#atarax

Brand Name: Atarax

Generic Available

Common Dosage Forms:

Tablets: 10 mg, 35 mg, 50 mg

Syrup: 10 mg/5 mL (0.5% alcohol)

Injections: 25 mg/mL, 50 mg/mL in ampules and multi-dose vials

FDA Indications/Dosages: For symptomatic relief of anxiety and tension associated with psychoneurosis and as an adjunct in organic disease states in which anxiety is manifested:

Adults: 50-100 mg four times a day. Children (over 6 years old): 50-100 mg daily in divided doses.

Children (under 6 years old): 50 mg daily in divided doses.

For the management of pruritus due to allergic conditions such as chronic urticaria, atopic dermatitis, and contact dermatoses and in histamine-mediated pruritus:

Adults: 25 mg three to four times a day.Children (over 6 years old): 50-100 mg daily in divided doses.

Children (under 6 years old): 50 mg daily in divided doses.

As a sedative when used as a premedication and following general anesthesia: 50-100 mg for adults and 0.6 mg/kg for children.

Pharmacology/Pharmacokinetics: Hydroxyzine antagonizes the H1 (histamine) receptors in peripheral tissues. It may also suppress histamine activity in the subcortical region of the CNS. Onset of action occurs within 15-30 minutes.

Drug Interactions: CNS depression may be increased when used with alcohol or other CNS depressants.

Contraindications/Precautions: Use is contraindicated in early pregnancy. Use with caution in nursing mothers and in patients taking central nervous system depressants. No Pregnancy Category Established.

Adverse Effects: Drowsiness and dry mouth.

Patient Consultation:

May cause drowsiness. Use caution while operating machinery or when mental alertness is required.

Avoid alcohol while taking this medication.

Store in a cool, dry place away from sunlight and children.

Contact a physician if the side effects are severe or persistent.

I really hope this isn’t just a placebo effect; it does make me feel better.

But also, it makes my head feel a lil heavy, but it’s fine! I’m fine!

I’ve been tried on a shit ton of meds so I figured I’d give my experience on them. My diagnoses are: schizophrenia, PTSD, generalized anxiety disorder, and borderline personality disorder.

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Sleep Meds:

Trazadone- WORST. SLEEP. MEDICATION. That I have EVER taken. Sent me into a psychotic break (thankfully I was inpatient at the time) and was overall a bad time. Made my psychosis horrible.

Vistaril- Same experience as Trazadone except a little less severe and made me a tiny bit less drowsy than trazadone did.

Remeron- It was most likely just my body, but I had a dystonic reaction to it and had hella leg jerks so I can’t take it.

Atarax- Was just like taking 50 mg of Benadryl. Made me drowsy but didn’t help my sleep at all.

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Anti-depressants:

Zoloft- This is the only antidepressant I’ve been prescribed for depression/anxiety and it really mainly helps my anxiety but at least it helps right? Dont cold turkey it if you don’t want to end up inpatient.

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Antipsychotics:

Abilify- Weight gain. Twitches. Sleep. One of the worst I was prescribed for my schizophrenia/psychosis. Even months after I’ve been off it I still have minor twitches in my neck/head area and put on 20 pounds I probably won’t lose. Helped my hallucinations the most but the side effects outweighed the benefits.

Risperdal: WEIGHT GAIN. Once again made me put on even more weight (about 10 pounds, so not as much as abilify). Made my brain foggy and I couldn’t concentrate on anything. Slightly toned down the voices, increased my paranoia.

Seroquel: Actual hell. I’m not bipolar but it ended me up in the hospital as my psychiatrist was worried it had made me severely manic. Constantly sleeping. Not much difference with psychotic symptoms.

Geodon: I wasn’t on this long, it just gave me severe anxiety. As for helping my symptoms, quieted voices a little bit, increased paranoia.

Latuda: made me VERY angry after only two days of being on it. Didn’t notice any difference in helping my psychosis.

Vraylar: This is what I’m currently on and have been on for about three weeks. It works almost as well as the abilify did as for psychotic symptoms but the twitches are worse than on the abilify. Still hearing and seeing things but not as severely. No weight gain so that is a plus!

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Benzodiazepines:

Ativan- I’ve only ever taken Ativan as needed and it works wonders. Helps me sleep, calms me down, and helps the twitches from side effects of antipsychotics.

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