Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances. Discussions about pruritus after discontinuation of cetirizine appear online as early as 2008, and some websites encourage patients to submit MedWatch reports to FDA.. No issues with those meds. you have to do frequent dosing. Im being patient so my severe itching and hives also go away. Uses. But then coming home from dinner with friends, with a few glasses of wine into me, I decided to take a pill in the hopes that I wouldnt wake up covered in hives. Copyright 1996-2023 Cerner Multum, Inc. My child has been on Zyrtec since infancy due to asthma and all sorts of allergies. Anything to keep my mind off what my body was feeling. They can add to sleepiness caused by Zyrtec. Apparently, histamine levels peak in the middle of the night (1-3 am) for most people, which would explain why I dreaded nights and felt uncomfortable in my own skin. I couldnt understand what was happening, as I have never had allergy problems. Stay Hydrated Drink plenty of water to flush your body of histamine build up. I took it for only 1 month but It is hell. As a result of this review, the prescription levocetirizine Prescribing Information was revised to include the following information about pruritus after discontinuation of cetirizine in the Adverse Reactions-Postmarketing Experience section (6.2): Rebound pruritus- pruritus within a few days after discontinuation of cetirizine, usually after long-term use (e.g. Its titled Pruritus after discontinuation of cetirizine and is available at: They really should stop selling Zyrtec, or have this printed on the box. My strength was waning. Is there such a thing as Zyrtec withdrawal? Id scratch, I had gotten even more congested. Follow your doctor's instructions. Slow is good! Over the last eight years we have accumulated over 700 comments about this problem. Pseudoephedrine is a decongestant and has been linked to numerous cardiac side effects. I am also on Trazadone for insomnia and just found out that not only blocks serotonin receptors but also H1 and since I have been taking it for 2 years probably that is why my CNS is so sensitive and I am experiencing vistaril withdrawal, despite the fact that I only took a small dose for just 1 month. It is also used to relieve itching and hives. I have been on Zyrtec for years. Having been dependent for so long I know it will be a slow process but Im willing to tough it out. It took more than a year. Right now I am itching like crazy; today I am calling my doc to see if she will give me anything for it. THC just made me not care as much that I itched but didnt take it away. Her work has appeared in "Infection and Immunity," "American Review of Respiratory Diseases," "Inflammation" and "Circulation." Ive been on Xyzal and Benadryl for years. I had my daughters and husband to help me around the house when necessary. Q. I stopped taking Zyrtec last week and have been suffering extreme itchiness since then. Its important for you to be your number one advocate at this time and take care of yourself first. Found nothing wrong with me and I told them about stopping Zyrtec and they say they never heard of anyone having withdrawal or anxiety by quitting Zyrtec. Disclaimer:EscapingtheMidwest.comis a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. I would love to never take another zyrtec but I dont think I can put myself through that agony again. Good call to wait on withdrawal until after your surgery and to do it slowly! The itching was there, but not unbearable. Kathy Jutila has been writing health-related articles since 1979. It works . In addition, FDA continues to monitor and assess serious adverse events for all approved products reported by healthcare providers, patients, and others. Yes, I did itch every now and then, but staying away from alcohol and being well-hydrated was the combination that worked for me. Thanks for the insight as to what he will experience during withdrawal. Apparently, though, I was itching in my sleep and would wake with scratch marks. Thanks for sharing those with us! As Susan said, this feels similar to scabies mites, which I have had years ago. We suspect that is substantially more than the FDAs MedWatch program. Because I had Covid beginning of April, I have been taking supplements to build my immunity, it has a lot of Vitamin C, zinc and selenium. Receiving antibiotics, I decided to stop the zyrtec while taking the antibiotic.24 hours off zyrtec and hadnt started the antibiotics. Available for Android and iOS devices. One of the few ways people can learn about such reactions are on this website. I then had to take Prednisone for complete relief, as well as Synalar ointment with Cereve cream. She is a Fellow of the Society of Applied Anthropology. Red Wine/Alcohol Red wine is a big no-go with Zyrtec withdrawal. Here are a few of their reports: I took Zyrtec at bedtime for two years for allergies. Share your own story below in the comment section. Really tired, dizzy and skin tingling. #nofilter #nofilterneeded This is because alcohol can increase the nervous system side effects of cetirizine such as dizziness, drowsiness, and difficulty concentrating. The itch was a 3 out of 10, but still flared up to a 4-5 at night. Overall, it was a painful 21+ days dealing with the itching that came with discontinuing the medication. In other words, it doesnt make you drowsy the way diphenhydramine (Benadryl) does. Do not swallow the Zyrtec orally disintegrating tablet whole. Several years ago we became aware of a withdrawal reaction (pruritis) when these antihistamines are stopped suddenly. Best of luck to you! Most commonly abused antihistamines include Benadryl, Zyrtec, and Allegra. I am going to try weaning off Zyrtec slowly, 1/2 a dose then less, have ordered supplement with quercetin and beta glucan alongside the vitamins A, C, and D, and the minerals selenium and zinc. Not that I didnt itch while exercising I did! I can mentally handle the itchiness that occurs all over my body when Im sedentary, however, when I exercise at all and begin to work up a sweat, my skin gets flooded with histamines and the itch is so painful that it feels like my skin is literally burning off. Looking forward to the next 4 weeks for me! As it spread, I thought maybe poison ivy. Id itch a lot in the morning, then have a decent afternoon with only slight discomfort, and at night the the itch would intensify. Trying to eliminate artificial additives in processed foods and increasing my protein intake have helped my skin recover much better. -Initial dose: 2.5 mg orally once a day I have taken Zyrtec for years for hay fever every spring. At first, Id break out in response to heat or severe stress. It was on this day that I went a few hours without any itching, and finally realized that yes, there would be an end to this. But I just found a godsend: Dermoplast First Aid spray!!! Feels like there is glass inside my eyes. Glad you got your hearing back! ), and the doctors dont know what caused the weight gain. Around the fourth day of withdrawal, I medicated my back pain with THC and realized that the itching had lessened. Then, it dawned on me that I had run out of Zyrtec when I was filling my pill minder last week. It went much better than when I quit the first time years ago. Thanks for sharing your story. Itching like crazy and pretty much experienced everything you have so far. I stayed up late at night to be sure Id fall asleep quickly and didnt spend hours itching in bed, but the itching came anyway. Thank you so much for sharing this! It worked. When the heart cannot pump enough blood to meet the body's demands, this is called heart failure. I think the worst areas were my palms, hands, chest, and forearms. She said she had never seen anything like it and could not readily identify it. Ok, so I am shocked. O 0. Its excruciating. Its not easy but it will get better! Thank you for your email of May 15, 2018 to Dr. Janet Woodcock regarding cetirizine (Zyrtec) and levocetirizine (Xyzal) and withdrawal reactions (pruritus). Local lotions and creams dont help. The itching and rash are very bad. When the heart cannot pump enough blood to meet the body's demands, this is called heart failure. Zyrtec is also used to treat itching and swelling caused by chronic urticaria (hives). I was incredibly relieved to be through the worst of it! (I am a healthy 37 y/o male). I have tried to quit a few times with no success. Ask your doctor before using opioid medication, a sleeping pill, a muscle relaxer, or medicine for anxiety or seizures. - Terry Graedon, PhD, is a medical anthropologist and co-host of The Peoples Pharmacy radio show, co-author of The Peoples Pharmacy syndicated newspaper columns and numerous books, and co-founder of The Peoples Pharmacy website. Hang in there! Albeit, smaller ones that the initial attack in 2018. Zyrtec theory still held strong. I then took Claritin for 3 days. Things will get better soon hang in there! Older adults may need to take a lower than normal dose. We identified 146 cases of pruritus after discontinuation of cetirizine that were associated with serious outcomes. Claritin, Zyrtec, and Allegra are all considered second-generation antihistamines. -Relief of symptoms associated with perennial allergic rhinitis due to allergens (e.g., sneezing, rhinorrhea, postnasal discharge, nasal pruritus, ocular pruritus, tearing) Hi I do get cough and slightly weezy a bit. After a couple of months, my husband asked a pharmacist what the best options were and came home with zyrtec and a steroid cream. The day before Z day, I still get the hives. It is torture but you can get through this! I quit cold turkey after about two years, and had NO side effects! Medically reviewed by Sophia Entringer, PharmD. The bottom line. Im so frustrated that there was no warning and my doctor doesnt even know what Im talking about , Not many people know about the effects of withdrawing from long term use of antihistamines. Let us know in the comments! Definitely clinging to Philippians 1:19 that the living God will see me through. It was so helpful to me. We're empowering you to make wise decisions about your own health, by providing you with essential health information about both medical and alternative treatment options. I AM DETERMINED THIS TIME I WILL BEAT IT. (I found this method on a Google search) I stopped the Claritin after 3 days, and there was no itching! Zyrtec (Cetirizine Orally Disintegrating Tablets). withdrawal when you have limited distractions, a pill that forced my body to become addicted to it, #joy I have also dropped 10 lbs. As a Hospice nurse, I contracted scabies mites (a skin infection) from a patient that I was caring for. The FDA doesnt seem to place much stock in such anecdotes, but we think they can be helpful. It kept me grounded and sane as I went through my painfully itchy month from hell withdrawing from Zyrtec. Ice packs work, as does Clobetasol ointment. I wake up at night freaking out that bugs are crawling on me. So I am to monitor my symptoms and call if things get worse. Im going off Zytec for the second time as it was the only allergy medication that did not make me sleepy. She asked how long had I been off the zyrtec. Also, try to withdrawal when you have limited distractions. Take the medicine as soon as you can, but skip the missed dose if it is almost time for your next dose. Available for Android and iOS devices. I also used 2% Hydrocortisone ointment to my face and scalp. -Maintenance dose: 2.5 mg orally once to 2 times a day I decided to stop taking them and after 2 or 3 days I was in hell, covered in hives and also experiencing a newer symptom, localized swelling. I was told by an allergist to take 2 Zrtyec a day from May to August where i went down to one pill and then in September, i was told to stop. We suspect that we (The Peoples Pharmacy) represents the discussed on the internet part of that background. Cerner Multum, Inc. "UK Summary of Product Characteristics." She actually mentioned writing a paper if we were able to conclusively prove this as an issue, and at the very least, if it ever happened to another patient, she could give them better guidance. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. This phase IV clinical study is created by eHealthMe based on reports submitted to eHealthMe, and is updated regularly. -Some experts recommend: Patients over 65 years of age should start with 5 mg orally once a day. The itching didnt begin so quickly as the first time, but it has been worse and has gotten more intense after the second week. She prescribed me an oral and topical steroid. This calculation is based on the half-life of cetirizine, which is 8.3 hours, and experts say it takes 4 to 5 half-lives for a drug to fully leave your body which works out to 33 to 40 hours. Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances. I truly believe that weaning off is the best route. I think THC has some great anti inflammatory properties. I hope your doctors can help. Thanks for sharing your story and best of luck to you as you continue your withdrawal. Then I went cold turkey. acne. I later found an article about the itching and took it to her. Thanks for commenting. Zyrtec has been linked to cases of heart failure through an unknown mechanism in a very small number of patients 2. Version: 12.01. prednisone, fluticasone nasal, montelukast, loratadine, cetirizine, promethazine, Benadryl, diphenhydramine, Xolair. Zyrtec pregnancy and breastfeeding warnings, Zyrtec Dosage Charts (Infants & Children). I had terrible itching for about a week, but it went away. It did help with the sneezing, runny nose and congestion, but I recently decided to stop it. And the fact that it lasts so long (at least for me) is a true test of strength. I hadnt, but maybe.. by day 2 I felt like my body was like bugs crawling on me. Can you take antihistamines when pregnant? That was in April, and Ive felt great ever since. 2020 EscapingTheMidwest. Generic name: cetirizine [se-TIR-a-zeen] Ive been taking Zyrtec daily for almost 10 years. I wish I could just stop and take a month off of life but I have a very active lifestyle: exercise regularly, have a super active dog that requires daily walks/hikes, and Im on my feet running around at work all day too. Several years back, my MD switched me over to Xyzal because my body had now built up an immunity to all of the other standard medicinal histamine treatments. The itching has been terrible and I just wanted to warn people that are substituting Claritin for Zyrtec that they may want to reconsider, as they might be going through another withdrawal if they decide to stop taking the Claritin. Dr. Woodcock has asked me to respond. We appreciate your interest and perspective regarding this issue. In addition, FDA continues to monitor and assess serious adverse events for all approved products reported by healthcare providers, patients, and others. It also gave me something to share with my PCP, who is an open-minded FNP. I took Zyrtec for about 5 years, tapered my dose for about 6 weeks, until I was taking to 1/4 of a 10 mg pill (2.5 mg) and it still took a hard 2-3 weeks to break free. How long did it take? Stimulants, including caffeine, nicotine, cocaine, amphetamines, and cold and cough medications that contain pseudoephedrine. The bug feeling became a cold tingle. I have been taking Cetirizine (Zyrtec) for at least 10 years now. "Product Information. Thanks for sharing your story! Thank you for your email of May 15, 2018 to Dr. Janet Woodcock regarding cetirizine (Zyrtec) and levocetirizine (Xyzal) and withdrawal reactions (pruritus). Day 6 of withdrawal severe itching. I had only taken them for three weeks, but did not escape the withdrawal hives. About 7 years ago, I decided to quit cold turkey. Alcohol is a drying agent and can make your skin drier and more itchy. Even though the urge to scratch was not debilitating, it was still there and would flare up at night. Readers have been complaining about this reaction for many years. This year was different! Ask a doctor before using this medicine if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. Withdrawal from an allergy medication should NOT happen, should NOT take this long, and should NOT make a person miserable for WEEKS. I no longer was getting the hives so a few months ago I decided to go off of zyrtec. I refuse to go back on any oral allergy medications again. Hopefully in a week itll be even less and this whole ordeal will be done and the mystery of the itch solved. Copyright 2023 Leaf Group Ltd., all rights reserved. Worst is that I also have my son on Zyrtec, and Im at a loss for what he will have to go through as well to get off this. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/2042098619859996. I work in the medical field (ICU nurse) and not a single person I mention this to has any idea that its a thing. Readers reported relentless itching within a few days of stopping this antihistamine. I think I was allergic to this fexofenydril too. . My mom is going through the same thing. Recreational marijuana is legal in Illinois and I have a medical marijuana license due to my degenerative disc disease. This includes alcohol, fermented foods, and some artificial colorings and preservatives because they can trigger histamine release. quertecin will help too. Worth looking at it? This was about a week after stopping the Zyrtec. This peppermint soap was really helpful for my scalp, which definitely got its fair share of the scratching. On the occasion Ive taken an Allegra, I will itch again after 24 hours of the dose. The hives are the worst. . Anything I can do to stop the anxiety? If you experienced Zyrtec withdrawal we would like to hear from you. So I went to a naturopath who recommended weaning off it, while taking quercetin, nettle tea and etc. Medical professionals have no clue. It sucks but it feels so good to be Zyrtec free! 1.9% of children aged 6 to 11 years experienced drowsiness with 5mg of cetirizine and 4.2% of children experienced drowsiness with 10mg of cetirizine. That it was more of a withdrawal. Wanted to stop Zyrtec/Allertec/Xyzal because it would make me feel fatigued and clouded all day. Im thinking its because my appetite has decreased significantly, but I also read that Zyrtec from hinder fat burning. Oh. WHY can you buy Zyrtec and other antihistamins at the supermarket in the UK and the US. I tapered down to a 1/4 of a 10 mg tablet and then quit. I went through this a few years ago. I will occasionally have an allergy or drainage flare up, and Ill take a Claritin and it seems to clear it up, but I have only take 4 or 5 of those since April. I can recollect every detail and Im usually woken up by the nightmare aspects. Then came the entire body rash and itching. Ive tried that before without knowing, and always switched back to Zyrtec because I thought it worked better due to the itchy skin issue. Best of luck to you! Most patients with heart disease and allergies can safely take popular antihistamines. Store at room temperature away from moisture and heat. . My tongue felt about the same. The results of the biopsy were that I was having an eczamous response to either a medication or an arachnid bite. I decided to take myself off the drug by taking less and less ever so slowly. I grew up with dogs and never had hives/itchness like this! After I read the Peoples Pharmacy article on Zyrtec, I threw my pills away. Of course we werent named in the text: Social media and other online resources are frequently used by patients to obtain and discuss health-related information. I looked it up to see if this was common and found all these blogs. Im in week 2 of the anxiety and it is terrible. Swallow several times as the tablet dissolves. Here are just a few: Q. This severe itch lasted until day 7, when my itch scale was a 7 out of 10. I want to take him off of it but I dont know how to manage environmental and seasonal allergies without it. Stops itch almost immediately. When they did, I took another pill, thinking that one a week wouldnt be too harmful. Been to doctors and hospital. For Zyrtec, it's 5 mg or 10 mg. We have received a huge number of reports about post-cetirizine itch. Zyrtec is used in adults and children to treat cold or allergy symptoms such as sneezing, itching, watery eyes, or runny nose. When should one stop taking antihistamine medication? Feeling heartbroken and defeated, I wondered if Id ever get past this. About two days after halving the dose I started itching. The hives did go away after 3-5 months, but having misunderstood I was taking 4 pills 2x a day (80mg). Go back to Claritin and hope for the best, or something else. Common side effects of Xyzal include drowsiness, weakness/lethargy, such as anxiety, the college recommends non-sedating medications such as cetirizine ( Zyrtec ), and adrenergic activity in the body, dry mouth, When the heart rate increases, which is also called vasoconstriction, tremors, Hallucinations, loratadine ( Claritin ) or desloratadine ( Clarinex ). I am on Vistaril withdrawal , It is a first antihistamine generatiion. After two years of taking the allergy drug daily, Peter decided he wanted to stop, only to realize how dependent he had become on it. Despite my dermatologist downplaying my experience and symptoms, I feel encouraged after reading this blog, as I now understand why Im having these symptoms. Wow, thank you for sharing this. Clearly they cause problems for so many people. For some people, the itching lasted up to six weeks. Up to 14.3% of adults may be affected by drowsiness with cetirizine. I started looking up my symptoms on the internet and found an enormous amount of people going through the same withdrawal symptoms as me. How long will the itching last? Thank you for this blog. I only take Benadryl when I need an antihistamine. There are no warnings or guidance with regard to this phenomenon. In order to post comments, please make sure JavaScript and Cookies are enabled, and reload the page. Uses: Days 3-4 were the worst. The next day I had an appointment with my PCP to have a biopsy of the rash. When I miss a dose of Zyrtec, my symptoms come back tenfold almost to a textbook time lapse. Last updated on Oct 29, 2022. I normally took 5 mg every nightsay for 5 to 6 weeks. By the end of this third week, I definitely felt much more like myself and was happy to be returning to normal.. It is created by eHealthMe based on reports of 45,241 people who have side effects when taking . Tenormin (Atenolol) Tablets Online Very Fast Worldwide Delivery Atenolol is used to treat cardiovascular diseases and conditions such as high blood pressure (hypertension), coronary heart disease, arrhythmias, angina (chest pain) Shopping Cart:5 item(s) - $545.00 View CartCheckout Service Tools My Account Wish List (0) My Cart Checkout Log In Drugs.com provides accurate and independent information on more than 24,000 prescription drugs, over-the-counter medicines and natural products. It is considered a second-generation non-sedating antihistamine. I was on Costco generic Zyrtec for so many years, Ive lost count! Ive never eaten more clean or been in better shape than I am now, so I decided to test out the Zyrtec withdrawal theory. a discolored tongue. I also used the softer side of a pumice stone while in the shower to soothe the itch. Hot showers makes it worse while cold compression/showers are magic. I cant stress enough the importance to taper yourself off the drug. Allow the tablet to dissolve in your mouth without chewing. After 20 days I still had minor flare ups of itching, and by the 4th week, I was back to normal. Information providedon thisweb site is for general information purposes only. [Ref], Very common (10% or more): Somnolence (up to 14.3%), headache (up to 14%), Frequency not reported: Altered sense of taste, paresthesia, hypertonia, tremor, abnormal coordination/incoordination, ataxia, hyperesthesia, hyperkinesia, hypoesthesia, migraine, paralysis, twitching, parosmia, taste loss/perversion, Postmarketing reports: Convulsions, dysgeusia, dyskinesia, dystonia, syncope, amnesia, vertigo, memory impairment[Ref], Common (1% to 10%): Dry mouth, nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, abdominal pain, Frequency not reported: Tongue disorder, constipation, flatulence, increased salivation, aggravated tooth caries, eructation, gastritis, hemorrhoids, melena, rectal hemorrhage, stomatitis/ulcerative stomatitis, tongue discoloration/edema, enlarged abdomen[Ref], Common (1% to 10%): Pharyngitis, rhinitis, coughing, epistaxis, Frequency not reported: Dyspnea, respiratory disorder, bronchospasm, upper respiratory tract infection, dysphonia, bronchitis, hyperventilation, increased sputum, pneumonia, sinusitis, nasal polyp[Ref], Frequency not reported: Earache, tinnitus, fever, pain, rigor, thirst, deafness, ototoxicity, accidental injury, face edema, leg edema, malaise, Postmarketing reports: Asthenia, stillbirth[Ref], Frequency not reported: Nervousness, impaired concentration, confusion, decreased libido, abnormal thinking, anxiety, depersonalization, emotional lability, euphoria, paroniria, sleep disorder, Postmarketing reports: Agitation, aggression/aggressive reaction, depression, hallucination, tic, suicidal ideation/suicide[Ref], Frequency not reported: Back pain, myalgia, arthralgia, bone disorder/fracture, leg cramps, arthritis, arthrosis, muscle weakness[Ref], Frequency not reported: Pruritus/intense itching, increased sweating, acne, alopecia, bullous eruption, dermatitis, dry skin, eczema, erythematous rash, furunculosis, hyperkeratosis, hypertrichosis, maculopapular rash, photosensitivity/photosensitivity toxic reaction, purpura, seborrhea, skin disorder/nodule, Postmarketing reports: Rash, urticaria, angioneurotic edema, fixed drug eruption, acute generalized exanthematous pustulosis (AGEP)[Ref], Frequency not reported: Eye abnormality, periorbital edema, abnormal vision, eye pain, conjunctivitis, ptosis, visual field defects, blindness, glaucoma, ocular hemorrhage, xerophthalmia, periorbital edema/eye swelling, Postmarketing reports: Accommodation disorder/loss of accommodation, blurred vision, oculogyration, orofacial dyskinesia[Ref], Frequency not reported: Polyuria, urinary retention, urinary tract infection, dysmenorrhea, hematuria, micturition frequency, urinary incontinence, female breast pain, intermenstrual bleeding, leukorrhea, menorrhagia, vaginitis, Postmarketing reports: Dysuria, enuresis[Ref], Frequency not reported: Flushing, palpitations, tachycardia, edema/general edema, chest pain, cardiac failure, hypertension, hot flashes, peripheral edema, pallor, Postmarketing reports: Severe hypotension[Ref], Frequency not reported: Increased appetite, anorexia, increased weight, dehydration, diabetes mellitus[Ref], Frequency not reported: Reversible transaminase elevations, Postmarketing reports: Abnormal hepatic function (increased transaminases, alkaline phosphatase, GGT, bilirubin), cholestasis, hepatitis[Ref], Frequency not reported: Allergic reactions/delayed allergic reactions, Postmarketing reports: Hypersensitivity, anaphylactic shock[Ref], Postmarketing reports: Thrombocytopenia, hemolytic anemia[Ref], Postmarketing reports: Glomerulonephritis[Ref].