FDA Warns of Itching Risks with Popular Allergy Medications

Seasonal allergies are triggered by pollen and blooming flowers and other plants. Allergy symptoms include runny noses, itchy eyes, sneezing, and sometimes coughing. Patients have been prescribed medications, and in some cases, take over-the-counter allergy medication. Recently, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warned the public that when patients stop long-term use of Zyrtec or Xyzal, oral allergy medications, may experience rare but severe itching. If you or your child suffered severe adverse effects from Zyrtec, Xyzal or another allergy medication, you should call the experienced Chicago-based product liability attorneys of the Moll Law Firm about whether you have a case against the manufacturer or others in the chain of distribution.

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Cetirizine (Zyrtec) and levocetirizine (Xyzal) are antihistamines, which are mobilized to stop histamines released during people’s allergic responses to seasonal allergens like pollen and grass. The former was approved in 1995 and became an over-the-counter medicine in 2008. The latter was approved for prescriptions in 2007 and was made an over-the-counter drug in 2017.

The American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology has cited information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that indicates about 1 out of 3 adults and 1 out of 4 children in the United States have reported their food allergy, eczema, or seasonal allergy. Over 100 million people in the country have stated they have allergy symptoms. The FDA’s public warning noted that people purchased over 80 million packs of popular allergy medications in 2022.

Those who’ve taken the allergy medications Zyrtec and Xyzal long-term and stopped suffered pruritic, or severe itching that they didn’t suffer before taking the medicine. The itching was so bad they had to seek medical care. The FDA has claimed that restarting the medication may cause symptom relief and is revising the information for prescription versions of the allergy medications to include new warnings about the risk of pruritus. Between April 25, 2017-July 6, 2023, there have been 209 worldwide cases of pruritus, 197 in the United States alone, after drug cessation.

The FDA has asked people to contact their doctors if they develop serious itching once they stop their antihistamines. If the itching is very severe and lasting, it may be appropriate to pursue further relief in a product liability claim. Product liability lawsuits may be brought when a product is defective in terms of its manufacturing, design, or marketing. Failure to warn of serious side effects is a marketing defect. Theories our attorneys may use to pursue relief depending on the jurisdiction include strict liability, negligence, breach of warranty, statutory violations, or breach of contract.

Consult a Seasoned Product Liability Attorney

If you or your child suffered severe adverse side effects from using Zyrtec, Xyzal, or another allergy medication, you should discuss your situation with the experienced Chicago-based product liability attorneys of the Moll Law Group. Our firm represents families around the country, and billions have been recovered in cases with which we’ve been involved. Contact us online or call us at 312.462.1700.