Atarax
Atarax is a calming medicine that helps reduce anxiety, tension, and agitation, and it is also an effective antihistamine used to treat itching.
How to Use
Dosage
Your doctor will prescribe the exact dose. For anxiety in adults, it's usually 12.5–25 mg per day. For itching in adults, start with 25 mg in the evening, then 25 mg 3–4 times a day as needed.
Method
Swallow the tablets with enough water or another drink.
For adults, a maximum of 100 mg per day. For elderly patients, a maximum of 50 mg per day. For children over 6 years old, a maximum of 2 mg per kg of body weight per day, but not more than 100 mg per day.
Possible Side Effects
- •Drowsiness
- •Headache
- •Fatigue
- •Dry mouth
- •Exhaustion
- •Agitation
- •Confusion
- •Dizziness
- •Insomnia (difficulty sleeping)
- •Tremors
- •Nausea (feeling sick to your stomach)
- •Feeling unwell
- •Fever
- •Hypersensitivity reactions (allergic reaction)
- •Disorientation (difficulty knowing where you are or what time it is)
- •Hallucinations (seeing or hearing things that aren't there)
- •Seizures
- •Involuntary movements (dyskinesia)
- •Vision disturbances (e.g., blurred vision, difficulty focusing)
- •Heart palpitations (feeling your heart pound)
- •Low blood pressure
- •Constipation
- •Vomiting
- •Itching
- •Rash
- •Hives (itchy welts on the skin)
- •Skin inflammation (dermatitis)
- •Urinary retention (difficulty emptying your bladder)
- •Abnormal liver tests
- •Severe allergic reaction (anaphylactic shock)
- •Bronchial constriction (tightening of the airways)
- •Severe blistering rashes (e.g., Stevens-Johnson syndrome)
- •Acute generalized pustular rash (skin rash with pus-filled bumps)
- •Angioedema (swelling under the skin, especially around the face and throat)
- •Fixed drug eruption (a skin reaction that reappears in the same place each time you take the medicine)
- •Increased sweating
- •Fainting
- •Heart rhythm disorders (prolonged QT interval, Torsades de Pointes)
- •Liver inflammation (hepatitis)
- •Weight gain
Important Warnings
- Do not use if you are allergic to hydroxyzine or any other ingredients in this medicine.
- Do not use if you have heart problems, a slow heart rate, low salt levels (potassium or magnesium), or if you are taking medicines that affect heart rhythm. Atarax can increase the risk of life-threatening heart rhythm problems. If you experience heart symptoms (like palpitations, difficulty breathing, or fainting), stop taking the medicine and seek immediate medical attention.
- Do not use if a close family member has had a sudden heart-related death.
- Do not use if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
- Do not use if you have porphyria (a rare blood disorder).
Show 7 more warnings
- Do not give this medicine to children under 6 years old.
- Stop Atarax treatment 5 days before any allergy tests.
- Avoid alcohol during Atarax treatment, as it can strengthen the effects of alcohol.
- Atarax can cause drowsiness and reduce your ability to react and concentrate. Do not drive or operate machinery while taking this medicine.
- If you have lactose intolerance, talk to your doctor before taking this medicine.
- Tell your doctor if you have an increased tendency for seizures, high eye pressure (glaucoma), difficulty urinating, severe constipation, myasthenia gravis, dementia, liver or kidney disease, or a tendency for heart rhythm disturbances.
- Avoid using Atarax if you are taking medicines for bacterial or fungal infections, heart problems, psychosis, depression, stomach issues, allergies, malaria, cancer, or severe pain (e.g., methadone). Ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice on other medicines.
Use in Elderly Patients
Avoid use in older adults. Anticholinergic. Sedative. A long-acting. Do not use as a hypnotic or sedative. Increases risk for QT prolongation. Reduce the dose already in mild renal impairment. Significant adverse effects include tachycardia, confusion and cognitive impairment. Increases risk of falls. Reduces the effectiveness of drugs for Alzheimer’s disease. (updated 15.1.2024)