Zyrtec for Urticaria User Reviews (Page 2)

• Itch-...
• April 17, 2017

"Just writing this in case it helps another person to know what their "trigger" was. I was given a cup of Artichoke Tea for the first time. Several hours later (during the night) started scratching shoulders and upper body. Itching stopped for few hours during the next day and re-occurred later that evening and spread to many other areas of body as I took myself to emergency dept of hospital. Was given one Prednisolone and two Zyrtec tabs in the very early hours of morning. Now, six hours later and (after great sleep) have awoken to no visible hives and no itching at all. Will get script for Zyrtec later on today just in case it comes back. But, fingers crossed it will not do so."

• MomMa...
• May 21, 2017

"Hives is directly linked to autoimmune disorders such as Hashimoto's- a thyroid disease. Chronic hives can't be treated with Zyrtec if this is the case. I give Zyrtec 8 stars BC it is a great otc fix for allergies. However if you are suffering from chronic hives and find nothing helping, perhaps you need to research ... I am experiencing this first hand. I have found oatmeal baths and coconut oil with essential oils to sooth my chronic hives- specifically lavender, lemon, Meleluca, and peppermint. My next step is getting a full blood panel done to confirm Hashimoto's. ...Zyrtec can't fix that but is good for common allergies."

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

"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 dr. 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."

• Tampa...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• November 24, 2021

"I'm absolutely miserable right now... I've been using Zyrtec for almost 10 years because when I was younger I developed a condition called Dermatographia. When I would lightly scratch my skin it puffed up and create hives. The doctor told me to take Zyrtec and sure enough, my skin wouldn't puff up anymore. I continued to blindly take Zyrtec for almost a decade. Periodically, I would miss a day or two and would get very itchy, I thought this was my Dermatographia coming back. What I didn't realize is that the itchiness was a withdrawal symptom of Cetirizine. I probably could have stopped taking Zyrtec YEARS ago. It's been 4 days since I stopped and I have EXTREME itchiness everywhere on my body, even inside my mouth. I'm so sad to read this is a problem for others as well. I want the itchiness to STOP. If anyone is going through the same struggle, write a comment. I'm so upset that there is no warning to this miserable side effect anywhere...."

• Debo
• October 10, 2019

"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. Rhumatologist recently prescibed singulair and finally I have not had any hives or angiodema now since I started taking it 2 full weeks with no symptoms. One zyrtec in the morning one singulair at night. "

• trink...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 17, 2015

"I have been getting viral hives over the last 6 months. I went and saw an allergist (who diagnosed me) and he recommends this instead of Benadryl. For me it hasn't helped. I guess I'm not as lucky as the others here."

• Lola...
• January 7, 2017

"I had never heard of hives and I'm 54! We moved to my Mother in laws house after she passed away. And just thought was something in house. I have been to ER 2x in a month. The Dr in ER diagnosed as urticaria both times got steroid shots and prescriptions same both times. Nurse said take Pepcid and Zyrtec. But some days are so bad!"

• Peti
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• November 14, 2020

"So, suddenly when I was 29 I started getting terrible itchy times, scratching myself till I bleed, swollen skin. Doctors failed to diagnose anything, but I asked them to at least give me something and the doc made me try zyrtec. I take one every 2 to 3 days and I can't keep going without it. I just did an experiment and lasted 5 days without but 4th and 5th were horrible. Zyrtec is imo not addictive, if you had itchiness and rash before then of course it will come back when you stop taking it. It has some pretty nasty side effects for me tho: - drowsiness - horrible realistic nightmares - mood swaps, anger issues I am right now for better alternatives."

• Miche...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• January 5, 2022

"I stopped taking Zyrtec 2 days ago and was woken up by the uncontrollable itching last night all over my body. It was terrible. I tried to use a topical cream to control the itch but it got so bad I cut a pill in half and the itching went away within the hour. I wish I knew about this when I started taking a pill every day for the last couple years. I am going to wean off slowly and never buying this again. The fact they do not warn the user of this side effect of rebound itching is extremely concerning - who knows what else this is doing to our body."

• xteew...
• April 13, 2017

"I've had chronic hives for most of my life. I can't tell you the different types of medical "cocktails" I've been on. I've tried doxepin up to 100 mg.... made me loopy all day long. Don't really want to take anything that will mess with my brain. I've taken Benadryl, Claritin, Zyrtec, Zyrtec w/Zantac, I've switched antacids --- be careful with Prilosec. That will lower your B12 quicker than anything. Mine got so low, I had to start giving myself B12 shots from taking the Prilosec. Nothing is working for me! I am miserable beyond comprehension! If anyone has any other suggestion, please post. Thank you."

• Newto...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 29, 2021

"I am having hives for the first time in my life, I am 40. This started soon after I gave birth a few months ago. Blood tests don’t say anything but I am just sad to know if there is going to be an end to this ever. I take Zyrtec every two days. I was never on any medication and my hive disease has not shown any improvement on days without Zyrtec. Any advise is welcome. One of the things I want to know, Will I get addicted to Zyrtec ( prescribed)?"

• Manso...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 11, 2016

"Hey!! I was suffered by chronic idiopathic urticaria (CIU) past 5 months, So initially i consulted a dermatologist and he said "It's just a food reaction so he gave some drugs", after 1 week it got worse and I'm worried but continued to take the medicine he gave. Parallely I searched about urticaria in internet and understood I have CIU and started worried every night i got this hives, it was painful to sleep (all over body), after some days i got on my face and head its was stressful and physically and mentally. Again I approached my doctor he said "it's not easy to identify why this hives occur", and he gave zyrtec 10 msg drug i use to take after my night meal every day. Later a month i asked my self why i need take this rest of my lif"

• Zyrtec...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 30, 2021

"DO NOT take Zyrtec. The withdraw symptoms of Zyrtec are not worth it when you try to go off of it. Intense, unbearable itching. Hands, arms, legs, feet, chest, scalp. Itching that makes you wish you could shed your skin like some kind of bug. It's been over a week and I'm still itching. Claritin helped on day 4 and a half pill on day 8 to reduce itching to get me functional again. Although now I'm super dry. Be aware of that if breastfeeding. Only time will tell how long it takes me to get back to normal. Save yourself and don't get started with this med."

• Rolopup
• October 7, 2016

"CIU or Chronic Idiopathic Urticia has been my recent diagnosis. I've had outbreaks of Hives for many many years, lasting from weeks to months. Most recently I've been seeing a specialist and he has me on cyclosporine. tough drug to take but cleared my hives and if I have an occasional small outbreak, zrytec does the trick and knocks it out. I also had a shot that was doctor recommended and the first dose cleared my hives but second did not, so on to the cyclosprine"

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

"Had an allergic reaction to Pepcid ac (first time taking it) about half hour after taking it , my face started to itchy and swell, also felt like pins and needles on top of my head. I went to the emergency room waited about 4 hrs to see the doctor by that time swelling had gone down and symptoms were improving. They sent me home 3:30am slept for about 2 hrs 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 next day with no hives!! Probably with take a Zyrtec for the next couple days"

• SeanS...
• April 22, 2008

"I love this product. I've been taking the generic version lately and have had to take two with no symptom relief (still sneezing violently and itchy watery eyes). I recommend Zyrtec as the first option."

• beenf...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 27, 2021

"Unfortunately I had a severe reaction to generic Zyrtec last night. I took 10mg before bed. I woke up with a severe heartburn, nausea, and abnormal heart rhythm. I took sodium bicarbonate to relieve the acidic heartburn. I went back to bed only to be awakened with another severe heartburn, but in addition I was extremely dizzy, nauseous, cold sweats, sick feeling. I went to the bathroom nauseous. I barely made it back to bed as I was about to faint. Fortunately my bed isn’t far from my bathroom as I almost fell from faintness and dizziness. My head was soaked in cold sweats. In the late morning, I found out that there is a percentage of women in my age group 60’s that have fainted with Zyrtec who have taken it less than a month - in which I have - only taken it since my Patch Test allergic reactions since Thursday. No other symptoms since the drug wore off."

• LisDai
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 30, 2020

"Oh wow! I'm going on nonstop itching for 3 months. Doc had me on medrol dose pack, prilosec, and benadryl. Yah, worked great til the dose pack ran out. Quit eating everything but oatmeal and fair life lactose free milk out of sheer desperation. This is completely off the charts maddening. Changed everything scent free, organic soaps, lotions, dteft detergent, air purifiers, air filters, hepa vacuum filters, NOTHING helps. Starting on 2 generic Zyrtec and 1 Allegra. God willing this works. All the doctors do anymore is scratch their heads. Pathetic."

• Not...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 9, 2022

"OMG it REALLY works!! I don't know why I've been having hives, but its amazing how this works!! I was having them so bad that I can't figure out which clothes to wear. I don't know what is triggering it. But I haven't had an itch in hours! I took it today for the first time, and I'm back to normal."

• Hamas...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• June 4, 2022

"I am currently suffering from Zyrtec withdrawal. I have been taking Zyrtec for about 2 years. I never use to take this drug as much as I do now. But because I noticed that I would need to retake the pill after 2-3days after the last dose, I decided that something didn't add up. I started to believe that it had to be dependency. I am grateful for this forum that it confirmed my suspicion. I started quitting Zyrtec, and I am now on my 5th day... The itching/burning still continues, affecting my hands/neck/scalp/back/chest/legs/feet, pretty much everywhere. I take Benadyrl to help relieve the itch before I sleep. Hopefully, my body recovers from the withdrawal from cetirizine, so that my body doesn't start to grow a dependence on the Benadyl!"

• anony...
• April 18, 2013

"I have had chronic idiopathic urticaria AND demographism for the last 14 years with no identifiable cause. 10mg daily works great and keeps the hives away. The drowsiness subsides after prolonged use."

• us395
• May 8, 2014

"I have had hives for five days now, they burn. I took 10mg of Zyrtec but they are no help. I still have the hives and still have the pain that only a ice pack will help."

• jb1195
• April 16, 2009

"I used this and got itchy all over. I developed red blotches all over my body and it looked like hives. When I stop taking it I get all itchy. "

• Anonymous
• September 23, 2008

"It works great for the symptoms of my allergies and hay fever. It does make me extremely sleepy though. But, I suppose that is better then having a pounding headache or a sneezing/coughing attack."

• Anonymous
• April 14, 2008

"The doctor gave me Zyrtec for a skin problem that I've had for a coule of years. If I take Zyrtec I don't have any symptoms. It works great!!!"