Zyrtec - Interstitial Cystitis (ICN) Support Forum

gr24 · 12-18-2009, 02:17 PM

Can someone tell me what the difference between using Zyrtec and Atarax? I have taken zyrtec for years for allergies. Will it help my IC at all?

Briza · 12-18-2009, 02:35 PM

I have taken claritin, allegra, and zyrtec sporadically in the time I've had IC and can't say that any of them have helped.
I don't know why atarax helps with IC symptoms where other allergy meds may not...hopefully someone here can explain.

ICtampa · 12-18-2009, 02:42 PM

I can't really directly answer your question but I can tell you that benadryl seems to be working the same for me as hydroxyzine did. (I had to get off hydroxyzine because of crazy food cravings!!)

Tuckersmom · 12-18-2009, 03:20 PM

Atarax is sometimes used as a sedative during surgery prep. It's more sedating than Benadryl. I don't know why it works so well for IC, but it does help most people who try it.

stef000 · 12-19-2009, 09:13 AM

zyrtec is actually a metabolite of hydroxyzine so i think that may make it a bit better than other antihistamines....
and remember that benadryl can effect serotonin so watch out if you take it with an antidepressant it can cause come interactions....
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cetirizine
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydroxyzine
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diphenhydramine

jvr · 12-19-2009, 01:43 PM

Hi,

I was told by an IC Specialist that I could also try Zyrtec if I started to have any flaring in the allergy season...

Jill

justice4j · 12-19-2009, 02:34 PM

And pharmacologically related to Atarax. I would think that Zyrtec would be very similar to Atarax-- I understand that Zyrtec is basically long acting and a "me too" drug-- after the patent of Atarax has LONG expired. Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but that's what I remeber. Zyrtec offers convenience in a --I believe-- 24 hour dose. I would have gone w/Z except that I have to carefully titrate any daytime dose of Atarax, so long acting is "not my friend." It's great for those who can tolerate it though and I'm happy it's another opton for IC/PBS.

jvr · 12-19-2009, 06:09 PM

Hi,

That's funny because I was just watching Dr. Jeffrey Proctor's lecture on the ICA website back from August and he mentioned using Zyrtec if Atarax is too sedating....so there's another IC specialist who recommends it

J-your nursing knowledge impresses me

Jill

Mothergoose · 12-20-2009, 03:51 AM

antihistamines

The long debate topic. for me personally hydroxizine works best for IC, but although it does not make me sleep, I dream vividly on it, I really don't like the hung over feeling from it, I think I gave it a fair try. I used it for 7 mos slowly increasing the dosage, from 10 mg to 50 mg per day. I stopped it for a while and tried it again. The next time I tried it I still had the same reaction which I think is pretty normal, I also eat everything in sight, emostly carbs and sugars. I switched to benadryl which I tolerate much better no side effects but it does not work as well for me for IC, but it works really well for a bad allergic reaction.

I stay away from most long acting meds as they seem to disagree with me, I think it is the stuff they use to make it long acting.

I think like everything else you need to go through trial and error to find the right one for you.

Wouldn't it be nice if we all just reacted the same way to all meds so we didn't have to be guinie pigs all the time.

MG

musiclover · 12-20-2009, 07:24 PM

I wrote to the people at Cystoprotek because the maker of it, Dr. Theoharides, says to take hydroxyzine. I asked if Zyrtec (cetirizine) was a viable alternative. They asked Dr. Theoharides and he actually sent me a message back:

“Firstly, I would suggest that you start with 10 mg of hydroxyzine at night and slowly increase it to 50 mg only at night over one month-most of the sedation should disappear by then, while the benefits remain.

Cetirizine (which is a metabolite of hydroxyzine) doe not have the same properties as hydroxyzine (does not inhibit mast cells, does not reduce anxiety), but it is a good anti-histamine...”

jvr · 12-21-2009, 04:08 AM

Good information Musiclover

Thanks for sharing! Dr. Theoharides seems like a very caring and compassionate man...

Jill

Mothergoose · 12-21-2009, 05:16 AM

Thanks for the info do know I feel alot better on hydroxizine than the others, it is just so hard to get past the hungover feeling and the cravings for anything sinful, bladder freindly or not, but I am going back on it today.

Tanks for sharing the info MG

CherylSLP · 12-27-2009, 05:06 PM

It helped when my IC flared due to allergies.