Potential Skin Irritation from Zyrtec: FDA Warns About Possible Reaction to Common Allergy Treatment
Hey there!
Ever found yourself feeling scratchier than you should after popping your allergy meds? You might want to take notice, as the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a warning about stopping long-term use of cetirizine and levocetirizine potentially leading to intense itchiness in some cases.
Over the past decade, the FDA has received hundreds of reports of people dealing with severe, sometimes debilitating, itching after giving up these medications. Though it's a rare complication, the FDA is now requiring manufacturers to mention the side effect in their drug labeling.
It's worth noting that cetirizine and levocetirizine are both antihistamine drugs that have been around for a while. Cetirizine was first approved as the prescription drug Zyrtec in 1995, while levocetirizine got the green light as Xyzal in 2007. They're now widely available over-the-counter to treat hay fever and other allergy symptoms.
While these drugs have been useful and safe for millions, whispers of this side effect have been circulating for years. A few studies have identified potential cases of severe itching related to cetirizine withdrawal, while other users have bravely detailed their unbearable experiences on social media platforms like Reddit.
The FDA has identified around 209 cases worldwide (197 in the U.S.) of new-onset itching after stopping these medications between April 2017 and July 2023. Symptoms typically include widespread itching that requires medical intervention, with some cases being so severe that they left people bedridden or even led to thoughts of suicide or self-harm.
However, this side effect seems to be fairly rare overall. Around 100 million prescriptions or over-the-counter purchases of both drugs were made in 2022. People experiencing the side effect aren't necessarily doomed to itch forever either. Most people who have restarted the medication have found relief, and about one-third of people were able to avoid a new bout of itching through a gradual weaning-off.
So, if you're a long-term user of these drugs, it's worth knowing about this potential side effect. If you ever decide to stop, consult with your doctor to weigh the benefits and risks and to discuss strategies for minimizing withdrawal symptoms.
Pro Tip: When managing intense itchiness, consider tapering the dose gradually under medical supervision to reduce withdrawal symptoms. Moisturizing the skin with unscented lotions could also help alleviate itchiness. If symptoms persist or worsen, seek medical help to prevent complications.
- In some cases, intense itchiness has been reported as a side effect of stopping long-term use of ai like cetirizine and levocetirizine, a concern that has been shared on social media platforms like Reddit.
- As mental-health becomes increasingly important, it's crucial to recognize that this side effect, which can be severe and even debilitating, could potentially impact the health-and-wellness of those who rely on these drugs.
- When managing the withdrawal symptoms of these antihistamine drugs, therapies-and-treatments such as gradually tapering the dose under medical supervision and moisturizing the skin with unscented lotions could help alleviate the itchiness and prevent complications.
