Antihistamines that can cause weight gain include: Diphenhydramine (Benadryl and others) Cetirizine (Zyrtec) Levocetirizine (Xyzal)
When antihistamines block histamine, our appetite can increase. This, plus side effects like drowsiness, could lead to weight gain. Your risk of gaining weight from antihistamines may depend on many factors. But a healthy diet, physical activity, and other lifestyle factors can help you manage your risk.
Even so, newer antihistamines like Allegra and Zyrtec are known to cause side effects like nausea, diarrhea, headache, back pain, and lethargy. In recent years, another side effect has been added to the list: weight gain.
Cetirizine is unlikely to do you any harm if you take it for a long time. However it's best to take cetirizine only for as long as you need to. If you take it regularly over a long period there's a very small chance of severe itching if you stop treatment suddenly.
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).
Downsides
A headache, sore throat, abdominal pain, fatigue, drowsiness, or coughing. Other side effects are uncommon. Generally does not cause drowsiness, although more likely to do so at higher dosages. Caution should be exercised before driving or operating machinery until the full effects of cetirizine are known.
Cetirizine has an average rating of 5.8 out of 10 from a total of 292 ratings on Drugs.com. 45% of reviewers reported a positive effect, while 37% reported a negative effect. Zyrtec has an average rating of 5.8 out of 10 from a total of 199 ratings on Drugs.com.
Yes. Cetirizine HCl is the active ingredient in all ZYRTEC® allergy medications. Many of our products contain 10 mg of cetirizine to provide 24-hour relief from your allergy symptoms. ZYRTEC-D® contains 5 mg plus a decongestant and is a 12-hour product.
Newer antihistamines like Allegra and Claritin are generally safe for daily use. But allergy medications with decongestants, such as Claritin-D or Benadryl-D, could make your allergies worse with long-term use.
Fexofenadine is not known to cause weight gain. What's the difference between fexofenadine and other antihistamines? Fexofenadine is known as a non-drowsy antihistamine. That's because it's less likely to make you feel sleepy than drowsy (sedating) antihistamines, such as Piriton (chlorphenamine).
Difficulty sleeping (insomnia). Convulsions. Fluid retention (oedema). Weight gain.
People with allergies may find relief by using natural plant extracts and foods that act as antihistamines. Examples include vitamin C, butterbur, and probiotics, but there are many possible options.
RESULTS. We found that the main effect of cetirizine was an increase in total hair density, terminal hair density and diameter variation from T0 to T1, while the vellus hair density shows an evident decrease.
Hepatotoxicity. Cetirizine and levocetirizine use are not generally associated with liver enzyme elevations, but have been linked to rare instances of clinically apparent liver injury.
Cetirizine, a metabolite of hydroxyzine, is an antihistamine with as distinguishing features: 1) exquisite anti-H1 specificity: cetirizine appears unique in being devoid of action on receptors other than the H1 receptor; 2) potency: at unit dose it is the most potent antihistamine in the skin and the lung; 3) absence ...
You should not use this medication if you are allergic to or had an adverse reaction to cetirizine. Before taking cetirizine, tell your doctor about all of your medical conditions or if you have ever had kidney or liver disease. Cetirizine is not expected to be harmful to an unborn baby.
Products with the ingredients state to be effective for 24 hours, but many people claim that cetirizine hydrochloride's effects expire before then. For long-lasting relief, medications with loratadine may be the better option.
Allergists recommend long-acting, non-sedating antihistamines — ones that won't make you sleepy — for everyday use. Though you may know them by their brand names, the generic versions tackle the same problems: Cetirizine (Zyrtec®, Aller-Tec®, Wall-Zyr®). Fexofenadine (Allegra®, Aller-ease®, Aller-Fex®, Wal-Fex®).
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.
One study has reported a more serious long-term effect, a 3.5-fold increase in the risk of gliomas, a common type of brain tumor in patients with long-term antihistamine use for allergic conditions.
Cetirizine is a second-generation antihistamine that crosses the blood–brain barrier, has been previously associated with insomnia and nocturnal awakenings, and can cause tolerance with long-term use. Cetirizine has very rarely been associated with either the onset or exacerbation of sleep terrors.
Cetirizine is eliminated primarily by the kidney but also undergoes metabolism in the liver to some extent. Patients with renal and/or liver disease may be at greater risk for adverse effects from cetirizine due to decreased drug clearance.
About 50 or 60% of cetirizine eliminated in the urine is unchanged. It is eliminated in the urine via an active transport mechanism. The elimination half-life of cetirizine ranges from 6.5 to 10 hours in healthy adults, with a mean across studies of approximately 8.3 hours. Its duration of action is at least 24 hours.