In general, wean gradually by 25-50% of the daily dose every 1-4 weeks. If reason for deprescribing is serious adverse effects, wean faster or cease immediately.
Dr Grant confirms that many people can suffer withdrawal symptoms if they stop taking antihistamines suddenly. Dr Grant recommends the patient resume taking the antihistamines and then slowly reduce the dose to wean off slowly.
When a person stops taking their medication, their body will produce more histamine to make up for the lack of antihistamine. This results in extreme itching. It's common for someone who's addicted to an antihistamine to scratch until they're raw and bleeding.
There are a few things that can be done to help reduce diphenhydramine withdrawal symptoms. These include: Gradually reducing the dose of diphenhydramine over time. Taking a break from diphenhydramine every few days to allow the body to recover.
To combat the intense itching which may occur with the cessation of cetirizine (Zyrtec), some patients have worked with a dermatologist to begin a short regime of corticosteroids. Other patients have found that gradually decreasing their dose of Zyrtec makes withdrawal symptoms less severe.
Recurrence of previous or new symptoms (e.g. itching, rash, sneezing, watery eyes) may occur within 1-2 weeks of dose reduction. Withdrawal symptoms are usually mild (e.g. nausea, vomiting, headache, sweating, anxiety, dizziness), highly variable and can last up to 6-8 weeks.
Some people report that if they stop such antihistamines suddenly, they can experience levocetirizine (Xyzal) and cetirizine (Zyrtec) withdrawal itching.
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The elimination half-life of Zyrtec is between 8 to 9 hours. It takes approximately 5.5 x elimination half-life for a medicine to be cleared from your system. For Zyrtec this is 5.5 x 9 hours which is about 2 days.
It's generally safe to take the newer generation of antihistamines daily if you have year-round allergy symptoms. But make sure to avoid anything that has a "D" in its brand name, which stands for decongestants. Long-term use of decongestants will worsen your allergy symptoms.
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.
“The most common side effects you tend to see are fatigue, headaches, and dry mouth,” says Shih. If you're someone for whom the benefits of regular antihistamine use far outweighs the occasional minor side effect, longterm use is safe for most adults and children, he adds.
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.
Some who have stuck it out have reported that the itching fades after six to eight weeks. That is a long time to endure severe itching and hives, but it may be worth consideration.
They work by blocking histamine, a natural chemical in your body. Histamine plays a role in our appetite. When antihistamines block histamine, our appetite can increase. This, plus side effects like drowsiness, could lead to weight gain.
Claritin and Zyrtec are popular over-the-counter antihistamines. Doctors consider them safe and effective treatments for minor allergies. Both are second-generation antihistamines. These cause less drowsiness than first-generation antihistamines.
Hypertension, cardiovascular disease, urinary retention, increased ocular pressure are relative contraindications to the use of antihistamines.
Another side effect to watch out for is the rebound effect. Sometimes this effect is mistakenly called an addiction; no, you're not becoming addicted to your allergy medication, but your tissues can become used to the effect of the medication. The result is that, when the dose wears off, you can feel a little worse.
If you overuse certain allergy medications or use them for a long time, it is possible to build up a drug tolerance. You might be able to overcome it by taking a break from the treatments, then starting up again by alternating between more than one treatment to avoid tolerance in the future.
See your doctor if your mild allergy symptoms have not improved after three days of treatment with Zyrtec, or if your hives persist for more than six weeks despite taking Zyrtec. Discontinue Zyrtec once your allergy symptoms have resolved.
Swallow the tablet whole, with a glass of water. You can divide the tablet into two equal doses.
Some people have reported success with gradual tapering of the dose. To do this, some divide the tablets into ever-smaller pieces until they eventually are able to phase off without itching. Others report that taking vitamin C supplements can help ease their symptoms.
“There are nearly no long-term concerns at all with those allergy medications,” Dr. Frank says. Most allergy sufferers rely on a daily antihistamine pill or corticosteroid spray, and Dr. Frank says they are all safe to use without fear of forming a habit or building up a tolerance.
Sandoz issued a voluntary recall of 1,023,430 units of Zyrtec (10 mg) capsules as a result of failed impurities and a specification being reported for impurity at the 21-month stability time point, according to an FDA Enforcement Report.
While newer-generation antihistamines like Allegra and Zyrtec are less likely to cause drowsiness than older drugs like Benadryl, they have been linked to an increased risk of weight gain in some users.