Note that this list is not all-inclusive and includes only common medications that may interact with hydroxyzine. You should refer to the prescribing information for hydroxyzine for a complete list of interactions. Instead, talk with your doctor or pharmacist if you have problems swallowing hydroxyzine tablets. The drug comes in other dosage forms, like a liquid solution, that may be easier for you to take. Before approving coverage for hydroxyzine oral tablets, your insurance company may require you to get prior authorization.
Drowsiness is usually transitory and may disappear in a few days of continued therapy or upon reduction of the dose. Involuntary motor activity, including rare instances of tremor and convulsions, has been reported, usually with doses considerably higher than those recommended. Clinically significant respiratory depression has not been reported at recommended doses. Hydroxyzine starts to work in about 15 to 30 minutes but its drowsy effect may last for 4 to 6 hours. Hydroxyzine can reduce itching and redness due to allergy skin tests for up to 4 days.
It can also be used to help control anxiety and produce sleep before surgery. This medicine is also used to relieve symptoms of allergic conditions (eg, chronic urticaria and atopic and contact dermatoses). Vistaril (hydroxyzine pamoate) is a prescription drug used to relieve anxiety and tension.
Your doctor will determine the best dosage to fit your needs. Hydroxyzine is also approved to provide relief from itchiness due to atopic dermatitis or certain other conditions. With atopic dermatitis, you have dry, itchy skin caused by inflammation. The Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA) recommends hydroxyzine as a treatment option for people with anxiety.
Since it’s an antihistamine, another approved use for Vistaril is to alleviate itchy skin due to conditions such as chronic hives (urticaria) and allergies. One of the primary uses for Vistaril is to reduce anxiety symptoms. Healthcare providers may choose to prescribe this drug as an alternative to anxiety medications that have a high risk of becoming addictive or habit-forming, such as benzodiazepines.
Remember that this medication has been prescribed because your doctor has judged that the benefit to you is greater than the risk of side effects. Many people using this medication do not have serious side effects. You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. It is doubtful that hemodialysis would be of any value in the treatment of overdosage with hydroxyzine.
This risk may increase if you use certain drugs (such as diuretics/”water pills”) or if you have conditions such as severe sweating, diarrhea, or vomiting. Cases of QT prolongation and Torsade de Pointes have been reported during post-marketing use of hydroxyzine. In children younger than 6 years of age, the maximum recommended dosage for anxiety or allergy conditions is 50 mg per day and it should be taken in divided doses. When prescribed as a presurgical sedative, the recommended dosage is 0.6 mg per kg of body weight. Vistaril can also increase the effects of alcohol, so it is recommended that you avoid drinking when taking this drug.
Do not start, stop, or change the dosage of any medicines without your doctor’s approval. Hydroxyzine is used in adults and children to relieve itching caused by allergic skin reactions. It is also used alone or with binge drinking: what it does to your body other medications in adults and children to relieve anxiety and tension. Hydroxyzine is also used along with other medications in adults and children as a sedative before and after general anesthesia for surgery.
If you’re sexually active and you or your partner can become pregnant, talk with your doctor about your birth control needs while you’re taking this drug. There aren’t any foods that have been specifically reported to interact with hydroxyzine. If you have any questions about eating certain foods with this medication, talk with your doctor.
If you are using the liquid form of this medication, carefully measure the dose using a special measuring device/spoon. Do not use a household spoon because you may not get the correct dose. Hydroxyzine is a medicine used to treat itching caused by an allergic reaction. It’s also taken to relieve anxiety or tension and as a sedative for surgery before and after general anesthesia. The effectiveness of hydroxyzine as an antianxiety agent for long-term use, that is, more than 4 months, has not been assessed by systematic clinical studies.
If you’re interested in this option, check with your doctor and your insurance company. Some Medicare plans may help cover the cost of mail-order medications. Hydroxyzine is approved to be used for sedation (a relaxed state, for relief of tension and anxiety) what is ayahuasca before surgery or another medical procedure. When used as premedication, drugs with sedative effects, such as hydroxyzine, can help you relax. As with most drugs, some people can have an allergic reaction after taking hydroxyzine oral tablets.
