Itching Withdrawal From Cetirizine Or Zyrtec (Page 36) (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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Hello All,
I have a long history with zyrtec; more than 20 years! I like someone else here was diagnosed with chronic urticaria when I was about 30 years old. It started while on vacation and I thought I was getting bitten with bugs in the beds so we changed hotels. Within a few days we had to cancel the rest of our vacation because what had started with itchy little bumps had turned into massive welts all over my body! At first they thought I had lupus. I was young enough to not understand how devestating that disease is and after 2 tests to confirm lupus ... they were both negative. Hence the diagnosis of Chronic Urticaria. At University of Michigan I was told that they can go internal and was given steroids as well as zyrtec. I took the steroids for about 6 years and was finally able to manage with just the 10 mg. of zyrtec once a day. The steroids were very hard on my bones and I have since had to have fusions on my cervical spine and lumbar spine. Zyrtec is by no means a drug without side effects as I have read each and every one of your posts. However it is much better than a steroid for long term use! My urticaria has gotten much better over time, so there is hope for urticaria. There is no hope however for long term steroid use! After weaning off of the steroid I took only the zyrtec as needed. I can not tell you if at that time I was treating the urticaria or the itching that came with the use of zyrtec but I can tell you that I started using it only when I needed it instead of a daily regement. I still use zyrtec when I need it but take at the most ... 3 or 4 tablets a month. This medication saved me from continueing to take the steroids that were so devestating to my bones for any longer than I did. Lastly, I weaned myself from the steroids against the advise of my doctor because I wanted to have another baby! I only wish that I had done it sooner! Please don't get me wrong, I feel for each of you that are going through this terrible itching as I too know what that feels like. I agree that there should be more information on the bottle so that everyone can make the best choice for their situation! This drug however does have its purpose! For the person who is suffering with chronic urticaria .... do everything possible to stay away from long term use of steroids! Best of Health of all of you!

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I dont know if you ever found a way to control your indigestion/acid, but here is something that works for me (I have no gallbladder now and acid is something I struggle with)...

2-3 tablespoons of organic apple cider vinegar WITH THE MOTHER. Very important.

1 cup organic apple juice or water

2 teaspoons or so of organic LOCAL honey (raw is best but just dont get pasteurized)

Drink in the evening a few hours before bed

Strange that acid would help with acid, but it does. And the local honey has local pollen in it, so that helps eith building up immunity to allergenic triggers in your area.

I am still struggling with getting off Zyrtec dur to the itching (doing on tablet every 48 hours noe), but this helps for acid reflux like a charm. It even helped curtail my gallbladder attacks before I had to have it removed.

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I have been taking Zyrtec once per day for about 4 years now. I began taking the medication. When suddenly my whole body broke out in hives and Zyrtec calmed the symptoms. My new allergist wants to do tests sonI am off of it for a few days. It is not the end of day 2 and I am absolutely miserable!!

I would say . . . Of course you itch when you get off the medication. It is intended to block histamines!!

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Just go through the pain of the itch and you will get off the drug. Promise.

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I too have chosen to take, in my case a half of a claritin per day, simply can't fight the fight any longer. One day, just not right now.

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I am glad to announce that i am itch free now. I feel soooo happy to be over this hurdle. Although the itching reduce continously, last week i drank a bottle of GT Organic raw Kombucha Original Enlightened, and it seems it was a system cleanse because my itch came to a complete end after that. For those still going through the itch, hang in there, i swear it gets better :)

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Main function of steroid in the body a type of hallucinogen, it block all other hormone function only at the site of action, Example....itching is due to allergy. Citirizine block all other hormones, operate only site of effect reduces itching after deactivation of central nervous system that's why people feel sleepy, lazy, increase water level in the body, bulging eye, is common in every steroid.

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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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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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I found this page while researching answers for the horrendous itching due to antihistamine withdrawal. I see many references to zyrtec/cetirizine but for me it happens with Allegra/Fexofenadine and Claritin/loratadine as well. I managed to take 1/2 a loratadine daily for a week then every other, then every 3rd. I eventually was 2 weeks antihistamine free but the itching returned. 1 benadryl helps but I am still hoping to be totally free. My skin is scratched and bruised but I refuse to give in.

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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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Actually I work for a children's educational software company. I am currently experiencing ridicuous itch withdrawl which is how I found this post to find out I'm not alone. I used to use Zyrtec but it was too expensive so I bought the walmart and meijer versions that have the same active ingredient.
Although I am suffering a bit as I type this, I am against frivolous lawsuits that further increase the cost of medication development that I might need, like my blood pressure meds. Then again, I'm against frivilous lawsuits over anything. It devaluates the suits with merit.

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After stopping Zyrtec and experiencing the itching associated with withdrawl, I spoke with my pharmacist looking for a solution. His advice was to ignore anything you find posted on the internet and discuss the problems with your doctor. Your doctor can best treat you and has the knowledge required to weigh out any options consistant with your personal medical profile. He also said most antihistimines are now available OTC and that in his experience, Allegra and Singulair were the two most commonly prescribed however, there are many available to which they each have their own pros and cons.
I pointed out that I had read several online articles suggesting 1000mg of Vitamin C to help subside the itching to which he felt there was no medical evidence he had heard of supporting that theory! He also felt the online articles have hidden agendas many times and suggested it's not a good place for medical advice!

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I actually take Zyrtec daily. I have gone without it and experienced the itching. It's horrendous. I still don't feel the need to sue every medical company that has an unlisted side effect. We take these meds on our own accord. No one is forcing us. We could always just deal with allergies.

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If you take any medication for a long period of time, you will experience some withdrawal effects. This is just as true of allergy medications, as it is of any other.

One of the most common withdrawal effects are rebound effects, so for an allergy medication, this can include itching.

Have you spoken to your doctor about it?

https:/­/­rxchat.com/­wiki/­Zyrtec/­

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Are we really that sue happy that any side effect makes us jump into a legal suit? No one forced anyone to take Zyrtec. If you take any medication for a long enough period of time you will develop a dependence. Itching isn't going to kill you. This is why healthcare is so insanely expensive.

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Try getting off opioids like Norco and percoset.. You'll find out what a real withdrawal is real quick!

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