Hydroxyzine

Drug Status in USA : Approved
Drug Status in Canada : Approved

pronunciation

pronounced as (hye drox' i zeen)

Why is this medication prescribed?

Hydroxyzine is used in adults and children to relieve itching caused by allergic skin reactions. It is also used alone or with 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. Hydroxyzine is in a class of medications called antihistamines. It works by blocking the action of histamine a substance in the body that causes allergic symptoms. It also works by decreasing activity in the brain.


How should this medicine be used?

Hydroxyzine comes as capsules, tablets, a syrup, and suspension to take by mouth. It usually is taken three or four times a day. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully, and ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any part you do not understand. Take hydroxyzine exactly as directed. Do not take more or less of it or take it more often than prescribed by your doctor.

Shake the suspension well before each use to mix the medication evenly.


What are the precautions to be followed?

Before taking hydroxyzine,
  • tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to hydroxyzine, any other medications, or any of the ingredients in hydroxyzine preparations. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for a list of the ingredients.
  • tell your doctor and pharmacist what prescription and nonprescription medications, vitamins, and nutritional supplements you are taking or plan to take. Be sure to mention any of the following: antihistamines; azithromycin (Zithromax, ZMax), certain antidepressants such as citalopram (Celexa) and fluoxetine (Prozac, Sarafem, Selfemra); medications for anxiety; certain medications for arrhythmias such as amiodarone (Cordarone, Pacerone, Nexterone), procainamide, quinidine (in Nuedexta), and sotalol (Betapace, Sorine, Sotylize); barbiturates; clarithromycin (Biaxin, in Prevpac); droperidol (Inapsine); erythromycin (Eryc, Ery-Tab, PCE, others); gatifloxacin; certain medications for mental illness such as chlorpromazine, clozapine (Clozaril, Fazaclo ODT, Versacloz), iloperidone (Fanapt), quetiapine (Seroquel), and ziprasidone (Geodon); meperidine (Demerol); methadone (Dolophine, Methadose); moxifloxacin (Avelox); ondansetron (Zofran, Zuplenz); pentamidine (Nebupent); and medications for seizures, sedatives, sleeping pills, and tranquilizers. Your doctor may need to change the doses of your medications or monitor you carefully for side effects.
  • tell your doctor if you have a prolonged QT interval (a rare heart problem that may cause irregular heartbeat, fainting, or sudden death) or if you plan to be pregnant or are pregnant. Your doctor will probably tell you not to take hydroxyzine.
  • tell your doctor if anyone in your family has or has ever had a prolonged QT interval or if you have or have ever had a slow or irregular heartbeat, low blood levels of potassium or magnesium, heart failure, a heart attack, or heart disease.
  • tell your doctor if you are breast-feeding. Do not breastfeed while taking hydroxyzine.
  • talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of taking hydroxyzine if you are 65 years of age or older. Older adults should not usually take hydroxyzine because it is not as safe as other medications that can be used to treat the same condition.
  • you should know that this medication may make you drowsy. Do not drive a car or operate machinery until you know how this medication affects you.
  • ask your doctor about the safe use of alcohol while you are taking this medication. Alcohol can make the side effects of hydroxyzine worse.

What are possible side effects of this medication ?

Hydroxyzine may cause side effects. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:
  • dry mouth
  • constipation (especially in older adults)
  • confusion (especially in older adults)
  • dizziness
  • headache
Some side effects can be serious. If you experience any of the following symptoms, call your doctor immediately:
  • unintentional trembling or shaking movements
  • seizures

Hydroxyzine may cause other side effects. Call your doctor if you have any unusual problems while you are taking this medication.


How to store the medication and dispose it of after its use later?

Keep this medication in the container it came in, tightly closed, and out of reach of children. Store it at room temperature and away from light, excess heat and moisture (not in the bathroom).

Unneeded medications should be disposed of in special ways to ensure that pets, children, and other people cannot consume them. However, you should not flush this medication down the toilet. Instead, the best way to dispose of your medication is through a medicine take-back program.


Drug Category/Class

  • Hypnotics and Sedatives
  • Antipruritics
  • Histamine H1 Antagonists
  • Nervous System
  • Anxiolytics
  • Psycholeptics
  • Diphenylmethane Derivatives
  • CYP2D6 Inducers
  • CYP2D6 Inducers (strong)
  • Diphenylmethane derivatives
Prescribed For symptomatic relief of anxiety and tension associated with psychoneurosis and as an adjunct in organic disease states in which anxiety is manife...
Weight :374.904
Structure Hydroxyzine
Generic Drug Hydroxyzine prescribed For symptomatic relief of anxiety and tension associated with psychoneurosis and as an adjunct in organic disease states in which anxiety is manife...
Formula

C21H27ClN2O2

Hydroxyzine has 47 Brands listed


A Rex (10 mg)Adzin (25 mg)
Atamax (25 mg)Atarax (100 ml)
Atarax (15 ml)Atarax (25 mg)
Conee (25 mg)Droxy (25 mg)
Evall (10 mg)Evall (25 mg)
Geozen (10 mg)Geozen (25 mg)
H Rax (10 mg)H Rax (25 mg)
Holzine (10 mg)Holzine (25 mg)
Hozen (100 ml)Hydil (25 mg)
Hydroze (10 mg)Hydroze (25 mg)
Hyrax (10 mg)Hyxin (10 mg)
Hyxin (25 mg)Hyzine (10 mg) (Aegis)
Hyzine (10 mg) (Oreva)Hyzine (25 mg) (Oreva)
Krust (25 mg)Myzine (10 mg)
Nizod (10 mg)Nizod (25 mg)
Novatrax (10 mg)Novatrax (25 mg)
Oxyzen (100 ml)Oxyzen (15 ml)
Oxyzen (25 mg)PRU (10 mg)
PRU (25 mg)PRV (25 mg)
Roxzine (10 mg)Roxzine (25 mg)
Urtizen (10 mg)Venarex
Xitimin (15 ml)Xitimin (25 mg)
Xycotic (15 ml)Zoxin (10 mg)
Zoxin (25 mg)

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