Hydroxyzine
AllergyAlso known as Vistaril, Atarax
Hydroxyzine is a prescription antihistamine that does double duty: it blocks histamine to relieve itching and hives, and it has a calming effect on the brain, so doctors also prescribe it for anxiety and to help with sleep. It's sedating — that's part of how it works — so expect to feel drowsy, especially when you first start taking it.
How to take it
When
Take it exactly as your doctor prescribed — some people take it on a schedule, others only as needed. It usually starts working within 30 to 60 minutes.
Food
With or without food — either works.
Avoid
No alcohol, and don't combine it with other sedating medicines unless your doctor okayed it. Don't drive until you know how sleepy it makes you.
Drowsiness
The sleepiness often eases after a few days on a regular schedule. Older adults are more sensitive to it — confusion and falls are a real risk, so doctors use it cautiously in seniors.
Missed a dose?
If you take it only as needed, there's no missed dose to worry about. If you're on a schedule, take a missed dose when you remember — unless it's close to the next one, then skip it. Never double up.
Common side effects
- Drowsiness
- Dry mouth
- Dizziness
- Headache
- Constipation
Call a doctor if
- Trouble breathing, or swelling of your face, lips, or tongue — call emergency services now. An antihistamine is not a substitute for epinephrine in a severe allergic reaction.
- Fainting, or a fast, pounding, or irregular heartbeat — get emergency help; hydroxyzine can affect heart rhythm in some people
- Seizure — call emergency services
- A painful, spreading rash with small pus-filled bumps and fever — stop taking it and get medical help right away
- Uncontrollable shaking or unusual movements