{"id":125796,"date":"2025-05-23T17:15:11","date_gmt":"2025-05-23T17:15:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/125796\/"},"modified":"2025-05-23T17:15:11","modified_gmt":"2025-05-23T17:15:11","slug":"millions-take-these-allergy-meds-now-the-fda-says-they-may-worsen-symptoms","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/125796\/","title":{"rendered":"Millions take these allergy meds… now the FDA says they may WORSEN symptoms"},"content":{"rendered":"

By SADIE WHITELOCKS FOR DAILYMAIL.COM<\/a> <\/p>\n

Published: 11:21 EDT, 23 May 2025 | Updated: 11:21 EDT, 23 May 2025 <\/p>\n

An FDA warning has been issued over a new crippling side effect of allergy<\/a> drugs taken by more than 60 million people worldwide.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The FDA<\/a> says it has received complaints from patients who suffered from severe itching after stopping the oral allergy medicines<\/a> cetirizine and levocetirizine – sold under the brand names Zyrtec and Xyzal.<\/p>\n

These medicines are available in prescription and over-the-counter forms.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The itching, also called pruritus, has been reported in patients who used these medicines daily, typically for at least a few months and often for years.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Patients did not experience itching before starting the medicines.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Pruritus in its most severe form can cause skin damage and open sores, with patients reporting distress and difficulty sleeping.<\/p>\n

Health officials said the cases were ‘rare but sometimes serious, with patients experiencing widespread, severe itching that required medical intervention’.\u00a0<\/p>\n

As a result, the government agency is revising the prescription cetirizine and levocetirizine prescribing information to include a new warning about this risk.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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An urgent warning has been issued over a new side effect of allergy drugs taken by more than 60 million people worldwide<\/p>\n

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Manufacturers will also be required to add a warning about pruritus to the drug facts label of the OTC versions.<\/p>\n

An estimated 62.7 million packages of OTC cetirizine and levocetirizine products were purchased by consumers in the US in 2022.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Both medications can help relieve symptoms like sneezing, runny nose, itchy nose, and watery eyes caused by pollen and other seasonal allergens.<\/p>\n

They can also be used to manage year-round allergy symptoms triggered by dust mites, pet dander, or mold.<\/p>\n

Cetirizine was approved for oral use by prescription in December 1995 under the trade name Zyrtec (no longer sold as a prescription medicine) and approved for OTC use in November 2007.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, levocetirizine was approved for oral use by prescription in May 2007 under the trade name Xyzal and approved for OTC use in January 2017.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Patients have been advised to contact a health care professional if they develop severe itching after stopping prescription or OTC cetirizine or levocetirizine pills.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Those who reported the uncomfortable side effect, said the itching typically occurred within a few days of stopping the medicines.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Overall, the FDA says that it identified 209 cases of pruritus worldwide linked to cetirizine and levocetirizine cessation.\u00a0<\/p>\n

This number only includes reports submitted to the FDA so experts suspect there might be additional cases.\u00a0<\/p>\n

It notes that it is unsure why the medication causes the itching but ‘many reports described widespread pruritus that required medical intervention after stopping these medicines, with a large number describing significant and persistent impact on quality of life and ability to function’.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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