Zyrtec - Keller,TX

Updated on June 15, 2010
A.H. asks from Brighton, CO
15 answers

Anyone try Zyrtec for allergies/asthma? I was prescribed some for asthma and I really hate taking meds but if its going to help my asthma then i will try it---- Has anyone benefited from taking it, or had negative side effects? Thank you--

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M.P.

answers from Portland on

My 11 yo granddaughter has been taking Zyrtec and now it's OTC equivalent for over a year. She has allergies, asthma and eczema. All are better now that she's on Zyrtec.

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K.C.

answers from Philadelphia on

Zyrtec made my son aggressive, but is working really well for my daughters. Claritin didn't work as well for any of my kids. My son is on prescription Allegra now because the other two just didn't do it for him. The only way to see if it works for you is to actually try it. If it's going to help with your asthma, it may very well be worth trying it.

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M.B.

answers from Washington DC on

I, my husband, my brother, my grandmother and daughter (6)- all take Zyrtec. I and my husband have allergy-induced asthma, and it has has helped our allergies and our asthma. I LOVE it. I get NO side effects! I have about a dozen acquaintances that also take it- EVERY single person said the same thing- NO side effects, and VERY effective on allergies. I say give it a shot!

I HATE meds, too- but this year my allergies were SO bad, I HAD to do something (I'm 29- and have had allergies/asthma since I was 6) This is the first and only time I have taken medicine for allergies- I was REALLY trying to avoid it. So, I gave Zyrtec a shot because everyone said it was great. I'm very pleasantly surprised at the results. I suggest it.

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S.H.

answers from Honolulu on

It works for some and not for others. As with any med.
I like Claritin. It works for me. Not for my Mom.
I have Asthma. She does too.
My Mom's Doc, does not care for Zyrtec, although it is a popularly used med now.

Look online, for the side-effects of Zyrtec. Or any others.

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R.A.

answers from San Francisco on

A.,

I have given my son Zyrtec since he was 9 months old and he is now 2 1/2. Because of the medicine we have not had to give him the nebulizer with the steriod meds of pulmicort or albuterol. Zyrtec has done the trick for him.

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V.W.

answers from Jacksonville on

I was worried about giving it to my son who has a lot of "seasonal" allergies (basically year round there is SOMEthing)... He also recently began having mild exercise induced asthma issues, after having had pneumonia back in March. (He is 11).

His doctor recommended we switch from Alavert (same active ingredient as Claritin, just cheaper) to the Zyrtec at bedtime. He said that your body can become "immune" to the allergy meds over time and that if you periodically switch them out (say every other month or so you take a week off and use something else) then you often get better results. Our son had been taking Alavert for practically a year. It was to the point he was just as drippy and sneezy as if he were taking nothing. I gave him the Zyrtec the next night,.. BOOM. It was like a miracle! I went online and looked up all the potential side effects and found all the scary sites where people have logging in with their scary side effects (many of which occurred prior to it being release OTC, so I don't know if that makes a difference)... at least that way I knew what to watch for.... We haven't seen ANYthing like what I read about online.
If anything, my son is in a BETTER mood. He seems happier and is more pleasant to be around. I think a big part of that is he is finally able to get a good night's sleep... he can BREATHE! After about 5 weeks, he started getting really sneezy again (15 times within a few hours of getting up) and using several tissues... so I just switched him off the Zyrtec and back to the Alavert for a few days. This is day 2, and he hasn't really sneezed at all today and I haven't seen him use a single tissue. He goes on a trip in a few days, and I plan to have him back on the Zyrtec for the trip.

He is also undergoing immunotherapy (allergy shots) to help us hopefully ditch ALL of them one day in the not TOO distant future! :)

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B.

answers from Augusta on

Both my kids have allergy induced asthma and are on zrytec it does help. In a pinch I give them benedryl first because it works faster, then the zrytec an hr later because it lasts.

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D.C.

answers from Dallas on

The allergist that I worked for prescribed it regularly for her pediatric and adult asthma patients before it went over the counter. We saw an amazing success rate with it! I give it to my son for his allergies and have had no side effects from it. Good luck!!

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A.C.

answers from Cincinnati on

I take Zyrtec for my allergies, and have for several years. I have had 0 reactions or side effects. I am allergic to basically everything, and I have mild asthma (I have an inhaler in case of an attack, but I only have to use it about once a year). I am also allergic to dogs (and I own a very furry 3!) and I was on Clariton for a little while, but it gave me tension headaches. I also tried Allegra, and it didn't do anything for me at all. Zyrtec allows me to live with my beloved puppies comfortably! Each person responds to medication differently, especially allergy medication. I would try Zyrtec for several weeks (I think my allergist recommended I give it 3 weeks for each medication), and if you don't like it, go back to your doctor and ask to try something else. Good luck!

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A.K.

answers from Dallas on

I took it for a while. Made me way too sleepy. People told me to take it before bedtime. I was still soooooooo sleepy all day.

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A.D.

answers from Minneapolis on

My 10 year old has been taking it daily for about 4 years for severe dust allergies and nasal itching. It has been wonderful to stop the itching. She's still stuffy, but not miserable. Claritin did not do anything for her. She has had NO side effects whatsoever, so we are pleased with it.

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S..

answers from Orlando on

My 12 year old son takes it. He doesn't take it daily for a preventative -- I just give it to him as needed, which is a couple of times a week. It's a miracle drug for him for the most part. Oh, and I do give it to him before he goes to someone's house who has cats and it helps (depending on the cat breed and duration of his stay).... HOWEVER-- he takes it for sneezing type allergy symptoms, not wheezing/asthma symptoms. He needs an inhailer for that

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S.W.

answers from Dallas on

asthma is a reaction to allergines; thus, allergy relief meds such as zyrtec, claritin, alavert will relieve allergy-like symtoms.
My son has asthma/RAD and takes zyrtec. He still needs breathing treatments at high-peak times of the year. Asthma does not have a cure, nor does allergies. You have to learn to control them- allergy meds (zyrtec) vitamins, limit outside time during high peak seasons/times (high pollen, mold, ect)

We've been on zyrtec and clariten for years! no side effects!!

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L.M.

answers from Seattle on

yes, my husbands doctor told him about it and it has helped him so so much with his allergies and asthma.. we buy the walgreens genric brand to save money :) He has tried many Rx through out the years and they did not work very well.
Lenc

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M.H.

answers from Raleigh on

I have crazy allergies (my doctor says I'm allergic to the world), and I have used Zyrtec before. While it did help with my allergies, I found that I was WAY too sleepy on it. I had a colleague who had the same issue...we both switched to different meds because of it.

1 mom found this helpful
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