About Hydroxyzine
- FDA-approved hydroxyzine medication for treating Anxiety, to provide relaxation and sedation before and post-surgery, and treating allergic infections
- It is also called an antihistamine that reduces the actions of the natural substance histamine that causes allergy symptoms in the body.
- Our bodies naturally produce Histamine to fight situations like runny nose.
- They produce itching and hives in the skin.
- Hydroxyzine binds with histamine to inhibit its effects and control the allergic symptoms.
- This causes drowsiness and sleep as a natural effect.
- It can be used both for children and adults.
- It is specifically used to reduce anxiety and tension created before and after any surgery and produces sedative effects to give a relaxed sleep in patients.
- Insomnia is also treated with this medicine.
- For anxiety, it is generally prescribed for Generalized Anxiety Disorder.
- It is the belongs to same class of medicine diphenhydramine (Benadryl) and cetirizine (Zyrtec).
Hydroxyzine and Anxiety
Hydroxyzine produces relaxing and sedative effects to alleviate symptoms caused by anxiety, making a person feel uneasy and uncomfortable.
Studies also confirm its positive role in the treatment of Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) compared to placebo medicine.
Its role in the treatment of anxiety is exactly not known, but healthcare providers believe it helps in reducing symptoms of GAD.
Insomnia a potential symptom of anxiety disorder can also be managed by it.
How Hydroxyzine Works for Anxiety
Hydroxyzine works to reduce anxiety in two possible ways:
- It increases serotonin levels in the body to give a relaxing effect
- To produce a sedative effect to cool physical symptoms like increased heart rate and high blood pressure.
It works by regulating serotonin and histamine in our body.
Hydroxyzine affects the serotonin levels in our body, which increases calmness and enhances mood to fight anxiety symptoms.
It is believed to increase the serotonin levels in the mind.
Hydroxyzine binds to histamine to inhibit its effects on our body. In response, it stimulates sedation in the brain. This helps to soothe symptoms of anxiety.
Hydroxyzine Dose for Anxiety
For Children: Six years below
50 mg per day in divided doses
For Children: Six years above
50 gm to 100 gm in divided doses
For Adults:
50 gm to 100 gm in four doses
How Fast Hydroxyzine Works for Anxiety?
This medicine is fast-acting medicine. Normally, it takes 20-30 minutes to active in the body.
This means it starts giving its benefits within 30 minutes after taking the medicine.
Side Effects of Hydroxyzine
- Drowsiness
- Dizziness
- Mouth dryness
- Fatigue
- Nausea
- Blurred vision
- Constipation
- Puffy eyes
Some Serious Side Effects: To be reported immediately
- Seizures
- Fainting
- Irregular heartbeat
- Skin rashes
Hydroxyzine Interactions
- Alcohol
It is always advisable to avoid alcohol with Hydroxyzine. Both cause sedation and drowsiness and together they make the situation worse. So, avoid alcohol while on this medication.
- Other Sedatives Medications
Avoid taking it with other medicines that cause drowsiness like:
- Barbiturates
- Benzodiazepines
- Zolpidem
- Benadryl
- Eszopiclone
- Opioids
Opioids are medicines that are used to treat pain and it also causes drowsiness. So, avoid the combination of these two medicines.
- Some Antibiotics
Avoid taking this with certain antibiotics as they may cause some complex side effects like QT prolongation. These combinations may cause irregular/fast heartbeats. Avoid the following antibiotics to prevent yourself from risks:
- Levofloxacin
- Ciprofloxacin
- Azithromycin
- Erythromycin
- Moxifloxacin
- Clarithromycin
- Other Medicines
Also, avoid with following medications:
- Amiodarone
- Antipsychotics like quetiapine, clazopine & aripiprazole
- Other histamine like cetirizine and Benadryl
Conclusion
Hydroxyzine is an antihistamine medicine approved for treating allergic infections and anxiety caused by emotional conditions like before and post-surgery.
It is also believed to increase serotonin levels in our body which uplifts mood to fight symptoms of Generalized Anxiety Disorder. Its sedative property also makes this medicine useful for insomnia, a symptom of anxiety.
FAQs
On the positive side, Hydroxyzine will make you relaxed with reduced signs of anxiety. And, make you drowsy on the negative side.
Its sleepy and sedative effect will be very beneficial for people with insomnia or sleep issues due to anxiety.
People who going to have surgery or post-surgery are also prescribed hydroxyzine to make them relaxed and have a peaceful sleep.
Yes, studies say, antihistamines like hydroxyzine can cause depression. It interferes with one’s sleeping pattern by causing daytime sleep and disturbing the quality of night sleep.
But it may be mild and temporary, as after finishing the medicine course, it may be managed by own and one may feel relief after some time.
However, alone, it does not cause direct depression unless in combination with other anxiety medicines or sedatives that have serious side effects of suicidal thoughts.
No, Hydroxyzine does not addiction. Studies also suggest that it is not addictive to a person.
Hydroxyzine comes in brand names Atarax, Vistaril, Hyzine, and Vistazine and all of these do not cause any addiction.
Anxiety medicines like benzodiazepines are addictive and form a habit of the medicine.
It can calm panic attacks, but this is not well suitable for so. It takes 20-30 minutes to become active in our bodies. This means it can be helpful only in some mild form of panic attack.
SSRI, SNRI, and bet-blockers are more accurate medicines for treating panic attacks.
This medicine is not prescribed for more than four months. People may develop tolerance more than this.
So, it is safe to take this medicine till four months after its prescription.