Zyrtec and otc

I had only been taking zyrtec for the past few months and ran out a few days ago and decided that i really didn't want to continue takin it i have been off of it for almost 3 days now and have started itching like crazy. Going off zyrtec was the only thing that had changed so i started researching it and found it is a common effect when quitting. I will never go back on it and am trying to get family and friends to quit taking it as well after seein all of the negative side effects and withdrawal problems. I'll be stickin with treating my allergies with OTC tylenol or advil sinus. Any help that zyrtec may have isn't worth all the negative points for me

My 2.5 year old son was on this for a little over a week. We noticed him start to have rapid eye blinking and head twitching every other minute or so. Took him to ER, doctors said possible pink eye even though there was no redness or discharge in his eyes. Followed up with his pediatrician and was told no pink eye but possible reaction to Zyrtec and to discontinue the med. Also advised that it takes up to 6 weeks for medicines to be completely out of the system. Pediatrician is also scheduling appointment with neurologist in case this "tic" doesn't go away in a reasonable amount of time. I wish I'd known about this site and others prior to giving my son this medicine recommended by a doctor. There should be a warning label on every bottle of medicine both prescribed and otc to direct people to websites such as these or a 1-800 number to advise about any and all potential side effects.

I never thought an allergy med would have a reaction with my esophagus, but I guess everyone can discover something new! I used to be on RX Zyrtec many years ago and never really noticed any issues with it...I have taken Claritin OTC for some time now, but it doesn't seem to last long enough to cover the 24 hour day as it says, so I decided to try the Zyrtec OTC...by the third day I seemed to be having very tight and sharp esophageal pains in the middle of my chest and for the whole week I was on Zyrtec, the symptoms continued and became very intense...I stopped Zyrtec 3 days ago and have noticed a VAST improvement in the pain diminishing and I wondered if anyone else has had any of the same issues as I faced with this!

I am a 52 year old female. I've been using Zyrtec for four months, at first PRN, then for the last eight weeks daily. I also take Norvasc and Atenolol for BP. I was already experiencing slight swelling in my ankles presumably from the Norvasc, and I have been gaining weight steadily since starting the Atenolol in December. I have had overwhelming fatigue during exercise to the point that I can hardly finish a one hour Jazzercise class (which I have attended on a regular basis for over 20 years.) All symptoms I've blamed on the BP meds, especially the Atenolol.

I began complaining to my doc about the symptoms and had a complete blood work up to rule out other diseases that cause these symptoms. He suggested Weight Watchers and increased exercise to battle the weight gain, and reduced the Atenolol to half dose to over come the these issues. I didn't think to tell him about the Zyrtec I had started taking OTC.

I began careful monitoring of calorie intake and increased my Jazzercise classes in an attempt to lose weight with no success. In fact, the weight continued to increase.

This week, the swelling in my ankles increased to the point where you can not recognize them and the swelling has now included my feet. They are so puffy the toes are connected and you can make a deep impression with your finger in the skin. I decided to stop the Zyrtec and found the swelling to stop immediately. Even the slight ankle swelling has abated.

I started searching the web for contraindications between Zyrtec and the BP meds. None of the drug sites offer any negative side effects The Zyrtec site gives no info at all. After reading the many experiences here and on another site, I think the Zyrtec is to blame for all of my symptoms. I have not asked the doc about his opinion, but will inform him at my next appointment.

Went to the doc's with a bad deep cough had for about a week. I was prescribed an antibiotic, eye drop, and an antihistamine. Went to local drug store found out insurance would not pay for antihistamine because it was the same thing as OTC Zyrtec and that the drug store had a generic brand which was cheaper. Started taking it on a fri. night all went well until the following Thur. night at work. Arrived at work normal time then roughly one hour into my shift I notice sweating, dizzy, and not aware of my surroundings, when suddenly I found myself passed out on a hard concrete floor flopping like a fish out of water. Taken to ER were they performed CAT scan, MRI, and very painful spinal tap.
All came back clear. After a stay in the hospital fri I was looking forward to being discharged sat morning when all of sudden it happen once again. In fact it happen three times sat. What was it you ask? My heart had STOPPED first time 5 seconds, second time 11 seconds, and the third time with my Wife watching my heart stopped for a full 18 seconds. Awoke to the sights of several Nurse's with difb in hand ready to shock me back. Rushed to ICU my heart than began racing to 170 – 180 beats a min. had to get med’s. to slow it down. Was schd for a pace maker. Final diagnosis ZYRTEC! The hospital Doc., Cardiologist as well as my PCP agreed.

I am trying to get off Zyrtec after having taken it for the last four months. I am having a hard time doing so. I've taken Zyrtec every spring for about 10 years. Every time I go off of it I develop terrible insomnia. It takes about three months to get over the insomnia. BUT this time around, I have developed a terrible itching. The itching goes away if I take one-half of a Zyrtec pill. It comes back if I don't take another pill within 24 hours. Come to think of it, I have developed this itching before when I went off Zyrtec and used hydrocortisone cream to stop it, but I never before contributed the itching to the Zyrtec. It is definitely some type of withdrawal symptom.
Also, my husband has noticed that I get terribly moody, depressed, cry a lot, and become critical of everyone when I am on Zyrtec -- and go back to my normal self when I am off of it.
AND I have begun to notice that my appetite goes wild while on Zyrtec. When I go off Zyrtec, my appetite goes back to normal. I have gained almost 50 lbs since I was introduced to Zyrtec.
I would like to say that I will never take it again, but it is the only antihistamine that completely controls my springtime allergic asthma. I need to be able to breathe.

Here's what's going on...

I've been taking Zyrtec for years with no problems. I don't have the usual allergies like runny nose, itchy eyes, etc. My allergies make me very sick to my stomach--all day long. It was like morning sickness. I was on polaramine for many years and they discontinued it, then I found Contact and then they discontinued the ingredient that helped me that was in Contact. After trying a few other OTC and prescribed antihistamines, Zyrtec was the only one that helped me.

Since I have started taking the OTC Zyrtec (not to be confused with OTC Zyrtec-D), I've been getting terrible irregular heart rhythms...what happened??

Can anyone tell me if the product has changed since they went OTC? And what is in Zyrtec that makes the heart go crazy like that? It's very annoying. I'll have to start trying all different meds now to find one that works.