Itching Withdrawal From Cetirizine Or Zyrtec (Page 34)

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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Re: SBT (# 660)

Yay! Now, just surround yourself with positive thoughts, and enjoy all the rest you can get before you start the best adventure ever with your sweet baby. Congrats to you!

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I've been antihistamine free for a year and cetirizine free for more than a year. The whole process of cold turkey was absolute hell. I'm pretty sure the whole ordeal made me develop some form of PTSD. This week I gave in and took cough syrup (which contained a bit of antihistamine) as I was getting over a bad cough.

Right now I'm on the verge of an anxiety attack thinking about what will happen when I stop the medicine. Even though it does not contain cetirizine in particular and the dose Is pretty small. The whole cold turkey process has probably traumatised me for life I'm sure.

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Re: Linda (# 6)

I have been off it around a month, maybe longer and had nit even considered that this itching I've had could be due to this! I am going back on it...it has no side effects...but I can tell u mine has lasted over a month.

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Hi all, wanted to drop by to ask if any of you have actually met doctors that believed in your zrytec withdrawal. Most doc I went to say it's impossible to be 'addicted' to zrytec or any antihistamines. For me, the zrytec itch is pretty much over since it's been a year. But I still have chronic hives and my conditions is definitely still affecting me. (Though not the hell that was antihistamine withdrawal).

Iwonder if First Gen antihistamines may be less addictive? I'm hoping to find a doc that can work with me to think of alternatives.

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Re: Brenda (# 664)

It may not be a traditional withdrawal but it's certainly a rebound effect. Doctors tend to be very literal and it's not an addiction and withdrawal just a rebound effect similar to stopping anti hypertensives or other medications. They warn patients to stop gradually not cold turkey but they don't seem to even be aware of it with Zyrtec if not all antihistamines.

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Re: Brenda (# 664)

I am on 1 week of quitting Allegra and the itching is horrible. I see that you have been off it for quite a while. How long am I looking at for the severity of the itching to go away?

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Re: Brenda (# 664)

As an alternative to treat conditions you may still have after withdrawal or to help you manage withdrawal you can consider Quercetin and bromelain which come in the same pill. You can also try luteloin. These are all natural food flavinoids found in real food, not drugs. They have an antihistamine effect and can also have an effect on mast cells to release less histamine. People use them as all natural, drug alternatives. You can read reviews on how these supplements have worked for people on Amazon. Another thing suggested to try is a low histamine diet. Certain foods have more histamine in them or trigger the mast cells to release more histamines. Also, the best over the counter anti-itch cream I have found is called Sarna. It has been a true miracle for me. Go get some of that for sure. Sarna takes 10 to 30 minutes to work but it works very well. I'm not sure I am allowed to post recommended brands, but if so then I recommend Doctors Best. You want to make sure the supplements you get are high quality and in the right amounts.

As far as searching for the cause of the condition that caused you to take the antihistamine in the first place you can research two conditions. The first is mast cell activation disorder which is slowly becoming a commonly diagnosed condition as doctors slowly become aware of discovery about 10 years ago. Most doctors are not aware of this condition so you will have to educate them. There are blood evaluations for it but they have to be done in a certain way to show proper results. Also, you can be negative with the blood results and still have the condition. The second condition was discovered about 70 years ago called mastocytosis. It is rare and most people don't have it so don't worry about this one. Research mast cell activation disorder and watch youtube videos about it from Dr. Castells and Dr. Theoharides. They are the two leading doctors for this.

Anyway, I have more to submit for your consideration but this is enough to get your research started. Take care and I hope you are helped with your conditions and your recovery.

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Re: EC (# 497)

I just want to again thank you for sharing your experience and advice, as following your plan has me now more than six months off of any allergy meds, besides the every so often Benadryl I need when the itching does arise. So grateful to you!

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I am also trying to stop taking Zyrtec. I have been on it for over 2 years. I tried about 6 months ago to stop but the itching got so severe that I started taking it again. I have now been 5 days without it and I know I itched in my sleep like crazy last night. Different areas are affected at different times. Last night it was my legs, earlier yesterday it was my scalp and this morning it is my upper arms and chest. I do not want to start it again but this itching is infuriating. I can not give advice on how to get rid of it or stop it but if anyone else does, I am open to suggestions.

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Re: Jolene (# 669)

Read some of the previous older posts. One is about Omega 3 & 6 oils. I was alrady taking some krill oil and think it helped me immensely. Also, instead of just cutting down the amount each day, try skipping one, two, then three days, etc. Let your body get used to less medicine less often and supplement with the oils the way the one person suggested. Good luck. I'm almost a year off. I occasionally get itchy and my DO gave me a homeopathic allergy medication, I think it's called D-Hist. That helps too.

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Re: Jolene (# 669)

I tapered off Zyrtec with the pediatric liquid medication. I simply was not able to stop cold turkey. They itching was unbearable and migrated from one spot to another— weird places, too, like my eyebrows, in between my fingers and toes. It may also help you to take 1000 mg of vitamin c (I like ester-C) daily, and the oils as previously mentioned. In the first two weeks of withdrawal I also kept some liquid children’s Benadryl handy and when things got really bad with the itching I would take a tiny amount. I needed it maybe once or twice a day a first, then less and less until I did not need it any more. It allowed me to function in work and it life when the itching was at its worse. It gets better, and then it stops. I promise. Hang in there.

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Day 10 of my second attempt at cetrizine withdrawal, cold turkey. Took it daily for the last eight years for year round allergies. It just stopped working. Prior to that, was losing feeling in my limbs and experiencing constant brain fog which accentuated low grade, diagnosed, depression.

Things that have helped over the last few days: Sarna anti-itch lotion (fragrance free, not greasy, fast absorbing), quercitin and stinging nettle supplement, vitamin C, lots of water with lemon juice (to cleanse the liver), copious amounts of swearing interspersed with short bouts of feeling sorry for myself, reading this board for support and awareness, and peppermint tea.

Today, I decided to tackle it from a nerve damage / nerve repair angle. After doing some research on neuropathy, antihistamine effects on nerve receptors, etc., discovered that numbness, then tingling, and then burning pain are signs that the nerve is healing and returning normal sensations. Vitamin B12 was a recommended supplement so I tried it and felt immediate relief, hives were less painful and hot and the 'itching' sensation of nerves trying to regenerate was reduced by 85% in pain and duration - it's been seven hours since I took the vitamin. Wasn't worried about taking too much vitamin B12 because it is water soluble so any excess is excreted in urine.

For those of you going through withdrawal, don't give up - look how far you've come. This stuff is pure poison, your body deserves better. Wishing you all the very best and hopes for a full, not speedy, recovery.

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Re: Jolene (# 669)

After one week enduring the infuriating itching it has subsided to only once in a while and limited to my legs and hands. Now that I have overcome the worst of it I will not be taking Zyrtec again.

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Re: Samantha (# 175)

Did anyone ever answer you? I'm currently going through withdrawal (8 days in now) but I also know how bad my allergies are (especially in the Spring and Summer). It's winter now, so I'm managing, but I realize at some point I'm going to need to take something and I never want to take Zyrtec of Xyzal again!

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Re: Allie (# 674)

My D.O. Gave me D-Hist which has quercetin, stinging nettle, bromelaine, N-Acetyl Cysteine, vitamin-C

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Re: Leslie (# 675)

Thanks for getting back to me. I'm now taking Quercetin, Bromelin, Vitamin C, and Fish Oil. I'm 12 days in and my skin is just rebelling. Its become so dry and "rashy." I think this is also due in part to the constant itching. I'm just hoping that the side effects start to alleviate after I hit 2-3 weeks.
I've also started taking Prednisone to help my skin heal a bit, but I know that is something that I can only be on for a short period of time because of the horrible side effects attached to that

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Use heat! It is counter-intuitive, but heat will help dissipate the histamine in your skin. Use heating pads whenever you start to feel the itch and above all else, do NOT let yourself start scratching (but if you do, a hot shower will help get the heat everywhere and calm everything down).

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Re: Allie (# 674)

Something very interesting happened to my seasonal allergies about 6 months after stopping Zyrtec— they got much, much better almost to the point of going away. I am convinced that the Zyrtec was suppressing my histamine response to the point of making me hypersensitive to any allergen exposure. After getting that poison out of my system, my allergies got better and better on their own. Now all I need is a mild over the counter nasal steroid in the morning during the worst of the allergy season. Good luck!

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Going through withdrawals some itching but severe eye watering, I think that blocking the histamine. for so many years and now not having it my body is not ever going to recover. Trying the weaning process for the 2nd time. I do think some drugs change your bodies responses in a dramatic way. I wish I would have figured out what was causing my original symptoms which sparked my reasons for taking it in the first place.

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Re: Jolene (# 669)

So far for me, hot water, turmeric before bed (1 tsp seems to take the edge of the itch), Vitamin C, and - since I suspect my rashes might be gut health issues - I'm also taking lots of yogurt, and trying to avoid sugar and gluten (not always successfully). I just started taking black garlic because it's meant to help with skin issues too.

When I stopped Zyrtec after 8 years, the unbelievable itchiness stopped, but came back again in a milder form. At least it's no longer so bad it interrupts my sleep, and I know how to manage it.

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