Hi. I have also stopped my five and a half year old son from taking the kids’ version of liquid zyrtec. No withdrawal symptoms but I just used to give him a dose when he got a mosquito bite allergy. Thankfully I guess his body didn’t get time to get too used to it. Now will just stick to creams only if they flare up again.
Hello all. I’ve been taking Zyrtec for over 10 years. I was originally prescribed it to address what my doctor initially diagnosed as chronic dermatitis due to the sensitivity I was experiencing with my skin (red welts due to edge pressure or scratching…hives).
It wasn’t until this past Saturday night (5 nights ago) that I learned that these are the same symptoms scores of people experience from Zyrtec/cetirizine withdrawals. I was able to take one 10mg pill from 1-3 days apart for most of those 10+ years and I occasionally read up on what other people were experiencing as well as pinging new doctors about it. I didn’t really end up learning too much more than I had already known about my condition.
About 4 years ago I found that Costco had Aller-Tec by Kirkland (generic Zyrtec) was much more economical. I figured at one pill every 2-3 days would allow one bottle to last a few years. For the past month, I’ve had to up my dosage to one 10mg pill every 12 hours to combat the hives and itchiness. I figured it was the pollen given that I live in GA, so coupled with the crazy weather this year it kind of made sense.
So, reading up on my condition and cetirizine/Zyrtec, I accidentally stumbled upon people discussing withdrawal symptoms and VOILA! Instant enlightenment. Hours after my last dose I vowed I would never take it again and suffer through the insane itchiness and hives. Days 4-5 were horrible. So bad this morning I decided to take one Allegra-D (fexofenadine) and I haven’t experienced any withdrawal symptoms since.
QUESTION: I only did this as I don’t regularly take Allegra-D (fexofenadine) and am concerned that I have undermined my 5 days of suffering simply because it is an antihistimine. Does anyone know if this is counterproductive to me going off of Zyrtec/cetirizine? I’ve seen people speak to taking Benadryl as an option to ease the symptoms of Zyrtec withdrawal symptoms, but not much. Even less so in regards to Allegra-D/fexofenadine.
I’ve kicked smoking which was tough, but it’s nothing compared to what I’m going through with Zyrtec. My utmost respect to everyone who has accomplished this incredible feat, whether via cold turkey or weaning means.
So your problem is that you were incapacitatingly itchy. You took Zyrtec for many years with no issue. You started taking less and finally no Zyrtec and became itchy again.
For what reason other than you read about it on a message board would you describe your present itchiness as withdrawal and not your normal allergic response? And if the medicine has worked for you for ten years with no negative effects, why would withdrawal symptoms even matter (assuming they actually existed)?
Yeah, this is what I’m not understanding. My normal allergic reaction to most things is to get itchy-- like, incredibly, ridiculously itchy. During allergy season, I take a daily Zyrtec and it helps cut down on the itchy responses. When I’m not on the Zyrtec, sometimes I’ll get an itchy fit and I’ll have to pop a Benedryl. I guess my point is: I would never think the allergy medicine was causing me to be itchy, but rather whatever the hell it is I’m allergic to that’s around and I’m no longer protected against.
So glad to come across all these posts online and realize what is happening. I have been on Zyrtec for 10+ years. I originally was put on them because I was experiencing hives/uticaria but did not have any other allergies. I experience the hives a few times and they told me to start taking this drug every day to prevent getting them.
Well, after years of taking these pills, I finally started questioning why I needed to take them every day. I went off of them for a few days to get allergy tested and when I went to the allergist he gave me a hard time and told me that people takes these pills their entire life, it’s working so why am I trying to get off of them, etc. They first refused to test me for allergies but then finally did but only tested me for about 10 different allergens to which I was negative.
Those 5 days trying to get off the Zyrtec were the WORST of my life, I literally laid on the couch and scrated and got hives alllll over my body. I felt helpless and couldn’t make them stop. And, I thought, wow I really can’t live without this drug that’s how bad my body is, I have to keep taking it in order to survive.
WELL obviously it’s not, it’s the drug or the withdrawal from the drug. Before I started taking this drug I didn’t get random itching all over my body. So slowly but surely I’ve come to this point. I’m on day 5 of the Zyrtec withdrawal. For me, this time is a little different. I’m eating as clean as I possible can. I’ve realized that the initial hives could have possible been some sort of allergy to the food I was eating or drinking and now that has been covered up for 10+ years by this drug so just imagine how much damage has been done to my body.
The first two days were fine, day 3-today has been pretty bad. Today I have had some slight improvement. When I wake up I’m fine but then slowly but surely the itching will start and it is HORRIBLE. It seems to travel and I can itch in multiple places at once. The absolute worst is in places that you would never want to itch.
What I’ve realize is/how I’m coping:
- I’m drinking as much water as possible, when I drink lots of water it actually seems to help
- I’m 100% gluten free, dairy free, sugar free. I have an inkling that this is helping me so much more than the first time I did this. I’ve had some grains (rice and quinoa) but plan starting tomorrow to be grain and soy free and potentially nut free while I’m going through thits.
- I started taking Vitamin C yesterday and it does seem to help
- Hot showers for me work much better than cold
- I’ve started dry skin brushing (in the morning and before I go to bed) and then applying coconut oil that I’ve whipped into a natural moisturizer so as not to put any chemicals on my already having a hard time skin
- I’m trying to juice in the mornings (all greens for breakfast) and then eat fruit until dinner. However, from what I can tell I have the least reaction when I eat cooked vegetables.
- When all else fails, I find that keeping all my skin covered (long pants and sweatshirts) and focusing on breathing normally even when I’m in excruciating itching can bring me back to some state of normal.
I hope some day that there is something done about this drug, at a minimum there should be some sort of disclaimer about the withdrawal effects. I wish when I was put on this drug that there was more information out there like these posts so that I would have never taken it in the first place.
It’s hard for me to see how you were doing any damage to your body if you had no symptoms. If the Zyrtec was preventing inflammation, for example, you’re not going to have the problems you would have from chronic inflammation. I’d guess that you’re doing more damage to your body now than you were when you were on Zyrtec. And you were more comfortable than you are now, to boot. So why turn your life upside down to maybe but probably not get to the point where you were the last ten years when you were taking a pill once a day?
As to the warning label, what should it say? I propose: “Warning: Zyrtec is not a cure. If you stop taking Zyrtec and are exposed to allergens, you will have an allergic reaction.”
I did start to develop more problems, with my skin (eczema), discoloration of skin, etc. I wasn’t getting hives every day or even often before I started the medication, I got them twice and went to see a doctor because I didn’t know what they were or what was causing them.
I would hardly say I’m doing more damage to my body by getting off of the medication. I’m seeking out answers on how to truly prevent what’s going on. Perhaps if I had been allergy tested in the first place, maybe I would learn I was allergic to X and I could just have stopped eating it instead of spending thousands of dollars on medication and swallowing a pill every day! I can’t figure out what my body is reacting to while on them.
I’m sure the easy thought process is to just take a pill every day for some or most people. That just doesn’t sit right with me.
Slowly but surely the withdrawal symptoms are getting better. I’m on day 9 right now and I’m in NOWHERE near as much pain and itching as I was in those first few days. The itching has reduced almost 70%. I seem to be reacting to foods with high histamine so I’m adjusting my diet accordingly until all of this drug is out of my system and I’m back to normal at which point I’ll reintroduce foods, etc. to find out what’s going on.
I do think there should be some sort of disclaimer that people that have stopped taking this medication, hundreds of people, have experienced DEBILITATING itching. If you look up other antihistamines I haven’t found anything similar to the complaints about Zyrtec/Centrizine.
This thread ought to get some kind of award for attracting new members.
Just thought I would jump in as another (meaningless) data point. I have taken Zyrtec on and off for years. No reaction like those described.
I actually take Zyrtec-D every day. It has the pseudoephedrine element in it. If I stop taking that, I do have pseudoephedrine withdrawal, which is pretty much just extreme fatigue/sleepiness/irritability. I hate it.
I am SO thankful for this thread. I have been taking Zyrtec daily (occasionally missing a day) since I was 13. I am now 23 and for a few years I’ve been trying to stop taking the stuff to no avail, because I started noticing how miserable I felt if I went about 42 hours without taking one.
What those of you who haven’t been taking Zyrtec regularly for years don’t understand is the itching caused by missing a pill is INFINITELY worse than any itching prior to starting zyrtec. I actually started Zyrtec as part of a regimen to help my asthma and had no itching problems to speak of. I naturally grew out of asthma but I am still taking these stupid Zyrtec pills solely because I can’t stop. I never even itched before starting them but now I have yet to go 3+ days without a pill since age 13.
I’ve already started cutting pills in half and have successfully gone down to half a pill every other day for about a month or two now. I know I wouldn’t last 10-15 days without one even still, but I plan on moving to 1/4 a pill every other day for a month or so and then trying to quit. I will post back here and let you all know how it goes! I can’t even fathom quitting from 1 a day, cold turkey for 15 days of this. NEVER take this stuff long term!!!
I checked Google Scholar and Cetirizine withdrawal does not seem to be a studied issue. Nor is it a “standard side-effect”. If the drug actually caused these problems in a significant number of dudes, there’d be a study or the FDA would make them list that as a side-effect.
My opinion is as Hirka’s- she’s very allergic to something she’s exposed to, and the Cetirizine has been preventing the symptoms.
I’m sorry but you are wrong. I have no idea how the FDA does not have a warning on Zyrtec about prolonged use, but all it takes is a simple Google search and you’ll find thousands and thousands of people that have this exact same problem, the majority of which state they did not experience itching of this kind before they started taking the stuff. I would post links but…it really isn’t necessary, there are threads and articles ALL OVER the internet about it. And the theory of a preexisting allergy being covered up by Zyrtec and then causing intense itching on cessation doesn’t make sense if the itching stops after 2 weeks (in almost every single case). Think about it…
An update: Have been taking 1/4 a 10 mg pill every other day for 1 full month now. On day 3 of quitting again, having flare ups of itching but they do seem slightly more manageable than stopping from 1/2 a pill. Hoping to not take another pill, my theory is if you quit from 1/4 pills withdrawal should stop in fewer days, so I’m hoping after day 5 or 6 I’ll be clear. Will post another update. And I repeat, DO NOT EVER START TAKING ZYRTEC LONG TERM!!
Update: Okay so I took 1/4 pills every other day for a month (cutting pill in half both longways & in half), it did not help the itching go away any but I suspect it ultimately helped in quitting. At the end of the month I stopped taking Zyrtec entirely. Days 1 & 2 I was used to from taking a pill every other day already, Day 3 was relatively itchy for me, with Day 4 being worse. It wasn’t particularly fun but I still went to work and made it through the day. Days 5 and 6 seemed similar to day 4 or even 3 maybe, and it seemed like I was going to make it alright. DAY SEVEN WAS HORRIBLE. I itched non-stop, everywhere, and unfortunately for me this was the first day of my weekend vacation (just across the state) and I itched the entire car trip, during sightseeing, all of it. Day 8 started off similarly in the morning but by the night of Day 8 it had basically gone back to day 3 level. By day 10 the itching was completely gone. I will say I still itch from time to time (3 months later now) but it isn’t necessarily bad itching and is obviously different from what it felt like while on Zyrtec. Judging by what I’ve read from others’ experiences, the tapiring down dosage before quitting probably saved me from a lot of pain and extra days of itching, and if nothing else prepared me for the general acceptable-level itchiness felt during most of the quitting process. I live in one of the biggest allergy cities in the country so it figures I may still itch from time to time given that I have tested allergic to things before, but looking back I am very glad I went through the 2 or 3 days of pretty uncomfortable itching so I don’t ever have to buy or remember to take any more pills and scratch myself silly every 2 days.
My advice: try to plan your quitting about 3 or 4 days before a long weekend perhaps, so you can do things to take your mind off of the itching without worrying about work and so you’ll have easy access to ice packs or other methods of soothing if you just can’t take the itching. Make sure you aren’t planning on being around grass/pets/any other allergens on days 5-9 though, if at all possible, because more than likely it will be the itching that much worse. For instance, if you’re allergic to bermuda grass and quit the week before a soccer tournament that would likely be a massive mistake lol Also, be careful what you take to soothe the itching, as anything with antihistamines will probably stop the itch but will ultimately restart your clock back to day 1. All in all though, if you tapir down for a while before it will be uncomfortable throughout a few days but it really is not that bad and is well worth doing for the future you! Good luck
:boggle:
Zyrtec does nothing for my allergies, so I take Allegra every day.
It takes a couple of days for it to clear my system if I miss a dose. When it does clear, I suddenly get Sinus Headaches From Utter Hell. Thank you, seasonal allergies and dander (we have two dogs).
The other weird thing that hadn’t occurred to me? I am highly allergic enough-to-be-hospitalized to poison ivy. I have stories :shudder: When I’m taking the Allegra, I can walk through a patch of it or the dogs can and then brush against me and I won’t even know it. This past summer I missed a couple of days’ doses and sure enough, I had a rash running from ankles to knees on both legs. It didn’t itch nor blister, though. My doctor said it’s because the Allegra was still in my system. He did give me a scrip for hydrocortisone though.