Generic Name: hydroxyzine (hye-DROX-i-zeen)
Brand Name: Hyzine

Hydroxyzine is used for:

Treating anxiety. It is also used to cause sedation before and after general anesthesia. It is also used to treat itching due to certain allergic conditions, including hives and contact dermatitis (eg, poison ivy). It also may be used for other conditions as determined by your doctor.

Hydroxyzine is an antihistamine. It works by affecting the brain to reduce anxiety. It also has other activities, including opening breathing tubes, relieving pain or allergy symptoms, and preventing or treating nausea and vomiting caused by motion sickness.

Do NOT use hydroxyzine if:

• you are allergic to any ingredient in hydroxyzine, or to cetirizine or levocetirizine
• you are in early pregnancy

Contact your doctor or health care provider right away if any of these apply to you.

Before using hydroxyzine:

Some medical conditions may interact with hydroxyzine. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have any medical conditions, especially if any of the following apply to you:

• if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding
• if you are taking any prescription or nonprescription medicine, herbal preparation, or dietary supplement
• if you have allergies to medicines, foods, or other substances
• if you have asthma, glaucoma, difficulty urinating, urinary or bowel blockage, prostate disease, or a blood disease
• if you drink alcoholic beverages

Some MEDICINES MAY INTERACT with hydroxyzine. Tell your health care provider if you are taking any other medicines, especially any of the following:

• Barbiturates (eg, phenobarbital), narcotic pain medicine (eg, morphine), or other types of pain medicine (eg, tramadol) because the risk of their side effects may be increased by hydroxyzine.

This may not be a complete list of all interactions that may occur. Ask your health care provider if hydroxyzine may interact with other medicines that you take. Check with your health care provider before you start, stop, or change the dose of any medicine.

How to use hydroxyzine:

Use hydroxyzine as directed by your doctor. Check the label on the medicine for exact dosing instructions.

• Hydroxyzine is given as an injection at your doctor's office, hospital, or clinic. Contact your health care provider if you have any questions.
• If you miss a dose of hydroxyzine, call your doctor to find out what to do.

Ask your health care provider any questions you may have about how to use hydroxyzine.

Important safety information:

• Tell your doctor or dentist that you take hydroxyzine before you receive any medical or dental care, emergency care, or surgery.
• Hydroxyzine may cause drowsiness. These effects may be worse if you take it with alcohol or certain medicines. Use hydroxyzine with caution. Do not drive or perform other possibly unsafe tasks until you know how you react to it.
• Check with your doctor before you drink alcohol or use medicines that may cause drowsiness (eg, sleep aids, muscle relaxers) while you are using hydroxyzine; it may add to their effects. Ask your pharmacist if you have questions about which medicines may cause drowsiness.
• Use hydroxyzine with caution in the ELDERLY; they may be more sensitive to its effects.
• PREGNANCY and BREAST-FEEDING: Do not use hydroxyzine if you are in early pregnancy. If you think you may be pregnant, contact your doctor right away. It is not known if this medicine is found in breast milk. Do not breast-feed while taking hydroxyzine.

Possible side effects of hydroxyzine:

All medicines may cause side effects, but many people have no, or minor, side effects. Check with your doctor if any of these most COMMON side effects persist or become bothersome:

Drowsiness; dry mouth.

Seek medical attention right away if any of these SEVERE side effects occur:

Severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; itching; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue); confusion; involuntary movements.

This is not a complete list of all side effects that may occur. If you have questions about side effects, contact your health care provider. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. To report side effects to the appropriate agency, please read the Guide to Reporting Problems to FDA.

If OVERDOSE is suspected:

Contact 1-800-222-1222 (the American Association of Poison Control Centers), your local poison control center, or emergency room immediately.

Proper storage of hydroxyzine:

Hydroxyzine is handled and stored by a health care provider. You will not store it at home. Keep all medicines out of the reach of children and away from pets.

General information:

• If you have any questions about hydroxyzine, please talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or other health care provider.
• Hydroxyzine is to be used only by the patient for whom it is prescribed. Do not share it with other people.
• If your symptoms do not improve or if they become worse, check with your doctor.
• Check with your pharmacist about how to dispose of unused medicine.

This information should not be used to decide whether or not to take hydroxyzine or any other medicine. Only your health care provider has the knowledge and training to decide which medicines are right for you. This information does not endorse any medicine as safe, effective, or approved for treating any patient or health condition. This is only a brief summary of general information about hydroxyzine. It does NOT include all information about the possible uses, directions, warnings, precautions, interactions, adverse effects, or risks that may apply to hydroxyzine. This information is not specific medical advice and does not replace information you receive from your health care provider. You must talk with your healthcare provider for complete information about the risks and benefits of using hydroxyzine.

Disclaimer: This information should not be used to decide whether or not to take this medicine or any other medicine. Only your health care provider has the knowledge and training to decide which medicines are right for you. This information does not endorse any medicine as safe, effective, or approved for treating any patient or health condition. This is only a brief summary of general information about this medicine. It does NOT include all information about the possible uses, directions, warnings, precautions, interactions, adverse effects, or risks that may apply to this medicine. This information is not specific medical advice and does not replace information you receive from your health care provider. You must talk with your healthcare provider for complete information about the risks and benefits of using this medicine.

Usual Adult Dose for Anxiety

50 to 100 mg orally or by IM injection 4 times a day.

Usual Adult Dose for Pruritus

For pruritus due to an allergic condition (chronic urticaria, atopic and contact dermatoses, or histamine mediated pruritus):

25 mg orally or by IM injection 3 to 4 times a day.

Usual Adult Dose for Sedation

Before and after general anesthesia:

50 to 100 mg orally or by IM injection.

Usual Adult Dose for Pain

25 to 100 mg by IM injection pre- or postoperatively or postpartum.

Usual Adult Dose for Nausea/Vomiting

25 to 100 mg by IM injection pre- or postoperatively or postpartum.

Usual Pediatric Dose for Sedation

As a sedative when used as a premedication and following general anesthesia:
oral: 0.6 mg/kg/dose
intramuscular: 0.5 to 1 mg/kg/dose

Usual Pediatric Dose for Anxiety

For symptomatic relief of anxiety and tension associated with psychoneurosis and as an adjunct in organic disease states in which anxiety is manifested and in the management of pruritus due to allergic conditions such as chronic urticaria and atopic and contact dermatoses, and in histamine mediated pruritus:

less than 6 years of age:
50 mg orally per day in divided doses
6 years and older:
50 to 100 mg orally per day in divided doses

Alternative dosing:
Oral: 2 mg/kg/day divided every 6 to 8 hours
Intramuscular: 0.5 to 1 mg/kg/dose every 4 to 6 hours as needed

Usual Pediatric Dose for Pruritus

For symptomatic relief of anxiety and tension associated with psychoneurosis and as an adjunct in organic disease states in which anxiety is manifested and in the management of pruritus due to allergic conditions such as chronic urticaria and atopic and contact dermatoses, and in histamine mediated pruritus:

less than 6 years of age:
50 mg orally per day in divided doses
6 years and older:
50 to 100 mg orally per day in divided doses

Alternative dosing:
Oral: 2 mg/kg/day divided every 6 to 8 hours
Intramuscular: 0.5 to 1 mg/kg/dose every 4 to 6 hours as needed

Usual Pediatric Dose for Nausea/Vomiting

intramuscular: 1.1 mg/kg/dose

Renal Dose Adjustments

Data not available

Liver Dose Adjustments

Limited clinical data indicate that the elimination of hydroxyzine is decreased in patients with hepatic dysfunction secondary to primary biliary cirrhosis. Change dosing interval to every 24 hours in patients with primary biliary cirrhosis.

Dialysis

Data not available

Other Comments

Parenteral hydroxyzine is for deep IM administration only.

Hydroxyzine Side Effects

Tablets: 10, 25, 50 and 100 mg. Capsules: 25, 50 mg. Syrup: 10 mg per teaspoonful (5mL). Suspension: 25 mg per teaspoonful (5mL). Injection: 25 and 50 mg/ml