Generally, cetirizine is a safe and effective drug, but you should be aware of certain warnings and precautions when taking this drug. Learn how this drug works, what it’s used for, and how to take it safely.
Is it safe to take Zyrtec every day?
Can be taken once a day. May be given daily on a regular basis when allergens are most prevalent (such as during spring or summer). Zyrtec does not appear to interact with many drugs (theophylline slightly decreased the clearance of Zyrtec). Zyrtec has been demonstrated to be safe in children older than 6 months.
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.
How long can you take Zyrtec for?
Any time of day works. And ZYRTEC® will continue to work for 24 hours.
What happens if you take a lot of Zyrtec?
Some side effects of taking antihistamines can mimic symptoms of an overdose. These include mild nausea, dizziness, vomiting, diarrhea, and stomach pain. These symptoms don’t usually require medical treatment, and may subside as your body adjusts to the medication. Even so, check with a doctor if you have side effects.
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.
Do antihistamines weaken immune system?
Most anti-allergy medications do not affect immunity, but it does depend on the medication. Medication such as antihistamines and Montelukast are generally considered safe so you should continue to use these. To the best of our knowledge, there is no reason to think that antihistamines would lower the immune response.
Which is better Claritin or Zyrtec?
Zyrtec has a quicker onset of action compared to Claritin and may be more effective than Claritin in reducing allergy symptoms, according to one clinical trial. However, cetirizine, the active ingredient of Zyrtec, has been shown to produce more drowsiness than loratadine.
Does 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).
What is zyrtec good for?
Cetirizine is an antihistamine used to relieve allergy symptoms such as watery eyes, runny nose, itching eyes/nose, sneezing, hives, and itching. It works by blocking a certain natural substance (histamine) that your body makes during an allergic reaction.
Can Zyrtec cause depression?
The over-the-counter allergy medication cetirizine (Zyrtec and generic) has been linked to depression, as has another type of drug, montelukast (Singulair), which is often used to treat people with allergic asthma.
Can you get addicted to Zyrtec?
You CAN become dependent on Zyrtec and have itchy withdrawals from the allergy drug.
Can Zyrtec cause heart palpitations?
Although palpitations may be caused by a heart problem, they also occur because of stress, fatigue, or use of alcohol, caffeine, or nicotine. Many medicines, including diet pills, antihistamines, decongestants, and some herbal products, can cause heart palpitations. Nearly everyone has palpitations from time to time.
Can Zyrtec cause anxiety?
Antihistamines are known to cause extreme drowsiness; however, in certain people, they can cause insomnia, excitability, anxiety, restlessness, and a rapid heart rate.
Can I take 2 Zyrtec a day?
There have been reports of patients taking 15-18 times the recommended dose of Zyrtec (recommended dose is 10 mg) and having some adverse effects (restlessness, irritability, somnolence). Taking two 10mg tablets should not cause you to have any serious problems.
Can I take 20 mg of Zyrtec a day?
Four small studies suggest that cetirizine 20 mg daily may improve symptoms in adults with severe chronic urticaria. In Okubo et al (2013), itching and weals improved in people who took cetirizine 20 mg daily or olopatadine 5 mg twice daily as a dose increase from cetirizine 10 mg.