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Zyrtec

Cetirizine Hydrochloride

User Ratings
Out of 10
Satisfaction
7.4
7.3  Effectiveness
3.1  Side Effects
6.1  Holistic Benefits

RateADrug users have reported 3 Zyrtec side effects and 2 Zyrtec benefits.

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Treatment Information
The generic name of this medication is cetirizine and brand name is Zyrtec.
The active ingredients of this medication are cetirizine hydrochloride and pseudoephedrine hydrochloride.
Zyrtec is manufactured solely by McNeil Consumer Healthcare pharmaceutical company.
Mainly used for the prevention or treatment of symptoms of hay fever and other upper respiratory allergies.
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How does your Treatment Compare?
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BrandsEffectivenessHolistic BenefitsSide
Effects		Number of Ratings
Zyrtec 7.61 6.04 2.15 99 Get Info
Benadryl 7.23 6.23 3.43 102 Get Info
Allegra 7.09 5.27 2.14 35 Get Info
Benadryl Allergy 6.77 5.67 3.49 31 Get Info
Claritin 6.7 5.29 1.85 122 Get Info
View All About these Scores Get Your Score
Effectiveness of Zyrtec by Condition
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Effectiveness on "Allergies"
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Reported Changes in Health and Well-Being
Since taking Zyrtec, RateADrug survey participants noticed these changes in their health:
Effect on:Much WorseWorseNo ChangeBetterMuch Better
Appetite 0% 4.5% 91.7% 3% 0.8%
Balance/Equilibrium 0% 2.2% 95.5% 1.5% 0.7%
Blood Pressure 0.7% 2.2% 95.5% 1.5% 0%
Breathing 2.2% 7.4% 59.3% 19.3% 11.9%
Confidence 0% 4.5% 92.5% 0.7% 2.2%
Coordination/Motor Skills 0% 3.7% 92.5% 3% 0.7%
Digestion 0% 3.7% 94.8% 0.7% 0.7%
Emotional Well-being 0.7% 3.7% 83.6% 9.7% 2.2%
Energy 1.5% 12.5% 74.3% 10.3% 1.5%
Eyesight 0% 1.5% 94.8% 3% 0.7%
Memory 0% 3% 95.5% 1.5% 0%
Mental Clarity 0% 7.5% 85.8% 6% 0.7%
Pain 0.8% 3% 94.7% 0.8% 0.8%
Patience 0% 4.5% 90.2% 3.8% 1.5%
Sexual Health 1.5% 2.2% 94.8% 1.5% 0%
Skin Complexion 0% 3% 95.5% 1.5% 0%
Sleep 0.7% 9.4% 61.9% 23% 5%
Stress Level 0% 6% 88.7% 4.5% 0.8%
|
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Commonly Reported Zyrtec Side Effects
RateADrug survey participants experienced these commonly reported side effects:
Effect on:NoneMildModerateStrongSevere
Allergic Reaction 96.9% 2.3% 0% 0.8% 0%
Blurred Vision 98.5% 0.8% 0.8% 0% 0%
Cold Symptoms 96.3% 3.7% 0% 0% 0%
Coordination / Balance Problems 97.1% 1.9% 1% 0% 0%
Cough 92.4% 5.3% 1.5% 0.8% 0%
Dizziness 87.5% 10.3% 2.2% 0% 0%
Drowsiness 68.3% 20.1% 7.2% 2.9% 1.4%
Dry Mouth 75.5% 14.4% 8.6% 0.7% 0.7%
Dry Nose 86.1% 9.3% 3.7% 0.9% 0%
Dry Throat / Increased Thirst 80.2% 14.2% 4.7% 0.9% 0%
Fatigue 82.5% 10.2% 4.4% 2.2% 0.7%
Gas 96.3% 3.7% 0% 0% 0%
Headache 91.8% 4.5% 2.2% 1.5% 0%
Nausea 97% 2.3% 0% 0.8% 0%
Nosebleeds 99.1% 0.9% 0% 0% 0%
Sexual Dysfunction 96.3% 3.7% 0% 0% 0%
Skin Rash 95.2% 1.9% 1% 1.9% 0%
Sneezing 89.6% 7.5% 2.8% 0% 0%
Sore Throat 93.9% 5.3% 0.8% 0% 0%
Stomach Ache 96.3% 3.7% 0% 0% 0%
Unusual Taste in Mouth 94.3% 3.8% 0.9% 0.9% 0%
Wheezing 98.1% 1.9% 0% 0% 0%
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Less Commonly Reported Zyrtec Side Effects
RateADrug survey participants experienced less commonly reported side effects:
Effect on:NoneMildModerateStrongSevere
Abdominal Pain 96.2% 1.9% 1% 1% 0%
Abnormal / Vivid Dreams 96.9% 0.8% 1.5% 0% 0.8%
Appetite Loss 99.2% 0% 0.8% 0% 0%
Back Pain 97.1% 2.9% 0% 0% 0%
Constipation 92.5% 4.7% 0.9% 1.9% 0%
Diarrhea 98.1% 0% 0.9% 0.9% 0%
Difficulty Urinating 97.7% 2.3% 0% 0% 0%
Dry Nose 80% 16% 0% 0% 4%
Dry Throat / Increased Thirst 77.8% 14.8% 3.7% 3.7% 0%
High Blood Pressure 97.1% 1% 1% 1% 0%
Insomnia 98.1% 1% 0% 1% 0%
Irritability / Impatience 94.7% 2.3% 2.3% 0.8% 0%
Muscle Cramping 98.1% 0% 1.9% 0% 0%
Nervousness 97.7% 1.6% 0% 0.8% 0%
Nosebleeds 91.7% 8.3% 0% 0% 0%
Rapid Heartbeat 96.3% 2.8% 0.9% 0% 0%
Reduced Libido 96.3% 1.9% 0% 1.9% 0%
Sneezing 87.5% 8.3% 4.2% 0% 0%
Tingling Sensations 96.1% 0.8% 1.6% 1.6% 0%
Tremors 97.1% 2.9% 0% 0% 0%
Unusual Taste in Mouth 91.3% 4.3% 4.3% 0% 0%
Wheezing 88.5% 11.5% 0% 0% 0%
|
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Episodes since taking Zyrtec
Since taking Zyrtec Rate a Drug survey participants reported these episodes:
Auto Accident 1.2%
Hospitalization 0.6%
About these Results  
How does your experience compare with other Zyrtec users?     Get Your Score

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User Comments about Zyrtec
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   —Posted by Anonymous
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15 Jan 2016 I took Zyrtec for a while. I was feeling tired and couldn't figure out why. Then it got worse. I started experience high blood pressure (all my life I had it low), vision loss, poor appetite, stomach aches and especially RAGE. I was alway angry and didn't understand the cause. Then I went to Europe, ran out of Zyrtec and went back to my usual self. The FDA is so difficult for many things but they allow poison like Zyrtec on the shelves. Go figure.
   —Posted by Anonymous
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02 Jan 2013 Had to chime in I have been using Zyrtec for years I have tried all the main ones Allegra, Claritin and others I don't remember the names of. All of these I have tried when they were new RX only and later OTC. In my experience Allegra took a very long time to start preventing allergies but was effective. Claritin worked quickly but was not as effective as Allegra. It made me wired but now as long as I don't take the decongestant version it works OK. The first time I tried Zyrtec it worked within an hour this was the standard original one without decongestant in it. I have never felt sleepy or anxious from it and even after several years of taking it still works like magic. When I take it daily I sometimes forget I have allergies. I have to wonder if anyone is taking the decongestant version instead of the original version, maybe that is why there are so many reports of anxiety? Just a thought.
   —Posted by Kadensmom
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25 Feb 2012 I took generic Zyrtec for approx two months. At first, I noticed mild sleepiness and adjusted the time of day I took my dose. Over the next two months the sleepiness increased to the point that I was sleeping two to three hours longer per night and woke each morning still exhausted and feeling that I could have slept all day. When I found myself even nodding off at stop lights, I decided that thought I had great relief from allergies, being an irritable zombie wasn't worth it, so I decIded to go off it. That's when the real problems began. I had an almost heroine like withdrawal off severe nausea, headaches and overall pain that four weeks later are still not completely resolved. Google Zyrtec withdrawal and you will find frightening stories like mine and worse. There are especially bad complaints about kids and Zyrtec. I would never even consider taking another drug like this again. Horrible experience that I have lost months of my life to.
   —Posted by Anonymous
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05 Jan 2012 It definitely stops my allergies from acting up, though I'm fast asleep so I can't enjoy the allergy free hours it provides.
   —Posted by Anonymous
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