Itching Withdrawal From Cetirizine Or Zyrtec (Page 4)

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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Ditto for me! I took the medication for 14 months with good results to control mild allergies. In rethinking my general health; I tried to go off it. I had intense itching all over my body. I tried every other day with some decrease in the itching. This I did for 10 days. I am 2 weeks out of the last pill and my itching is improving slightly.

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Hello Everyone. I can't believe what I'm hearing about Cetirizine Hydyrochloride!! I have EXACTLY the same symptoms...Itching, sharp stings, and crawling sensations, EVERYWHERE THAT HAS SKIN ON IT. Drives me nuts. Told my doc she won't look me in the face, and doesn't give me a strait answer. Pattern:"arr got the itch" take 10mg cetirizine, relief.. 2days later same thing for 4 years! Still itch. But now because of your experiences people, I'M GOING COLD TURKEY. THANK YOU SOOOO MUCH.15days of itching is worth no more itching. I'm VERY suspicious of this drug. People if you can, go herbal!

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Update:
I decided to go cold turkey. I did try tapering Zyrtec off but then I got fed up and stopped cold turkey. I'm on day 5 cold turkey now. I did take Claritin to offset the itching and hives twice. It's much better now, still itching but it's getting better. Hang in there everyone! You can do it!

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SOLUTION TO ZYRTEC WITHDRAWAL ITCH:

I had same problem: horrific itching every time I tried to stop Zyrtec. THIS IS WHAT FINALLY WORKED FOR ME: Started taking Claritin concurrent with Zyrtec, while slowly weaning myself off the Zyrtec. 3 days of taking both drugs simultaneously, then lowered Zyrtec to 3/4 of pill for 3 days, 1/2 of pill for three days, and so on, all while taking full dose of Claritin. Having the Claritin in my system seemed to help; no Zyrtec withdrawal itch at all.

Of course, I am not a doctor, and I do not know if it is advisable to take Claritin and Zyrtec simultaneously. Consult your medical professional. Like most people posting here, I thought I would be dependent on Zyrtec forever, since the withdrawal itching symptoms were so unbearable. Happy to have found a solution that worked for me.

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It's been a rough couple of weeks since I posted on 30 June. The itching got worse again, and I began taking benadryl to control the itching so I could sleep or be around clients. I haven't had a benadryl in several days now, and still itching, but it is beginning to taper off.

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I am now approx. 3.5 months off of zyrtec. What a physical and emotional battle it has been. I have not taken other antihistamines and I went off zyrtec cold turkey. I still Itch. My head still itches the worst, frequent headaches and sinus paid and worst of all extrememly dry damaged hair and hair loss. I can say that nothing is worse than the first 2 weeks but after that its a daily struggle. I know I am getting better. I just stay possitive and look forward to the end of this nightmare. I get sick when I see it on the shelfs in the stores. It needs to be taken off the market.

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update: I replied on 14/07/12. I don't know if this will help anyone. I did some research and thought it was fibromyalgia so I looked at what relief works since the nervous system was too "sensitive" hence the itching.I tried (by their suggestion) Vitamin b12 ("solgar" 1000μg), and Theanine 100mg from "Higher nature". Theanine to calm nerves till cetirizine withdrawal is out of my system. Now I'm no doctor and please please check your health practitioner but MAN it is MUCH better, not totally gone, but better big time. Example: if I'm sitting reading I get "spikes" every so often (or no itch at all) then it dies down in minutes. If I move about, a bit more iching then dies down (tolerable). Right now I should be screaming in itch pain but I'm not. Watch this space I suppose....

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That's interesting Tony. My experience, and occasional remedy, is vigorous movement. I'm a cyclist, and when I'm on a hard or long ride, I forget all about the itch. When I stop though, ugh.
I also have developed the nervous habit of bouncing my leg(s) like some tweeker. double ugh, but it soothes the itch somehow.

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How long did it take to stop itching?

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Hi Scott. My itch is the same. But now it's seriously improved. Now the itch comes when I move. As if my nervous system has trouble getting an even balance on sensitivity. It's at the point where I say "oh here it comes, brace for impact..." And itch itch itch, NO MORE THEN 3 MINUTES OR SO though,then stops dead. As if I took cetirizine and it kicked in.

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@mb
I've been off it for about 8 weeks or so, and I still itch bad, though it is less frequent with less duration, and like Tony said, stops suddenly and completely.

So, I guess the answer is "I don't know yet". ;)

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Hi All, I have been taking cetirizine for at least 5 yrs now. I took it for constant stuffiness. It seemed to help. Now though it seems like I'm developing the side effects as if I just started taking it. They seem to start in the afternoon after I eat my lunch. Heart palpitations, dry mouth and crying /sadness. SOB! I just realized the time line. I took Prozac for anger issues starting about 9 years ago. It worked wonderfully. But after a couple years I found myself depressed. The doctor said sometimes Prozac can depress the system too much and I was already on the lowest dose possible. I've been taking the cetirizine for at least 5 yrs, about the time the depression started. Over the last three years I have read numerous self help books and mentally I feel I am prepared for anything. However, I still have the physical reactions to stress, anxiety, nervousness, shakes. I know in my head I have absolutely no reason to feel like this but no matter what I cannot stop it. Last Oct 2011 I finally started eating healthy and lost about 20 lbs by January which is when I had my first anxiety attack. It seems like the more weight I loose the shakier I get. I'm down 33 lbs now. At my last physical my doctor could find no reason for my shakiness and I never even thought to tell her I was taking cetirizine. All my blood work came back normal. I know this is all speculation but i stopped the cetirizine last night and I'll see what happens. Please let this be what is wrong. I'll take the itchiness if it means I can stop the shaking(which is just internal. I cannot see my hands shaking) the dry mouth and this constant crying these past few months. Wish me luck and good luck to all of you!

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Update: 28/07/12 : Itch is almost GONE. I now can ride the occasional bout, usually when I change what my skin experiences ( water drops, different fabric, temperature changes etc ). I HAVE GONE 1 FULL DAY WITHOUT AN ITCH. It comes and goes WITHIN 1 to 2 minutes. I will wean myself off Theanine 100mg and b12, because I want my body to deal with the itch itself.
"IF YOU GO COLD TURKEY. MAKE SURE YOU HAVE WARM CHICKEN TO HELP YOU COPE" in other words I used theanine and vit b12 ( works for me without side effects ) and do research. Ask HONEST doctors, sorry I have to say that. But we're often not told the truth. There IS light at the end of the tunnel, DON'T GIVE UP....PLEASE !!!

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ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Only been on citrizine for about 2 months and when I try to stop I make it about three days until I cant take the itching and I start again.

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Yes. Im 4 mts post zyrtec and still itching daily. I have lost so much hair it is really depressing me. I can say it is better but not gone and i just want it gone. I miss my old body. I will not give in to this drug that i feel is poison. I read that it can take many many months for our bodys to heal. Hang in there and stay strong.

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I also took zyrtec for allergies for 6 months due to cedar fever and other airborne allergies. The product worked for my allergies but when I stopped taking it, I developed intense itching all over my body that has lasted 4 full months now. It won't stop no matter what I do. This was the first time taking it and the more I read about it, I realize that I am having withdrawal symptoms to this product. It is driving me crazy and I can't find anything that will take the itching away. I itch "everywhere" and now my body is full of bumps and embarrassing marks. I don't know what to do and my doctor has been no help. Guess what he prescribed when I told him I had itching all over? ... Zyrtec. Of course this was before I found out this is what has been causing my problem.

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I'm going through the itchies right now & it's driving me crazy - I'm only on day 2!
So, did the itchiness ever stop? If so, how long did it take?

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It's been 3 months for me now, and I occasionally itch, but doesn't everyone itch sometimes?
I'd have to say, for me, somewhere between 2 and 3 months I stopped noticing the itch.

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I was prescribed a generic of Zyrtec and Zanac today for my allergies and hives. I took my first dose tonight before stumbling upon this discussion. I am thinking that tonight will be my one and only dose of the citrizine. I have been suffering from hives for almost 3 months now and have managed just fine with Clariton and sometimes Benadryl at night. I am wondering though should i consult my allergist before making this change?

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I have been suffering with Urticaria and Angeodema.
Hives are the warning and if you are unlucky then comes the Angeodema which is dangerous. 3 days ago i had swelling one side to the lip which moved to the other side and by the time 2 days were up i looked like I had a bad course of BOTEX and I looked like a duck. I have a cycle that can last from 1-3 days or 7 days then one day respite. I have low Feritin and border line Anemia and I am now taking Thyroxine as low on that too. Suffered like this since I had a 3 in one flu jab?
I drink plenty of water but to no avail, would welcome any ones thoughts or there experinces, thank you, Jen

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