Zyrtec or Xyzal Itching After Stopping (Cetirizine/Levocetirizine)

Published by Joseph, EditorCompiled from cited sources · not yet medically reviewedUpdated Oct 29, 20264 sources

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For information only, not medical advice. Talk to a doctor before stopping or changing any medication. Medical disclaimer

Quick answer

In May 2025 the FDA warned that people who stop cetirizine (Zyrtec) or levocetirizine (Xyzal) after daily use for a few months or more, often years, may develop rare but sometimes severe itching (pruritus). It usually starts within a few days: in the FDA’s review the median was 2 days (range 1 to 5). People in these reports hadn’t had the itch before starting the medicine.

The FDA found 209 reported cases worldwide between 2017 and 2023, against tens of millions of packages sold each year, so it appears rare. The cause is unknown. Restarting the medicine relieved the itch in 90% of the cases that reported it, and some people then managed to stop by tapering. How long the itch lasts if you don’t restart is not well studied. The FDA advises contacting a health care professional if you get severe itching after stopping.

Zyrtec and Xyzal itching timeline at a glance

When did you last use or take it?

This places the typical ranges from this article's sources on your date. It is not a prediction or a diagnosis, and being past a phase does not mean symptoms or risks are over.

A rough guide from published sources, not medical advice. Everyone is different.

Phase	When	What you may feel	Severity	Red flags
Onset of itching	Within about 1 to 5 days of the last dose (FDA median 2 days)	New itching that wasn’t there before you started the medicine; Often widespread; in one FDA case series it often began on the hands, feet or scalp and then spread; Hives in some people	Moderate	Itching so severe you can’t function or sleep: contact a health care professional; Swelling of the lips, tongue or throat, or trouble breathing: call 911
Ongoing itching	After the first few days; how long it lasts without treatment is not well studied	Itching that continues; the FDA reports don’t describe how long it lasts; Some reports described disability or hospitalization; A few reports described suicidal thoughts or self-harm	Moderate	Thoughts of suicide or self-harm: call or text 988 now

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Symptoms, phase by phase

The FDA and the Xyzal label describe the main symptom as new itching (pruritus) that wasn’t present before the person started the medicine. Many reports described widespread itching that needed medical care. In an earlier FDA case series of 146 cetirizine cases, the itch was often said to start on the hands, feet or scalp before spreading, and hives were reported in some cases. Rash was not the main feature: it’s the itch itself.

Onset of itching: Within about 1 to 5 days of the last dose (FDA median 2 days)

New itching that wasn’t there before you started the medicine
Often widespread; in one FDA case series it often began on the hands, feet or scalp and then spread
Hives in some people

Ongoing itching: After the first few days; how long it lasts without treatment is not well studied

Itching that continues; the FDA reports don’t describe how long it lasts
Some reports described disability or hospitalization
A few reports described suicidal thoughts or self-harm

What the FDA found

Finding	What the FDA reported
Cases	209 worldwide (197 in the US), reported April 2017 to July 2023: 180 cetirizine, 27 levocetirizine, 2 both
How long people had taken it	Median 33 months (range 1 week to 23 years). Of the 106 cases that gave a duration, 92% had used it for more than 3 months
When itching started	Median 2 days after stopping (range 1 to 5 days)
Serious outcomes	Some cases reported disability, hospitalization, or suicidal thoughts or self-harm
Restarting the medicine	Itching resolved in 71 of 79 cases (90%) that reported restarting
Tapering after restarting	Itching resolved in 9 of 24 cases (38%) that tapered off after restarting
Stopping again	Itching came back in 92 of 93 cases that restarted and then stopped again

These numbers come from voluntary reports, so they can’t tell us how often this happens. The FDA says it cannot determine the likelihood of an individual getting it, but notes that more than 60 million packages of these medicines were bought over the counter in the US in 2022, which suggests it is rare.

What makes it more or less likely

How long you’ve taken it. Reports mostly involve daily use for months to years. The FDA says the itch was reported in people who used these medicines daily, typically for at least a few months and often for years.
Daily, regular use. The warning is about long-term daily use, not occasional doses.
Which medicine. Most reports involved cetirizine (Zyrtec), but levocetirizine (Xyzal), a closely related drug, is included in the warning.
Other risk factors are unknown. The FDA says the mechanism is unknown, and the sources don’t identify who is most at risk.

When to see a doctor or get help now

Contact a health care professional if you develop severe itching after stopping. This is the FDA’s advice, and it applies to both prescription and over-the-counter versions.
If you plan to take cetirizine or levocetirizine long term, especially for more than a few months, the FDA suggests discussing the benefits and risks with a health care professional.
Call 911 for swelling of the face, lips or throat, or trouble breathing.
Call or text 988 if constant itching leaves you with thoughts of suicide or self-harm.

You can report a reaction to the FDA through MedWatch. See also Get Help.

Tapering

The updated Xyzal label says itching may improve with restarting or tapering the medicine. The FDA notes that effective treatments for the itching have not been evaluated. In the cases it reviewed, symptoms resolved in most people who restarted the medicine, and in some who then tapered off after restarting. No official tapering schedule has been published, and we don’t publish dose-by-dose schedules. A pharmacist or doctor can help you decide whether to restart, how to come off it more slowly, or whether a different allergy treatment would suit you.

Tips for getting through it

Note the date you stopped and when the itch began. Timing that fits the 1 to 5 day window is useful information for your doctor or pharmacist
Keep a simple itch diary (rated 0 to 10 each day) to track whether it’s easing
If you take it for allergies or hives, ask about other ways to control them so the original problem doesn’t flare when you stop

Frequently asked questions

How long does Zyrtec withdrawal itching last?

It isn’t well studied. The FDA reports describe when it starts (usually within 1 to 5 days), but not how long it lasts if you don’t restart. In the reports, restarting the medicine relieved it in 90% of cases that tried it.

Is Zyrtec withdrawal real?

The FDA concluded that its evaluation supports a causal link between stopping cetirizine or levocetirizine and itching. It is rare, and the mechanism is unknown. The FDA has added a warning to the prescription labels and asked for one on over-the-counter Drug Facts labels.

Does it happen with Xyzal (levocetirizine) too?

Yes. The FDA warning covers both cetirizine and levocetirizine. Most reported cases involved cetirizine, which is the more widely used of the two.

What about Allegra, Claritin or Benadryl?

The FDA warning is specifically about cetirizine and levocetirizine. The sources we used don’t cover other antihistamines. See our Benadryl and hydroxyzine pages for those medicines.

Should I avoid taking Zyrtec long term?

That’s a personal decision to make with a health care professional. The FDA suggests that anyone planning long-term use, especially for more than a few months, talk through the benefits and risks first.

Next steps

Talk to others going through it. Share your experience or ask questions on the Antidepressants & Other Prescriptions board in our community forum. Forum posts are personal experiences, not medical advice. Please read the community guidelines.

Sources

Last reviewed: October 29, 2026. Researched and written by Withdrawal Timelines from the cited sources. This article has not yet been reviewed by a medical professional. See How We Review and our Medical Disclaimer. This is general information, not medical advice.

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