Does Zyrtec cause weight gain?

[A. Mara Ziwadie]

I wanted to run this by the members here.

I read that Zyrtec, the over-the-counter once daily allergy medication, can cause weight gain. Can anyone attest to this (or any other side effects)?

Thank you!

 

[bcla]

Possibly. Apparently it's most antihistamines that trigger the brain to think you're still hungry. I haven't really gained any weight though that wouldn't be attributed to the normal aging process.

I thought the biggest side effect with Zyrtec was that it was the most likely to cause drowsiness. I remember trying it once (or a generic version) and I was feeling loopy for an entire day and stopped. I later found out that it's considered "low-sedating" which meant that a lot of people do get drowsy taking it. It's more effective as an antihistamine compared to Allegra or Claritin. Claritin is supposedly ineffective, with some suggestions that the dose needs to be about 4 times the current one. The only problem with that is that it then tends to cause drowsiness.

 

[Klayfish]

Some medications that cause people to retain fluid can lead to some weight gain, but I don't think Zyrtec is one of them. Calories in > calories burned causes weight gain, generally speaking.

Zyrtec can cause some drowsiness, but I guess that can vary from person to person. I've used it a lot for seasonal allergies and don't get all that drowsy from it. I'm sure there are some other potential side effects which are much less common (don't you love those ads on TV for medicines where they read the side effects....for one medication the side effects can range from watery eyes to death...LOL), but the most common is drowsiness.

 

[Soldier's*Sweeties]

Possibly. Apparently it's most antihistamines that trigger the brain to think you're still hungry. I haven't really gained any weight though that wouldn't be attributed to the normal aging process.

I thought the biggest side effect with Zyrtec was that it was the most likely to cause drowsiness. I remember trying it once (or a generic version) and I was feeling loopy for an entire day and stopped. I later found out that it's considered "low-sedating" which meant that a lot of people do get drowsy taking it. It's more effective as an antihistamine compared to Allegra or Claritin. Claritin is supposedly ineffective, with some suggestions that the dose needs to be about 4 times the current one. The only problem with that is that it then tends to cause drowsiness.

Yep. Basically all of this.

I take a lot of allergy meds and I'm always working with my doctor to get off some of them. Thank goodness I found something works better for me than taking a ton of stuff(I get monthly shots and now I'm down to one Zyrtec a day and Flonase). BUT... My doctor was an Army pilot in a former life. He said that the only allergy med approved for then to use while flying was Allegra because of the possibility of drowsiness with the others.

 

[bcla]

Yep. Basically all of this.

I take a lot of allergy meds and I'm always working with my doctor to get off some of them. Thank goodness I found something works better for me than taking a ton of stuff(I get monthly shots and now I'm down to one Zyrtec a day and Flonase). BUT... My doctor was an Army pilot in a former life. He said that the only allergy med approved for then to use while flying was Allegra because of the possibility of drowsiness with the others.

Allegra is kind of odd because right now there are several generics available. The easiest to find and cheapest is a 180 mg "24 hour" dose. I tried it once and got the shakes after taking it, even though I never had an issue taking the 60 mg "12 hour" dose with a prescription. I can actually buy that dosage as a generic, but it's more expensive since I've only seen it in blister packs. I think there are some sources on Amazon that sell large bottles.

I asked a pharmacist if I could split it, and he said that should be fine since it's not a time release tablet or anything like that. I haven't had any issues with it since. And if my allergies are bad, I'll take it at night along with diphenhydramine.

 

[Wishing on a star]

My son had some unexplained weight around his 'spare tire'...
He had been taking Zyrtec for a long time for bad allergies.

When he switched to a Rx for the new Zyzal (now over the counter) that disappeared.

He has had good results, and I recommend the Zyzal!

 

[Klayfish]

My son had some unexplained weight around his 'spare tire'...
He had been taking Zyrtec for a long time for bad allergies.

When he switched to a Rx for the new Zyzal (now over the counter) that disappeared.

He has had good results, and I recommend the Zyzal!

No, that stupid owl in the commercial is enough to make me allergic to the medicine...

 

[amberpi]

I've tried all the allergy meds - OTC and prescription. Can't remember weight gain with any of them, but they all made me loopy as all crap. They made me able to breathe, but I image 4-5 shots of whiskey would clear me out too and I'd feel about the same way.

I've gone with a prescription nasal spray and it really helps without medicine head.

 

[Hikergirl]

I take Claritin-D and it makes me feel so bad that I have no appetite. It does take care of my allergies though.

 

[Soldier's*Sweeties]

Allegra is kind of odd because right now there are several generics available. The easiest to find and cheapest is a 180 mg "24 hour" dose. I tried it once and got the shakes after taking it, even though I never had an issue taking the 60 mg "12 hour" dose with a prescription. I can actually buy that dosage as a generic, but it's more expensive since I've only seen it in blister packs. I think there are some sources on Amazon that sell large bottles.

I asked a pharmacist if I could split it, and he said that should be fine since it's not a time release tablet or anything like that. I haven't had any issues with it since. And if my allergies are bad, I'll take it at night along with diphenhydramine.

Yeah you can safely halve, and even double the OCT doses of most of them.

I've been on allergy meds for 25 years so I never really get loopy anymore. Turns out that steroids work the the best for me.

 

[Soldier's*Sweeties]

I must have a very high tolerance because I never get loopy. Benadryl makes me a little tired, that's all.

 

[wilkeliza]

I've taken every single OTC allergy med out there and weight gain because of them has never been a side affect I've known of. I did look it up and there seem to be a few studies that show correlation but not causation so 50% of people who take antihistamines are obese but not that antihistamines will cause weight gain in 50% of users. So while there is a possibility that it causes some weight gain there is no proof of it.

 

[Hikergirl]

I must have a very high tolerance because I never get loopy. Benadryl makes me a little tired, that's all.

For me it depends on what one I'm taking. Benadryl (the regular pink and white caplets) knocks me out. The other kind like the disolve tabs (and the claritin and zyrtec ones) don't do anything including help my allergies). The only stuff that really works is claritin-d but it makes me dizzy and lightheaded, nauseous, and I get a heavy sensation in my head and weird chills all over. This week has been torture because the allergies have been so bad.

 

[FlightlessDuck]

I don't know. If I wanted to be nice and try to answer your question I would look it up.

 

[Tattylou]

I take a daily zyrtec and flonase spray for years 365 days a year. No weight gain noticed, no drowsiness either. They make my DH drowsy tho so he takes claritan.

 

[bcla]

For me it depends on what one I'm taking. Benadryl (the regular pink and white caplets) knocks me out. The other kind like the disolve tabs (and the claritin and zyrtec ones) don't do anything including help my allergies). The only stuff that really works is claritin-d but it makes me dizzy and lightheaded, nauseous, and I get a heavy sensation in my head and weird chills all over. This week has been torture because the allergies have been so bad.

There are so many different versions of Benadryl, including the generics. My cousin is married to an allergy specialist, and he basically tells me there is no effective difference between any of them. There is frankly no effective difference between those and the blue tablets marketed as "sleep aids" (like Unisom) except they typically cost more. I remember when I was buying brand-name Benadryl, and they had everything from tablets, to sealed capsules, to liquigels. I suppose the latter were supposed to be the fastest acting because they dissolved faster.

If Claritin isn't doing anything for you, then Claritin-D basically isn't doing anything for you other than the decongestant. You can buy that really cheap, although it's going to require a driver license.

 

[bcla]

Yeah you can safely halve, and even double the OCT doses of most of them.

I've been on allergy meds for 25 years so I never really get loopy anymore. Turns out that steroids work the the best for me.

I dunno. I've never really had a problem when I split the 180 mg tablets. I never had a problem when I took the standard 60 mg doses. However, the first time I tried a 180 mg tablet I got a serious case of the jitters. I was feeling extremely nauseous and was literally shaking like I'd had 10 cups of coffee. There was just something about having just enough of fexofenadine in my bloodstream that I would get jittery. That's when I talked to a pharmacist and he said it was OK to split it and might be more effective. I typically buy it at Costco where it's considerably cheaper than anywhere else. They have it packaged by Teva and theirs are made in Israel.

Seldane used to be considered a miracle drug, and basically what it did was convert to what's in Allegra in the bloodstream. The only problem was that it could interact with several drugs and cause heart problems. I don't think it's technically banned anywhere, but nobody has sold it in a couple of decades after Allegra was available. Allegra may not be the most effective, but it seems to occupy a very good position as more effective than Claritin (at the standard dose) and less drowsiness-inducing than Zyrtec.

 

[wenrob]

I've taken every single OTC allergy med out there and weight gain because of them has never been a side affect I've known of. I did look it up and there seem to be a few studies that show correlation but not causation so 50% of people who take antihistamines are obese but not that antihistamines will cause weight gain in 50% of users. So while there is a possibility that it causes some weight gain there is no proof of it.

To add to this, the side effects might make you move less (drowsiness) or want to eat more (increased appetite) but it wouldn't be the drug itself causing weight gain. As Klayfish said, it's calories in/calories out. If it were me I'd look up the side affects and have a plan to combat them to lower my chances of possible weight gain.

 

[Hikergirl]

There are so many different versions of Benadryl, including the generics. My cousin is married to an allergy specialist, and he basically tells me there is no effective difference between any of them. There is frankly no effective difference between those and the blue tablets marketed as "sleep aids" (like Unisom) except they typically cost more. I remember when I was buying brand-name Benadryl, and they had everything from tablets, to sealed capsules, to liquigels. I suppose the latter were supposed to be the fastest acting because they dissolved faster.

If Claritin isn't doing anything for you, then Claritin-D basically isn't doing anything for you other than the decongestant. You can buy that really cheap, although it's going to require a driver license.

I usually stick to the nasal spray and advil cold and sinus as my decongestant but for some reason this year it wasn't effective for me. I "experimented" with what we had in the medicine cabinet and found the claritin-d definitely has worked the best. I'm sure I could find another combo but I am trying to get through this season with as little medication as possible, crossing my fingers it will be over in a week or so.

 

[Erin1700]

My son had some unexplained weight around his 'spare tire'...
He had been taking Zyrtec for a long time for bad allergies.

When he switched to a Rx for the new Zyzal (now over the counter) that disappeared.

He has had good results, and I recommend the Zyzal!

Do you mind sharing how old he was? My DS10 started gaining weight this past year and change in allergy mess was the only difference. He was on Claritin. I just switched him to Allegra.