Is this drug making me sick?
April 13, 2010 7:56 PM Subscribe
Is Zyrtec making me grumpy?
I started taking Zyrtec for hives a couple weeks ago. It worked so great, I've continued taking it for my usually severe seasonal allergies. I haven't had ANY allergy symptoms, even though every outdoor surface is covered in a fine yellow film of pollen.
I've also been kind of grouchy lately. I'm generally prone to grouchiness when I'm tired or hungry, but it's been pervasive. I'm irritated most all the time.
In addition, I've suffered unusual stomach woes, from nausea to liquids exiting when and where they should not ('nuff said) as well as general smell sensitivity. I feel like I have morning sickness often. (Pregnancy is not a possibility at all.)
Is it the Zyrtec messing me up? I hate not to take it because it's been the best spring I've had in years and years. Before I test it, I'd like to hear what you mefites have experienced while taking Zyrtec.
Thanks!
I started taking Zyrtec for hives a couple weeks ago. It worked so great, I've continued taking it for my usually severe seasonal allergies. I haven't had ANY allergy symptoms, even though every outdoor surface is covered in a fine yellow film of pollen.
I've also been kind of grouchy lately. I'm generally prone to grouchiness when I'm tired or hungry, but it's been pervasive. I'm irritated most all the time.
In addition, I've suffered unusual stomach woes, from nausea to liquids exiting when and where they should not ('nuff said) as well as general smell sensitivity. I feel like I have morning sickness often. (Pregnancy is not a possibility at all.)
Is it the Zyrtec messing me up? I hate not to take it because it's been the best spring I've had in years and years. Before I test it, I'd like to hear what you mefites have experienced while taking Zyrtec.
Thanks!
Response by poster: Thanks Lyn. I'm taking it just before turning in.
posted by littleflowers at 8:06 PM on April 13, 2010
posted by littleflowers at 8:06 PM on April 13, 2010
I swear i used to take Zyrtec about 15 years ago with no side effects (when it was brand new) but now when I take it it makes me incredibly sleepy @_@ I get the same effect with the generic versions. Maybe drowsy = tired = grumpy? Someone else I know complained of exactly the same thing, so we suspect the formulation has changed in recent years.
posted by xdvesper at 8:16 PM on April 13, 2010
posted by xdvesper at 8:16 PM on April 13, 2010
Seasonal allergy sufferer here, started getting bad about 4 years ago. I've taken Claritin, Allegra, and the "-D" versions of those. With some Benadryl before bed. This year I'm trying Zyrtec.
For me, the Zyrtec does make me a little drowsy. On the weekends -- when I can -- I'm usually taking a nap 2 to 3 hours after I pop the pill. It's not overwhelming drowsiness... but just enough where I really feel like it would be nice to lie down. During the week my daily cup of tea pushes me through it. So maybe this slight drowsiness is what's making you irritable?
Can't really speak as to the stomach problems. I have a touchy stomach on perfect days. But I do notice that during allergy seasons I seem a little more "puke-y". Not where I'm actually sick, but where I've got a very low grade queasiness. I just figured it was because of the extra sinus draining, but maybe it's the medication.
As for the bowel part (TMI perhaps)... I find these medications dry things out down there. Especially when I'm on the "-D" versions (kind of expected I guess with 240g of pseudoephedrine). But things are fine if I continue on a regular, daily schedule of the antihistamine. If I start missing days, or weeks (because of vacation, let's say) then "all bets are off." That's why I find it best to just continue taking the pills even if I happen to be somewhere I don't think I'll be all stuffy.
In general, I've found that there's a certain period of time (1 to 2 weeks) where you body adjusts to the antihistamine. Things seem off, sometimes I'm jumpy, bowel irregularity... but then it all levels out. Having said all this, you'd have to pry antihistamines from my cold, dead fingers between March and August.
Life is just so much better without all the sneezing, runny nose, flushed face, and poor quality sleep.
posted by sbutler at 8:19 PM on April 13, 2010
For me, the Zyrtec does make me a little drowsy. On the weekends -- when I can -- I'm usually taking a nap 2 to 3 hours after I pop the pill. It's not overwhelming drowsiness... but just enough where I really feel like it would be nice to lie down. During the week my daily cup of tea pushes me through it. So maybe this slight drowsiness is what's making you irritable?
Can't really speak as to the stomach problems. I have a touchy stomach on perfect days. But I do notice that during allergy seasons I seem a little more "puke-y". Not where I'm actually sick, but where I've got a very low grade queasiness. I just figured it was because of the extra sinus draining, but maybe it's the medication.
As for the bowel part (TMI perhaps)... I find these medications dry things out down there. Especially when I'm on the "-D" versions (kind of expected I guess with 240g of pseudoephedrine). But things are fine if I continue on a regular, daily schedule of the antihistamine. If I start missing days, or weeks (because of vacation, let's say) then "all bets are off." That's why I find it best to just continue taking the pills even if I happen to be somewhere I don't think I'll be all stuffy.
In general, I've found that there's a certain period of time (1 to 2 weeks) where you body adjusts to the antihistamine. Things seem off, sometimes I'm jumpy, bowel irregularity... but then it all levels out. Having said all this, you'd have to pry antihistamines from my cold, dead fingers between March and August.
Life is just so much better without all the sneezing, runny nose, flushed face, and poor quality sleep.
posted by sbutler at 8:19 PM on April 13, 2010
I've never had a problem with Zyrtec itself, or with the first generic version I was given (Razene). But when my pharmacy switched me to a different generic version (Zetop) it made me incredibly drowsy. Like head aching, can't think, angry from tiredness drowsy. Timing didn't matter, even skipping a day here and tehre didn't matter, it built up in my system over a week or so then made me miserable constantly. It really screwed up my work for a few weeks until I figured it out, and took three or four days to return to normal when I stopped. I was taking a lowish dose and had been taking the other two versions (with the same active ingredient) for several years so there must have been something about that formulation that didn't agree with me. Sleepiness is a possible side effect of this anti-histamine, although usually at a higher dose than I was taking, and, for me at least, grumpiness was a side effect of the sleepiness.
So consider looking at a different version of that active ingredient if you can, particularly as the generics are usually cheaper anyway. Maybe one of the other ones won't have this effect. I decided I didn't want to argue with the pharmacist each time so switched to Loritab (a generic of Claritine) which works just as well and no side effects, so switching anti-histmines might be another option to consider.
posted by shelleycat at 8:22 PM on April 13, 2010
So consider looking at a different version of that active ingredient if you can, particularly as the generics are usually cheaper anyway. Maybe one of the other ones won't have this effect. I decided I didn't want to argue with the pharmacist each time so switched to Loritab (a generic of Claritine) which works just as well and no side effects, so switching anti-histmines might be another option to consider.
posted by shelleycat at 8:22 PM on April 13, 2010
Mr. Doodley had to switch from zyrtec to claritin, even though claritin is slightly less effective on his allergies. He was not experiencing mood problems per se - oh, wait, maybe he was.
Basically, he was in constant distress because of the cognitive impediments the zyrtec was imposing on him during an incredibly heavy academic term and he was freaking out at not being able to understand or recall anything he was working on.
Since he switched "down" to claritin, he's been a little more sniffy, but he has his whole brain back and is much calmer.
Not taking antihistamines was just right out, since this is apparently the worst pollen spring in like a generation, and acute seasonal allergies have their own cognitive impact.
tl;dr - have you tried a different OTC like claritin (loratadine)?
posted by toodleydoodley at 8:23 PM on April 13, 2010
Basically, he was in constant distress because of the cognitive impediments the zyrtec was imposing on him during an incredibly heavy academic term and he was freaking out at not being able to understand or recall anything he was working on.
Since he switched "down" to claritin, he's been a little more sniffy, but he has his whole brain back and is much calmer.
Not taking antihistamines was just right out, since this is apparently the worst pollen spring in like a generation, and acute seasonal allergies have their own cognitive impact.
tl;dr - have you tried a different OTC like claritin (loratadine)?
posted by toodleydoodley at 8:23 PM on April 13, 2010
In the past I've found the Medsafe* website to be very good, here are the listings for different versions of cetirizine: Zetop, Razene. Note the potential side effects they list include: drowsiness, headache, dry mouth, tiredness, nausea, dizziness. So yeah, your nausea could be part of this too. The side effects can wear off when you get used to the medicine but personally, after a few weeks, I'd be looking for alternatives by now.
*Medsafe is part of the NZ Ministry of Health and their information comes from reputable sources
posted by shelleycat at 8:34 PM on April 13, 2010
*Medsafe is part of the NZ Ministry of Health and their information comes from reputable sources
posted by shelleycat at 8:34 PM on April 13, 2010
I just started Zyrtec last week and I can definitely tell it causes some mental foggyness, especially in the morning a few hours after I take it. But as far as grumpiness, I am definitely experiencing elevated levels but I've been blaming it on the 70 hour work weeks I've also started on this spring and the fact that I've gotten to enjoy little of it. So I'm not a very good data point in that regard. But it definitely has induced annoying drowsiness which doesn't make anyone a happy camper.
posted by Juicy Avenger at 8:48 PM on April 13, 2010
posted by Juicy Avenger at 8:48 PM on April 13, 2010
Zyrtec makes me stupid, not grumpy. Stupid enough that I can't take it. And Claritin doesn't work for me. I take Allegra instead-- still prescription, but if you can't take Zyrtec+Claritin it might be the right choice.
(to check on the grumpy: make sure you're taking care of everything else-- e.g. hydration, sleep, blood sugar levels, whatever.)
posted by nat at 8:58 PM on April 13, 2010
(to check on the grumpy: make sure you're taking care of everything else-- e.g. hydration, sleep, blood sugar levels, whatever.)
posted by nat at 8:58 PM on April 13, 2010
One rat report, FWIW: whenever I take Zyrtec before bedtime, I have incredibly vivid, violent, unpleasant dreams (and I almost never have these without Zyrtec) - this definitely seems to be an effect. Also, I sleep longer (more hours), but I'm not rested, in fact, rather tired (as if tired from all the "dragon slaying" during my violent dreams). And the grim mood from the dreams persists after awakening for the rest of the day. Plus, yes, it is possible that I have some cognitive impairment after Zyrtec, but it's hard to say if it's actual impairment or low energy and glum mood from the horrible night. As a result, I seldom resort to Zyrtec - maybe once a week at most, for 3-4 weeks. Unfortunately, Zyrtec works on the allergy better than other drugs. Allergy season is bad this year, for me. I'm still experiencing allergy symptoms, but haven't taken Zyrtec for 2 weeks - I hate the effect so.
posted by VikingSword at 11:27 PM on April 13, 2010
posted by VikingSword at 11:27 PM on April 13, 2010
Zyrtec made my boyfriend extremely irritable. We looked up side effects and it said something to the effect of "can make toddlers irritable" which we found quite amusing. My boyfriend was getting strikingly cranky in the afternoons when taking Zyrtec but he never tried taking it before bed. He just switched back to Claritin.
When he wakes up, I'll ask him if there were stomach issues associated with the Zyrtec as well.
posted by sciencegeek at 4:24 AM on April 14, 2010
When he wakes up, I'll ask him if there were stomach issues associated with the Zyrtec as well.
posted by sciencegeek at 4:24 AM on April 14, 2010
Anecdotally, Zyrtec both makes 1) my life worth my living again, and 2) a crabby ass motherfucker out of me.
I'm like nat, and toodleydoodley's man, in that Zyrtec makes me profoundly stupid. Stupid enough that I forget conversation topics in mid-conversation. Almost as stupid as Benadryl, which once helped me to forget my car, and go home without it. Benadryl and Zyrtec together have brought me shockingly close to forgetting basic clothing items. (As you can imagine, my work supervisors hate me when I'm on antihistamines.)
That kind of brainfog is liable to make one cranky. You can't navigate the world as well, but you may not realize for a while how impaired you are. You just know that everything is harder than it ought to be, and that conversation has become a trial. Crab crab crab crab ensues.
posted by Coatlicue at 5:08 AM on April 14, 2010
I'm like nat, and toodleydoodley's man, in that Zyrtec makes me profoundly stupid. Stupid enough that I forget conversation topics in mid-conversation. Almost as stupid as Benadryl, which once helped me to forget my car, and go home without it. Benadryl and Zyrtec together have brought me shockingly close to forgetting basic clothing items. (As you can imagine, my work supervisors hate me when I'm on antihistamines.)
That kind of brainfog is liable to make one cranky. You can't navigate the world as well, but you may not realize for a while how impaired you are. You just know that everything is harder than it ought to be, and that conversation has become a trial. Crab crab crab crab ensues.
posted by Coatlicue at 5:08 AM on April 14, 2010
I take loads of Zyrtec in summer. It can make me a bit drowsy, and, as others have said, even dumber than usual, but not irritable that I've noticed. However, if my girlfriend takes it, her reaction is dramatic. It makes her almost immediately go to sleep for 12+hours and the whole day after that she will be really depressed. Not good! She's taking Fexofenadine now, which works much much better for her - I'm going to get a prescription and give it a try too, once my hay fever season kicks in...
posted by prentiz at 5:42 AM on April 14, 2010
posted by prentiz at 5:42 AM on April 14, 2010
I also had weird reactions to it. My doctor explained the drug to me as this: Benedryl Lite. Works almost as good, but not quite as much drowsy.
Here was the problem I had with it: depending on the day, it would either make me tired, but unable to actually sleep, or mentally foggy. It is as if the two components of tiredness had gotten disconnected- the physical sleepiness and the mental sleepiness.
Claritan (for me) works nearly as well, with fewer side effects. If I take two at once, however, it does make me grumpy.
My solution is to take Benedryl for sleeping, and Claritan during the day.
posted by gjc at 6:29 AM on April 14, 2010
Here was the problem I had with it: depending on the day, it would either make me tired, but unable to actually sleep, or mentally foggy. It is as if the two components of tiredness had gotten disconnected- the physical sleepiness and the mental sleepiness.
Claritan (for me) works nearly as well, with fewer side effects. If I take two at once, however, it does make me grumpy.
My solution is to take Benedryl for sleeping, and Claritan during the day.
posted by gjc at 6:29 AM on April 14, 2010
I have awful "seasonal" allergies (though I'm allergic to everything, so they're always in season in Central Texas). I've tried everything, and I still do the neti pot every morning. Zyrtec is the only thing that's ever both worked AND not made me a zombie.
I've never noticed the grumpy thing. I take one 12-hour tablet in the morning every morning and have for 2 or 3 years now. Maybe try that? I do wake up congested, but a hot shower, the neti pot, and the Zyrtec take care of that.
posted by fiercecupcake at 7:00 AM on April 14, 2010
I've never noticed the grumpy thing. I take one 12-hour tablet in the morning every morning and have for 2 or 3 years now. Maybe try that? I do wake up congested, but a hot shower, the neti pot, and the Zyrtec take care of that.
posted by fiercecupcake at 7:00 AM on April 14, 2010
Checked with my boyfriend and he says that he had no stomach problems that he can remember. But the irritability - woo-eee! - we both remember that.
posted by sciencegeek at 7:18 AM on April 14, 2010
posted by sciencegeek at 7:18 AM on April 14, 2010
Response by poster: My last dose of Zyrtec was April 15. I am happy to say that I have not suffered dreadfully, and have had a miraculous recovery in both bowel health and mental health! I never would have believed it, but I'm if you suffer from moodiness, keep a eye out when you take this medication.
It's a great drug to stop allergy symptoms. For me, the side effects were noticeable and uncomfortable.
Would I take it again? Probably, if I was truly suffering. I'd try a smaller dose, and be mindful sooner of any moodiness. It wasn't by any means debilitating, and my allergies have at times been debilitating.
Thanks to all, and here's hoping that you're all feeling well this spring!
posted by littleflowers at 6:43 PM on April 19, 2010
It's a great drug to stop allergy symptoms. For me, the side effects were noticeable and uncomfortable.
Would I take it again? Probably, if I was truly suffering. I'd try a smaller dose, and be mindful sooner of any moodiness. It wasn't by any means debilitating, and my allergies have at times been debilitating.
Thanks to all, and here's hoping that you're all feeling well this spring!
posted by littleflowers at 6:43 PM on April 19, 2010
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by Lyn Never at 8:03 PM on April 13, 2010