Itching Withdrawal From Cetirizine Or Zyrtec (Page 27) (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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Use of zyrtek resulted in massive swelling of my face. To the point my skin peeled off on several occasions. Doc told me to take two and a Zantac when I felt the problem coming on. Only made it worse, thought I was going nuts eyes swelled shut burning skin. Did a little research and have decided the heavy prescribed doses of meds were the problem. Quit three a days ago and destroyed remaining pills. My face is still a mess pressure on eyes, but I feel improvement. Drinking water like a fish.only took zyrtek a limited time.

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Litigation is needed. The withdrawal symptoms are absolutely terrible. Itching and burning - what hell is this!!! This product is great for the marketers only - it creates skin allergy symptoms that are only cured by USING MORE ZYRTEC!!! Doctors are oblivious to it as well - USE MOAR ZYRTEC!!! What a scam! It is sad that the FDA is driven by the money of big pharma...

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I was diagnosed with chronic hives in Feb 2015, and have been taking Zyrtec ever since. My allergist told me to stop the med in June, but 26 hours after stopping, the hives came back, faster than before. I went that night without sleep, and by 10am, the hives went away. But at 9pm that night, they were back, and covered more of my body. I also experienced a lump in my throat, that got me very concerned, so I took 2 Benadryl and the Zyrtec. Hives and lump were gone by 11 pm and I slept fine. A call to my allergist and he said, just keep taking the Zyrtec, and see me in August. Just saw him and asked about rebound and he says, no, just a myth from people who don't understand medicine (non doctors). He told me to stop taking the Zyrtec, and if symptoms come take it or Benadryl as needed.

So now I have gone 1 week, and I get about 48 hours before the hives come back. I have decided to take it at night, why suffer right?

I also get a lump in my throat, anyone else get this?

I told my dr. And he said I am not experiencing allergies, just chronic urticaria, hives. He says I have nothing to fear, like Anaphylactic shock, but he said, if it makes me feel better to take the Zyrtec to give me peace of mind, then I should just take it. He insists there is no long term health risk to taking it.

I want to stop, but the lump thing bugs me, and what is the point of suffering sleepless nights?

I read a lot about cutting the pill, so that is a new thought to me. Maybe cutting it in half and take as needed. But...

Does it work as fast when done this way? I see results in about 2 hours with the whole pill.

if I take a half pill will it work half as long?

I am just trying to learn what to expect if I cut my dose.

I want to document my journey here for others to find.

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Here is my issue with Zyrtec... I have NEVER had skin issues (chronic itching etc) until I have stopped taking Zyrtec. I am not a Doctor, but I also have a vested interest in actually finding the cause - not just treating symptoms. Most doctors simply try to find the quickest solution for problems without taking time to understand the problem. A couple health issues I had earlier were due to food allergies - my doctors didn't even go that route and simply suggested taking pills to treat the problems and not actually finding the cause of the problem. With all the people writing about Zyrtec "itching", myself being one of them, there is most likely something peculiar with the drug. It may not happen to everyone, but enough people...

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Taking a half of a pill every other day works for me. I figured this out after experimenting for a few weeks. I can never go without it tho. The itching is too intense as is the lack of sleep. Hope you find what works for you!

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If you've been taking it for a long time, then expect to go through sadly...HELL, in order to get off of it. I quit, suffered for two weeks of the unbearable stuff, then after about 2-3 months began to see the hives disappear completely, never to return. Expect to hold onto water weight for about 6 months, then slowly your body will begin to normalize. I had gained 30 pounds of water weight. Just be patient and try to add; Evening Primrose Oil (for itching), Milk Thistle (to realign your histamine), and hot baths or showers with all the typical remedies. I promise you, you will never look back---just DO NOT use any other drug that will give you other side effects. It's counter productive. Grin and bear the agony, because it will be gone for the rest of your life if you can stay strong now. Even a powder dust of Zyrtek will send you back to the beginning.

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Just checking in, message #2.

Hives are driving me nuts! Just found some new info on a natural means to relieve itchy hives. Quercetin and bromelain at 500 mg. used it last night. Seemed to relieve hives for about 2 hours, then they slowly came back. I took the combination 3 times thru the night. I will continue this treatment and post my results here.

I hope that by going natural, I can get the rebound effect of Zyrtec to go away.

I am also using aloe Vera and menthol rub to relieve the itching and it helps some, not perfect though.

Still getting a lump in my throat at night. It has never got to the point of restricting breathing, but that is my future fear. I end up clearing my throat all night due to the strange feeling of this lump thing.

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I have to stop Zyrtec for allergy testing next week. I can not have antihistamines until after the testing. I have been on Zyrtec for 10 years and have sinus infections every 30-45 days since then. Dr still had me keep taking Zyrtec. What should I do now? So confused.

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Just stay the course and never take it again. Trust me. You will be tempted, but don't. I am on week 4 and finally the itching is ceasing. I am not a doctor, but mine told me to resume taking it after my allergy test. I did not and am happy to report that after a long month, I am much better and not on any antihistamines.

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I've been struggling with the same problem. I was prescribed Zyrtec on a daily basis, due to Urticaria or hives. Eventually, when I went to discontinue this, even temporarily for allergy testing and found the itching to come on about 24 hours after my last dose and it was unbearable. I eventually switched over to Allegra, as I've read it is at least slightly less challenging to get off of. However, I am still taking the Allegra and cannot yet get myself off. I've tried at least 3-4 times, but the itching causes me to give in and take another dose. I'm hoping to titrate off during the winter, but who knows.

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It is difficult to get off of. I used slow release vitamin c and quercetin ( a natural citrus based flavanoid with antihistamine like properties) to help get off of actual antihistamines.

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You are on the right track... For years I suffered with hives ... Gastro symptoms...roscea.. Ocular Rosales. I just got diagnosed with mast cell activation disorder ( histamine intolerance ) ......... I tried dao supplements.. They made me super itchy.. Maybe they will work for you....

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Timmy G. Thank you for your research and contributions. I read them with interest and appreciation.

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Very interesting, please keep us posted and most importantly, good luck and stay determined.

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continueing my earlier notes...I got DAO, Swanson ultra brand, at 9,000 HDU potentcy. I have been taking 2 tabs a day, one before breakfast and one before dinner. I have noticed a change in my hive behavior. Prior to takibg the DAO product. I would get hives at 9:30pm every day, but now The start time is all over the map. A couple of times, I got small amounts at 7:30, but most of the time I am getting them between 10:30 and midnight. However, across the board, the intensity and size of the hives is about half of what it was. That's good! I still take the Quercetin when the hives come back at night, but if it is real lite i only take one 500mg tablet.

Something else that is different, is that when I wake up, i have a very tiny patch of hives on my stomac, but they don't itch.

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Hi Rey,

My partner had a similar experience to yours. He had a few allergies before, but no food allergies that we knew of. Since coming off Zyrtec, Allegra, and Claritin (he was on all 3), he now seems allergic to almost everything: all types of food, all types of water, all materials and fabrics, etc.

What ended up happening with you? How did it go?

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Could you say more about this being a neurological itch, not an allergy itch?

My partner doesn't experience itching per say, but he has had severe tingling and sensations all around his body ever since going off of Zyrtec. Sometimes he describes it as itching, but most of the time he describes it as an odd skin sensation.

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Thanks for sharing, Dee.

My partner is went of Zyrtec, Claritin, and Allegra recently and he is now reacting to the histamine in all foods. He never had noticeable food allergies before, but now, even the simplest, lowest-histamine foods give him a reaction. He flushes after every meal, no matter how simple and singular the foods. (e.g. steamed bok choi, plain white rice, plain lamb = no salt, no oils, etc.)

What has happened to you since your last post? What happened with the reactions you were getting just from the act of eating? Does that resemble my partner's situation in any way?

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Hi Simon,

How did it go with your reactions to histamine in foods?

My partner went of Zyrtec and has been reacting to all food ever since.

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My latest update, after titrating down to 1/3rd of an Allegra pill per day, I stopped taking it all together on December 7th, The itching, almost exclusively at the end of the evening, has been consistent, as in most days it comes on. On the worst nights, I've taken a benadryl or two. I am hoping to keep holding on to see the itching diminish in frequency, but if it doesn't, I imagine I would unfortunately go back on the allegra. I surely don't want to take benadryl often, so I'm thinking the allegra may be the better of the two options.

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