# Quitting Zyrtec - Withdrawal **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 18, 2011, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quitting-zyrtec-withdrawal/603344 "2011-11-18T14:59:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Cyningablod](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9fc29f/32.png) [@Cyningablod](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cyningablod)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2011, 7:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quitting-zyrtec-withdrawal/603344/21 "2011-11-19T07:13:32Z")
> [@Yogurt](#): > > […] The EVIL drug, (if you couldn’t read the title), Zyrtec. Yes, that wonderful anti-histamine is incredibly addictive. [slight pedantic hijack] Your girlfriend likely wasn’t _addicted_; rather, she had become _physically dependent_. The difference is rather significant, as no doubt **Qadgop** will confirm. [/sph] Now, having gotten that tiny bit of pedantry out of my system, I do hope she feels better very soon. ---
**Author:** ![sandra\_nz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eada6e/32.png) [@sandra\_nz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sandra_nz)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2011, 7:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quitting-zyrtec-withdrawal/603344/22 "2011-11-19T07:18:36Z")
Oh man, I took that evil drug for about 8 years, believing I had allergies that needed a daily pill, because if I forgot to take it, I had the most horrendous symptoms. I tried weaning, and it made it worse, so I went cold turkey. Yes, it was absolutely awful, but do you know what? I no longer take zyrtec or any other regular antihistamine. I have a nasal spray I use occasionally (maybe once a fortnight) when my sinuses block up, but apart from that I have no allergies. I personally believe that the zyrtec withdrawal was causing the allergy symptoms, and I could have quit zyrtec years ago. ---
**Author:** ![elmwood](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmwood/32/3060_2.png) [@elmwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elmwood)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2011, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quitting-zyrtec-withdrawal/603344/23 "2011-11-19T21:32:47Z")
Triamcinolone Acetonide. Get your doctor to write a prescription for a one pound tub, and thank me later. If you don’t have health insurance, don’t worry - it’s surprisingly cheap. It’s basically very, **VERY** powerful hydrocortisone cream. I say this from personal experience: I have mild eczema, and TA is a godsend when it flares up. During times when I had to use Zyrtec for a week or two, and I get the resulting itching in my elbow and knee folks, it’s the it only thing that can stop it, and heal the damage quickly. Disclaimer: IANAD. ---
**Author:** ![Wile\_E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c37758/32.png) [@Wile\_E](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wile_E)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2011, 4:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quitting-zyrtec-withdrawal/603344/24 "2011-11-20T04:24:47Z")
I quit it cold turkey and went on a prescription antihistamine because I was starting to have breakthrough hives while on Zyrtec (which I went on for the hives so it wasn’t the cause). By the way, my allergist said to avoid topical Benadryl. I don’t remember the exact terms he used but it makes you more sensitive. It may be fine for bug bites or poison ivy but not for a chronic itchiness. ---
**Author:** ![Vbeckett](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Vbeckett](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Vbeckett)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2012, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quitting-zyrtec-withdrawal/603344/25 "2012-09-07T16:23:11Z")
I’m on day 7 of quitting the generic form of Zyrtec. I’ve never been more miserable! The itching is crazy and I’m ready to rip my skin off! ---
**Author:** ![rocking\_chair](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocking_chair/32/2918_2.png) [@rocking\_chair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rocking_chair)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2012, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quitting-zyrtec-withdrawal/603344/26 "2012-09-07T23:26:16Z")
> [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](#): > > Might help some, but IMHO it might make the problem even worse due to increased capillary blood flow to the skin. This would set off nerves not already involved in the itch reaction. Also the OP describes a problem of chronic generalized itching, so histamine release/reuptake is already proceeding apace. Localized reactions from insect bites would represent a slightly different metabolic situation. > > I’d tend to discourage it, but if nothing else is working, it might not be unreasonable to try it. I’d avoid ‘near scalding temps’ as it’s easy to stray into ‘scaling temps’. > > The initial reaction to the heat would probably be much worse itching. ooooooh, yeah, heat makes it much, much, much worse. cold works better. cold bath, ice packs, that sort of thing. i really miss j&j’s “no more itchies” spray. that stuff was great. i had to do the no allergy relief thing to redo the scratch test thing. it had been about 8ish years. that’s insanity! i have 3 cats. i had to schedule it around a long weekend vacation in the winter. i was not a happy camper and went through 3 boxes of puffs plus. ---
**Author:** ![Ignatz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/3be4f8/32.png) [@Ignatz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ignatz)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2012, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quitting-zyrtec-withdrawal/603344/27 "2012-09-08T00:42:04Z")
Gee, now I’'m a little worried about my hopes of weening me off of fexofenadine, loratidine, and cetirizineand/or their brand names that I’ve been on for a few years. (Don’t ask if they help because I don’t know, as I haven’t been off them.) I still have seasonal and environmental allergy attacks and had a bad case (sinusitis?) last week. I guess I need to get patch tested again. Last time was decades ago. ---
**Author:** ![lalala87](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e495f1/32.png) [@lalala87](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lalala87)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2012, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quitting-zyrtec-withdrawal/603344/28 "2012-09-08T03:33:37Z")
I tried for years to get off Zyrtec but had terrible itching any time I missed a pill! My first attempt to quit Zyrtec was to go cold turkey. I made it ten days but then broke out in hives (even though I was NOT scratching). I decided that was not a reasonable option for me since my body was reacting so strongly and since I was in school at the time and had things to be doing. The second (successful!) attempt I made was to wean myself off of Zyrtec by cutting my pills in half. I did this in a few steps: 1. I cut my pills in half for about six months or so. 2. I then tried cutting my pills into quarters, but the itching returned. 3. I resumed taking a half pill every night for a while. 4. I then tried taking a half pill every /other/ night. This resulted in NO itching for me. 5. Then, after some time (maybe six months or a year) of taking a half pill every other night, I decided I was prepared to go cold turkey. I expected to have the 15-day detox period described on some of the blogs, but, to my pleasant surprise, I had only very mild itching (and kind of a warmness in my face) for a couple of days, and then I was fine. (That was three years ago). I know how frustrating this incredible Zyrtec-itching is, so I’m eager to share the weaning method that worked for me. Lots of luck and health! ---
**Author:** ![KarlGauss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/karlgauss/32/3713_2.png) [@KarlGauss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarlGauss)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2012, 9:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quitting-zyrtec-withdrawal/603344/29 "2012-09-08T09:27:26Z")
FWIW, a search using [PubMed](http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=cetirizine%20withdrawal) reveals that there are precisely zero peer-reviewed articles on Zyrtec (cetirizine) withdrawal. ---
**Author:** ![Mama\_Zappa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Mama\_Zappa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Zappa)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2012, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quitting-zyrtec-withdrawal/603344/30 "2012-09-10T12:57:07Z")
Didn’t see this thread last year, but I suspect that rather than withdrawal, the itching is more of a [rebound](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rebound_effect). The body’s reaction to whatever has been suppressed, all of a sudden it isn’t, and the body overreacts -metaphorically going “WHEE - I’M FREEEEEEEEEE”. It’s a pretty common phenomenon. Personal rebound: I’ve never had trouble with stopping Zyrtec (beyond normal-seeming allergy symptoms returning). I _have_ had trouble stopping Prilosec (omeprazole, acid reducer); a couple years back my doctor had me double the dose, and when I dropped back down to 1 tablet a day, had a lot more trouble with acid than I had before I went up to 2 tablets. I wound up going back up to 2, then slpwly tapering down (e.g. one week, I skipped the second dose 2 days, the next week I skipped it 3 days etc.). And I’ve developed rebound insomnia after a single dose of a sleeping pill. Re hot water to stop itching: I can’t speak to something generalized like all-over itching, but I’ve used it successfully when my feet itch (occasionally due to athlete’s foot, but more commonly as one of the ways my Restless Legs Syndrom manifests) and it does help. In the case of the RLS, it short-circuits the sensation for long enough that I can fall asleep. RLS, however, is a nervous system problem, not any kind of “normal” itch. When I had hand/foot itching due to gallbladder problems, I tried a hot bath… which caused an IMMEDIATE worsening of already intolerable symptoms. Cold water was my friend that time. Made sense - the symptoms were a result of high blood levels of bilirubin (I think); hot water just improved circulation and therefore bumped the amount of bilirubin getting to the extremities. Anyway - anyone experiencing antihistamine withdrawal / rebound, try tapering slowly instead of going cold turkey. As a slight disagreement to QtM: I could swear that an allergist once told me that my kids _could_ continue on Singulair (leukotriene reuptake inhibitor) prior to testing, but don’t quote me (I may be misremembering) and DO check with your own doctor on that. ---
**Author:** ![Mama\_Zappa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Mama\_Zappa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Zappa)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2012, 1:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quitting-zyrtec-withdrawal/603344/31 "2012-09-10T13:02:05Z")
> [@Ignatz](#): > > Gee, now I’'m a little worried about my hopes of weening me off of fexofenadine, loratidine, and cetirizineand… Wha? you’re on all three at once??? For folks who don’t recognize the names, fexofenadine is Allegra, loratidine is Claritin, and cetirizine is Zyrtec. It would be unusual to be on more than one at once. ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2012, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quitting-zyrtec-withdrawal/603344/32 "2012-09-10T14:29:25Z")
> [@Mama\_Zappa](#): > > Wha? you’re on all three at once??? > For folks who don’t recognize the names, fexofenadine is Allegra, loratidine is Claritin, and cetirizine is Zyrtec. It would be unusual to be on more than one at once. I was wondering about that too. I’ve also never had any problem gettting off the cetirizine (I see no reason to pay name brand prices!). As a matter of fact, I’ve been off it all summer and have only just started taking it with the fall allergies. Does your girlfriend wash the sheets often, I mean like every week, to kill the dust mites? Does she avoid allergens? ---
**Author:** ![Mama\_Zappa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Mama\_Zappa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Zappa)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2012, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quitting-zyrtec-withdrawal/603344/33 "2012-09-10T16:06:34Z")
> [@Anaamika](#): > > … > Does your girlfriend wash the sheets often, I mean like every week, to kill the dust mites? Does she avoid allergens? Oooh - and if she does, what kind of detergent / fabric softener? Some folks really react to fragrances. Of course the girlfriend in the OP went through all this last fall so it may not be germane to her any more, but still something to check on., ---
**Author:** ![Taomist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/53a042/32.png) [@Taomist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Taomist)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2012, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quitting-zyrtec-withdrawal/603344/34 "2012-09-10T16:16:57Z")
> [@Ignatz](#): > > Gee, now I’'m a little worried about my hopes of weening me off of fexofenadine, loratidine, and cetirizineand/or their brand names that I’ve been on for a few years. (Don’t ask if they help because I don’t know, as I haven’t been off them.) I still have seasonal and environmental allergy attacks and had a bad case (sinusitis?) last week. > > I guess I need to get patch tested again. Last time was decades ago. Yeah, if you’re taking meds and you’re still getting all those symptoms, it doesn’t seem to be doing you much good. ---
**Author:** ![tminusrex](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/71e660/32.png) [@tminusrex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tminusrex)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2012, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quitting-zyrtec-withdrawal/603344/35 "2012-10-07T00:59:54Z")
I only used zyrtec for 6 months but my skin is peeling like crazy and swelling up. I can’t every close my right eye all the way. It itches non-stop. ---
**Author:** ![madrabbitwoman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c37758/32.png) [@madrabbitwoman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madrabbitwoman)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2012, 9:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quitting-zyrtec-withdrawal/603344/36 "2012-10-07T09:04:36Z")
I use nappy rash cream whenever I get the itchies. Zinc and castor oil - don’t know why it works but it does. ymmv ---
**Author:** ![Yogurt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/f0a364/32.png) [@Yogurt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yogurt)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2012, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quitting-zyrtec-withdrawal/603344/37 "2012-10-07T22:05:33Z")
> [@Mama\_Zappa](#): > > Of course the girlfriend in the OP went through all this last fall so it may not be germane to her any more, but still something to check on., Just when I thought I was out, they pull me back in… After three years we broke up in January, but before hand she successfully kicked the habit. We thoroughly cleaned the apartment before she stopped taking them, and took QtM’s advice and got some good menthol lotion, which was really effective. That coupled with avoiding anything and everything she was allergic to for two weeks, and she was Zyrtec free. We would change the sheets every week, and she only used Tide Original. Her Mother used that while she lived at home, so it was the only thing we ever used, and she was satisfied with it. ---
**Author:** ![2blessings](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/2/46a35a/32.png) [@2blessings](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/2blessings)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2012, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quitting-zyrtec-withdrawal/603344/38 "2012-10-12T00:34:10Z")
I am now dealing with Zyrtec withdrawal also. And this isn’t the first time. Every time I try to stop I itch all over and get red splotchy rashes on my shoulders and legs. And I have only been taking 5mg every other day. I took my last Zyrtec on Saturday and the itching is so unbearable tonight. I just took 1/4 pill to see if it will help. A doctor once told me that the reason it happens is because the body is used to the antihistamine. And when you stop it, it reacts just like stopping any other kind of drug. Unreal. ---
**Author:** ![Scared\_and\_Worried](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecd19e/32.png) [@Scared\_and\_Worried](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scared_and_Worried)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2013, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quitting-zyrtec-withdrawal/603344/39 "2013-01-26T13:56:53Z")
> [@lalala87](#): > > I tried for years to get off Zyrtec but had terrible itching any time I missed a pill! > > My first attempt to quit Zyrtec was to go cold turkey. I made it ten days but then broke out in hives (even though I was NOT scratching). I decided that was not a reasonable option for me since my body was reacting so strongly and since I was in school at the time and had things to be doing. > > The second (successful!) attempt I made was to wean myself off of Zyrtec by cutting my pills in half. I did this in a few steps: > > 1. I cut my pills in half for about six months or so. > 2. I then tried cutting my pills into quarters, but the itching returned. > 3. I resumed taking a half pill every night for a while. > 4. I then tried taking a half pill every /other/ night. This resulted in NO itching for me. > 5. Then, after some time (maybe six months or a year) of taking a half pill every other night, I decided I was prepared to go cold turkey. > > I expected to have the 15-day detox period described on some of the blogs, but, to my pleasant surprise, I had only very mild itching (and kind of a warmness in my face) for a couple of days, and then I was fine. (That was three years ago). > > I know how frustrating this incredible Zyrtec-itching is, so I’m eager to share the weaning method that worked for me. Lots of luck and health! Hello, how long were you on Zyrtec for before you weaned yourself off? I have been on reactine ( same thing) for two and half years and have just discovered this drug causes withdrawal symptoms. I had got onto it for hives initially and the doc told me to keep taking it as long as I need it. And every time I tried to stop the itching came back so I kept thinking my hives were still there. I am trying to wean myself off with the half tablet every day for two weeks, I am on day 2 just now…I was on one 10mg every alternate day…but I am wondering if 2 and a half years is too long a time to successfully wean off the drug? ---
**Author:** ![Rushgeekgirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rushgeekgirl/32/3715_2.png) [@Rushgeekgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rushgeekgirl)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2013, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quitting-zyrtec-withdrawal/603344/40 "2013-01-26T17:18:47Z")
I am so glad I read this thread. My little girl was prescribed Zyrtec for her sinus and skin allergies but I wasn’t given any sort of information like this. She was diagnosed with allergies but the initial testing at her ped. didn’t show allergy to any of the 100 or so allergens! It doesn’t really seem to help much either so I think I’ll see about discontinuing. We have an appointment for further allergy testing in February but nobody told me to discontinue before the appointment either. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quitting-zyrtec-withdrawal/603344.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quitting-zyrtec-withdrawal/603344.md?page=3)