Hydroxyzine is used to treat itching caused by allergies. It is an antihistamine and works by blocking a certain natural substance (histamine) that your body makes during an allergic reaction.
Hydroxyzine is used for the short-term treatment of nervousness and tension that may occur with certain mental/mood disorders (e.g., anxiety, dementia). It is also used to help manage withdrawal symptoms (e.g., anxiety, agitation) in alcoholics.
Other uses include helping to decrease anxiety and nausea before/after surgery or during childbirth or helping certain narcotic pain relievers (e.g., meperidine) work better.
Hydroxyzine belongs to a class of medications called antihistamines. It is thought to work by affecting certain natural substances (acetylcholine, serotonin) in your body or by acting directly on certain parts of the brain.
Hydroxyzine also blocks a natural substance that your body makes during an allergic reaction (histamine).
Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur:
Common side effects
- Dizziness, drowsiness, fatigue, dry mouth
- Urinary retention, blurred vision, confusion, irritability
- Headache
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:
Symptoms of overdose
- decreased awareness or responsiveness
- drowsiness
- nausea
- seizures
- severe sleepiness
- vomiting
Rare/serious side effects
- Allergic reaction (difficulty breathing; hives; swelling of your lips, tongue or face)
- Increased heart rate, unsafe heartbeat (long QT on ECG), confusion, hallucinations
- Priapism (an erection in males that does not go away after 4 hours)
- Shakiness in the legs, arms, hands or feet
- Trembling or shaking of the hands or feet
Anticholinergics (a group that encompasses medications for allergies and colds, depression, high blood pressure, and incontinence) have been found to be associated with an increased risk of dementia in people who used them for longer than a few months. The effect increased with the dose of the drug and the duration of use. Anticholinergics may have troubling side effects—confusion, clouded thinking, and memory lapses—that can lead to falls, fractures, and auto accidents.
