One study also suggests cetirizine and hydroxyzine have a greater chance of causing anxiety and mood changes than other antihistamines. Hydroxyzine can also be used to treat anxiety conditions. So if you notice your symptoms worsen after starting this medication, contact your provider to discuss it further.
Known central nervous system (CNS) adverse effects of cetirizine include anxiety, depression, insomnia, and paranoia. To our knowledge, there is only one published case report of cetirizine-associated delusions.
Antihistamines are known to cause extreme drowsiness; however, in certain people, they can cause insomnia, excitability, anxiety, restlessness, and a rapid heart rate.
Antihistamines aren't an approved treatment for anxiety that lasts more than 12 months. They're also not for use with serious psychotic or other disorders that require specialized care from a psychiatrist.
Zyrtec side effects
fast, pounding, or uneven heartbeat; weakness, tremors (uncontrolled shaking), or sleep problems (insomnia);
General. The most commonly reported side effects include somnolence, dizziness, and headache. Use these dosage charts for infants and children under 12 years old: Zyrtec Dosage Charts (Infants & Children)
Hydroxyzine's unique effect on serotonin is likely why it's the only antihistamine used for anxiety. While hydroxyzine can be used to treat many different types of anxiety disorders, it is used most often for generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), especially when it is associated with insomnia.
You should not use Zyrtec-D if you have narrow-angle glaucoma, severe high blood pressure (hypertension), severe coronary artery disease, if you are unable to urinate, or if you are allergic to hydroxyzine (Atarax, Vistaril). Do not use this medicine if you have taken an MAO inhibitor in the past 14 days.
Cetirizine and hydroxyzine, seem to have negative influences on mood states. Given the extensive use of antihistamines in clinical settings, these results should be more elaborately examined in further studies.
Histamine Intolerance and Anxiety & Depression:
In the brain, histamine acts as a neurotransmitter which can affect the levels of mood altering neurotransmitters such as GABA, dopamine and serotonin; causing the increased expression of anxious and depressive feelings.
Histamine intolerance symptoms include anxiety, insomnia, heart palpitations, shortness of breath, nausea, sweating. Histamine is commonly known for its role in allergic reactions, but histamine also functions as a neurotransmitter in the brain. It's involved in learning, memory, attention and alertness.
by Drugs.com
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.
What happens if I overdose on Zyrtec (Cetirizine (Oral/Injection))? Overdose symptoms may include extreme drowsiness, vision problems, agitation, feeling restless and then drowsy or tired, fast heartbeats, stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, trouble walking, or trouble swallowing or speaking.
Greg Panico, a spokesman for Janssen Pharmaceutica, which is owned by Johnson and Johnson, said that the withdrawal was a voluntary business decision. “The decision to voluntarily discontinue it recognises that the allergy marketplace is crowded with a number of other drugs,” Mr Panico said.
The well-known side effects of the first-generation antihistamines, sedation and decreased reaction time, are more pronounced in the elderly. The anticholinergic effects are drying of the mouth and eyes, blurred vision, urinary retention, and constipation.
While there's no set timeline for when someone should stop taking an antihistamine, one should speak to a doctor or drug rehabilitation specialist if they feel like they have become addicted to your antihistamine. The severity and length of an antihistamine withdrawal will depend on the specific drug.
What's the best time of day to take ZYRTEC®? Any time of day works. And ZYRTEC® will continue to work for 24 hours.
The only FDA-approved antihistamine for anxiety is hydroxyzine (Atarax, Vistaril). For some people, this can be an effective alternative to benzodiazepines. Although benzodiazepines can treat anxiety, they can also be addictive and have significant side effects.
Benadryl is not the only antihistamine that is sometimes used off-label for anxiety relief. Doctors may also sometimes prescribe Vistaril (hydroxyzine), an antihistamine that is similar to Benadryl, for the short-term treatment of anxiety.
Over-the-counter medications such as Benadryl and other antihistamine allergy medications also can lead to temporary brain fog and forgetfulness.
Both Zyrtec and Claritin may make you drowsy or tired. For that reason, you shouldn't take these medications if you also take muscle relaxers, sleeping pills, or other drugs that cause drowsiness. Taking them at the same time that you take sedating drugs can make you extremely sleepy.
However, medicines containing decongestants — including Allegra-D, Zyrtec-D and Claritin-D — could increase your blood pressure and heart rate or interfere with your heart medication.