What Is It Like to Take Zyrtec for Seasonal Allergies? Real Stories From People Who Rely on It

Seasonal allergies can make daily life difficult with symptoms such as sneezing, itchy eyes, and a runny nose. For people who enjoy outdoor activities like gardening or long walks, allergies can be especially frustrating. But many find that taking daily seasonal allergy medication allows them to keep doing the things they love.

And oral antihistamines are known as a quick-relief option that can work within a few hours.

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Zyrtec (cetirizine) is an over-the-counter antihistamine that starts working within an hour to ease symptoms such as itching, watery eyes, and nasal congestion. Many people take it every day for years without losing effectiveness. Drowsiness is a common side effect, but many people don’t experience it and can take Zyrtec anytime of day.

EXPERT PICKS: WHAT TO READ NEXT

• What’s the difference between Zyrtec and Benadryl? Here are some main differences between these two allergy medications.

• What are the main side effects of Zyrtec? Read about common side effects, such as drowsiness, dry mouth, and sore throat.

• Can I drink alcohol if I’m taking Zyrtec? GoodRx experts say it can be risky.

Here, three people describe what it feels like to take Zyrtec regularly to manage their allergy symptoms.

Finding relief after years of allergy symptoms

For decades, Jan Stephens dealt with constant coughing, nasal dripping, and sinus infections. 

“Coughing is the thing I’m best at,” the 67-year-old jokes.

She first noticed her allergies in the 1970s, when dust mites, grass, and mold began to affect her health. Later, reactions to certain foods, such as fish, nuts, and eggs, added to her discomfort.

Jan tried various antihistamines over the years, but none worked well. In February 2024, she switched to Zyrtec.

“It was great relief. It didn’t make me sleepy. It worked very well,” says Jan, a retired paralegal from a Chicago suburb.

Now she enjoys 7-mile walks — even during peak allergy season. She doesn’t feel any chest tightness or itchy eyes, and she doesn’t use an inhaler.

She generally takes Zyrtec every morning when she drinks her coffee, and any symptoms she’s experiencing are gone within 15 minutes. One over-the-counter tablet per day is enough, and she has not noticed any decline in its effectiveness over time.

“The walking — to be able to do that is wonderful. And [I don’t] feel like I am going to need a bunch of tissues at some point,” she says.

The right medication for an active lifestyle

Missy Canty, 45, has dealt with environmental allergies for many years. About 11 years ago, her symptoms worsened when she developed asthma and nasal polyps. After surgery for the polyps, she knew she needed to find a way to manage her allergies better.

Missy, who lives in Sumter, South Carolina, is allergic to mold and certain trees, including the pecan tree in her backyard. To manage her allergies, she runs air purifiers in every room. She also tried allergy shots. The allergy shots helped initially, but they weren’t convenient. That’s when she started taking Zyrtec.

It started working within hours, says Missy, who works as a hairstylist and a customer service representative at a bank.

“It was drying up any drainage that I had, and it stopped me from having an itching feeling around my body,” she says. “It helped me to breathe better. It cleared up a lot of the nasal symptoms.”

Missy takes 1 tablet daily, usually before bed. She says the relief lasts for 24 hours, and she hasn’t felt drowsy. To save money, she orders Zyrtec in bulk and carefully plans her orders to avoid running out.

“I can plant my plants and flowers and stuff. Prior to Zyrtec, I couldn’t really do that because my nose was always running, or I would have slight nosebleeds because of the allergies,” she says. “I like to rake the yard and just play around in the garden. So now I can be confident in going outside with no problems.”

Managing allergy symptoms and chronic hives

Meg Pregmon, 38, has dealt with allergies for as long as she can remember. Growing up in rural Pennsylvania, she often reacted to allergens when visiting her relatives’ hay-filled dairy farm.

It seems to run in the family. As a child, she says, “My dad and I couldn’t even be anywhere near the barn because our faces would blow up,” says Meg, a registered nurse from Clarks Summit, Pennsylvania.

As she got older, Meg discovered she was allergic to nearly every tree in Pennsylvania. Her symptoms include itchy, watery eyes, a runny nose, and constant sneezing. After trying many medications, Meg found Zyrtec. She started taking it 20 years ago and has relied on it ever since.

“It’s the only thing that makes me not want to claw my eyes during the spring season,” she says.

About 6 years ago, Meg developed chronic hives, or urticaria. She noticed that Zyrtec also helped with the itching and rashes. Now, she takes a full tablet during allergy season and halves her dose the rest of the year to control her hives.

“That was challenging, just to wrap my mind around the fact that I needed to be dependent on something every day,” Meg says. “But now it’s fine. I don’t know what I would do without it.”

Meg loves spending time outdoors and says Zyrtec helps her enjoy life without constant allergy symptoms.

“It’s like taking a vitamin for me,” she says. “I live in a pretty rural area. I enjoy being outdoors a lot. And without it, I don’t know how tolerable it would be.”

What does the pharmacist say?

Christina Aungst, PharmD 

Pharmacy Editor

Zyrtec (cetirizine) is an over-the-counter antihistamine. It’s a popular choice for treating allergy symptoms. And its once-daily dosage makes it a convenient option that provides symptom relief for up to 24 hours.

Zyrtec works by blocking histamine. Histamine is a chemical your body releases when you’re exposed to something you’re allergic to. It commonly causes symptoms like runny nose, sneezing, and watery eyes. But it can also cause other allergic symptoms, such as hives, itching, and rashes. By blocking histamine, Zyrtec helps lessen these.

Zyrtec starts working fast — in 20 to 60 minutes for most people. And if you take it every day, it can also help prevent allergy symptoms. So it’s an allergy medication that you can take daily or only when you need it.

Many people take Zyrtec without problems. And long-term use is safe for most people. But it can cause side effects, such as drowsiness, headache, and sore throat. Older adults may be more sensitive to some of Zyrtec’s side effects. So if you’re 65 or older, it’s a good idea to check with a healthcare professional before you start taking it. But in general, Zyrtec is a safer option for older adults than older antihistamines, such as Benadryl (diphenhydramine).

Why trust our experts?

Written by:

Karen Gutierrez

Karen has 20 years of experience as a newspaper journalist and 15 years as a social media marketer in banking and personal finance. She is the mother of an adult child with special needs and has served on the family advisory council as a volunteer reviewer of family education materials for Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center.

Edited by:

Tanya Bricking Leach

Tanya Bricking Leach is an award-winning journalist who has worked in both breaking news and hospital communications. She has been a writer and editor for more than 20 years.

Reviewed by:

Christina Aungst, PharmD

Christina Aungst, PharmD, is a pharmacy editor for GoodRx. She began writing for GoodRx Health in 2019, transitioning from freelance writer to editor in 2021.

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