Hydroxyzine - A Medication used as Needed for Anxiety

0 Views • 08/17/25

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Hydroxyzine is one of the few FDA approved as needed medications for anxiety that do not have the risk of addiction like the benzodiazepine class. But like the benzodiazipines, it’s not recommended for longterm use.

A friend of mine is prescribed this to help with sleeping at night, but one time he took it and it caused a lot of drowsiness the next day. So he asked me about this and I actually had to research this a bit further because I thought the medication would be in the system for about half a day, but looks like it could be up to 24 hours.

The dosing of this medication can be as little as 10mg at a time to 150mg at a time, and because it can be in the body for so long typically is not taken more than 2 different times during the day.

There is also an injectable form which could be good in the emergency or hospital setting especially if people are really upset or agitated, or not wanting to take medications.

The medication works on a receptor system in the body called histamine, which causes a sense of calmness or feeling slightly sedated. Benadryl also works on this system, and does not require a doctor’s prescription, but Benadryl also works on another receptor system and tends to come with more side effects. Benadryl is not FDA approved for anxiety like Hydroxyzine is.

Hydroxzyine may not be a good option for daily or longterm use, but if it’s just as needed to take the edge off a times, may be worth a try. Common side effects can include upset stomach, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation. Unfortunately, it can be fatal if overdosed on.

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