Zyrtec vs Xyzal

[Diane_46]

I have had hives since July this year. I had them about 7 years ago, they lasted about a year. I'm taking Zyrtec (once a day), Zantac (2 / day), Doxepin (150 mg @ bedtime), and Benadryl as needed. I had been on prednisone on and off since July but my doctor has taken me off of it (for obvious reasons). Unfortunately nothing I've taken other than prednisone has worked. My hives are particularly associated with pressure (underwear) - Since September i have worn a tank top under my clothes due to hives associated with wearing a bra. Since there are times that my clothing requires wearing a bra (like yesterday) and sure enough, hives were back by last night. Very, very itchy.... i drank a ton of Benadryl (the liquid version since that works more quickly than pills). I am ready to ask my doctor about other options - Xyzal, Atarax (I do have a quickly dimishing number of these pills from when I had to go to the emergency room), and perhaps dapsone. Does anyone have experience with these drugs? Right  now, i'm sitting here feeling so itchy (better than last night, but not good) and discouraged. I would appreciate others experience. Thanks!

[Askahomeopath]

Where are you that you get allergy drops?
I went to an allergist in North Dakota who made me all better, but he died and his research went with him. I would LOVE to get back on allergy drops. Tell me the name of your doctor!
Love, Alva

[miatan]

To the people that took zyrtec,  did you have a hard time getting off of Zyrtec?  Atarax works well for me, but I decided to take Zyrtec because you don't need a prescription.  I was on it for about 2 months and realized that if i don't take it, the 3rd day, I'd start to break out hives really badly.  It was odd, so I did some research and found http://www.consumeraffairs.com/rx/zyrtec.html  and realized that a lot of people had the same problem.  Did you guys also had problems with Zyrtec?

[elvirarose]

Found myself allergic to animals - very young pups and cats in general -  they're too excitable - emit too many hormones or fermones (I think that's the spelling), etc.   Getting  them neutered could be as much as a  98% fix - really!   ..... unless your problem is dander.  Stay away from guinea pigs - gerbils - mice -  all those "cute little things".  If you have them,  make sure someone else does the cleaning..  Don't have ferrets - they are so cute - but they can give you a bad allergy attack..  I have domestic (shorthair and longhair)cats - all fixed - and there are times, because I have asthma, that I will have a runny nose -itchy eyes - or  wheeze - but most of the time it is very easy to control.  Pets are so wonderful to have and you will find a way to live with them and love every moment.

[elvirarose]

Just a thought.  I used to use fabric softener in my washloads - this caused me to break out in painful boils - stopped using fabric softener - my dryer did a fine job and I am well too.  Sometimes underarm deoderants will get you too.  Use hypoallergenic soap when you bathe - think about your shampoo - stop using anything that might start the itch - stop using perfumes - be on the lookout.  Elastics are cause for itching too.  You folks seem to have big time troubles but it might be helpful if you observe what is touching your skin around the time or day the problem starts.  My daughter gets an itchy throat and puffy lips from cantelopes.... they "seem" so harmless. don't they.  I feel for you - Good luck!

[hollumss]

I have been suffering from eczema all my life, and suddenly last year, my lips began to swell and break out around the bottom and upper lip off and on. Now, the swelling and itching is ongoing, never stopping. I take Xyzal at night, but it took me a long time to get used to the severe drowsiness and horrible dreams that the xyzal gave me. I woke up extremely tired after a nine hour long sleep, and would wake up crying from horrible dreams. But after a month of taking it, my body got used to it, and now I can't live a day without it. Xyzal is a great drug, and now it has a generic! But essentially, taking cetirizine is pretty much the same thing as taking a xyzal... It doesn't stop me from swelling and breaking out, but it does keep me from scratching my face long enough so that it gives it time to heal so it doesn't get worse. Xyzal does help me with my other allergy symptoms, though... such as itchy eyes, runny nose, and sneezing. That's my experience with xyzal.

[tinkerbelle06]

I've had hives on and off for about 4 years now. It seemed like it only happened when I was stressed, so I cut down on my stress level and poof! no more hives. Then about a year and a half ago they started again, much worse than ever before.. At times covering roughly 85% of my body. I went to a dermatologist and she thinks it's a side effect of NSAIDs that I take for headaches. So I was given a prescription for Xyzal and told not to take any OTC pain relievers except Tylenol. I took the Xyzal as directed for almost a month. My hives didn't truly get better (they got a little smaller, but more constant and more itchy) and I got horrible migraines at least once a week. Is there a connection between Xyzal and severe headaches that I haven't found yet? Also after I started taking the Xyzal my sinuses became.. well screwed. I went from an occasional stuffy nose to a permanent stuffy and runny nose, which I will say may have had some connection to my headaches. Any ideas? I stopped taking the Xyzal two days ago and it seemed like my system rebounded. All of a sudden I got a huge hive on my stomach along with a few random ones on my arms and such. But my sinuses are better and I don't feel like my head is going to explode. I feel like I just can't win. Do I live with the hives or live with a stuffy nose and migraines? Any information would be greatly appreciated.

~Tink