I was diagnosed with dermotagraphia which causes my skin to become very itchy for long periods of time and whenever i scratch my skin breaks out into hives. my doctor prescribed that i take zyrtec every day. will this cause negative side effects?

Zyrtec shouldn't have any important side effects. The cause of dermatograhia is vary elusive. I usually refer such patients to an allergist for evaluation,treatment & follow-up.

The only common side effect from Zyrtec is drowsiness, which is why I prefer Allegra. It's now available OTC, and you can double or event triple the dose if necessary to control your hives. If that doesn't work, a dermatologist can offer other treatment options.