Just in time for allergy season, a recent FDA warning describes a new side effect for those who take Zyrtec or Xyzal long-term. This is what you should know.

FDA warns of severe itching risk when stopping long-term use of allergy medications cetirizine and levocetirizine, affecting quality of life for some users.

and only noticed the itching start after they stopped taking the allergy pills. Cetirizine is sold over the counter under several brand names, including Zyrtec, Aller-Tec and All Day Allergy.

The affected medicines include cetirizine, which is popularly sold under the brand name Zyrtec, and levocetirizine, sold as Xyzal. While reported cases of the severe itching side effect are rare ...

On May 16, 2025, it issued an FDA Drug Safety Communication warning about “severe itching after stopping long-term use of oral allergy medicines cetirizine or levocetirizine (Zyrtec, Xyzal ...

The former was first approved as the prescription drug Zyrtec in 1995 ... A 2019 study identified potential cases of severe pruritus (itching) related to cetirizine withdrawal dating back to ...

Specifically, the agency made clear that stopping long-term use of cetirizine (Zyrtec) or levocetirizine (Xyzal) may lead to “rare but severe itching.” The uncomfortable side effect can happen ...

As FDA recognized, reports of itching upon discontinuation in patients who used Zyrtec medicines daily over a period of months or years are rare. We will continue to evaluate and monitor the ...

People who quit Zyrtec or Xyzal after using them daily for several weeks or longer have reported a rare but serious reaction known as pruritus. The Food and Drug Administration issued a warning ...

If you stop taking Zyrtec or Xyzal after long-term use, you might experience "rare but severe" itching. Also called pruritus, this itching was experienced by patients who had been taking these ...