) have been on the generic form of loratidine for years because of allergies which often progress into sinus infections. I actually forgot to use the stuff for a week, and as a result two of us began itching all over like crazy. I had been working out in the yard a lot so I really didn't suspect the drug. But today I thought I'd look online to see if I could find a connection. I just googled "loratidine withdrawal itching" and found this site.

The fact that we are not alone is reassuring and eye-opening. I don't want to sue the company (there are always side effects to meds--it's a trade off. Prednisone is much scarier) but I'd like to know what organs or body system is compromised by long term use of the drug.

Anyway thanks for sharing your experiences. It is good to figure out why I am itching. Btw, for a few days we were taking benedryl at night so we could sleep without itching and it worked, but another family member got a bad case of the shakes (like drinking too much caffeine). I don't know if that was another side-effect of the withdrawal, or related to the benedryl. I'm going to try to stay off the anithistamines totally and see what happens.

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