Itching Withdrawal From Cetirizine Or Zyrtec (Page 26)

I want to know how many are suffering from withdrawal from this drug that causes itching all over the body. At the people's pharmacy there is an article about this very problem, yet Zyrtec doesn't list the information on their web site. This is my third attempt to get off of this med and I'm going crazy from the itching.

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Stop taking it. Replace with Loratadine to tide you over as it doesn't have these side effects and will keep the cetrezine withdrawal itching in check, reduce dosage gradually until the cetrizine has worked its way out of your system i.e when it stops itching. Takes a few months.. .. Read the rest of the testimonials for extra tips and advice. Good Luck! :-)

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I quit taking Zyrtec over 5 years ago. Using Claritin daily. The itching has never stopped! So disgusted! And angry at my allergist who literally laughed when I told him the problem. It should be taken off the market. Maybe a legal case needs to be filed!

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Scary that the itching has not stopped in five years...

I had it continue for a year until I went back on for seasonal allergies. Tried to go off after allergy season, and that's when I realized there was a serious problem. I have had to take the Zyrtec constantly since then unless I want to be an invalid unable to work due to the hives and itching, and losing all my hair to boot.

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UPDATE:
I was on it for a week and it took a solid 4 weeks for the withdrawal to subside. It's been a few months now and I haven't had any reoccurrence.
Best of luck to all experiencing the withdrawals.
I went cold turkey and used cortisone cream for really bad itching during the day and ice cold packs for severe itching or places I couldn't reach and that stopped the itching immediately.

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I have found two things that help me get past the terrible itching in hands and feet.

1. hydrocortisone (topical) – I was so desperate I stole some of my cat’s “hot spot” spray. It worked.

2. hand-held vibrating massager – numbs the nervous system.

Hope this helps someone. The itch is TERRIBLE.

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See my October 1st posting. Pretty detailed in how I got off. Doing great now. In addition to the taper and histamine stabilizers, I strongly recommend a heating pad or hot water bottle (more portable).

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I'm assuming your previous, unsuccessful attempts to discontinue the med resulted in severe, intense itching, hives, urticaria? Too much to bare, correct?

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SEVERE unbearable itching all over but most pronounced in weird places like in between the fingers, scalp (I thought I had lice), eyebrows; I also developed hives and hypersensitive skin that developed a rash where the collar of my shirt or my necklace touched my skin. It was awful... I have never had hives or problems with itchy skin prior to Zyrtec withdrawal. I took Zyrtec for seasonal allergies.

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Same issue. I took Zyrtec for about 2 months and ran out. The itching was absolutely awful. I had no idea it was the medication until I got more this morning and the itching stopped. No clue what to do now, and I have 364 days left of the Zyrtec...

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KRobinson... not sure, but you may have a life time of Zyrtec ahead...

I have no idea how to get off this stuff. It's like having a chronic disease to deal with, now. This is so not right, for a medication to do this to unsuspecting consumers. We need a legal suit!

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I've been taking cetirizine for at least 10 years. I've tried to quit it countless times, but am always so tormented by the itching that I've never been successful. I even went to a dermatologist a few years ago because I was breaking out in hives. Believe it or not, he prescribed a double dose of Zyrtec! *facepalm* I have absolutely no faith in doctors with this issue. I want to get pregnant in 2017 and even though Zyrtec is approved for use during pregnancy, I can't imagine it's healthy for a fetus. I just read about using a natural antihistamine called quercetin to help lessen the withdrawal symptoms. I just ordered it on Amazon so we'll see if it helps. I've been taking half a pill for about 2 weeks now. I tried skipping it today and about halfway through the day my palms, eyeballs, and ears started the familiar on-fire itching. I took half a pill about 20 minutes ago and am waiting for relief. I'll try to update when I get the quercetin! Good luck everyone. This drug is a menace.

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Thanks Sarah, please do update. I'd like to try it also. I might go ahead and order it also, certainly worth a try!

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I'm back. What happened since I last posted was I went back on antihistamines, just bilastine this time. The anxiety was too much for me. But I was not willing to give up. After taking a few weeks of bilastine, I stopped again. The itching was back. Horrible but a bit less horrible compared to Zyrtec.

I refused to give up and here I am at week 10. I still get bad days when I'm stressed or tired, but it has improved so much and my life is back to normal. I hope you guys will never give up. At my worst, I was depressed and lacking the will to go on.

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See posting 497 from October 1. Don't give up. It IS possible to get off this medication-- but I only managed it after a few weeks of SLOWLY tapering down to a miniscule dose by using the liquid kids medication. What worked for me is in that post. It is as if Zyrtec suppresses the histamine response to such an extreme amount that once it is discontinued the body essentially goes nuts and overreacts... Hence the logic of a slow taper to give the body a chance to adjust to being without it. Some may have the fortitude to stop cold turkey, but I simply found the itching to be unbearable.

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I also tried to wean myself down using the children's liquid (after seeing a post here about doing so). Unfortunately for me, I began the itching rash about a week, week and a half after beginning to do this. I promptly went back to the half pill... still dealing with the rash that began to occur again after switching to the children's formula....

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I have found claritin to help. I am down to one claritin a week. I did contact zyrtec about our issue. They acted like I was crazy. Asking me for the lot number. I explained it's the drug and many people are having the same issue. The company acted like they have never heard of this issue. I would love to put post it note warning labels in stores where the zyrtec is sold. This isn't fair that this drug is still on the market.

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Go very very slowly with the taper of the liquid
Medicine. It is painful because I am sure you just want this zyrtec out of your body ASAP. Half a pill is 5 mg daily. Get a syringe with mesures down to 0.1 ml. Go to 4.9 ml for a few days, then 4.8 for a few days, etc, etc. Best of luck.

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I took this medicine last night the next day I was itching. All I see it about withdrawal symptoms. I don't take it all the time because it makes me so tired. Will it still make me itch? I can't sleep I itch so bad.

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I found this page while researching answers for the horrendous itching due to antihistamine withdrawal. I see many references to zyrtec/cetirizine but for me it happens with Allegra/Fexofenadine and Claritin/loratadine as well. I managed to take 1/2 a loratadine daily for a week then every other, then every 3rd. I eventually was 2 weeks antihistamine free but the itching returned. 1 benadryl helps but I am still hoping to be totally free. My skin is scratched and bruised but I refuse to give in.

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Good luck dear!
My Zyrtec disease has been going on for three years now, at least.

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