Stopping Zyrtec Triggers Itch

Could my receding gums be caused by the antihistamines that I take for my year-round allergies? I feel like I get dehydrated very easily, too. If this is the case, what can someone do about their allergies and not suffer from dehydration and gum recession? Thanks for your help.

I've had similar experience with both Zyrtec and Allegra. Itching started 2-3 days after stopping daily dosing, unfortunately I always assumed this was from allergies returning so I'd start back on the pills. It never occurred to me that it was withdrawal from the drug. Good information to know.

I wonder if phasing out the antihistamines would be less itchy than stopping cold Turkey. Perhaps something like skip a day, then skip 2 then 3, etc. Let the body get used to less help over a period of time.

I had the same issue. I took Zyrtec for about 4 years, to keep my hive break outs at bay. I kept trying to go off it and would have itching about 3 days later. My allergist told me to go back on it, which I would since I was fearful of a hive break out. I tried 2 times and the third time was the charm.

I've been off it since January with no repercussions. I never thought of it as a withdrawal and my allergist didn't mention it. I just thought the itching was a precursor to breaking out in hives again. Now I just use Zyrtec as needed for allergies, and never did find out why I kept breaking out with hives.

This concerns Claritin, a similar antihistamine. My experience with the withdrawal symptoms is with my cat. I learned from my cat's veterinarian that he suffered from headaches when he stopped taking Claritin. My poor little cat is highly allergic to all kinds of pollen and is taking Claritin. When I stopped giving it to her she started vomiting her food... thus the visit to the vet that gave me a clue about withdrawal symptoms. When I put her back on Claritin she stopped vomiting.

I had a terrible case of hives some years ago. It started after eating too many raw oysters for three days in a row. It was so bad I often had to put my feet & legs in a bucket of ice water to stop the itching. My doctor put me on cortisone, which stopped the hives. I hated having to take cortisone, so I tried to taper off, then the hives came back. Then I visited my daughter in Japan for a few weeks, one day I just stopped the cortisone, and no hives. My hives never came back.

I just heard a segment on The Leonard Lopate Show on WNYC, NYC's public radio FM station. I'd heard The People's Pharmacy on Wisconsin Public Radio when I was out in WI, but hadn't realized there was a web site (d-oh!). I'm not sure if there is a podcast or streaming audio available.

Just found this thread on Zyrtec and am so glad to find I am not alone. I have taken Zyrtec and its generics for years now, but back when it was prescription only, if I'd forget to refill on time I would get itching within a few days (can no longer recall exactly how many days, but it was very few). First, I would random get itches on my scalp, then my arms would being itching, and it would go on from there. I vaguely recall even getting hivish little bumps.

I haven't had that problem since it went generic OTC, but it is good to know it's the pill and not in my mind. It actually was ON my head... as a type of withdrawal symptom. When I was hospitalized recently, I had to tell the doctors I had to continue the Zyrtec generic or my burns would be getting itchy and maybe break into hives.

Claritin works for me only on outdoor pollens, so I never took it for any extended period. I take the Zyrtec at night, since I have a lot of post-nasal sludge during the night and it helps. I add Claritin if I'm going to be doing outdoor work during the warmer months. I found I had to add it when pruning my tall privet hedges, on a makeshift scaffolding of a wide board between two step ladders, and sneezing up there seemed to rock the whole set up. Clairtin meant I barely sneezed at all while doing that chore.

But, interesting that Claritin too, after extended use, can lead to this itching reaction.

I just read this information in your column and I was so glad to see that someone else has the same problem.

My allergist prescribed Zyrtec for my nasal allergies back when you needed a prescription and I have taken it each morning for the past 5 years.

If I run out and more than 2 days go by, the palms of my hands and soles of my feet begin itching...severely. I absolutely panic at the thought of not having it each morning because the itching is so awful. I cannot imagine enduring it if I had to try to wean off of it.

I had no idea that taking this for my allergies would lead me to need it to avoid itching!!

It has been 3 months and the itching is awful. I was on zyrtec for a year. I went to a
dermatologist yesterday and she said it is because I stopped the zyrtec and I should just go back on it. I don't think so, there should be a warning label on this medication as to how it can affect you when discontinued. I am now on lidocain hope it leaves soon.

Glad to know it's not only me. I've only been on Zyrtec for eight months. I wanted to stop taking it but when I stop, two days later my lips, hands and feet start itching. If I take 1/2 pill it helps. My doctor said to take 1/2 pill for two weeks and see if that works. Does anyone out there work for Zyrtec? Can you explain why this is happening? I'm concerned with what this is doing to my immune system. Do I dare take this medication again? Will it be worse next time? What is Zyrtec doing to the other parts of my body and different organs?

I have been itchy for the past few days and couldn't figure out why. I just stopped taking Claritin and thought that I could be itchy due to my allergies coming back worse. Now I think I am so uncomfortable because I stopped taking Claritin and am having some sort of withdrawal. I had no idea that there would be side affects after stopping this medication. Now I am wondering if I should go back on it just to get rid of this awful itch. Glad to see that I'm not the only one, but I wish they would inform us about weaning off this stuff. Makes me wonder what else it could be doing to our bodies.

I am allergic to pollens, dust, and many animals. In the past, I have only taken Zyrtec or Claritin as needed. However, I realized that in order for it to work the best, you must take it daily to build it up in your system. That being said, I've cut back on it since I get extremely dry nasal passages and sinuses during the winter and antihistamines exacerbate this problem.

Unfortunately, I'm right there with everyone else... I am EXTREMELY itchy. This is the 3rd time it has happened and I actually forgot this time and blamed my dog. I would strongly suggest to people that you only take these drugs as-needed instead of daily, unless your allergies are so severe that you would be miserable without them. Time for a benadryl...

How to stop the horrible itch from Zyrtec withdrawal.

I stopped the itch or calm it down. I started taking a natural antihistamine (Vitamin C) 2000 - 3000 mg per day. Itch at times, but no where near what it was like. The 1st 3 days off zyrtec were crazy. I took Nyquil and that stop the itch for about a day, until I started the Vitamin C. I'm on day 7 and I can bear the itch now. I don't know it this helped or not, but I started a probiotic as well. All natural antihistamines from now on. OMEG 3 is good also. If this post makes it on I will followup and let you all know my results. Cold turkey with Vitamin C. Just might work.

I took Zyrtec nightly for ten years. For the last five or six years, I have been tormented nightly with severe facial itching. Only in bed, only at night-I saw several specialists and they had no answer. I would itch the sides of my nose and eyelids until I thought my skin would peel off. I tried creams, salves, etc. No answer.I have been so sleep deprived. I also had severe constipation and dry eyes.

I recently looked at my Zyrtec and thought AHA! Today is day six of no Zyrtec. I am actually sleeping better. I have not woken up once with my face itching. The downside-I do itch on top of my head, soles of my feet, my thighs, esp. late in the day. I also get headaches. But I will get through this. And I am so angry that I was not told about this and amazed at the number of MD's that knew I took this and they also never said "could be your medicine". People think medications are pure gold. I took a pharmacology class recently which also opened my eyes to the harm that meds can do to us.

Wow! I believe I have found an answer. I have been taking generic Zyrtec for a couple months. I stopped taking it 3 or 4 days ago. Yesterday and today I have been driven crazy with an itchy scalp, arms, legs and jock area. It's been embarrassing really. I have considered many different reasons of why I itch to no avail. I thing I'm going to be good now.....Back on the meds. A Zyrtec a day keeps the itchies away!

Incredible!!! Just when I thought I was going crazy I see a lot of people going through the withdrawal symptoms of stopping Zyrtec. I have been using it for about 18 months now and I went three days without it and it was hell.

Today is the first day I am going to start to withdraw but will do it slowly as recommended by my doctor. She told me to start with 1/2 a pill for a couple of weeks, then going 1/4 for a couple of other weeks and then try going cold turkey as by then my body will be in such a small dose it may be easier to get rid of it. She told me also to use Vitamin C, Probiotics, Nettle Extract and since basically what is occuring is a skin inflamation to use motrin as it may help. Wish me luck!!!!

Definately I need to stop taking any of this medications. out of all the allergy pills this is the worst. I never had any withdrawls symptoms when I used allegra but would not go back to any of them unless it is a matter of life or death.

I have been off Zyrtec for six or seven weeks now. At first, the itching was awful Random itching-while shopping, the bottom of my foot would itch without relief, or just before bedtime, my back would itch and I would scratch until my skin turned bright red. But it became less often, and I got through it fine. I used lots of soothing lotions on my skin and took Tylenol at bedtime some nights. But I am off it after ten years and will not take any more antihistamines. Good luck to you!

And another thing that helped-drink extra water to flush it all out!

Good luck to all going off of zyrtec, I itched for 3 months after stopping this medication.

Hi
Did you tried any changes to your diet? Since zyrtec is an antihistamine it can inhibit an allergic reaction to a food or something as well, so I guess by eating as clean as possible it might help I think. I am in day 4 of no zyrtec and it has been crazy. I am using vitamin c, acidophilus and the help from the lord above. Also I have tried to keep myself busy and not think about it. Any other thing you might think will help. Have you used any anti itch cream?

Lynda
Basically for how many weeks did you have to undergo the cruel itching? At last I decided to go cold turkey. Today I have completed day five. I have been using vitamin c, stinging nettle extract, and a good probiotic. I drink about 70 oz of water daily and have tried to maintain a clean diet. As a cream I used Sarna anti itch cream. Can you shed some hope?

I also used Gold Bond medicated anti-itch powder, mainly on my back, since that was where the itch would be really bad around bedtime. I even used it lightly on my face, but you don't want to breathe it in. Water, vitamin c, can't recall what else I used but one day I just realized that intense itch had stopped.

(I still itch on my face at night, which I can honestly say was never helped by Zyrtec.) I kept taking it because it helped me sleep for ten years (or so I thought!). I am sleeping fine. And the reason for the facial itch is still unknown.
And I do sneeze more but feel no need to take a drug for it.

Luis, I think it was about two or three weeks and it slowly got better after a week or so. Day five is good, if you have made it this far it does get better! It helped me to take Tylenol in the evening before bedtime too. Gold Bond powder and Calamine lotion, which is for poison ivy itch, helped too.

Thank you for all your feedback. Today is day six and it was the worst of all days. My biggest itch comes to the hands, my back and the back of head and neck. I will reply back in a couple of weeks and give an update.

I have been taking Zyrtec twice daily for about 1 1/2 years to keep hives under control. I have not taken it for 2 days now and this morning, I started sneezing and have sneezed ALL day long. When I got home from work, the first thing I did was grab my Zyrtec. Then I came to my computer and looked this up and found your page to be very helpful. I hope this works and if it does, the FDA may want to check this out and ALL the comments that have been posted here. Thank you so much. Proof enough for me !!

I had a similar reaction when stopping zyrtec to have allergy testing done a few years ago.. However, when the doctor tested me, it showed no allergies... We did this twice and eventually decided that I was allergic to the Augmentin that I has been taking for sinus infections. However, after more delving into this issue, and after suffering from really terrible stomach problems I went on a candida (yeast) cleanse. A systemic candida infection can cause that extreme itching. After doing the diet for a month which removes wheat, dairy, sugar, artificial sugar, alcohol, caffeine, etc... My stomach got better almost immediately and so did the itching.

I believe the Zyrtec kept me from having the itching reaction from the candida.. I have experimented with this in the past as well and those are my beliefs on the situation.

I have gotten into bad eating habits again recently and I am planning to do a similar cleanse in a few weeks.. removing all the different possible food triggers and then I will slowly add them back to see what affects me.. I would love to get off my allergy meds and reflux meds if possible, but I know deep down I will have to give up foods that I like in order to do that.. I cut sugar, splenda and diet soda out of my diet last Wednesday after having severe stomach pain and indigestion. The pain went away after one day... and it had been going on for weeks.. Then I had 2 days of headaches that wouldn't go away from the withdrawal. It's pretty obvious my body is not happy with what I've been feeding it.

Maybe that is what is causing the horrible non stop itching I have had on my face for YEARS. It must be a food-at night only, after I lie down, and it wakes me from sleep. I scratch the sides of my face along my nose, feels like it is right on the bones of my face-very deep. Then the top of the nose and brows. I have played around with soaps, shampoos, detergents, pillows, etc. No answers.

And Zyrtec did nothing to stop it, that's why I finally got off it. Thanks for the information on diet!

How did you stop taking zyrtec? Cold turkey? I am currently down to 1/2 pill a day (5mg from 10mg). I am going to stay at 5mg for another week or two then drop to 1/4 pill a day for a week or two then every other day, then every third day, then done. Please let me know how you did it as the withdrawal symptoms are just as bad as the hives.

Hi,

How did the withdrawal go? Where you able to stop taking the Zyrtec?

Beth

It took me about 5 weeks to really say I was completely out of the woods from the withdrawal effect of Zyrtec. There are natural histamines out there to help going cold turkey but most important watch what you eat. Your body may react to many things.

I have tried to quit zyrtec countless times but the itching is unbearable. It itches most when I am active; running and such. My biggest concern, however, is that I fear that I have created this dependency with my daughter. I took zyrtec during pregnancy and nursing. When I stopped nursing, she developed severe eczema. She tested negative to everything at the allergist's office. I fear that she has an over-reaction of histamine now. Now my allergist has her on zyrtec and the eczema is starting to go away.I am seeking help and answers and there is nothing out there for me! I am pregnant again and I don't want to do this to baby #2!

I know for me it was 3 months of torture. I still have scars on my arms from scratching so much. The thing that helped the most was a really hot shower than I applied Biofreeze and it seemed to calm it down. I wore long stockings on my arms at night so I wouldn't scratch open my arms. Don't know why more Drs. don't know about this. The Dermatologist was the one who confirmed what I was thinking was the cause of my itching.

I've had similar problems. After taking Zyrtec for 1 year and within 24 hours of stopping, I get Hives. I am cutting down my dosage to slowly get off of it. I've never had hives before taking Zyrtec. I am down to 2.5mg and it's been 6 weeks since I've cut down. I am still breaking out in hives at 24 hours if I don't take it. I am hoping this doesn't go much longer.

The zyrtec reactions from withdrawal happened to me last fall as I stopped it for two weeks for additional allergy testing. I was itching myself raw! My doctor immediately put me on prednisone and that controlled it within a few days. I will NEVER use zyrtec again. I went online and many people had the same reaction, and it has been presented to the Food and Drug Administration. They were so many complaints about coming off this drug. I researched other allergy medications, and there were not the same reactions at all.

If you read earlier posts, I was on it for many years. I got over the withdrawal itching and it is gone, gone, gone! And I know it's allergy season here in Illinois but not even tempted to use it again, will never use any thing similar again. Looking back, it never helped symptoms that much.