Zyrtec refers to an antihistamine sold in a generic form that is mainly prescribed for seasonal symptoms of allergies like sneezing, itchy eyes and runny nose. It can even be put to use for the treatment of hives, though there are several possible zyrtec side effects.

Even though zyrtec is part of the newer generation of antihistamines and therefore has less chances of causing drowsiness compared to its older counterparts, it still has the power to cause drowsiness in around 13% of people that take it. Based on clinical studies, other zyrtec side effects in adults include fatigue, sore throat, dizziness and dry mouth. These have only come about in around 5% of consumers, though.

Zyrtec side effects in children tend to be different than those experienced by adults. The most common effect it has on children happens to be headaches and this occurs within 14% of them. Clinical studies have also shown that children have experienced abdominal pain, sore throat, diarrhea, coughing, nosebleeds and drowsiness from taking zyrtec.

Naturally, every medicine out there might cause side effects; however, a lot of people only get minor effects from them, if any of all. Check with a healthcare provider if any of the following common zyrtec side effects persist with your or get quite bothersome: drowsiness, stomach pain, dry mouth, tiredness and trouble sleeping. Zyrtec could also cause several serious side effects, as follows, though this only happens very rarely: confusion, wheezing, anxiety, difficulty breathing, hypertension, difficulty urinating, heart palpitations and rapid heartbeat.

Zyrtec seems to be much more sedating compared to loratadine, but the body system may still suffer from various side effects. The side effects of the nervous system include headache, somnolence, and fatigue. These tend to be related to the dosage, though, and usually occur more frequently if the doses are higher than 10mg every day. Other side effects of the nervous system include insomnia, nervousness, and dizziness, as well as convulsions and aggression reaction.

The gastrointestinal effects that zyrtec could have include vomiting, nausea and dry mouth. Occasionally, an increase in appetite, dyspepsia, and pharyngitis have been reported, too. Hepatic effects include rare abnormalities in liver function tests which can bee instantly resolved after stopping zyrtec therapy and there has also been a single case involving recurrent acute hepatitis associated with the use of zyrtec. Respiratory effects include wheezing, bronchitis, asthma, coughing, and sinusitis – all of which are very rare; while dermatologic effects include urticarial and maculopapular eruptions along with fixed drug eruptions. More general effects include accidental injury and epistaxis, while there was a single case of hypersensitivity effects through anaphylactic reaction.

Make sure you get medical attention immediately if any of the more extreme side effects of zyrtec happen, such as rashes, hives, difficulty breathing, itching, swelling, unusual hoarseness, fainting, dark urine, irregular heartbeat, mood or mental changes, seizures, persistent fatigue, severe dizziness, unusual bleeding or bruising, and the yellowing of the skin or eyes.