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Atarax User Reviews & Ratings (Page 3)

Atarax has an average rating of 6.2 out of 10 from a total of 143 reviews on Drugs.com. 52% of reviewers reported a positive experience, while 30% reported a negative experience.

Reviews for Atarax

  • Alyab...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • February 6, 2016

For Anxiety "I was prescribed this for my anxiety disorder, and I'm really disappointed. It did absolutely nothing for me, which for obvious reasons, is frustrating in times of extreme anxiety. Taking a 'rescue medication' and help never coming was hard for me personally. Others say it works great, but I suppose it depends on the person."

1 / 10
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  • Mr La...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • September 10, 2017

For Anxiety "Doctor prescribed this to me as an alternative to lorazepam for anxiety. I was reluctant at first. Lorazepam works well for me, yet it is stigmatized by doctors. But it works just as well, if not better. Atarax is an antihistamine. This means allergies are managed as well."

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  • Happy...
  • May 5, 2016

For Anxiety "I was prescribed Atarax, taking 25 mg up to 3x daily or as needed. The first few days, it made me groggy and want to sleep, and I experienced very vivid dreams and nightmares. After a few days, the grogginess went away, and it actually helped me function while having high anxiety and helped to calm me. I still experience nightmares more often than I'd like to, but I'd rather be functioning daily, so I keep taking it."

7 / 10
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Frequently asked questions

  • Kimmh
  • January 5, 2016

For Anxiety "This has made my anxiety worse. I feel this terrible high. I don't even feel like myself. My body is twitching and I've been crying for 3 hours. It is really scaring me. I feel out of this world and not in a good way."

1 / 10
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  • Anonymous
  • August 22, 2011

For Anxiety "I had been taking Xanax and Lexapro for generalized anxiety disorder. The Xanax, at 0.25 mg, made me a zombie. Atarax at 50 mg, 3 times a day, works very well for me, and I am able to function at work as well. The sedative effects wore off after a few days."

8 / 10
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Are you taking this medicine?

  • Sherr...
  • Taken for 1 to 2 years
  • February 9, 2020

For Pruritus "I take Atarax for pruritus in liver disease. It helps me tremendously! I do get sleepy as I take 50 mg at bedtime, and it’s a bit difficult to get going in the morning. It’s also very constipating, so drink lots of water and add extra fiber to your diet!"

8 / 10
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  • joshy
  • January 18, 2014

For Anxiety "My son was put on this med at age 14 after being pre-diagnosed as non-polar. Then diagnosed with juvenile depression, anxiety disorder, and trouble sleeping. Joshua had bad mood swings. He was only to take this once a day, at bedtime. It only made him so tired he wouldn't get up in the morning. Did nothing for his anxiety or depression."

2 / 10
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52 Report

More FAQ

  • Dawn
  • May 8, 2009

For Pruritus "It has the desired effect of stopping the itching at night, but I cannot stay awake the following day. The drowsiness is almost impossible for me to cope with during the working week. I'm literally falling asleep at work (and I'm only taking half the dose)."

8 / 10
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  • Anonymous
  • April 13, 2012

For Anxiety "I started taking this medication to fight anxiety, especially before going to bed when the mind is racing. It definitely helps, but I am completely lethargic the next day, and I only took half a pill. However, I've also only taken it occasionally for one day here and there, not on a regular basis, so my body may not have time to adjust like others mention on here."

8 / 10
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  • FeyFey
  • September 30, 2016

For Allergic Urticaria "I took 1 tablet of Atarax last night for my hives. I asked for an antihistamine that can also help me to sleep because I have not been sleeping for 4 nights straight due to the itchiness from my hives. So this was suggested by my doctor. I managed to sleep through the night for over 9 hours - the alarm didn't manage to wake me until my 2nd super loud alarm! I was awake, but I wasn't really awake! I felt like I could doze off any second. Unless you want to sleep through 24 hours, maybe this is good for you, but I won't be taking it the 2nd time. I felt horrible for the whole day! My mind was not functioning, I felt groggy, not alert at all, walked like a zombie, it was just bad for me. I like to feel awake! Not like this. My suggestion: Take with caution!"

1 / 10
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  • gaz
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • February 19, 2016

For Sedation "Atarax did its job and gave me some sleep after taking just one very small pill, but the after effects were truly horrendous. I have used this drug twice and had the same after effects both times. Once you wake up, you are left with so much dizziness that you can't get your head off the pillow, so don't expect to be doing anything at all for many hours after you wake up. Maybe other people can use this drug and have no side effects, but I will never ever use this drug again."

1 / 10
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  • elicu...
  • March 6, 2014

For Anxiety "I take 50 mg 3 x a day. Total 150 mg. I'm bipolar and take other medicines that cause drowsiness but realized within a couple of weeks that this subsides with time. It is nothing like Xanax that knocks you out, and Atarax takes a while to start working if you're in the start of an attack. I didn't experience any of the antihistamine effect the pill is supposed to provide. I will ask for a different medication to manage my anxiety."

6 / 10
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  • 6pill...
  • Taken for 6 months to 1 year
  • January 30, 2016

For Anxiety "I'm on 6 different medications for anxiety, depression, and personality disorder. Have been for 7 years now. Atarax being the most recently added. Love it. I'm used to very strong medications, and this one helps calm me without making me feel too tired."

10 / 10
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  • RobSt...
  • November 30, 2016

For Anxiety "Two 25 mg doses, spread out, reduce anxiety for me, but it also can make me yawn and sleepy, and I don't feel safe to drive for about an hour after taking the second dose. Given that I am oversensitive to benzos, this is one of the few anti-anxiety drugs I can take without being oversedated."

9 / 10
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  • Harv
  • Taken for 1 to 6 months
  • December 25, 2020

For Anxiety "I actually had it for both anxiety and allergy related itching, but it worked great for both. It helps well if your starting to have an anxiety attack or go through a trigger that you know may cause one. It does make you drowsy for a bit, but that's not much of a problem if you're a high tension sort of person. And if you're wondering which medicine to take for allergic itching. This is what you should take if you don't mind being drowsy cause it calms you down too unlike benadryl. But take claritin if you don't like being drowsy."

10 / 10
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  • Danni...
  • March 27, 2014

For Pruritus "I frequently will experience itchiness all over my body and will break out in hives and can't stop the itching despite use of topical Benadryl, etc. My doctor prescribed Atarax a few years ago, and while it stops the itching in its tracks, I also sleep for an insane amount of time. Generally, it's about 18 solid hours of drowsiness to the point I can't even keep myself awake for longer than 20 minutes. I absolutely hate it. An entire day totally wasted. I'm prescribed 25 mg every 6 hours as needed, although I have never had to take a second dose within 24 hours."

7 / 10
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  • the_c...
  • June 23, 2011

For Allergies "Works great against allergies (25 mg) and also somewhat against asthma (due to the anticholinergic properties: dilates the airways). When taking Atarax, I can reduce the amount of asthma reliever medication (terbutaline). Side effects: drowsiness (in the beginning), headache (disappeared after the third pill), muscle twitches, and some muscle aches."

9 / 10
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  • Anonymous
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • May 22, 2023

For Anxiety "My Psychiatrist prescribed this to me to try to use as needed. Unfortunately, it did not work at all for me. All I noticed was some fatigue that lingered throughout the day, but that's about it. I've been on benzodiazepines and wanted to give this a try since doctors do not like to prescribe them. I went in there with an open mind and noted that it is not going to feel the same as taking Xanax or Klonopin. I really wanted this to work or at least do something, even if it does not work as well. However, all I noticed was side effects with no benefit. If it works for you, great. I wish it worked for me."

1 / 10
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  • shemi...
  • Taken for 6 months to 1 year
  • August 18, 2015

For Anxiety "I experience severe social and generalised anxiety. I was given 25mg of Atarax to take twice a day. I didn't feel it relieved my anxiety symptoms. It made me very sleepy. When I awoke in the morning I felt very groggy, constant yawning and didn't feel I could pay attention or properly, function at my job or get housework/errands done. I personally do not find Atarax helpful for anxiety."

4 / 10
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  • mike
  • January 29, 2010

For Sedation "Made me so tired, could not focus or stand up. It pretty much sedated me, slept like a baby. Doctor said it would make me sleepy because of a bad allergic reaction to Testim, so it sedated me to keep me from scratching my rash."

6 / 10
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  • Europa
  • Taken for 2 to 5 years
  • October 18, 2012

For Allergies "I took Atarax when a child and started taking this medicine again approximately two years ago, from my allergist. I have tried basically all modern oral prescription medicines (and those which have become over-the-counter). My allergies induce asthma! I take specifically created allergy antigen shots (two per week/two different vials) from my allergist, which help greatly. Normally, unless I live on the coast, I'm bothered by indoor (dust, mold), outdoor (weeds, plants), and food allergies in the warm (non-frost/freezing) months. Each year, allergies have become worse. I can take this one tablet once per day or two pills at once if having a severe attack. I certainly recommend having an allergist doctor, in addition to your regular general practice doctor. This prescription does not make me sleepy, though people say it can."

9 / 10
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  • Lcowan
  • Taken for 6 months to 1 year
  • March 25, 2016

For Anxiety "My GP prescribed this for anxiety and directed that I take it every 8 hours. Now I have dealt with anxiety and severe panic attacks, need immediate relief. This medication was not the one to do that for me. It made me very drowsy, and at the same time, I still had anxiety. This is not for someone who has a busy schedule because it will sedate you. I think this medication should only be used for its initial intent to control itching. Otherwise, it was a waste for me."

1 / 10
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  • Kenya
  • October 17, 2016

For Pruritus "I was prescribed this medication after a burn injury. My scars caused intensive itching! I was ordered to take two tablets by mouth four times a day as needed for itching. Initially after my accident the medicine helped. I didn't really notice the side effects because I was on pain medication as well. Now here we are six months after my accident. last night I had a really bad itching episode. I could not sleep. I decided to take the two Atarax. I slept through the entire night and the next day. I woke up to a text message after text message from coworkers and my boss wondering why I didn't show to work!"

7 / 10
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  • For...
  • June 17, 2016

For Anxiety "It works very well for me as a rescue medicine. If taken mid-panic attack, it definitely helps to calm me; however, if I take it before I am going to be in a situation that I know will cause anxiety, it doesn't have much of an effect to keep me from having an attack. It definitely makes me sleepy."

6 / 10
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  • Anonymous
  • March 4, 2012

For Anxiety "Went to see the doctor 3 months ago. I wasn't sure what was wrong with me. First visit, I told the doc my symptoms: (fatigue, tense muscles, shortness of breath, lightheaded). The doctor said it might be allergies. He gave me hydroxyzine 25 mg. I started with one dose every 4 hours. They seem to help me breathe easier and relax me."

8 / 10
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42 Report

Reviews may be edited to correct grammar/spelling or to remove inappropriate language and content. Reviews that appear to be created by parties with a vested interest are not published. This information is not intended to endorse any particular medication. While these reviews may be helpful, they are not a substitute for the expertise, knowledge, and judgement of healthcare professionals.