Help, I'm going mad.... (Zirtek Allergy Relief)

Name: sandemp

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Product:	Zirtek Allergy Relief
Date:	27.01.07 (314 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Work quickly, long lasting, few side-effects

Disadvantages: Expensive when compared to generic versions.

Before I start telling you about these tablets, it'd probably be a good idea to tell you why I need them. Although most people take anti-histamines to relieve the symptoms of hay fever I actually have a condition called uticaria, this is an extraordinarily itchy skin condition that comes and goes. When a flare-up begins my skin gets hot and itchy and a rash similar to nettle rash appears, if I don't do something to relieve the symptoms immediately the rash spreads and I end up with huge red weals on my arms, legs and trunk and the best way I can describe it is I look like I've been abducted by aliens with suckers for hands. The itching is so intense that it's actually painful, I've no idea why I have this condition, what I do know is that there is no real cure, and that I've been taking various anti-histamines for the last seven years to control it. To start with I used to get them on prescription, with Zirtek being one of the most common prescriptions, but then it started to get a bit of a chore to keep returning to the GP, so now I buy my own.

---So what's in them?---

Now I'm not going to give you a full list of ingredients, but I will tell you that the active ingredient in these tablets is 10mg cetirizine dihydrochloride. Now this is exactly the same active ingredient that you will find in many other (cheaper) versions of one-a-day anti-allergy tablets.

---What are they like?---

These are tiny white tablets, less than ½ a centimetre in length and mere millimetres in width. I find I can swallow them easily, with or without water, and even those who have problems swallowing such things as painkillers should have no difficulties.

---How well do they work?---

I try to take one of these tablets as soon as I first start to feel itchy, so that I don't get to the point where I'm in pain. I find that I start to feel relief within about 15 minutes and have the full-effect within an hour. These are one-a-day tablets, which means I should feel the effect for about 24 hours, sadly they aren't always that effective, but on average I get at least 20 hours relief from one tablet. The real problem that I do have is that I find that with long term use I find I start to get immune to the tablets effects, so I actually rotate these on a weekly basis with an anti-histamine that has a different active ingredient.

When compared to the far cheaper, generic versions, they work in exactly the same way, and in exactly the same time scale. I really find there is no difference between the different versions (except for several pounds).

---Any side effects?---

I've never experienced any major side effects with these tablets, although when I first started taking Zirtek I did find that they made me drowsy. This only lasted for the first couple of doses, but you should be aware that everyone responds differently to drugs, and if you do feel drowsy after taking them you should not drive or operate machinery.

Other reported side effects include : headaches, dizziness, agitation, dry mouth and stomach discomfort. I've never experienced these personally but personally I would find any of those preferable to my initial symptoms.

---Who can take them?---

These tablets are only suitable for adults and children over 12 years. They are NOT recommended for use in pregnancy or if breastfeeding. They also contain lactose, and as such are not really suitable for lactose intolerants.

---Where can I get them?---

Zirtek are available in packs of seven (one weeks supply), without prescription in most chemists, supermarkets and even corner shops for an average of £3-£4.

---Final Words---

Without these tablets and ones like them I think there are times when I would have gone mad. I find they provide long term relief from itching within a very short time from taking them. Although I don't specifically take them for hay fever, I have noticed since being on long term anti-histamines that I haven't suffered from any of those symptoms and I haven't reacted to gnat bites either. I have occasionally tried to last a day without them, but then I find myself unable sleep or do anything as I'm being driven to distraction by the itching so I always make sure I have a supply in my medicine cupboard. I find these work in exactly the same way and no quicker than the cheaper brands but cost three to four times as much. Therefore I only buy these when I can’t get to somewhere like Tesco that sells the equivalent for under a pound for a weeks supply. So yes they are, for me at least, a god-send, but they are a very expensive way of taking the particular drug and I can therefore only give 3 stars out of five as you are paying way over the top for the brand name.

Summary: Work well but are no better than the cheaper versions.....