The old adage that Atarax is for itch and Vistaril is for anxiety and sleep is nothing more than a myth that has been passed down among generations of practitioners over time. Written By:. John Corrigan, PharmD. What one can do. One Minute Consult: Fact or Fiction? Hydroxyzine for Generalised Anxiety Disorder.
Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. Accessed May 20, Chen C. Current Medicinal Chemistry. Package Insert. Accessed May 19, Accessed May 21, If you have an upset stomach after taking hydroxyzine, you may want to take it with food. Your doctor or prescribing nurse will provide you with instructions on how often and when to take this medication, as well as the maximum amount to take in a day.
If you miss a dose of hydroxyzine, either take the missed dose as soon as you remember—or, if it is closer to the time when you would take your next dose, just take the next dose. Both hydroxyzine hydrochloride HCL and hydroxyzine pamoate pam can be prescribed to treat anxiety.
The main difference between the two is the form that each is available in— hydroxyzine HCL is available in tablets and liquid, while hydroxyzine pam is available in capsules and liquid. You may prefer one form of medication over the other tablets vs capsules , or you may find that one or the other works better for you personally.
Your doctor, prescribing nurse, or Minded professional can work with you to determine which form of this medication is best for your anxiety treatment plan. Common side effects of hydroxyzine include :. Talk to your doctor or the experts at Minded if you experience any of these or other side effects. Seek medical attention right away if you experience any of these or other serious side effects.
Drinking alcohol is not recommended while taking hydroxyzine. Alcohol can decrease the benefits of medications like hydroxyzine and increase their side effects such as sedation. Alcohol also can impair memory and judgment, accidentally resulting in taking a higher dose of hydroxyzine than prescribed, which could induce an accidental overdose. Always discuss your anxiety treatment plan with your doctor if you are pregnant or planning on becoming pregnant.
Hydroxyzine should typically not be taken during the first trimester of pregnancy. While you may take it during the second and third trimesters, it should not be taken right before or during labor. Because hydroxyzine can be passed to your baby through breast milk, taking it while breastfeeding is not recommended. Tell your doctor or a Minded professional about any other medications or supplements you may be taking to determine if hydroxyzine might have any negative interactions with them.
If you're taking hydroxyzine for anxiety, you will find that it is relatively fast-acting compared to some other medications, like SSRIs. While you may have to take SSRIs for a few weeks before you start to see improvement in your anxiety symptoms, with hydroxyzine , you may notice your symptoms begin to improve quickly, often within hours of first taking it.
The effects of hydroxyzine typically last 3 to 4 hours. While you can take selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors SSRIs or hydroxyzine for anxiety, there are some key differences to keep in mind. Benzodiazepines—such as Xanax and Ativan and Klonopin —are another type of medication that can be used to treat anxiety.
Like hydroxyzine, these medications are relatively fast-acting—your symptoms may begin to decrease within hours of taking your first dose. Also, like taking hydroxyzine for anxiety, benzodiazepines are typically taken in multiple doses throughout the day. There are, however, several important differences between hydroxyzine and benzodiazepines to consider.
Another thing to keep in mind is that even though the Drug Enforcement Administration has classified benzodiazepines as controlled substances, they are considered safe for most people who take them for anxiety. The risk of dependence or abuse is higher in people with a history of a substance use disorder as well as those who take more than the prescribed dose of the medication.
On the other hand, hydroxyzine is not a controlled substance and does not carry the same risk of dependency or abuse. While hydroxyzine and Benadryl the brand name for diphenhydramine are both antihistamines, this does not mean they can both be used to treat anxiety.
Benadryl , which is available over-the-counter meaning it does not require a prescription is not approved to treat anxiety—it is approved to treat hay fever, allergies, and cold symptoms. In fact, increased anxiety, agitation, and nervousness are potential side effects of Benadryl.
Additionally, while hydroxyzine is considered safe for long-term use , Benadryl may increase your risk of developing dementia if used long-term , according to a study published in CMAJ.
A study published in Neurology Clinical Practice also found that there is a risk of becoming dependent on or misusing Benadryl. However, as with benzodiazepines, this risk may be higher in people who have a history of addiction. If you are looking for a fast-acting medication that can be taken long-term for anxiety treatment, it may be worth discussing hydroxyzine with your doctor, prescribing nurse, or a Minded professional.
When comparing hydroxyzine to other common types of anxiety medications, it is important to remember that each type of medication has its own pros and cons. And while there are some similarities between the different kinds of medications, there are also some key differences. For example:. Get mental health and wellness resources delivered right in your inbox every month.
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