Zyrtec and pharmacist

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.

This is my first time taking Zyrtec D. It was recommended by my local pharmacist. I have had a terrible sinus infection which has lead to a massive ear infection. The ear infection is getting worse . every time I blew my nose, I felt like my ears were going to pop right off my head. Anyhow, the only thing that has made me feel better is Zyrtec D however the side effects I am experiencing from this are far more worse and are not worth it. I am very anxious to the point where my muscles ache. I also have excessive crying spells and I also have been super angry all day. I have taken 2 pills in the past 24 hours. My ears are still clogged but my nose is clear. I am also experiencing shortness of breath and increased heart rate. I also can not sleep and I keep waking up with horrible dreams. I have been searching the internet now to figure out how to get this drug out of my system. Although I can now breath, the side effects are not worth it. I would rather have a stuffed nose then ever take this again.

Started taking Zyrtec after following the advise of my pharmacist. BIG MISTAKE!! I have never had symptoms of depression before. After one week on the medicine it took everything in me just to make myself get out of bed. The last day I took the medicine I felt that there was nothing to live for and everyone would be better off if I was gone. Never before had I ever thought about suicide. Until then. It took about three days with no Zyrtec before I started feeling this "blackness" lift off of me.

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.