Xyzal and Anxiety: What Users Say

• Nic...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 19, 2019

For Allergies "I have used Claritin and Zyrtec for my seasonal allergies, but they never seem to really work. I struggle daily with watery eyes, sneezing, and a runny and stuffy nose. I work at a supermarket and saw Xyzal on the shelf and thought, ‘Why not give this a try?’ It’s currently 3 AM, and I am sitting in bed with my heart racing from the awful nightmare I just had. I’m usually skeptical of reading people’s reviews and not trying a medication because of it, but I wish I had. I have never experienced nightmares so awful in my entire life. The amount of anxiety I feel right now is beyond words. I still have a stuffy nose as well. Honestly, I’m wondering if I had a panic attack in my sleep. I’m definitely going to be looking for a new allergy medication. Very scary. I’ve had nightmares before, but this was extremely different."

• Anonymous
• May 13, 2020

For Allergic Rhinitis "I started this medication, Xyzal, due to chronic sinusitis and insane pressure headaches. The next day, I felt extremely jittery but just shook it off. The day after (so 2 days after starting this med), I had a crazy panic attack hit me. I had immense chest pain, SOB, tingling all over my whole body, extremely lightheaded, I was sure I was going to pass out, and uncontrollable shivering. I stopped it, but now my DR wants me to restart it again to see what happens since I was also started on a new med with it the first time... but since reading these comments, idk, seems to be a pretty usual side effect, and I did not like that feeling at all! Only good thing was I usually have trouble sleeping, and that first night I slept the whole night lol."

• sad...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 8, 2019

For Allergies "I got insanely dizzy (where I couldn't walk in a straight line for much of the day), had horrible anxiety and depression, and couldn't sleep at night. I would wake up several times a night having intense panic attacks, and during the day would feel unreal (zombie-like and insane headaches). It did what it was supposed to and kept my rash under control, but was not really worth the side effects."

• Mar...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 5, 2018

For Allergic Rhinitis "This is terrible. It's like taking nothing at all, and I didn't realize the side effect of anxiety/depression. That explains a lot! Going off in search of something else. I'm stuffed up all freaking day."

• Vic...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 6, 2018

For Allergies "On Xyzal, I experienced severe depression and dark thoughts. I was on it for 16 days. I also had severe chest pains/anxiety attack while on it. I have been off of it for 4 days, and every day I'm feeling better. While I was having symptoms, I googled side effects and found 'depression.' Really grateful to be off this and feeling better."

• Anonymous
• August 6, 2011

For Allergies "I had been taking Allegra and Nasonex for years, but still did not have good control over my allergies and asthma. I used Benadryl as needed when my two prescription medicines were not enough. The pulmonologist told me that Benadryl has an intense drying effect in your body and that it makes your mucus more viscous (thicker). Within 2 days of starting Xyzal (and stopping Benadryl), I definitely had thinned mucus and my skin was much less dry. My asthma was much better controlled and I had less sensitivity to environmental triggers. Unfortunately, I also started experiencing moderate-to-severe headaches along with a feeling of depression/anxiety. Without Xyzal, I get pneumonia, with it, I feel crazy. Works, but bad side effects."

• Adi...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 3, 2018

For Urticaria "Xyzal is horrible. I’ve spent the last 4 years of my life suffering due to side effects of antihistamines. These drugs are all the same thing. They make you feel annoyed, depressed, anxious, exhausted, dizzy, and just like absolute garbage! I thought Xyzal, being the 'newer and better' drug it was marketed to be, would be the miracle to save my life. However, it wasn’t. This drug is just as bad as the rest, possibly even worse. Also, keep in mind that Xyzal is no different than Zyrtec. It’s literally just the left half of Zyrtec, the part of it that actually works. It’s the same drug. If Zyrtec sucks for you, Xyzal will too. Honestly, I’m gonna go back to Claritin. It doesn’t stop my hives completely, but I am at least not a psychotic, depressed maniac on it."

• hol...
• September 26, 2017

For Allergies "The instructions say that you should take it at night as it can cause drowsiness; however, this medication kept me up all night! It also made me feel anxious and weird. And to top it all off, I am still suffering from allergies. Guess it's time to try something else."

• Anonymous
• December 18, 2021

For Allergic Rhinitis "I was a happy-go-lucky person, and nothing in the world had bothered me whatsoever. I was on Cetirizine, and it made me tired, so I started to take Xyzal. It worked well at first, then I noticed a change. I couldn’t sleep until about 2-3 in the morning. I was always irritated and paranoid about every little thing. One day, I had a complete anxiety and panic breakdown. I thought that it was something different, but after the reviews, I realized it was the allergy medication. It made me believe it was something else, and it wasn’t. I don’t recommend this medication at all."

• Anonymous
• December 18, 2021

For Allergic Rhinitis "I was a happy-go-lucky person, and nothing in the world had bothered me whatsoever. I was on Cetirizine, and it made me tired, so I started to take Xyzal. It worked well at first, then I noticed a change. I couldn’t sleep until about 2-3 in the morning. I was always irritated and paranoid about every little thing. One day, I had a complete anxiety and panic breakdown. I thought that it was something different, but after the reviews, I realized it was the allergy medication. It made me believe it was something else, and it wasn’t. I don’t recommend this medication at all."

• Mon...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 24, 2021

For Allergic Rhinitis "This drug made me completely crazy. I started having bad anxiety, then anger and depression. Very bad depression. Horrible headache and fatigue. I lashed out at a coworker and got in trouble. What a disaster. Never again. Going back to Zyrtec."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 13, 2021

For Allergies "This pill did help my allergies, when Claritin and Zyrtec didn't, but the anxiety I had after a day was the worst I had ever experienced. I have frequent panic attacks, so I know the feeling. I almost went to the ER one night. Since stopping, anxiety is back down to normal levels. Unfortunately, the relief isn't worth it."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 18, 2021

For Allergies "I started taking this as my allergies were out of control this year and nothing else seemed to work anymore. It worked great at first, then after about 3 weeks I started getting irregular heartbeats and the overall feeling of anxiety, which brought me into the ER since the symptoms were getting worse with a rising heart rate. After about a week off the meds, I am feeling much more normal again. Very scary when an allergy med affects your heart rate! None of the others I have ever taken gave me this feeling."

• Acc...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 21, 2017

For Allergies "I started Xyzal in late August due to repeat sinus infection and allergies. Last week, I skipped two doses by mistake, and that was the worst thing that I could have done! I had a full-blown panic attack in the truck while on our way home from running errands. I literally jumped out of the truck while it was still moving because I felt like my head was about to explode! It was the worst day ever. I am now only taking half a tablet to wean myself off this drug. Had I known these severe side effects after wanting to stop them, I never would have started them. Since halving my dosage, I have been having anxiety, joint pain, itching, and swelling in my sinuses. I am hoping to be off of these within 2 weeks since I only took them for around two months."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 28, 2021

For Allergies "I have been on Xyzal for 2 of the worst months of my life. It relieved sinus headaches. But had nightmares, tingling in my feet and legs. Abnormal glucose blood work, which is back to normal now. Depression, terrible anxiety, extreme hunger. Thank you all for your honesty. No more Xyzal for me."

• Anonymous
• October 19, 2009

For Allergies "I had hallucinations for 5 days and ended up in the hospital and became so anxious going to sleep. I now need to take Zoloft for the anxiety. I also reported this to the FDA."

• Ove...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 2, 2021

For Allergies "It works, but it made me paranoid. Don’t take this medication if you have anxiety or anything in that spectrum. Or it will keep you up at night, paranoid."