Itching Withdrawal From Cetirizine Or Zyrtec (Page 28)

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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Found this article after having to stop taking cetirizine for an upcoming appt with an allergist, for which I need to have no anti-histamines in my body for at least a week.

I began taking cetirizine about three months ago, when my dr prescribed it to address potential allergies that may be causing sinus issues (I never felt like anything was wrong with my sinuses, but I have dark circles and puffiness under my eyes which have not gone away even after taking cetirizine, hence the appt w an allergist for further investigation).

When I first began taking this, I slept amazingly. I have incredibly involved, complex, often stressful dreams, I have a challenging time falling asleep and wake feeling like I've been problem solving all night. For at least the first week I had no dreams. It was amazing. I also noticed that there seemed to be tension--not pressure--in my forehead area that released in a noticeable way, and thought maybe I did have sinus issues that have been there so long I didn't notice. I'm from Colorado but I've lived in Memphis, home of the "sinus cocktail" (a med combination for allergy-related sinus issues) for almost 15 years. I never felt like allergies had become a problem, but we live in an old house, in Memphis, so who knows?

I finished the first month of the script and decided to stop taking it, because I didn't want to be reliant on it. Didn't notice much of a difference except with sleeping issues coming back. I also had a CT scan after that month, since there was no visible change, to see if there was something deeper going on with my sinuses--all sinus cavities came back completely clear, and I think they probably were even before the cetirizine, Then I had a terrible tooth ache combined with ear and jaw pain, which pseudoephedrine had helped previously, so I decided to start taking the certirizine again in case it was somehow related. The tooth pain was managed, and I've been taking it for about 2.5 months, worried about the tooth pain coming back until I could get it pulled. Just had the tooth pulled a week ago, and continued taking cetirizine, until last night.

There was one other night I forgot to take it and I had the most vivid dreams that felt so real, whenever I woke up from each one I was convinced it was real and my husband had to tell me it was not. Now I've been reading about ppl coming off Zyrtec and having nightmares :(

A few days ago, I had the most intense leg pain, down into the bone, and the surrounding tissues, all the way down my leg in to my foot, out of the blue, and so painful it woke me up several times throughout the night. I read of someone else having that experience. I also have been feeling for some time now like I have no joy, but I can't figure out what's wrong, feeling like I need to force myself to smile at my kids and husband, not because I'm unhappy but there's just...nothing. I also gained 9 lbs "out of the blue" between the time I began taking cetirizine and my most recent Drs appt despite zero changes in diet or exercise, as well as escalating blood pressure, swelling and pain in my joints, retaining fluid. I'm not inclined to think each of those is directly related to taking this, but it also seems to fit the time frame and other stories I've read have been similar. I am VERY interested to see what changes occur over the next few weeks as I discontinue this.

After not taking my dose last night, I woke up with an intense headache and became increasingly dizzy, nauseous, generally feeling really unwell. I cancelled the yoga classes I teach on Wednesday nights, and even scrapped my plans for errands because I don't feel safe driving with how dizzy I suddenly am. I came to look up side effects of stopping Zyrtec to see if that might be the cause of ongoing dizziness starting suddenly, and the nausea, and wow, wow, wow!! I do NOT want to go back on this stuff!

I read many, many stories of different approaches people have taken to cope with the withdrawal side effects, and followed the approach many people shared, by taking a very large dose of Vitamin C and vit d (Chris beat cancer has some excellent posts on safe levels a person can consume) and feel noticeably better. Dizziness and nausea are almost entirely gone, and my mood, which has been "empty" or somewhat numb for the last couple months, is greatly improved. I'm suddenly laughing again, even my kids noticed. I plan to keep it up and hope desperately to avoid the terrible itching! I will let everyone I know to be very careful with this drug. I have friends whose kids take it every day :(

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Just wanted to share with anyone coming to read these for help--high doses of vitamin c work! My post is #541 "no more Zyrtec", and around 72 hrs (three days) after stopping cetirizine, the burning itching began to set in last night, in my palms, in my toes and soles of my feet, my ankles, and then my wrists. I'd had some various areas of mild itchiness in the day or two before, but not like this. I took 800mg of vitamin C and within about 15 mins the sensation subsided almost entirely. An 800mg dose of vitamin c was also the first thing I took after reading from these replies and so many others that the dizziness and nausea are also correlated to stopping Zyrtec, just 12 hours or so after I missed the last dose, and it helped remarkably, as well as magnesium supplements. I have read about quercetine which is a c-based antioxidant, I believe, and I order some and hope it will help with the symptoms. They are natural anti-histamines, and from all that I've was I get tre idea that all the reactions once stopping are a sudden flood of histamine to the system, which cetirizine had previously been suppressing. I'm inclined to blame the drug directly, but in the end what matters is that people are suffering when they stop taking it, greatly moreso than before they ever took it. These remedies do help!

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I found this thread because I'm planning to quit my generic cetirizine as soon as allergy season is over where I am. I've tried to do it before but the horrible itching has always stopped me. Unfortunately, it's a function of how this type of drug (a competitive antagonist) works. Antihistamines bind to the histamine receptors on your cells and keep the histamines in your blood from binding to the receptors and starting an inflammatory response. This works great at first, but over time your body compensates by increasing the number of histamine receptors. That's why the drug may not be as good at controlling your allergy symptoms as it was at first (I suspect that it wasn't really meant to be taken long-term). When you quit cold turkey, you're letting the histamines your body produces flood the increased numbers of receptors and produce one heck of an inflammatory response, which causes all that hellacious itching.

The best thing you can do if you want to stop taking Zyrtec is to slowly wean yourself off over a period of weeks or months, depending on how long you've been using it. Supplement with topical anti-inflammatories and/or cold baths and compresses as needed, and avoid your allergens if possible. Taking other antihistamines may only prolong the process.

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An interesting observation now that I have hit the 6 month mark after slowly weaning myself off Zyrtec. While I was taking the medication, I would sometimes wheeze during exercise or at night, needing to use an albuterol inhaler at least twice a week. I simply thought I had developed asthma as an adult. However, a month after stopping Zyrtec, the wheezing simply disappeared. I have not used an inhaler in months. I think the medication was making my body super – sensitive to all allergens, and -- as the previous poster said-- it did not work as well after while. In any case, it is good to be free of the medication. The final symptoms of withdrawal, which were mild itching of my legs after showering and after taking off my clothes at night (relieved with a heating pad), have now completely gone away, and I can honestly say that I have not felt better in a long time.

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Learning from other's suffering, it looks like cutting the amount in half for two weeks for each reduction worked for me.
Started at 19
2 weeks - at 5, snapped in half
2 weeks at 2 1/2, switched to liquid children's.
2 weeks at 1 1/4
2 weeks at 1
2 weeks to reduce to .1 using a smaller calibrated dropper
2 weeks at .1
Overall, 1 nightmare, 1 day of 2 toes itching.

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Noticed a typo.
Started at 10 mg, not 19.
Switched to liquid, so it becomes ml.

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I have been part of this blog since shortly after Carole started it. I've added many replys about lowering my dosage little by little until I eventually got down to taking 1/2 a tablet every 4 days. I never made it to 5. So, a new symptom came up a few months ago (dizzy episodes throughout the day). I thought it was vertigo and was tested and sent to a neurologist, after vertigo was ruled out. This Dr asked me why I've been taking this drug for 10 years and I told him about the severe itching if I go over 4 days without. He told me the Zyrtec is causing the dizziness. He put me on Omega 3 and Omega 6. (Life Extension brand specifically). After a week on the Omega's I was told to stop the Zyrtec. Well after all I've been though... praise God, this has been my saving grace. I've been 4 weeks FREE from Zyrtec!!! Please please try it, I'm not a sales person, I just know what your going thru!!!! I thought I'd never be able to do this! I'll never ever take another allergy pill as long as I live!

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Are Omega 3 and 6 the only supplements or meds you used to discontinue the Zyrtec? Good luck, awesome for you.

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Yes those were the only thing I needed! I pray it works for all. Life Extension brand was what my dr recommend because you don't belch up a fishy odor. I ordered mine from amazon prime.

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Take the Omega with food. You might need to ween yourself down from the Zyrtec before trying it. Not sure if it successful if your still on a full dose. I had a mild itchy spot for the first coupe of days but no worse than like a random normal mosquito bite.

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I am on my third or fourth attempt to discontinue Allegra, after switching from Zyrtec. I am using the supplements recommended by EC in this forum and am down to about 20 ml liquid, from the original dose of 180 mgs. It's a tough challenge, the itching can be extreme!

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Yes Chet, in the past when I attempted (many times) to quit Zyrtec the itching almost drove me crazy! I mean it was horrible!!! That's why of everything I've ever read about remedies or helpful ideas, I honestly thought my Dr was crazy when he suggested Omega3 and Omega6. But I thought wth do I have to lose? I'm so thankful I took his advice. I wish we could talk and compare notes. Just remember it's Life Extension Omega 3 AND Omega 6. On the label you will see other oils in there like Sesame lignans & olive extract. Take the Omega 6 for 3 days as the bottle suggest (2 capsules twice a day) after 3 days introduce the Omega 3 (1 capsule once a day). They work in conjunction with each other. After one week of beginning the Omega 6, stop the Zyrtec. My dr said Omega is all natural and you can take them forever if you want. Note it also brought my cholesterol and bp down to normal levels. Good luck and let me know if it works out for you.

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Hi all. I was taking Cetirizene (Zyrtek) for 15 years thinking that something at work was making my skin itch. I tried to give up so many times but after 3-4 days the itching became too intense. Last year I promised myself that I would give it up for good and vastly increased my mineral water and vitamin C intake and also began to take a natural antihistamine. Low and behold after 5 days the itching began to subside and I now I am drug free, It's been a hell of a battle and I have to say that my immune system went into overdrive when coming off them (kind of like letting a cat out of a bag so to speak). All good now and I've told my doctor what their effect was and that I took them for 15 years without question. One other thing my Doctor diagnosed me with asthma (I don't have that either) !! my mum passed away and stress from work caused my chest to tighten restricting my breathing....I thought it all through and got better....it far too easy to be given drugs and then God knows what damage they do over time! Good luck to all.

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Where did you buy the life extension omega 6? I can't find it.

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Leslie, I purchased the Life Extension Omega 3 and 6 off of Amazon prime. {affiliate link added}

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I just noticed Omega 6 is also known as Mega GLA. So be sure to search Life Extension Mega GLA.

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Hi Denise,
The Omega 3 and Omega 6 are two separate products correct? I am on day 5 of no Zyrtec and experiencing the same symptoms as everyone else. Thought I may give your solution a shot! :)

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I have just finished weaning myself off of Zyrtec. I cut the pill down hey. 1/2 to 1/4 two 1/4 to 1/8 to a crumb. Every time I cut it down I stayed on that amount for about 2 weeks when I got down to a crumb I tried skipping a day and supplementing with Children's Benadryl. Even weaning off a crumb was difficult. The Children's Benadryl chewable tablets helped me completely get off Zyrtec. It took about four- five months..

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I've been on for almost two years and didn't realize it was the Zyrtec causing the problem until this past weekend after surgery. I went three days without because I had knee surgery and simply forgot. Day three I started itching on the scalp. I had the same reaction on a Baltic cruise last year. I didn't take it because I figured there was nothing I was allergic to that time of year. When I started clawing my scalp I assumed I was allergic to the sea sickness patch and too, Zyrtec and it went away. This weekend when I started itching it Dawson me I hadn't taken the Zyrtec and it made me wonder if there was a correlation. I started searching and found this group. Ugh. I went theee days and took a half. Now I'm at the end of day three and starting to feel itchy but gong to try to sleep through it. If it's bothering me tomorrow I'll take 1/4 and see what happens. I'm also going to order the omega 3&6. I called my allergist and he hadn't heard of a rebound reaction.

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Amber, yes it is two separate capsules. Omega 3 (it also has other natural oils in it) and Mega GLA (this is the Omega 6). Both do show other oils listed on the label of the Life Extension brand that I use. I hope it works as well for everyone else. I haven't taken a Zyrtec since March 18th! Good luck my friends.

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