According to a 2014 study, however, second-generation antihistamines — Zyrtec especially — can affect mood and cause daytime drowsiness more often than doctors initially believed.
Can antihistamines affect your mood?
We have receptors for these chemicals throughout our bodies, including in our brains. On the other hand, allergy medications can also affect mood in some people. Medications like Sudafed (pseudoephedrine) cause some people to feel anxious and jittery, and others to feel lethargic. Many antihistamines cause drowsiness.
Can Zyrtec make you depressed?
Results: Outpatients who received cetirizine and hydroxyzine treatments reported higher scores on the depression, anxiety, and fatigue sub-scales than those who received desloratadine, levocetirizine, and rupatadine.
Can Zyrtec give you anxiety?
Antihistamines are known to cause extreme drowsiness; however, in certain people, they can cause insomnia, excitability, anxiety, restlessness, and a rapid heart rate.
What are the side effects for Zyrtec?
Common side effects of Zyrtec include:
- drowsiness,
- fatigue,
- tired feeling,
- dizziness,
- dry mouth,
- sore throat,
- cough,
- nausea,
Can antihistamines worsen depression?
Can antihistamines cause depression? One study of 92 people with chronic itchiness saw that patients who took the antihistamines cetirizine and hydroxyzine reported an increase in depression and anxiety.
Can allergies affect mood?
In practice, allergy-connected mood changes usually boil down to mild depressive symptoms, like feeling sad, lethargic and fatigued, Marshall said. Some people say they’re more likely to cry during the allergy season. Allergies could make symptoms even worse in a person with clinical depression, experts say.
Is it better to take Zyrtec at night or in the morning?
Cetirizine can be taken at any time of the day. In most people it is non-sedating, so they take it in the morning. However, a percentage of people do find it to be sedating so if it does make you drowsy it is best to take it in the evening. Cetirizine can be taken with or without food.
Why does Zyrtec cause weight gain?
The researchers theorized that antihistamines have a similar chemical structure to certain psychiatric drugs that are known to be associated with weight gain. Antihistamines may also increase appetite, which can cause weight gain.
How long does Zyrtec withdrawal last?
“Itching can occur within one-two days of stopping Zyrtec or Xyzal after long term daily use (months to years). It usually lasts a few days and then resolves. The intensity of the itching can be from mild to severe. Occasionally, a brief burst of oral steroids may be needed to help the patient get off the drug.
Does Zyrtec make u feel weird?
Both Zyrtec and Claritin may make you drowsy or tired. For that reason, you shouldn’t take these medications if you also take muscle relaxers, sleeping pills, or other drugs that cause drowsiness.
Can Zyrtec cause weight gain?
H1 receptor antihistamines such as cetirizine, fexofenadine, and desloratadine are among the most commonly prescribed medications for the treatment of allergies and have been shown to stimulate appetite and weight gain as side effects of treatment (6).
Should you take Zyrtec everyday?
Zyrtec is usually taken once a day. During the pollen season, your doctor may advise you to take it every day if you suffer from seasonal allergic rhinitis.
What are the side effects of long term use of Zyrtec?
That said, Cetirizine can cause adverse effects, such as:
- some drowsiness.
- excessive tiredness.
- dry mouth.
- stomach pain.
- diarrhea.
- vomiting.
Who should not take Zyrtec?
You should not use this medicine if you are allergic to cetirizine or levocetirizine. Cetirizine injection is not for use in children young than 6 years old who have liver or kidney disease. Ask a doctor or pharmacist if it is safe for you to take cetirizine oral if you have any medical conditions.
Can you get addicted to Zyrtec?
You CAN become dependent on Zyrtec and have itchy withdrawals from the allergy drug.