Loratidine symptoms and conditions

I started taking zyrtec a few days ago for seasonal allergies. I had tried the claritin (loratidine) before and it didn't seem to really help me much. I was avoiding the zyrtec because I knew it could potentially make me drowsy and I didn't want to be tired if I was working. I'm a pharmacist so I decicded to try it knowing the potential side effects. It works really well for me - but I started having really vivid strange - and disturbing - dreams. It has only been a week and they havent been too bad so far - but I am going to monitor it and if they get worse I will stop and try something else. The reason this is so strange is I don't normally dream much at all. I maybe remember bits and pieces of a dream - these are wierd and strange and make absolutely no sense. These dreams seem so real and are so clear - I can remember every detail of what was done and said.

I am a 37 year old female ~185lbs already under treatment for clinical depression with two medications. I used to take Alavert (loratidine) for seasonal allergies but found it had "stopped working" well for me. Since Zyrtec (certirizine) went over-the-counter, I decided to try it.

I took it sporadically at 10mg daily for a period of 2-3 weeks, and then, during a particularly bad allergic exacerbation, began to take it consistently at 10mg daily. My depression, which was previous well-controlled on medication, worsened to the point of severity. Extreme despair, emotional detachment, and loss of interest in pleasurable activities--well, in ANY activity beyond sleep.

I am a pharmacist, and on a whim, I decided to do some research into interactions with my other medications, and found several anecdotal reports of depression onset and worsening in Zyrtec users. This particular side effect of Zyrtec was unknown to me, nor have I received any educational materials or reports in my trade literature listing depression as a possible adverse effect.

I have discontinued the medication in both myself and my three year old daughter (5mg daily). I can already see a difference in her disposition, and I am starting to crawl out of my pit of gloom. I'm using Alavert again, as I never had one issue with it, and I'm supplementing with Benadryl (diphenhydramine) at night as needed for exacerbations.

This fall, our 3-year old son went on singulair to combat seasonal allergies and "reactive airway disorder." Shortly after he started the medication, he started having terrible mood swings and when he would get angry, it would go into a rage. This was not typical for our son. We thought that he was entering the awful 3-year old stage and that he was starting to show behavior problems. We have been working very hard with him to help him control his anger and moods, but we will be taking him off singulair tonight to see if that makes a difference!

I started taking Singulair last Oct. 2006 for allergic asthma.
Within the month, I gained about 15 lbs., & no amount of working out reduced it. I had recently lost a friend/teacher to cancer, & had people staying in my house for all of October. I was a monster, unable to control myself (although I realize the situation was challenging). Over the past year, I often was irritable & have struggled with low immunity. I went on a month long Buddhist retreat in August, got off the stuff, & have felt GOOD. Symptoms have returned since being home, but I'm taking just regular
Loratidine & am OK. I feel there is something wrong with Singulair...that it wore down my immune system even more, & was taking a toll in some way. I will not use it again.

I have no such symptoms with Zyrtec-as a matter of fact it is about the only antihistamine that works for me. I have been back on it for about three months and the only reason I was off it for a while was because the VA did not have it in their formulary so I was put on Loratidine which did not help me much for my allergies.