Drug Detail:Hydroxyzine (Hydroxyzine [ hye-drox-ee-zeen ])
Drug Class: Antihistamines Miscellaneous anxiolytics, sedatives and hypnotics
Usual Adult Dose for Anxiety
Oral: 50 to 100 mg orally 4 times a day
Parenteral: 50 to 100 mg IM immediately, then every 4 to 6 hours as needed
Comments:
- Use should be periodically reassessed.
- Treatment for longer than 4 months have not been assessed in clinical studies.
Uses:
Oral:
- As an adjunct in organic disease states in which anxiety is manifested
- Symptomatic relief of anxiety and tension associated with psychoneurosis
Parenteral:
- Adjunctive treatment in alcoholism
- Allay associated anxiety and apprehension attendant to certain types of heart disease
- Alleviating anxiety and tension in acute emotional problems or in the preparation for dental procedures
- As pre-/postoperative and pre-/postpartum adjunctive medication to allay anxiety
- Management of anxiety associated with allergic conditions with strong emotional overlay (e.g., asthma, chronic urticaria, pruritus)
- Management of anxiety associated with organic disturbances
- Treatment of patients who are acutely/chronically alcoholic with anxiety withdrawal symptoms or delirium tremens
- Treatment of patients who are acutely disturbed or hysterical
Usual Adult Dose for Atopic Dermatitis
Oral: 25 mg orally 3 to 4 times a day
Use: Management of pruritus due to histamine-mediated pruritus and allergic conditions (e.g., atopic/contact dermatoses, chronic urticaria)
Usual Adult Dose for Pruritus
Oral: 25 mg orally 3 to 4 times a day
Use: Management of pruritus due to histamine-mediated pruritus and allergic conditions (e.g., atopic/contact dermatoses, chronic urticaria)
Usual Adult Dose for Urticaria
Oral: 25 mg orally 3 to 4 times a day
Use: Management of pruritus due to histamine-mediated pruritus and allergic conditions (e.g., atopic/contact dermatoses, chronic urticaria)
Usual Adult Dose for Sedation
Oral: 50 to 100 mg orally ONCE
Parenteral: 25 to 100 mg IM ONCE
Comment: This drug may potentiate barbiturates and/or meperidine.
Uses:
Oral:
- As a sedative when used as premedication or following general anesthesia
- Pre-anesthetic adjunctive treatment
Parenteral:
- Pre-/postoperative adjunctive medication to permit reduction in narcotic dosage
- Pre-/postpartum adjunctive therapy to permit reduction in narcotic dosage
Usual Adult Dose for Nausea/Vomiting
Parenteral: 25 to 100 mg IM ONCE
Uses:
- Control of nausea and vomiting, excluding nausea and vomiting of pregnancy
- Pre-/postoperative adjunctive medication to control emesis
- Pre-/postpartum adjunctive medication to control emesis
Usual Pediatric Dose for Sedation
Children:
Oral: 0.6 mg/kg orally ONCE
Parenteral: 1.1 mg/kg IM ONCE
Uses:
Oral:
- As a sedative when used as premedication or following general anesthesia
- Pre-anesthetic adjunctive treatment
Parenteral:
- Pre-/postoperative adjunctive medication to permit reduction in narcotic dosage
- Pre-/postpartum adjunctive therapy to permit reduction in narcotic dosage
Usual Pediatric Dose for Anxiety
Children:
- Under 6 years: 50 mg orally per day, given in divided doses
- Over 6 years: 50 to 100 mg orally per day, given in divided doses
Uses:
- Allay associated anxiety and apprehension attendant to certain types of heart disease
- Alleviating anxiety and tension in acute emotional problems or in the preparation for dental procedures
- As pre-/postoperative and pre-/postpartum adjunctive medication to allay anxiety
- Management of anxiety associated with allergic conditions with strong emotional overlay (e.g., asthma, chronic urticaria, pruritus)
- Management of anxiety associated with organic disturbances
- Management of pruritus due to histamine-mediated pruritus and allergic conditions (e.g., atopic/contact dermatoses, chronic urticaria)
- Treatment of patients who are acutely disturbed or hysterical
Usual Pediatric Dose for Atopic Dermatitis
Children:
- Under 6 years: 50 mg orally per day, given in divided doses
- Over 6 years: 50 to 100 mg orally per day, given in divided doses
Uses:
- Allay associated anxiety and apprehension attendant to certain types of heart disease
- Alleviating anxiety and tension in acute emotional problems or in the preparation for dental procedures
- As pre-/postoperative and pre-/postpartum adjunctive medication to allay anxiety
- Management of anxiety associated with allergic conditions with strong emotional overlay (e.g., asthma, chronic urticaria, pruritus)
- Management of anxiety associated with organic disturbances
- Management of pruritus due to histamine-mediated pruritus and allergic conditions (e.g., atopic/contact dermatoses, chronic urticaria)
- Treatment of patients who are acutely disturbed or hysterical
Usual Pediatric Dose for Pruritus
Children:
- Under 6 years: 50 mg orally per day, given in divided doses
- Over 6 years: 50 to 100 mg orally per day, given in divided doses
Uses:
- Allay associated anxiety and apprehension attendant to certain types of heart disease
- Alleviating anxiety and tension in acute emotional problems or in the preparation for dental procedures
- As pre-/postoperative and pre-/postpartum adjunctive medication to allay anxiety
- Management of anxiety associated with allergic conditions with strong emotional overlay (e.g., asthma, chronic urticaria, pruritus)
- Management of anxiety associated with organic disturbances
- Management of pruritus due to histamine-mediated pruritus and allergic conditions (e.g., atopic/contact dermatoses, chronic urticaria)
- Treatment of patients who are acutely disturbed or hysterical
Usual Pediatric Dose for Urticaria
Children:
- Under 6 years: 50 mg orally per day, given in divided doses
- Over 6 years: 50 to 100 mg orally per day, given in divided doses
Uses:
- Allay associated anxiety and apprehension attendant to certain types of heart disease
- Alleviating anxiety and tension in acute emotional problems or in the preparation for dental procedures
- As pre-/postoperative and pre-/postpartum adjunctive medication to allay anxiety
- Management of anxiety associated with allergic conditions with strong emotional overlay (e.g., asthma, chronic urticaria, pruritus)
- Management of anxiety associated with organic disturbances
- Management of pruritus due to histamine-mediated pruritus and allergic conditions (e.g., atopic/contact dermatoses, chronic urticaria)
- Treatment of patients who are acutely disturbed or hysterical
Usual Pediatric Dose for Nausea/Vomiting
Children:
Parenteral: 1.1 mg/kg IM ONCE
Uses:
- Control of nausea and vomiting, excluding nausea and vomiting of pregnancy
- Pre-/postoperative adjunctive medication to control emesis
Renal Dose Adjustments
Data not available
Liver Dose Adjustments
Data not available
Precautions
CONTRAINDICATIONS:
- Hypersensitivity to the active component or to any of the ingredients
- In early pregnancy
- Patients with a prolonged QT interval
- Parenteral formulations: Intraarterial, IV, or subcutaneous administration
Consult WARNINGS section for additional precautions.
Dialysis
Data not available
Other Comments
Administration Advice:
- Tablets should be taken with enough water.
- This drug may be taken without regard to food.
- Use at the lowest effective dose and for the shortest possible duration.
- Adjust dosage according to the patient's response to therapy.
- If initiating treatment by the IM route, administer subsequent doses orally whenever practical.
Storage Requirements:
The manufacturer product information should be consulted.
IV compatibility:
- Incompatible: Aminophylline, benzylpenicillin salts, chloramphenicol sodium succinate, dimenhydrinate, doxorubicin hydrochloride (in a liposomal formulation), thioridazine, and some soluble barbiturates
General:
- This drug has demonstrated primary skeletal muscle relaxation and antispasmodic properties experimentally.
- This drug is not chemically related to benzodiazepines, phenothiazines, reserpine, or meprobamate.
Patient Advice:
- Inform patients that this drug may cause drowsiness, and they should avoid driving or operating machinery if these side effects occur.
- Patients should be instructed to avoid drinking alcohol while taking this drug.
- Patients should be advised to avoid changing the dose without consulting with their healthcare provider.
- Advise patients to speak to their healthcare provider if they become pregnant, intend to become pregnant, or are breastfeeding.
Frequently asked questions
- Can you take hydroxyzine for anxiety and sleep?
- Can hydroxyzine be taken long-term?
- When can I start drinking if I’m no longer taking hydroxyzine?
- Can you take antihistamines when pregnant?
