Zyrtec and Xyzal Flagged by FDA for New Side Effect. How to Know When to See Your Doctor

Over-the-counter allergy medicines like cetirizine (Zyrtec) and levocetirizine (Xyzal) have become common drugs for many people in the US who suffer from seasonal symptoms like watery eyes and sneezing, but now the FDA indicates that both drugs have a new risk. The FDA recently published a warning about these antihistamines, saying that patients who suddenly stop taking these medicines after long-term use "may experience rare but severe itching." The itching, which is also known as pruritus, occurred in patients who had been taking cetirizine and levocetirizine daily for a few months or even years. The FDA estimates that 62.7 million over-the-counter packages of cetirizine and levocetirizine were bought in 2022. The same year, about 26.8 million cetirizine and levocetirizine prescriptions for both OTC and prescription products were dispensed from US outpatient pharmacies. Considering that allergies are getting worse, partly because of climate change creating longer, more intense poll ... Read full article.