Taking medication for an allergic reaction? You might face severely itchy skin as a side effect of Zyrtec or Xyzal, according ...

A. Levocetirizine (Xyzal) was once a prescription-only antihistamine. It went over-the-counter in 2017. Common side effects include fatigue, sleepiness, sore throat and dry mouth.

The FDA identified 209 cases worldwide (197 in the U.S.) of new-onset pruritus after cetirizine/levocetirizine withdrawal between April 2017 and July 2023.

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is warning that patients who stop taking cetirizine (Zyrtec) or levocetirizine (Xyzal) after long-term use may experience rare but severe itching. The ...