Hydroxyzine

Generic Name: hydroxyzine (hye DROX ee zeen)
Brand Names: ANX, Vistaril, Atarax, Vistaril IM, Hyzine, Vistaject-50, Rezine

What is hydroxyzine?

Hydroxyzine is an antihistamine that reduces the effects of natural chemical histamine in the body. Histamine can produce symptoms of itching, or hives on the skin. Hydroxyzine may be used to treat allergic skin reactions such as hives or contact dermatitis.

Since hydroxyzine also reduces activity in the central nervous system, it can be used as a sedative to treat anxiety and tension. It is also used together with other medications given during and after general anesthesia.

Hydroxyzine is also used to treat allergic skin reactions such as hives or contact dermatitis.

Important information

Hydroxyzine may cause birth defects. Talk to you doctor before using hydroxyzine if pregnant or breastfeeding.

Hydroxyzine can cause a serious heart problem, especially if you use certain medicines at the same time. Tell your doctor about all your current medicines and any you start or stop using.

This medication may impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be alert.

Stop using this medicine and call your doctor at once if you have a serious side effect such as tremors, confusion, seizures, or restless muscle movements in your eyes, tongue, jaw, or neck.

Drinking alcohol can increase certain side effects of hydroxyzine.

Before taking this medicine

You should not use hydroxyzine if you are allergic to it, or if:

you have long QT syndrome;
you are allergic to cetirizine (Zyrtec) or levocetirizine (Xyzal); or

Hydroxyzine could harm the unborn baby or cause birth defects. Talk to you doctor before using hydroxyzine if pregnant.

To make sure this medicine is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have:

blockage in your digestive tract (stomach or intestines);
bladder obstruction or other urination problems;
glaucoma;
heart disease, slow heartbeats;
personal or family history of long QT syndrome;
an electrolyte imbalance (such as high or low levels of potassium in your blood);
if you have recently had a heart attack.

It is not known whether hydroxyzine passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. Talk to your doctor before breastfeeding while using this medicine.

Do not give this medicine to a child without medical advice.

What should I avoid while taking hydroxyzine?

This medicine may impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be alert.

Drinking alcohol with this medicine can cause side effects.

Hydroxyzine side effects

Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction to hydroxyzine: hives; difficult breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

In rare cases, hydroxyzine may cause a severe skin reaction. Stop taking this medicine and call your doctor right away if you have sudden skin redness or a rash that spreads and causes white or yellow pustules, blistering, or peeling.

Stop using hydroxyzine and call your doctor at once if you have:

fast or pounding heartbeats;
headache with chest pain;
severe dizziness, fainting; or
a seizure (convulsions).

Side effects such as drowsiness and confusion may be more likely in older adults.

Common hydroxyzine side effects may include:

drowsiness;
headache;
dry mouth; or
skin rash.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects.

What other drugs will affect hydroxyzine?

Taking this medicine with other drugs that make you sleepy can worsen this effect. Ask your doctor before taking hydroxyzine with a sleeping pill, narcotic pain medicine, muscle relaxer, or medicine for anxiety, depression, or seizures.

Hydroxyzine can cause a serious heart problem, especially if you use certain medicines at the same time, including antibiotics, antidepressants, heart rhythm medicine, antipsychotic medicines, and medicines to treat cancer, malaria, HIV or AIDS. Tell your doctor about all medicines you use, and those you start or stop using during your treatment with this medicine.

Other drugs may interact with hydroxyzine, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Not all possible interactions are listed here. Tell each of your health care providers about all medicines you use now and any medicine you start or stop using.

For the Consumer

Applies to hydroxyzine: oral capsule, oral syrup, oral tablet

Other dosage forms:

intramuscular solution

Along with its needed effects, hydroxyzine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur while taking hydroxyzine:

Incidence not known

Chest pain or discomfort
cough
difficulty with swallowing
dizziness
fainting
fast heartbeat
hives, itching, or skin rash
irregular or slow heart rate
puffiness or swelling of the eyelids or around the eyes, face, lips, or tongue
shortness of breath
tightness in the chest
unusual tiredness or weakness

Get emergency help immediately if any of the following symptoms of overdose occur while taking hydroxyzine:

Symptoms of overdose

Decreased awareness or responsiveness
drowsiness
nausea
seizures
severe sleepiness
vomiting

Some side effects of hydroxyzine may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:

Rare

Shakiness in the legs, arms, hands, or feet
trembling or shaking of the hands or feet

Incidence not known

Dry mouth
headache
seeing, hearing, or feeling things that are not there

A total of 509 drugs are known to interact with hydroxyzine.

75 major drug interactions
429 moderate drug interactions
5 minor drug interactions

Most frequently checked interactions

View interaction reports for hydroxyzine and the medicines listed below.

Hydroxyzine alcohol/food interactions

There is 1 alcohol/food interaction with hydroxyzine

Hydroxyzine disease interactions

There are 9 disease interactions with hydroxyzine which include: