Beauty

[HonnyBrown]

All, ask your pharmacists about drug reactions, prescription and over the counter. They are specifically trained in this.

[morganjen]

Oh yes, I had that. Had been on Zyrtec for about 16 years. My change in diet resulted in stopping my seasonal allergies. I got off of it cold turkey. You'd think it's an allergy pill so it would be pretty benign (it's over the counter). I got the itching the very next day. My scalp itching was terrible. I'm glad I thought that it might be from getting off the med. I did some research and found out that it has withdrawal syndrome side effects. Yikes. I have been off for about a month and don't have any more strange itching (also on hands, wrists) anymore.

[Suzeecat]

Very interesting! I was recently taking Zyrtec for just a couple weeks, for seasonal allergy symptoms. I never made a connection, but right around the time I stopped taking it, I started itching like crazy on one shoulder! I put some Aquafor ointment on it, thinking it was dry skin (although it wasn't flaky), but it still itched. Cortisone cream gives me some relief, but I have to keep reapplying it. it's been about two weeks - how much longer should I expect this to continue? I have no rash, no bumps or any kind, just itchy!

[morganjen]

On 11/3/2014 suzeecat said:

Very interesting! I was recently taking Zyrtec for just a couple weeks, for seasonal allergy symptoms. I never made a connection, but right around the time I stopped taking it, I started itching like crazy on one shoulder! I put some Aquafor ointment on it, thinking it was dry skin (although it wasn't flaky), but it still itched. Cortisone cream gives me some relief, but I have to keep reapplying it. it's been about two weeks - how much longer should I expect this to continue? I have no rash, no bumps or any kind, just itchy!

Mine was really bad the first week. It tapered off and I only get the rare occurance on my palm every now and then. I think it differs for different people, but it does eventually go away. That's how mine was, no swelling or bumps but miserable.

[Abrowneyegirl]

On 11/3/2014 suzeecat said:

Very interesting! I was recently taking Zyrtec for just a couple weeks, for seasonal allergy symptoms. I never made a connection, but right around the time I stopped taking it, I started itching like crazy on one shoulder! I put some Aquafor ointment on it, thinking it was dry skin (although it wasn't flaky), but it still itched. Cortisone cream gives me some relief, but I have to keep reapplying it. it's been about two weeks - how much longer should I expect this to continue? I have no rash, no bumps or any kind, just itchy!

I slowly tapered off but still had just as you describe for 10 days to 2 weeks. Nothing helped me, no lotions or creams (now that I think about it cold compresses gave me temp. relief).

Yes- no bumps or rashes just a maddening it ch. Once you know it is the med it gives you hope that there is an end in site.

[AstridDrey]

Wow. Thanks so much for posting. Great info. I have allergies and have taken Zyrtec, but not on a regular basis. Doctors are so quick to recommend drugs, but it pays to research everything yourself.

[nailmaven]

I took Zyrtec for years with no problems. After I got dermatographism I was switched to Xyzal. Xyzal is Zyrtec with one molecule moved left. Or maybe moved right. If you can't take one, why try the other?

[Wackers3]

Back in the late 90's, I developed a very serious and very painful stomach issue. None of the doctors could figure out what was going in. I ended up being put in the hospital where they did a bunch of testing, all to no avail. When I had, I think it's called a GED, the specialist told my primary doctor that he was testing for cancer as he had never seen a stomach lining so red and inflamed. Luckily, all came back fine.

So here I was, sick as a dog, and still no-one knew why. About 2 weeks after the hospital, I ran out of my Lipitor and for one reason or another, didn't refill my script right away (about 10 days) During that time, my stomach actually started to feel much better. I still didn't connect the dots until I refilled my script and started taking it again. Bingo, started getting really sick again and this time, I put it all together ----- that was the cause.

At the time, the manufacturers of Lipitor did not have stomach problems listed as any type of potential side effect. Once my primary doctor observed my severe reaction and it abating when I was off it for a mere 10 days, he called the drug company and reported it. Within a few years, it was finally listed as a potential side effect. I often wonder how many others suffered like I did and never figured it out.

I now am so cautious with prescription meds that it takes some real necessity for me to take any. I was so sick for close to 6 months, lost a lot of weight due to inability to eat and it dominated my life. And if I hadn't put off refilling that script, who knows what would have occurred.

[suzyQ3]

On 11/7/2014 wackers said:

Back in the late 90's, I developed a very serious and very painful stomach issue. None of the doctors could figure out what was going in. I ended up being put in the hospital where they did a bunch of testing, all to no avail. When I had, I think it's called a GED, the specialist told my primary doctor that he was testing for cancer as he had never seen a stomach lining so red and inflamed. Luckily, all came back fine.

So here I was, sick as a dog, and still no-one knew why. About 2 weeks after the hospital, I ran out of my Lipitor and for one reason or another, didn't refill my script right away (about 10 days) During that time, my stomach actually started to feel much better. I still didn't connect the dots until I refilled my script and started taking it again. Bingo, started getting really sick again and this time, I put it all together ----- that was the cause.

At the time, the manufacturers of Lipitor did not have stomach problems listed as any type of potential side effect. Once my primary doctor observed my severe reaction and it abating when I was off it for a mere 10 days, he called the drug company and reported it. Within a few years, it was finally listed as a potential side effect. I often wonder how many others suffered like I did and never figured it out.

I now am so cautious with prescription meds that it takes some real necessity for me to take any. I was so sick for close to 6 months, lost a lot of weight due to inability to eat and it dominated my life. And if I hadn't put off refilling that script, who knows what would have occurred.

wackers, my husband took a broad-spectrum antibiotic for a suspected strep throat. He actually talked the doctor into prescribing treatment before the lab results were in because he was about to leave on a business trip. He convinced the doctor that he just knew he had it.

A few weeks later, he started feeling tired and nauseated. About a week after that, he told me that his urine was a strange color. I took a look at him, and his eyes were yellow.

The ER doctors said his liver panel was off the charts. He was eventually diagnosed with toxic hepatitis. His internist did some research and found that this was a very rare side effect of the antibiotic -- an antibiotic that he hadn't even needed because, lo and behold, the test for strep was negative.

Thankfully, he came through with flying colors, although grouchy that he had to abstain from wine for a few months. It was a very scary time for him and the family.

Every drug has risks. As you said, you have to do a risk/benefit analysis. He has both high blood pressure and cholesterol that have both been brought under much necessary control with meds without any side effects to speak of.