Cetirizine and Swelling: What Users Say

• emm...
• February 1, 2018

Zyrtec (cetirizine) for Urticaria "I’m giving Zyrtec a 2 rating because the only good thing about it is it gets the job done (for the most part). I was diagnosed with chronic idiopathic urticaria two summers ago, and the only thing that popped up on my allergy blood tests was a low level of thyroid hormones. I was then also diagnosed with Hashimoto's, which later turned into hypothyroidism. I’m stuck taking Zyrtec every day, and if I try to get off or miss a dose, I’m covered in hives and my eyes, lips, and face are swollen. I cannot for the life of me get off of Zyrtec. Please consider safer drugs that your body won’t become dependent on! I’m trapped."

• Dan...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 11, 2020

For Allergic Rhinitis "I'm a 21-year-old female. The worst allergy medicine I've ever taken, next to Levocetirizine. Besides being sedated and anxious, I most recently have been waking up with hives, shortness of breath, swollen eyelids and top lip, itching and burning skin, and panic attacks. I discontinued this medicine after like 3 months of taking it almost daily, I was absolutely miserable. I will never take this garbage again. I'm on day 2 of not taking it, and I'm starting to feel better."

• Zyr...
• June 9, 2011

Zyrtec (cetirizine) for Allergic Rhinitis "Make the itching stop. I took this for hay fever, and it worked. BUT, it then caused me to have head-to-toe bumps and itchiness even after stopping taking it. The itching is keeping me up at night. I am hoping to wait it out and never take it again. Also, while I was taking it, my eyes and face got really, really swollen. I am still not sure if this was from an unusually bad allergy season or the Zyrtec, but I am going to guess it is the Zyrtec because my allergies have never caused this before (usually I just have sinus and itchy eyes)."

• Deb...
• October 10, 2019

Zyrtec (cetirizine) for Urticaria "I have had chronic urticaria for 1 year. Been to my own GP, an allergist, a dermatologist, and a rheumatologist. I was taking Zyrtec, Zantac, and Xyzal twice a day, sometimes 3 times when hives were really bad. Also several doses of prednisone. It has been a horrible year. But the Zyrtec did help, and I still take it now once a day. Rheumatologist recently prescribed Singulair, and finally I have not had any hives or angioedema now since I started taking it 2 full weeks with no symptoms. One Zyrtec in the morning, one Singulair at night."

• Hiv...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 25, 2019

Zyrtec (cetirizine) for Urticaria "I began with getting a swollen lip one day, then the next day it was a part of my lip that was swollen. Then came the hives episodes. No blood test could figure it out for me. I just gave up. Until my doctor said to take 2 Zyrtec in the morning and 2 at night when they are really bad. Then take one in the morning, one at night. This has saved my sanity. I don't get more than the occasional single hive once every few days with a strict Zyrtec regimen."

• Pep...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 26, 2021

Zyrtec (cetirizine) for Urticaria "Had an allergic reaction to Pepcid AC (first time taking it) about half an hour after taking it, my face started to itch and swell, also felt like pins and needles on top of my head. I went to the emergency room, waited about 4 hours to see the doctor, by that time, swelling had gone down and symptoms were improving. They sent me home at 3:30 AM, slept for about 2 hours, when I woke up, I had very itchy hives on my legs, arms, and stomach. They would go away during the day, but would come back every night. Day 3 took a Zyrtec and woke up the next day with no hives!! Probably will take a Zyrtec for the next couple of days."

• Irr...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• January 3, 2021

For Urticaria "Taking Zyrtec LITERALLY... not only deceived me, but ABSOLUTELY DESTROYED my body!!! All this while eating organic & vegan plus teaching classes in the fitness industry (oh how humiliating)... & just deteriorating from the once healthy person that I was. My collagen & elasticity is SHOT after I went through the EXCRUCIATING withdrawal process!!! Not to mention that I still swell up and down nonstop monthly after taking this sick pill! Metabolism? What metabolism?! Not after Zyrtec! Skin/collagen/elasticity? Not after Zyrtec! And let's talk about my career... All of my credibility is LOST! Try going to work in the industry that once respected you & then look at you like a complete alien because I was covered head to toe in Zyrtec-derived hives & angioedema!!! I lost around $125,000.+ This drug is a silent addictive drug and should be torn off the markets!"

• tam...
• December 8, 2017

For Urticaria "I've had chronic urticaria for the last 6 months. My allergist has me taking 4 Zyrtec a day: two in the morning and two at night. I also take 300 mg ranitidine twice a day and just added Singulair because I'm still having hives with all these meds. I end up with angioedema (facial swelling) and have to take prednisone. Seems as if it's getting worse and nothing's helping."

• tam...
• December 8, 2017

For Urticaria "I've had chronic urticaria for the last 6 months. My allergist has me taking 4 Zyrtec a day: two in the morning and two at night. I also take 300 mg ranitidine twice a day and just added Singulair because I'm still having hives with all these meds. I end up with angioedema (facial swelling) and have to take prednisone. Seems as if it's getting worse and nothing's helping."

• Luc...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 27, 2020

For Physical Urticaria "Don't use this if swelling takes place near or in and around your lips, because it increases the swelling."