Anyone see behavior problems with singulair or zyrtec?

Randi - posted 6 days ago

I used Zyrtec only one day my child is two and was mean and nasty all day then when it came to be around 5:00pm she was like a zombie. Then after putting her to bed she woke up every two hours screaming and acting crazy, she was un able to be consoled. I will stick with Benadryl after her bath the pollen washes out of her hair and her clothes so her allergies are the worst so I give it to her then, no side affects, some kids get a little drowsy but nothing half as bad as Zyrtec. Hope this helps!,

Erinn - posted on 05/09/2013

I'm so glad to have read this. I just switched my 2 yr old son over from lortadine to the Zyrtec because I didn't think it was helping his allergies. And we have noticed an increase of him being angry, aggressive and just down right mean. He's a very easy going sweet kid normally. I will be stopping this med immediately! I'd like to see what he'd do with NO meds. Lord knows I tend to overmedicate my kids with the smallest sniffle! :)

Sharon - posted on 05/03/2013

hi
I have just taken my son off cetirizine because he was behaving like the devil. Angry, aggressive, argumentative and unreasonable, violent. Nearly stabbed me with a pair of scissors. I recently clicked (due to the awful weather) he only started with his hay fever treatment a fortnight ago and the violence started almost immediately.
Last year we saw psychologists, psychiatrists and psychotherapists??????

Scott - posted on 04/21/2013

I thought I would help. I have severe pet allergies and was taking this for 3 years every day. Long story short I ended up having major problems and spending a year going to the DR to figure out what was wrong ... Brain fog , aggression, poor sleep ,,, the list is huge. I finally figured out it was the Zyrtec and quitting made me a new man. Try butterbur, stinging nettle and other natural suppliments which work just fine.

Kimberly - posted on 04/13/2013

I just want to thank you for all the post. My son has been on Zyrtec since he was maybe 9 months. He had severe food allergies and the allergist prescribed the Zyrtec. My son is now almost 3 yrs old. I always wondered if the Zyrtec caused his behavior change. Before reading these post i never heard of the behavioral problems. The allergist prescribed Singulair for the morning now because he seems to be developing other allergies (indoor/outdoor) allergies.

I second guess my suspicion because the medication was dealing with the allergies but the behavior was horrible as most of you have experienced yourselves.I looked on both Singulair and Zyrtec's websites and it was not listed. I just happened to Google the question and this site popped up; so thank you so much for sharing! This has been very useful information.

Has anyone found alternatives that have been helpful?

Gloria R - posted on 03/23/2013

Gloria R - posted on 03/23/2013

Emma A - posted on 01/29/2013

it is a stimulant it increases the heart rate (almost like speed) that could be what the issue is.

Theresa - posted on 12/24/2012

I am glad i looked on here. my daughter who just turned 2, has been taking zertec for a few months now. but only in the last month has some of the problems, listed in many of your articles, now we are experiencing. screaming bloody murder in middle of night, mostly around 330-5 am. she now thinks something is trying to get her. hopefully thats the hallucinations of this drug. we will take her off of it now and see.

Dianna Lee - posted on 12/20/2012

I am so happy to see this. My 2 year old has had such drastic behavioral changes on this drug, I am getting ready to pull my hair out. It just came to my attention (yesterday) that it was probably the zyrtec that was causing all of the changes. Isabella no longer sleeps through the night, wakes screaming with night terrors, is hyper and having very very bad tantrums. Some of this behavior is "just being 2" I guess but I was starting to worry because she never behaved this way and it all seemed to happen during a concentrated timeframe...of when she started Zyrtec. I took her off yesterday and if after a while she needs meds am going to try Allegra. Other mothers please take cues from your little ones, my daughter suffered for a long time before I was able to pinpoint the problem.

Michbella - posted on 12/03/2012

I just wanted to post to all the parents out there, this drug made my son agressive, angry, and just plain disrespectfu! He became a mean and nasty boy. My husband and I have had sleepless nights on what happend to our son. I just wanted to post this to help avoid this to happen to anyone else. We have gone through months of hell, thinking we went wrong or that our son was possessed!! I wish I researched this BEFORE I trusted my pediatrician!!! Do they not research this drug before prescribing it??? really?? I almost had him evaluated by a psycologist!!! What a difference after the 4 days!!! My boy is back!!

Michbella - posted on 12/03/2012

My son's allergies were just awful. I never thought twice when my pediatrician told me to give him zertec every night before bed. It totally helped his cough, and sneezing........HOWEVER, my little sweet boy became possesed-like! His mood completly changed him! He did become a toatally different boy. It was only until I truly thought I had to seek a psychologist, when it dawned on me.....I have been giving him childrens Zertec since August!!! It is now December, and I decided to stop it! It has been about 4 days, and OH my, my child has come back to his normal sweet self! I am calling my ped. and having a long talk with her! Although, his allergies are now worse, I have now made an appointment with an allergist, and I will find an alternative for him to deal with these allergies! I WILL NEVER EVER GIVE THIS DRUG TO MY CHILDREN EVER AGAIN! I never, ever thought that this could have this affect on him like this!!

Anna - posted on 10/03/2012

I realize I'm replying to an old post but I thought I would reply anyway. When my son was 3 years old he started suffering from asthma whenever he caught a cold. In addition to the occasional asthma meds whenever he would get sick, his doctor decided it would be a good idea to try daily Singular. Let me tell you, he changed into a different kid. My sweet, fun loving, enthusiastic little boy became angry and aggressive. We knew it was the drug so we took him off of it. Regarding Zyrtec, I haven't put my son on it, but I've recently started taking it and it hasn't been pretty. That's why I decided to research it and I stumbled upon this post. It has made me irritable, tired and nervous. If it's giving me, an adult, these horrible side effects, I can't imagine what it may be doing to children. Stay away from both drugs! They're bad news!!!

SteffanyL - posted on 09/28/2012

I am so glad I read this! My daughter has had coughing issues for the last 2 weeks and was told that she just had a virus and it needed to pass. Then I took her back a week later because the cough wouldn't subside (waking up at night, excessive coughing when she is active, coughing so hard she would throw up). The Doc told me today that she has allergies and if I didn't deal with them she could end up with asthma. When I noticed they prescribed Singulair it didn't sit right with me, like I had heard something negative about it. My daughter was also prescribed Zyrtec, which she has had in the past (a relatively small dose) for her eczema. I only gave it to her if she had itchy days, and not very often. I realized tonight that they doubled her previous dose (from 1/2tsp to 1 tsp) and that is what I gave her tonight. I had already decided that I would give her the Singulair first thing in the morning, but I read the side effects on the prescription paper and that is what lead me to hear. I CAN NOT believe how many sites had negative comments about this drug. I DO NOT want to give this to my daughter!! How can they put these drugs out there when they have the possibility of side effects like these?? Tremors? Hallucinations? Night terrors? Possible thoughts of suicide and erratic behavior? For a 6 year old little girl? I am FURIOUS that the doctor would prescribe this. I have decided that I am calling my insurance company and requesting another provider . My daughters Doctor barely spent 5 minutes with her. Do these Doctors just not care? These are our children!! I feel like they are so ready to get the job done that they don't have time to really care. Now I am not saying this is all Doctors, because I used to have a great one back home who really took the time to take care of my family. Boy, I sure miss him now! Thank you everyone for reading my rant, and thank you especially for posting this information. You may have just saved myself and my little one from a lot of heartache! God Bless!

Sharlene - posted on 06/16/2012

My girlfriend's child has serve asthma, and hes on singulair, and hes behavior has changed as well, maybe go back and to the doctor and see if the doseage can be lower. take care

Kim - posted on 05/01/2012

I want to be clear that I am not saying that Zyrtec is a bad drug and nobody should take it. It did wonders for my son's symptoms, but we had those "rare" behavioral side effects. My son was only on it for a month before we figured it out, some kids are on it for years with these same side effects.



For anyone thinking about Zyrtec for their children, or anyone thinking that Zyrtec is causing behavioral issues... I found a great website with 24 pages (about 50 posts per page) of complaints about side effects on Zyrtec. I went looking because I was getting emails from teachers about my smart, normally easy going son. He was not able to concentrate at school, wasn't completing his work, and started saying he hated school and didn't want to go. My first thought was that something was happening at school that was causing him stress. Then I started exploring possible dyslexia symptoms to see if we needed to have him to tested for that. Then I started thinking maybe it was ADD or ADHD... It was horrible. We were punishing my son for not trying at school and misbehaving at home. Whiny, irritable, depressed, would cry at anything, anxious, unable to focus, complained of stomach aches and headaches (I thought he was trying to get out of school), more aggressive than normal with his siblings. Over and over again on this website, you see parents say they had these symptoms and thought their children needed psychiatric treatment. Some even went so far as to start medications to correct their behavior. So many of them say they took their children off of Zyrtec and there were miraculous changes in their child's behavior. Many weren't warned about these possible side effects, doctors told them it couldn't possibly be Zyrtec because it is totally safe.



I had no idea this was an issue. We have been on Singulair as well, but for a longer period of time. I took my son off of both of those medications. The second morning after his last dose, he was a happy boy first thing in the morning. There were no arguments about going to school. I want to cry thinking about all this time that these have been affecting him. I asked him this morning if he felt any different, and he said he felt like he didn't have a brain before. He said his headache is gone and he can think again. He's only 6 and understands he felt weird, but didn't know how to tell me. So sad...



ETA: This is the website http://www.askapatient.com/viewrating.as...

Debbi - posted on 04/14/2012

my son has been on pulmicort and zyrtec, along with prevacid and zantac. the combination seems to do him just right. he doesn't get irritable. docs wanted him to do the pulmicort 2x a day, but that was keeping him up at nap and night time, so i just do it once a day. the zyrtec is 1/2 teaspoon (or half a chewable tablet) once a day, and i do it in the morning. Each child is different, and each reacts differently to medications. It took alot of trial and error with my son to get the right combination for him...It works for him. Just be patient with the process, and try again. The right combination has to be out there for your son. does he have any reflux issues? that also can cause a mucousy cough. and like i said every child is different. has he been on both at the same time, or separtely, if both at the same time, you might try just one for a few days and see the reaction, and then do the other. not a doctor here, but just amom that has had a sick child through two terrible winters, and this last winter has had success with a healthier child. hope it helps

Tara-jean - posted on 04/11/2012

My 27 month old became very melancholy within 24 hours on singulair. After two days, I took her off it. Unfortunately, the med worked like a dream immediately her symptoms came right back as soon as she was off. We are trying a half dose and at the first sign that any of the side effects she is going off it permanently.

We are replacing her pillow, mattress and adding hypoallergenic covers, thoroughly washing all bedding, dust covers and curtains in the house and hope that these help her enough to come off it altogether. We are considering removing all carpeting as well. Am looking into homeopathic solutions and there is some data that dietary changes can help, too.

Shannon - posted on 03/13/2012

I would just like to say a big THANK YOU to you moms for posting this information. My son who is 5 was recently put on zyretec 2 weeks ago. I have noticed him acting out more and more every day. Crying over little things, being very aggressive with his little sister and with my husband and I. Today we were at a cook out and I can honestly say I have never seen him act so rude and disrespectful to our family. Long story short it took three adults to carry him kicking and screaming to the car and seat belt him in. It left me crying wondering what am I doing wrong as a parent. He has never been like this before. I will be talking to his doctor tomorrow!

April - posted on 02/24/2012

My son, 6years old now, has also been on both. We have never really had problems. But I always give him his Singulair, and Zyrtec in the morning. Maybe the Drowsiness that the Zyrtec brings calms down the energy from the Singulair. But every kid is different. If you don't feel that these meds are working, then just keep on your doctor or Allergist until they listen to you. You can also ask for a second opinion.

KRYSTLE - posted on 01/16/2012

I just joined and I am amazed at how many problems there are with this drug. I have had my son on this for about a year and a half and I cant do it anymore. I consulted with his doctor and they said " give it to him through the day", this was suppose to prevent the night terrors or whatever it is he is having. It isn't stopping!! He is aggressive, he cries EVERY night. Maybe 1 night goes smooth. The sad thing is that it has reduced his asthma attacks, but is it really worth the screaming and torture I feel I am putting my son through. I agree with all the moms on here, why is it still on the market? I am actually thinking we need to write the FDA and let them know. These children are suffering and who knows, this may be something that effects them for the REST of their life... It breaks my heart to see these kids go through this.. I just dont think it is worth it anymore. Please talk with your doctors and consider something different, I am!

Good Luck and let me know if anyone has any other updates on this drug!

Tammy - posted on 12/19/2011

Re Singulair -- make sure to read this website AND the recovery stories. http://parentsforsafety.org/17601/10794....

AManda - posted on 12/14/2011

i recently took my children off singulair. i switched my youngest to zyrtec. I give only when needed cause he gets so wound up. my oldest takes allegra and does pretty good with that.

Kelly - posted on 12/12/2011

My granddaughter has Asperger and she is in kingergarted now and is way above her level in school. She is reading above her grade level and also is an expert in math. she is still on the Singulair along with other medications for help with her autism. I once removed everything at once and started back to see if things would be different. Singulair has been a life saver to me because it has kept her Asthma in checked good.

Melissa - posted on 12/12/2011

My son has gotten MUCH better behavior-wise since being taken OFF singulair 2 years ago. He's 1 year ahead of his grade(1st) in math at school and 1 month ahead in reading, something I NEVER would've expected when he was on Singulair! He almost failed Pre-K???
Btw, he turns 7 later this month and is finally growing too, 46" tall and 50 lbs as of Thanksgiving

Kelly - posted on 11/28/2011

My granddaughter had a horrible behavior problem before started it so there was nothing different and than she was diagnose with Asperger which is the reason for the behavior.

Beth - posted on 11/23/2011

Funny I should come across this today..... I may have to switch allergy meds for my son and I. I knew about the possible side-effect of Singulair, as my youngest was on it and showed some of the symptoms mentioned, though not to a great degree. I took him off of it, and he was back to his cheerful self. My oildest has always been more sensitive to things, I am wondering if he might have a problem with the Zyrtec. I have been feeling depressed myself, and think it might be time to try Allegra and start our allergy shots back up, so we can eventually be med-free.

Kelly - posted on 11/08/2011

I thought there was a problem with my 5 year old when she started on it when she was 3 years old, so I removed the medicine and and found out that was not the problem, she has Asperger, ADHD and ODD, so after finding this out I started it back up. Singulair has helped me a great deal with her asthma.

Stephanie - posted on 11/08/2011

When my son younger, he was on singular. I took him off about 2 months in because he was so uncontrollably angry all the time. As soon as he stopped taking it he was fine again.

Lorrie - posted on 11/03/2011

My two children are on both for allergies and my son and daughter both have bad mood sings. My daughter has conplained of headaches and stomach aches after taking the Zyretec.

Marian - posted on 10/28/2011

My 12 year old has been on Keppra for a seizure disorder for 3 years. He just started taking Zyrtec 3 weeks ago and I have noticed major changes in his personality. He is normally a 'good' kid but over the last week or so he has become aggressive and very disrespectful. I wondered if it could be the Zyrtec..

Samantha - posted on 10/28/2011

my daughter had the same problem with zrytec and one other med that the allergist put her on....I didnt like his outtake on her condition and we chose another allergist who did the skin testing. found out her allegries are almost exactly to mine. she has been on allegra since, and nasonex. she also has singulair for the winter months as her indoor allergies get so bad it presents as asthma. nasonex year round, allegra in spring and fall, and all three in winter. she is now almost 7yrs. i believe my other daughter started nasonex at 2yrs, not sure, but its great if you can do that......no behavior side effects, but may dry out nose too much. i think her dose is half a squirt LOL hope this helps

Sasha - posted on 10/15/2011

well ,steroids are know to cause aggression, anyway,my daughter had been on zyrtec and she still had headaches ,so i switched her to another allergy medicine and she doesnt seem to have the headaches as bad or as much as before

Sasha - posted on 10/15/2011

well ,steroids are know to cause aggression, anyway,my daughter had been on zyrtec and she still had headaches ,so i switched her to another allergy medicine and she doesnt seem to have the headaches as bad or as much as before

Danielle - posted on 10/12/2011

my 7 yr old was on singulair i took her off because she was mean...there has been a study showing where this can be a side effect of singulair...now my 6 yr old is on both..doesn't affect her any... I give them to her at night...

Cynthia - posted on 10/12/2011

My son takes both of the medication but I dont think that was causing him to mis behave.

Lynne - posted on 08/18/2011

My son was put on singulair when he was 2 for asthma. I immediatley took him off with in 2 days because he would wake up screaming that his fingures hurt. His doctor at the time told me I was pretty much crazy and it wasnt the meds doing it. Well here we are almost 6 years later and move to a new location and his new doctor said lets put him on it. Told him about our experiences before. Also told him I will try it but cant guarentee I will keep him on it. The doctor said uh no thats an uncommon reaction to it he may be allergic.So now I just give him benadryl at night and a nose spray, and his two inhalers. You are the childs mother you know how he acts and if it doesnt seem right take him off. Some of the dyes that are in these products can cause behavior problems too. I always go for a clear liquid.

Nanci - posted on 08/18/2011

My son was on Zyrtec for several months. He has both asthma and allergies. He was having to use a nebulizer and inhaler for at least a week out of every month. I was having to dose him up with all kinds of meds for his asthma/allergies. Then his doctor switched us to Singular and Nasacort. OMG!! Like night and day. He has been on the Singluar and using Nasacort for the last 1 and 1/2 years and we haven't had to use a nebulizer and/or inhaler for the last year. He hasn't showed any signs of having any behavioral problems aside from what he was before he started taking the med(he has an autism spectrum disorder). We can tell when he doesn't take the medication for a week(insurance issues-caused a lapse in us getting refills) as he starts to have breathing problems and allergy problems. I am so thankful for this med!!

Sheri - posted on 08/15/2011

It is not necessarily the mediction itself, but the Red dye in the medication. My son i just totally obnoxious when he takes meds with red dye as well as Non-Drowsy formulas it seems. Allegra has a childrens one without the red dye that melts right in their mouth. I don't seem to have problems with that one.

Kathleen - posted on 08/07/2011

Dear Stephanie,
Here is an idea. Maybe the behavior is NOT DUE to the meds. Just a thought...Here is a letter I wrote to another mother.


The absolute FIRST THING I would do is to have your child thoroughly checked for strep, using a blood test. There is a condition out there that most people in the medical community are unaware (or in denial) of called PANDAS. That stands for pediatric autoimmune neurological disorder associated with strep. I really really hope you will heed this message, because it could be an explanation and it could prevent you from giving your child medications that will simply mask the problems, but not solve the root of them, which may be due to STREP A. My oldest son (who is currently 9) had this condition, and he is completely cured now due to antibiotics. It sounds weird, but just like with Rheumatic Fever, one's antibodies go nuts, but with PANDAS instead of attacking the joints and heart valve, for some reason the antibodies go up to the basil ganglia and affect learning or behavior. More boys than girls have this reaction, and every kid has different symptoms, which can look like some or all of the following: tics, anger issues or emotional instability, anxiety, depression, ADHD, OCD, ODD, fine motor problems leading to sloppy handwriting, problems with math...that is all I can think of right now. The key question is: HAS YOUR CHILD ALWAYS been this way, since birth, or did it start at a particular time (like when he or she was exposed to strep, probably unbeknownst to anyone)? My son had had chronic strep with NO SYMPTOMS, and when we had his tonsils removed, all of the strep was hidden deep inside, where antibiotics cannot reach. Check out the website saving sammy.net. Best of luck on your journey. Here is a list of doctors who treat PANDAS: http://www.facebook.com/topic.php?uid=23... I will pray for you and your child, and I hope you get this message. I am sorry for your suffering, when it feels like you are "losing" your child, but there is hope out there. Our son also had suicidal thoughts, and we had no idea where they had come from. This is also common with PANDAS. (A child may feel that way because he or she cannot control their bad behavior.) All of our son's behavior issues are completely gone now, with his antibiotic treatment. Check out a PANDAS doctor and maybe they can help! The few specialists who are really into this say that they are certain that there are many many kids out there who have been misdiagnosed as having ADHD and other conditions, but that they are really PANDAS kids. Your case sounds classic. Try to find a specialist. Check out the book Saving Sammy.
Sincerely, Mommo

Julie - posted on 08/07/2011

My step-son is 12, he is on Singular. He is a monster,too. He has been to counseling, our family doctor, and nothing will change him. I am at the point of no return. He has a problem obeying the rules, and minding. What else can we do with him?

Emma - posted on 08/06/2011

My son had very bad mood swings when he was on singular. He became very violent too. I did not want to blame it on the meds but as soon as i took him off it he returned to normal!

Tovia - posted on 08/05/2011

I thought we were going through a crisis of some kind! My 7 yr old is a total mess. he has become very moody, with tantrums, fighting his siblings & cousins, just plain "crazy". Yesterday I just wanted to cry. My younger cousin has ADHD and I don't know how his mom does it. Thank God I came on Circle of Moms now I don't feel so alone. We see our doctor next week and we're going to try some changes in our diet.

Amber - posted on 08/04/2011

My son is almost 5 now,he's been on singular since he was 6months old-after zyrtec didn't seem to do the trick...he's always seemed to have a "temper" though-and as he's gotten older he seems moody and every once in awhile the least little thing will set him off in a rant...I cant say its the singular though because he is on MANY other medications for allergies,asthma,etc...all medicines have different side effects and each child re-acts differently so i'd mention it to his doctor for sure!!

Jessica - posted on 07/29/2011

They were lethargic and cranky and my boys are 7, 9, 10. It makes them turn into a different kid.

Christine - posted on 07/16/2011

I too experienced behavior problems with my son on Zyrtec. Singular, however, was fine. I asked the pediatrician about it and she confirmed that some children experience this type of reaction and advised me to discontinue use immediately.

Julie - posted on 07/14/2011

My pediatrician recommends use of the sinus flush system over medication. It is challenging at first the child to try it. But once they do, great relief for them and for mommy!

Michelle - posted on 07/14/2011

My daughter is 14, now, and when she was little Zyrtec was still prescription. Her pedi prescribed it once for her, and only once. It said causes sleepiness, drowsiness...oh NO it DIDNT! My kid bounced off the walls utnil 5 freaking AM...when it finally wore off, she CRASHED. Never again. Benadryl worked best for her, and still does. Now that she's older, I will admit to slipping her some Nyquil every now and then too. Sssshh...don't tell anybody! ;-)

Jennifer - posted on 07/10/2011

my daugtherhas been on both. zerte.c is wonderful i have heard alot of bad thing with singular. they took her off that and gave her xopenex inhalation (breating treatment helped coughing at night

Carolyn - posted on 07/10/2011

Same thing - so I took my daughter off synthetic meds and started using a sea salt solution nose rinse morning and evening before bed, she was sinus free and stoppped having ear infections - then after 1 year is now allergy free!