Get Informed: Vistaril
Active Ingredient(s)
Hydroxyzine
What does it do?
This product is used in the treatment of anxiety, itchiness, and in some cases used in conjunction with other sedatives. It is an antihistamine unrelated to others, but its exact mechanism of action is unknown.
- Last Text Update:
- 2010-Mar-20 5:22 PM
- Last Data Update:
- 2010-Mar-20 9:02 PM
Other Names
- Atarax
- Hydroxyzine
- Vistaril
- Hydroxyzine Pamoate
- Atarax-P
- Hydroxyzine Hydrochloride
- Ucerax
How Safe Is It?
- Your Risk Rating
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- Average Risk Rating
-
- Pregnancy Category:
- N/A
- Black Box Warning:
- No
Facts & Figures
- Date Approved
- 12 Apr 1956
- Est US Patients*
- 746,600
- Generic Available
- Yes
- OTC Available
- No
User Age Distribution*
< 21
21-39
40-59
60+
Age (Years)
* Estimated number of US people currently taking Vistaril or its active ingredient based on population adjusted patient numbers registered with iGuard.org.
Recent alerts for Vistaril
There have been no iGuard.org alerts regarding Vistaril during the past year.
Vistaril Safety Report
Learn more about iGuard's risk ratings
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What is Vistaril used for?
iGuard is currently tracking more than 4,900 patients that use Vistaril (or similar drugs with the same active ingredient(s)). Use the table below to learn why iGuard users take this product; click on any underlined condition to get information on other medications used for treatment.
| Disease / Condition | % | Average Severity |
|---|---|---|
| Anxiety | 45% | 
|
| Rash/Eczema | 31% |
|
| Allergies | 28% | 
|
| Insomnia | 17% |
|
| Bipolar Disorder | 3% | 
|
| Depression | 3% |
|
| Asthma | 3% |
|
How well does Vistaril work?
iGuard regularly polls our more than 4,900 users taking Vistaril (or similar drugs with the same active ingredient(s)) using the Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire for Medications (TSQM) . This feedback is continuously updated in tables below for the benefit of the iGuard community. To request scores for specific patient subgroups, please contact research@iguard.org.
Average Satisfaction Score
(out of 10)
Average Effectiveness Score
(out of 10)
- 62%
- of patients are confident that the good things about Vistaril outweigh the bad things.
- 6%
- of patients wish they were told more before they started taking Vistaril.
Common Side Effects of Vistaril
iGuard regularly polls our more than 4,900 users taking Vistaril (or similar drugs with the same active ingredient(s)) to monitor the development and frequency of side-effects. This feedback is continuously updated in tables and graphs below for the benefit of the iGuard community.
42% of patients experience side-effects on Vistaril
17% of patients experience signifcant side-effects on Vistaril
Most Common Side Effects...
-
Drowsiness
-
Grogginess/Confusion
-
Dizziness
-
Dryness
-
Weight Gain
-
= 10%
Global Patient Feedback for Vistaril (Hydroxyzine) ( Post a comment )
Question/Comment:
I have interstitial cystitis my urologist prescribed hydroxyzine and amitrptyline both are 25 mg and I take 2 of each at bed time this does work to help me get back to sleep when I have to get up 4-8 times a night.
56 year old Female – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2010-02-12 06:43:43
Question/Comment:
I take Atarax once in a while. It helps me with anxiety,but it makes me super sleepy.I can't concentrate on anything. If I take it in the morning I want to go back to bed.
33 year old Female – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2009-12-19 15:02:49
Question/Comment:
I have been taking vistirl capsule 25mg for about 10 years. It helps me with anxiety-related attacks. I also take zanax but never the two togeather. Now I can tell when my anxiety attack starts which pill to take. Over time I have figured out what pill works with what. This pill does not make me drowsy, infact just the opposite. This drug has been very helpful in treating my disorders.
29 year old Female – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2009-04-10 14:16:47
Answer/Reply:
I take hydroxyzine for hives, instead of using an epipen. I have used it off and on for 14 years. It helps with cluster headaches as well. I usually keep 10 mg and 25 mg on hand when possible, use the lower dose for less severe reactions and to help sleep. Only problem is if I have a severe allergic reaction and take enough to counteract the symptoms (up to 50 mg) then I sleep for 17 hours. The reaction causes the sleeping, but the meds cause the drowsiness once I wake up. I have severe food reactions (airborne and injested). Other meds do not work as well for my hives and allergic reactions (including insect bites).
41 year old Female – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2009-04-23 18:34:15
Question/Comment:
I take vistaril at night to help me sleep. It also really helps with my anxiety, though I still have some anxiety it's not as bad as it was. I also take celexa in the morning and it seems to work o.k. taken together.
29 year old female
30 year old Female – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2009-03-21 01:32:36
Question/Comment:
I was prescribed Hydroxyzine HCl (did it used to be Atarax?) way back in the mid-1990's for an "unknown" allergic reaction and also for excessive bug bites. Always had it on hand for the bug bites which I continue to have whenever I do yard work or sometimes just being outside. Took the "itching" (and I am talking about lots of bites and "itching), anyway, took the itching away in about 20-30 minutes. Prescription is for 25mg. Would take one or two. Sometimes a third, an hour or two later. Well, in about an hour or two, would be relaxed and calm enough to fall asleep. Also, it does not build up in your system to make you groggy the next day. Imagine how surprised I was to find out last summer that it is also used for anxiety, etc. Have taken numerous pain medications, depression medications, anti-depressants, etc.; only to be sleepy, groggy, non-functioning, 20 hours out of 24. "Just wait for the medicines to kick in"...the doctors would say. I waited and waited and waited. Weeks and many times months or even a year. Am off of all of the other pain-depression-type medications. Use Hydroxyzl hcl,,,"as needed" and it works fine. Take thyroid medicaion and an ADD medication. Why didn't the doctors just give me this and stop trying to push and hype new medications with many weird side effects.
60 year old Female – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2009-03-18 19:35:48
Answer/Reply:
I was also perscribed Hydroxyzine for another purpose; to help quit cigarettes about 4 years ago. It helped because it made me sleepy and I was able to sleep a lot during the first three days of quitting. Then I just forgot about Hydroxyzine and the bottle sat around.
Then, after getting off antidepressants that made me sleep for 10 to 12 hours a day, I was having insomnia. Each time I go to the doctor they go over meds they have given me, and the doctor noticed I had Hydroxyzine. I said, yes those are just sitting around. She said take two Hydroxyzine HCL 25 mg = 50 mg one hour before bed. Although I don't take them every night, I sleep a full 8 hours when I do and I don't wake up groggy.
In fact, if for some reason I had to wake up even 2 or 4 hours after taking this drug, I can function just fine, even if I have to react quickly. I would not like to be walking in my sleep like with ambian and other heavy sleep meds.
Now it is wonderful to find Hydroxyzine HCL 25 is good for anxiety too, I agree that this is all around the best drug out of all the antidepressants I have tried since my son disappeared, as I also have cronic pain, anxiety, and sometimes don't sleep well.
In addition, my doctor has me taking 1,300 to 2,000 IU's of Vitamin D daily which also helps with depression, as I must have also been depleted of Vit D.
60 year old Female – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2009-06-02 18:52:08
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48
Patient Comments about
Vistaril