Hydroxyzine - How much is to much?

Wow, that seems like a huge dose, even for an adult, let alone for an 11 year old child! My personal experience with hydroxyzine - it was given to me to help me sleep at night, but, at a MUCH lower dose. I was told to take a 10mg. tablet at bedtime, or two at the most. I take the atarax generic of hydroxyzine which comes in tablet form (10mg). I assume he is taking the vistaril generic of hydroxyzine which comes in capsule form (25mg). (They work the same for anxiety). I only take 10mg, because two of them made me groggy the next day, whereas I could still function normally the next day when only taking 10mg. I always slept through the night on only 10mg. I would think it is building up in his system to the point of keeping him groggy and hard to function, eventually, during the day. There are other medications available for anxiety that are not so sedating. I assume that medication in his system will finally build up and cause him too much fatigue sooner or later. The fact that he can't sleep at night shows that he is getting the opposite reaction that he should be getting. Have you considered taking him to another doctor? This particular person obviously isn't effectively treating your child's anxiety and sleeping problem. It seems as though this med would make it hard for him to concentrate in school during the day. Please let us know how this works out. I had a child who was unable to stay awake in school for a time, due just to taking antihistamines for allergies. I can't imagine trying to function with all that hydroxyzine in his system.
I can't say what is right or wrong, I can only give you my personal experience and the results from it. I hope you confront his current doctor about this treatment, or find another doctor to give him a different form of treatment. My heart goes out to him and also to you, a concerned Mom.
"G"