Zyrtec can be a good antihistamine for allergies and hives though it can cause sedation and fatigue in some people. These symptoms are usually milder than with the first generation antihistamines, but more pronounced than with medications such as Claritin or Allegra.
Which antihistamine is best for hives?
A nonprescription oral antihistamine, such as loratadine (Claritin), cetirizine (Zyrtec Allergy) or diphenhydramine (Benadryl Allergy, others), may help relieve itching.
Is Zyrtec or Benadryl better for hives?
Benadryl (Diphenhydramine) is great for allergies, but curl up on the couch after taking it and get ready for a nap. Zyrtec (cetirizine) works to treat sneezing and runny nose, and causes less sedation compared to Benadryl. Works well to also treat hives and itchy skin.
Can I take Zyrtec twice a day for hives?
The combination of Zantac (ranitidine) and Zyrtec (cetirizine) helps many people, although you may need to double the regular Zyrtec dose to 10 mg twice a day for decent relief.
What gets rid of hives fast?
Home remedies
- Bathing in an anti-itch solution. Oatmeal and baking soda baths can soothe skin and reduce irritation. …
- Applying aloe vera. The healing properties of aloe vera may soothe and reduce hives. …
- Avoiding irritants. This includes perfumes, fragranced soaps or moisturizers, and staying out of the sun.
What cream should I put on hives?
You can treat the hives with calamine lotion as necessary.
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You can apply calamine lotion directly to your skin:
- Make sure you mix the lotion before using it by shaking the container.
- Put some calamine lotion on a cotton pad or cloth.
- Apply the pad or cloth directly to the hives and let dry.
What happens if antihistamines don’t work for hives?
If antihistamines don’t help, your doctor might prescribe a corticosteroid. These drugs calm the immune system. That can make your hives less severe. You can get them in a shot or a pill.
How do you calm down hives?
Wear loose-fitting, cotton clothes. Apply a cold compress, such as ice cubes wrapped in a washcloth, to the itchy skin several times a day—unless cold triggers your hives. Use anti-itch medication that you can buy without a prescription, such as an antihistamine or calamine lotion.
Why am I breaking out in hives every night?
They’re often caused by an allergic reaction to a food or drug. Usually, they go away quickly. For a small number of people, though, hives come back again and again, with no known cause. When new outbreaks happen almost every day for 6 weeks or more, it’s called chronic idiopathic urticaria (CIU).
Does Zyrtec have the same ingredients as Benadryl?
Benadryl (diphenhydramine) and Zyrtec (cetirizine hydrochloride) are antihistamines used to treat allergy symptoms, such as itching, hives, runny nose, watery eyes, and sneezing from hay fever (allergic rhinitis) and other allergies, such as allergies to molds and dust mites.
How long until hives go away?
Acute hives (sometimes called acute urticaria or acute spontaneous urticaria) are hives that appear suddenly, and then fade away on their own. They normally fade within 24-48 hours, although some cases of acute hives can last for several weeks.
Does hot water aggravate hives?
Hot showers or baths can make hives worse. “Heat can cause vasodilation, which essentially gives your hives more blood supply and a chance to spread,” Dr. Ogden says. Instead, take a cold shower or a cool bath to calm the itch.
Can hives be a sign of something serious?
Hives appear as a rapidly spreading, red, raised and itchy rash in splotches or all over the body. Caused by an allergic reaction to medications or food, hives can be a sign of a life-threatening problem when accompanied by difficulty breathing and a drop in blood pressure.
What do stress hives look like?
What do stress rashes look like? Stress rashes often appear as raised red bumps called hives. They can affect any part of the body, but often a stress rash is on the face, neck, chest or arms. Hives may range from tiny dots to large welts and may form in clusters.
Does cortizone cream help hives?
Cortisone-containing creams (steroids), even strong ones requiring a prescription, are not very helpful in controlling the itch of hives. Applying cool compresses may help soothe the itch of an urticarial rash.