Get Informed: Zyrtec
Active Ingredient(s)
Cetirizine
What does it do?
This product is commonly used for the treatment of allergic rhinitis and urticaria. It works by blocking the action of histamine, an important chemical released during allergic reactions.
- Last Text Update:
- 2010-Mar-20 5:27 PM
- Last Data Update:
- 2010-Mar-19 9:03 PM
Other Names
- Zyrtec
- Cetirizine
- Allergy Relief
- Zirtek
- Allertek
- T&R HAY Fever
- Piriteze
- Galpharm Hayfever
How Safe Is It?
- Your Risk Rating
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- Average Risk Rating
-
- Pregnancy Category:
- B
- Black Box Warning:
- No
Facts & Figures
- Date Approved
- 08 Dec 1995
- Est US Patients*
- 8,618,000
- Generic Available
- Yes
- OTC Available
- Yes
User Age Distribution*
< 21
21-39
40-59
60+
Age (Years)
* Estimated number of US people currently taking Zyrtec or its active ingredient based on population adjusted patient numbers registered with iGuard.org.
Recent alerts for Zyrtec
There have been no iGuard.org alerts regarding Zyrtec during the past year.
Zyrtec Safety Report
Learn more about iGuard's risk ratings
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What is Zyrtec used for?
iGuard is currently tracking more than 57,400 patients that use Zyrtec (or similar drugs with the same active ingredient(s)). Use the table below to learn why iGuard users take this product; click on any underlined condition to get information on other medications used for treatment.
| Disease / Condition | % | Average Severity |
|---|---|---|
| Allergies | 92% | 
|
| Nasal/Sinus Congestion | 38% |
|
| Other | 15% |
|
How well does Zyrtec work?
iGuard regularly polls our more than 57,400 users taking Zyrtec (or similar drugs with the same active ingredient(s)) using the Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire for Medications (TSQM) . This feedback is continuously updated in tables below for the benefit of the iGuard community. To request scores for specific patient subgroups, please contact research@iguard.org.
Average Satisfaction Score
(out of 10)
Average Effectiveness Score
(out of 10)
- 90%
- of patients are confident that the good things about Zyrtec outweigh the bad things.
- 6%
- of patients wish they were told more before they started taking Zyrtec.
Common Side Effects of Zyrtec
iGuard regularly polls our more than 57,400 users taking Zyrtec (or similar drugs with the same active ingredient(s)) to monitor the development and frequency of side-effects. This feedback is continuously updated in tables and graphs below for the benefit of the iGuard community.
18% of patients experience side-effects on Zyrtec
< 1% of patients experience signifcant side-effects on Zyrtec
Most Common Side Effects...
-
Drowsiness
-
Dryness
-
= 10%
Less than 1%: Dizziness, Fatigue, Grogginess/Confusion, Headache, Insomnia, Muscle Pain/Cramps, Nasal/Sinus Congestion, Urinary Retention, Vivid Dreams
Global Patient Feedback for Zyrtec (Cetirizine) ( Post a comment )
Question/Comment:
Very intresting info on the side effects of Zyrtec! It may explain a lot of my depression and sleeping issues.
36 year old Female – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2010-02-16 23:04:01
Answer/Reply:
Hi!
I have been taking Zyrtec for several years now and have not had any problems with it like you are describing. I do make sure to take it at night when I am going to bed so that if I did get sleepy at all from it, that I would be able to sleep it off easily. Doing this has worked well for me and it still lasts for the full 24 hours...most of the time! Hope this helps!
48 year old Female – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2010-03-02 12:02:24
Question/Comment:
what is urticaria and candida
40 year old Female – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2009-08-27 11:11:12
Answer/Reply:
Urticaria is hives
42 year old Female – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2009-08-28 20:30:05
Answer/Reply:
candida is same as yeast infection
67 year old Female – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2009-09-08 17:38:33
Question/Comment:
I took Zyrtec daily for over 4 years. My dad mentioned to me he took it for a short time and became irritable, lethargic and depressed. This gave me pause as I had started taking an antidepressant during the same 4-year period of time. I also gained 60 pounds and was losing interest in social activities (not sure if the weight gain was related but it did coincide). I literally could sleep 10 hours a day and still be fatigued. I decided to go off the Zyrtec for a while to see what would happen. Within a month I was feeling so much better I stopped the antidepressant too. I now sleep 7-8 hours again and feel just fine. Depression is not one of the widely known side effects, but upon doing some research I have learned it is not all that uncommon. Just google "zyrtec and depression" and you will get quite a lot of information. Please be careful with this medication and play close attention to your children who are taking it. It works like a dream but may not be all that beneficial after all.
43 year old Female – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2009-07-07 01:15:31
Question/Comment:
I have chronic urticaria and it is nice seeing I am not alone in this dilemma, but I'm sorry so many are dealing with HIVES
59 year old Female – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2009-03-19 09:32:14
Answer/Reply:
I had a cocktail that worked great for Chronic Urticaria. It is Prednisone, Plaquenil, Imuran, Allegra, Doxepin, Singulair, Claritin and Zyrtec. No break through hives at all but I gained about 80 lbs because I was taking about 40 mg of prednisone. Now I take allegra and singulair.
45 year old Female – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2009-03-24 09:12:04
Answer/Reply:
I was diagnosed with allergies 2 years ago after a bout of not being able to breathe for a month and a severe problem wit my ear. I was sent to a specialist and right away he gave me a breathing treatment for the asthma that I was not aware of. The asthma was triggered to allergies to outdoor things in nature like dirt, trees, grass and molds. I was also diagnosed with animal and in home allergies. I was taking Singulair and that made it hard for me since I was sleepy all of the time. I asked my allergist about taking something else and she recommended Zyrtec. I gave it a try and I have been taking it faithfully every day.
Zyrtec has lessened my reactions to allergens immensely. I have only had two asthma attacks since taking it and that's been about 1 and 1/2 years. I was also using nasonex to block the allergens in my nose, but I switched to using the Sinu-pod 2x a week and I have not had problems.
Since taking Zyrtec and getting my allergies under control, I have not had a cold of any kind. I have nothing but praise for this medication.
45 year old Female – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2009-03-31 17:23:21
Answer/Reply:
Have Chronic Urticaria as well for 5 years now. They THINK that it may have been caused by years of birth control that led to systemic candida. Candida is something to test for if you haven't already. Also may want to look into NAET for allergies. www.naet.com -my doc taught me 13 accupuncture points to vibrate when I break out and that stops the reaction.
34 year old Female – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2009-04-16 13:15:11
Question/Comment:
i take ranitidine twice daily when the weather gets warmer because it is an H-2 blocker and when combined with zyrtec it helps control my allergies better than just zyrtec alone. i suffer from uticaria (sp?) and while i still have bad days even with the combo of drugs, it's not as bad as it has been in the past.
36 year old Female – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2009-02-20 18:10:23
Answer/Reply:
I'm sory to hear someone else - besides myself - suffers from uticaria otherwise known as HIVES . . . this month I've made the 3 year mark with these miserable things and keep trying to find a solution . . . this is my newest cocktail . . . ranitidine; accolate; cetirizine; and medrol for a week! Hopefully something will work!
67 year old Female – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2009-02-21 15:02:45
Answer/Reply:
I have had hives for many years...allergic to all kinds of things...for me the best was allegra, then after a few years went to zyrtec its good but made me drowsy took that for a bout 2 yers as well...now i take over the counter claritin. through elimination of triggers mine is much better. Hardly have an outbreak anymore. i live in the south and i am allergic to grass and trees as well as dryer sheets and red dye 41.
49 year old Female – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2009-03-08 20:10:55
iGuard Answer/Reply:
Several years ago I had a severe allergic reaction (hives) to Ceclor. After several rounds of Prednizone which made me so weak I couldn't walk, the Allergist gave me a maleria medication called Paquenil. This was finally the relief I needed for the hives and I got my strenght back. Good Luck
Pavi Williams
Posted: 2009-03-18 05:47:54
Answer/Reply:
I find taking Singular with generic Zytec works for the allergies. I get airborne food induced hives, I first get the hives and my eyes burn as well as my skin. I know to get away then or next I start uncontrollably coughing and my astma kicks in and I cannot get enough air in my lungs (Anaphlaxis). I have found that drinking right from the bothle of liquid children's benedryl (half bottle) sugarfree, dye free, which I carry around with me in my purse will start to slow down the process-have to be away ffrom the trigger (coworkers eating and opening orange peels, grapefruits, and tangarines). I then use my rescue inhaler and then take my Zyrtec.
Misquito Bites I go right fo the hydroxolzine. I use if for my more severe reactions when I can go to bed afterwarrds. I have had epipens but always needed them when it would be in comvient. Insect bites and Citric pulp cause me severe reactions very quickly. I can it and if I do act right away they get worse.
If I end developing a severe migrainie where no one around is allow to move I will puke and am in severe paiin. i take a muscle relaxer, poin releaser/aniaxity
I have celiac disease, asthma and severe reaction to airborne and food allergens. I have many other disorder and they all inteact having the others worse.
17 hours of uninterupted sleep workd and the hives on the 100 or so bites had gone down.
It took me a month with several runarounds to 'finally get my singular. I missed work last week becase I could not sleep due to cold "air" in my lungs-my lungs, feet and butt wer cold-could not bet warm.. I missed part of my work day over not hvavin my prevent medicine.
41 year old Female – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2009-04-03 22:47:32
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62
Patient Comments about
Zyrtec