Hydroxyzine Hydrochloride (Orgatrax, Atarax) is an antihistamine. This medicine is used to treat allergy symptoms. It is also used to treat anxiety and tension. This medicine can be used with other medicines to induce sleep before surgery. It is more popular than comparable drugs. It is available in generic and brand versions. Generic hydroxyzine hydrochloride is covered by most Medicare and insurance plans, but some pharmacy coupons or cash prices may be lower.
Antihistamines are used to relieve or prevent the symptoms of hay fever and other types of allergy. They work by preventing the effects of a substance called histamine, which is produced by the body. Histamine can cause itching, sneezing, runny nose, and watery eyes. Also, in some persons histamine can close up the bronchial tubes (air passages of the lungs) and make breathing difficult.
Some of the antihistamines are also used to prevent motion sickness, nausea, vomiting, and dizziness. In patients with Parkinson's disease, diphenhydramine may be used to decrease stiffness and tremors. Also, the syrup form of diphenhydramine is used to relieve the cough due to colds or hay fever. In addition, since antihistamines may cause drowsiness as a side effect, some of them may be used to help people go to sleep.
Hydroxyzine is used in the treatment of nervous and emotional conditions to help control anxiety. It can also be used to help control anxiety and produce sleep before surgery.
Some antihistamines are used in the treatment of chronic urticaria, which is a persistent hive-like rash.
Antihistamines may also be used for other conditions as determined by your doctor.
Antihistamine preparations are available both over-the-counter (OTC) and with your doctor's prescription.
Do not give any over-the-counter (OTC) cough and cold medicine to a baby or child under 4 years of age. Using these medicines in very young children might cause serious or possibly life-threatening side effects .
For patients taking this medicine by mouth:
Antihistamines can be taken with food or a glass of water or milk to lessen stomach irritation if necessary.
If you are taking the extended-release tablet form of this medicine, swallow the tablets whole. Do not break, crush, or chew before swallowing.
For patients taking dimenhydrinate or diphenhydramine for motion sickness:
Take this medicine at least 30 minutes or, even better, 1 to 2 hours before you begin to travel.
For patients using the suppository form of this medicine:
To insert suppository: First remove the foil wrapper and moisten the suppository with cold water. Lie down on your side and use your finger to push the suppository well up into the rectum. If the suppository is too soft to insert, chill the suppository in the refrigerator for 30 minutes or run cold water over it before removing the foil wrapper.
For patients using the injection form of this medicine:
If you will be giving yourself the injection, make sure you understand exactly how to give it. If you have any questions about this, check with your health care professional.
Antihistamines are used to relieve or prevent the symptoms of your medical problem. Take them only as directed. Do not take more of them and do not take them more often than recommended on the label, unless otherwise directed by your doctor. To do so may increase the chance of side effects.
Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.
Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur:
Less common or rare
Less common or rare with azatadine, cetirizine, clemastine, cyproheptadine, desloratadine, dexchlorpheniramine, diphenhydramine, or loratadine
Abdominal or stomach pain
burning
chills
clay-colored stools or dark urine
cough
diarrhea
difficulty swallowing
dizziness
fast or irregular heartbeat
fever
headache
hives
itching
prickly sensations
puffiness or swelling of the eyelids or around the eyes, face, lips or tongue
redness of skin
seizures
shortness of breath
skin rash
swelling
tightness in chest
tingling
unusual tiredness or weakness
wheezing
Check with your doctor as soon as possible if any of the following side effects occur:
Less common or rare
Sore throat
unusual bleeding or bruising
unusual tiredness or weakness
Symptoms of overdose
Clumsiness or unsteadiness
convulsions (seizures)
drowsiness (severe)
dryness of mouth, nose, or throat (severe)
feeling faint
flushing or redness of face
hallucinations (seeing, hearing, or feeling things that are not there)
shortness of breath or troubled breathing
trouble in sleeping
Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:
More common
Drowsiness
dry mouth, nose, or throat
gastrointestinal upset, stomach pain, or nausea
headache
increased appetite and weight gain
thickening of mucus
Less common or rare
Acid or sour stomach
belching
blurred vision or any change in vision
body aches or pain
clumsiness or unsteadiness
confusion (not with diphenhydramine)
congestion
constipation
cough
diarrhea
difficult or painful urination
difficulty in moving
difficult or painful menstruation
dizziness (not with brompheniramine or hydroxyzine)
drowsiness (with high doses of desloratadine and loratadine)
dryness of mouth, nose, or throat
early menstruation
fast heartbeat
fever
heartburn
hoarseness
increased sensitivity of skin to sun
increased sweating
indigestion
loss of appetite
joint pain
muscle aching or cramping
muscle pains or stiffness
nausea
nightmares (not with azatadine, chlorpheniramine, cyproheptadine, desloratadine, hydroxyzine, or loratadine)
ringing or buzzing in ears
runny nose
skin rash
swollen joints
stomach discomfort, upset or pain
tender swollen glands in neck
tremor
unusual excitement, nervousness, restlessness, or irritability
vomiting
Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.
Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
Before you have any skin tests for allergies, tell the doctor in charge that you are taking this medicine. The results of the test may be affected by this medicine.
When taking antihistamines on a regular basis, make sure your doctor knows if you are taking large amounts of aspirin at the same time (as for arthritis or rheumatism). Effects of too much aspirin, such as ringing in the ears, may be covered up by the antihistamine.
Antihistamines will add to the effects of alcohol and other CNS depressants (medicines that slow down the nervous system, possibly causing drowsiness). Some examples of CNS depressants are sedatives, tranquilizers, or sleeping medicine; prescription pain medicine or narcotics; barbiturates; medicine for seizures; muscle relaxants; or anesthetics, including some dental anesthetics. Check with your doctor before taking any of the above while you are using this medicine.
This medicine may cause some people to become drowsy or less alert than they are normally. Even if taken at bedtime, it may cause some people to feel drowsy or less alert on arising. Some antihistamines are more likely to cause drowsiness than others. Drowsiness is less likely with cetirizine, and rare with desloratadine and loratadine. Make sure you know how you react to the antihistamine you are taking before you drive, use machines, or do anything else that could be dangerous if you are not alert.
Antihistamines may cause dryness of the mouth, nose, and throat. Some antihistamines are more likely to cause dryness of the mouth than others . For temporary relief of mouth dryness, use sugarless candy or gum, melt bits of ice in your mouth, or use a saliva substitute. However, if your mouth continues to feel dry for more than 2 weeks, check with your medical doctor or dentist. Continuing dryness of the mouth may increase the chance of dental disease, including tooth decay, gum disease, and fungus infections.
For patients using dimenhydrinate, diphenhydramine, or hydroxyzine:
This medicine controls nausea and vomiting. For this reason, it may cover up the signs of overdose caused by other medicines or the symptoms of appendicitis. This will make it difficult for your doctor to diagnose these conditions. Make sure your doctor knows that you are taking this medicine if you have other symptoms of appendicitis such as stomach or lower abdominal pain, cramping, or soreness. Also, if you think you may have taken an overdose of any medicine, tell your doctor that you are taking this medicine.
For patients using diphenhydramine or doxylamine as a sleeping aid:
If you are already taking a sedative or tranquilizer, do not take this medicine without consulting your doctor first.