Zyrtec causes acid reflux?

I have been having night time acid reflux for a few weeks (mild, but enough to wake me), and have been careful about diet, smaller meals, not eating in the evening, tried a few antacids, etc.

In doing a web search, Dr. Andrew Weil mentions that antihistamines can contribute to acid reflux. So then I did a google search for Zyrtec + acid reflux, and found several hits on forums, where people said this was true for them, and that the acid reflux went away when they stopped Zyrtec. Looking back on my notes, they both started about the same time.

Has anyone had this experience? I did a search, but found no previous threads on this. Thanks.

Edited to add: I take 1/2 Zyrtec just before bed. Maybe taking it with food at dinner would be better. But I will stop totally for a few days, and see what happens.

KatieW wrote:I have been having night time acid reflux for a few weeks (mild, but enough to wake me), and have been careful about diet, smaller meals, not eating in the evening, tried a few antacids, etc.

In doing a web search, Dr. Andrew Weil mentions that antihistamines can contribute to acid reflux. So then I did a google search for Zyrtec + acid reflux, and found several hits on forums, where people said this was true for them, and that the acid reflux went away when they stopped Zyrtec. Looking back on my notes, they both started about the same time.

Has anyone had this experience? I did a search, but found no previous threads on this. Thanks.

Edited to add: I take 1/2 Zyrtec just before bed. Maybe taking it with food at dinner would be better. But I will stop totally for a few days, and see what happens.

I take a zyrtec every night arround 7:00 pm with dinner and have not noticed any problems. My acid reflux is actually better since starting my cpap machine. Hope it works out for you.

I have been taking a Zyrtec every morning for over a year and I have not had any reflux problems (never have had reflux or heartburn problems though).

I've been on and off Zyrtec for years and never had Gerd problems with it. However, I had a MAJOR attack 2 weeks ago. Taking generic Allegra. Still having problems. Hummmm.....

Katie, hello. Antihistamines can attribute to the effects of acid reflex but if you take it in the mornings that should help because it will have time to get into your system before bedtime which is when GERDS is the worst. If that does not work than you could try taking prevacid otc or zantac otc in the evenings or the other option would be to try pepto bismal before bedtime.
Seems like a vicious cycle doesn't it, take one medication than take another to combat the effects of the first one and so on and so on. I do take a prescription antihistamine for allergies and also take prevacid every evening and it does take care of my acid reflux but I had it long before I started the allergy medicine. Good luck.

My Dr has me on Omprezole for my Reflux. It is a prescription Med but seems to work wonderfully for me.

DannyPh wrote:My Dr has me on Omprezole for my Reflux. It is a prescription Med but seems to work wonderfully for me.

That is a generic form of Prilosec -- an over the counter med you can buy. At least it is over the counter here in the states. I take two a day. One in the a.m. and one in the p.m.

Since Prevacid has come out over the counter I am pretty well controlled with just one a day -- but if go back to using the generic Prilosec (omprezole) or the name brand it still takes two to control my GERD.

steelheadid wrote:Antihistamines can attribute to the effects of acid reflex ....

By what mechanism does this contribute to GERD and what evidence do you have?

I have been taking Zyrtec on a daily basis, right before I go to bed, for years and have never had acid reflux.

roster wrote:

steelheadid wrote:Antihistamines can attribute to the effects of acid reflex ....

By what mechanism does this contribute to GERD and what evidence do you have?

Roster, didn't you see the latest on Foxnews.com? An anecdotal report indicates that Antihistamines are related at a molecular level to Antidepressants. They both share a common molecule: Anti. Thus, they both contribute to GERD, apnea, and health care reform. Beware the Antihistamine!

Rooster:
Here are two links that discuss histamine indications in regards to GERDS.
However most of my dealings with the subject came from the gastroenderoligist that my daughter, who at the age of 16 had to have nissen fundoplication surgery to correct her GERDS, my wifes dealing with the problem for the past thirty years and my three endoscopies to watch for barrets syndorm that can be related to GERDS. Our physician and pharmacist have also discussed the use of histamines with all of us since we are all lucky enough to have allergies and have to take them along with having GERDS. The solution for each of us was to find one that helped our allergies but did not exacerbate the acid reflux.
The catch 22 to this is that antihistimines are also used as a treatment for acid reflux and if you do a web search for antihistamine and acid reflux you will find lots of information on this subject. As for most afflicitons, including apnea, we all react to treatments differently. The problem with medicines used to treat afflictions is the contraindications that each of them can have helping or causing a condition to be better or worse.
To answer your question, before you ask, where my knowledge of medication causes and effects has come from it has been from dealing with treating my wifes cancer for the past 30 years and doing a lot of research. The research part of this I am sure you understand very well from reading many of your posts on this forum.

http://heartburn.about.com/od/gerdacidr ... uses_2.htm

http://www.medicinenet.com/gastroesopha ... /page6.htm

No Zyrtec last night. Slept well, and no heartburn! Thanks for your comments, everyone.

Katie, can you try taking your daily Zyrtec in the morning or midday instead of at bedtime to see if that might negate the reflux?

If it turns out you have to try several of the antiihistimes and still continue with the problem, perhaps you could go to a topical (Rx or OTC nasal spray antihistime) rather than a systemic (tablet).

Sure wish you well in finding a solution!

Patty

Sometimes people can have problems with any med that they take right before lying down. I took an antibiotic pill once before going to bed and it stayed in my esophagus (I couldn't feel it), or maybe it washed back up into my esophagus when I laid down and it caused an ulcer there. If you really want to keep taking it in the evening, take it several hours before lying down.
Good luck to you.

I still remain skeptical that antihistamines cause acid reflux.

I just now spoke with one of my neighbors who is a GP. He said the older sedating antihistamines, primarily chlorpheniramine and diphenhydramine (Benadryl), do reduce saliva production. With less saliva to wash acid down and out of the esophagus, there could be a contributory effect on acid reflux.

The newer drugs, Claritin and Xyrtec, typically do not reduce saliva production. He was not aware that they contribute to acid reflux. But I know by experience he is far from knowing everything.