I am curious to know if you are giving or have given Zyrtec to your child under 2 years of age ? We recently met a new allergist for second opinions for our 16 month olds food allergies and he prescribed a daily dose of Zyrtec. However Zyrtec doesn't have doseage recommendations for kids under 2 so curious if anyone has been regularly giving it to their small kids and how they felt about it.

On Jul 28, 2000

Yes my kids have been on zyrtec under the age of two..as far as dosage I can't remember. All three take 10 mg. of it daily now, they used to take 5, but due to their high grass allergy they need a higher dosage of the 10 mg. It works great!

On Jul 28, 2000

Yes! My son was taking Zyrtec when he was 6 months old(can't remember dosage) but it just wouldn't work for him so he now takes Claritin. My daughter (who is now 3 1/2 yrs.) has taken Zyrtec off and on since 2 1/2 but doesn't need it regularly. Hope this helps a little. tkiaml

On Jul 28, 2000

My son is 2 1/2 and has been on zyrtec for a 1 1/2 yrs. He was taking 3/4 tsp once daily and now takes 1 tsp. It works great.

On Jul 29, 2000

Am I correct in assuming that giving a daily dose means that its potency will reduce over time and either the dosage will have to go up or we'll have to switch to something more potent ??

On Jul 29, 2000

my son also started taking zyrtec before he was 1 year old. i beleive he took 1/2 teaspoon. he doesnt take it daily,and i beleive that his dosage would be higher now that he is 18 months, i beleive the dosage is determined by weight.

On Jul 29, 2000

My son just started on Zyrtec a couple of months ago. We were instructed to give it to him every night. When I asked, "For how long?" They said, "Forever." I don't agree with this but I see a major difference if I happen to "forget" to give it to him. The next day he wakes up with very puffy eyes. He also experiences coughing attacks that can last for up to 2 hours. However, if he has the Zyrtec then he doesn't experience the coughing attacks as much. He is four years old, weighs 39 lbs, and takes 1 tsp. a night.

On Jul 29, 2000

My son, now 10, has been on Zyrtec for at least 2 years. He really needs it. He will wake up very congested, coughing, etc. if he hasn't had it the night before. My Dr. said to just think of it as necessary for him... as necessary as Insulin for someone who is diabetic. When he put it that way, it made me understand and feel better about him needing it on a daily basis. He takes 2 teaspoons daily.

On Jul 30, 2000

My son was 15 months old when prescribed Zyrtec three months ago. The allergist said to give between 1/4 and 1/2 of a teaspoon once a day. His weight at the time was 25 lbs.

On Jul 31, 2000

Both of my kids take Zyrtec. Not for PA but for nazal allergies. My daughter was 6 mos when she started on it and took 1/2 tsp. No problems for either child. The medicine is wonderful.

On Jul 31, 2000

I agree the medicine works great. My daughter was prescribed it for environmental allergies. However, after two months of taking we we noticed a stark change in her behaviour. Very moody, cranky, out of sorts. We were told by our ped. allergist that it would have no behavioural effects. Well, a few days after discontinuing it, she was back to her old self. We just give her benadryl at night now if she is a little stuffy. My sister in law notices the same thing in her son and said her friends have commented on it as well. I wish it didnt affect my daughter like that as it really works great for sinus, dripping, cough from drips, etc.

On Jul 31, 2000

Interesting......I think that Zyrtec has the opposite reaction with my son. He is more cranky, irritable, and restless when he does not have the Zyrtec. He sleeps soundly and is in a much better behavior and his personality is wonderful when he has it.

On Aug 1, 2000

Our son had a negative behaviour mood swing to Zyrtec ... a couple of weeks into the medicine we noticed that he was very cranky and short of temper ... his teacher also noticed his changing mood ... we stopped the medicine. He takes Benadryl at night only when he needs it.

On Aug 1, 2000

Yes, my son was prescribed Zyrtec when he was about 18 months old for a chronically runny nose. I believe, as with many medications (esp. cold) that dosages are determined by weight rather than age. I asked our allergist if he would build up a tolerance if he takes it daily. The answer was "no." I didn't see any difference physically or behaviorally with him taking Zyrtec, so I just stopped. The nose cleared up on its own.

On Nov 13, 2000

Has anyone had bowel trouble on zyrtec? My son could not make it to the bathroom on time for bowel movements when on zyrtec. I know of another child who had this same problem. Claratin did not work so now at 6 he is old enough for flonase which works pretty well.

On Nov 13, 2000

Stacey, I was just talking to my dh about flonase today. that is the nasal spray for allergies right? do they have to be 6, my daughter is 5 1/2 and becomes quite aggressive on zyrtec and also has gastrointestinal problems when on it. We actually threw out the bottle we had recently as every once in a while I would give her the zyrtec as it worked great on her allergies BUT then live to regret it for 24 hours as she changed into Mr. Hyde!! How is the flonase working? any side effects? behavioural changes? did your child have any behavioural changes on the zyrtec like mine did?

On Nov 13, 2000

I have a 21/2 year old. He was prescribed Zyrtec when he was about 18 months old. I know dosage is by weight. My doctor told me to give to him if allergies were bad and did not have to be everyday. He is on a nasal spray called Varinase. It is a wonderful thing. We were on some liquid nose spray and it did not work well. The Varinase is a dry spray, in an inhaler looking case. My son is PA, and after trip to allergy clinic he has been different now we know what to avoid. He is also allergic to eggs and cats.

On Nov 17, 2000

mom2two, My son was about 5 1/2 when he started flonase. He also was on another deconjestant for a while to catch up with all the build up. Flonase works, but not as well as the Zyrtec, however the side efeects are much less. He doesn't get as tired on the flonase and he can control his bowels. Behavior wise, he is still quite a handful, but I think it is his personality.

He always had reverse effects on albuteral, he would get extremely tired instead of hyper. What a relief when we switched Drs and the new one diagnosed allergies, not asthma. Since we have been treating the allergies, he has not had a single asthma attack, and it has been almost three years.

He is such a character. Last night we were shopping, and he said in his innocent voice, "Mom, can I be anything I want when I grow up?" I, being the supportive Mom said, "Of course honey. You can be anything you want." His repley was "Can I be God?" I was momentarily speechless. Of course I had to burst his bubble and tell him that he could not be God. He'll have to have a new goal. Anyway good luck with the flonase. I hope it works for you. Have a nice Thanksgiving.

On Nov 17, 2000

very cute story! my daughter asked me a question the other day. she wanted to know how she would be able to tell which guy was God and which was Jesus when she got to heaven? (she is obsessed with dying/heaven these days). I just told her since God is Jesus' father, God is the older looking guy! she agreed.

the ped. actually prescribed Nasonex instead of the flonase. SHe is suppose to take it twice a day, so far I have been successful in getting to spray it once in each nostrel in the morning. we will see. she is getting over a bad cold so it may be a few weeks till we see any results.

she seems to be affected by all antihistamines now, her behaviour becomes so markedly changed, kind of dazed, cranky, all sorts of creepy type stuff. i think we are gonna stick to sniffling for a while and see if the Nasonex works.

andrea