Hydroxyzine for Allergic Urticaria User Reviews

• Itc...
• January 21, 2013

Hydroxyzine "I was diagnosed with Urticaria at the age of 16 (in 1985 which just came out of the blue) and took an Atarax pill every 3-4 days when I felt the itchiness coming on. It worked 100%. Later in life, they suggested I try some other antihistamine (Claritin), which I did and it worked, but I have to take a pill every day so I went back to Atarax as I did not suffer from drowsiness (after taking it for so many years). Fortunately in 2011, the Urticaria disappeared and I no longer need any meds for it. If ever I get itchy skin again, Atarax will be my choice."

• Hiv...
• May 29, 2009

Hydroxyzine "I've had seriously awful hives and angioedema for 3 months and tried everything on my own to lessen my symptoms, even taking Benadryl around the clock. I went to my doctor who prescribed this and warned it would make me drowsy when I took it. For the first time in 3 months I've had hardly any hives (though they aren't completely gone, but much easier to handle) and I wasn't drowsy at all (maybe because I'm used to taking all the Benadryl and fighting drowsiness). I haven't had any side effects."

• Roa...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• August 5, 2013

Hydroxyzine "Have taken Vistaril for nearly 30 years for hives that seem to be associated with exposure to hot/cold temperatures or emotional stress. A 5mg dose rapidly eliminates hives and has a lasting effect for 2-3 days. My doctor gives me an annual prescription for 30, 25mg tablets which I cut into four pieces. I only take 1/4 tablet, therefore, this very small dose completely resolves the hives for several days with minimal side effects consisting of slight drowsiness. For me, it is a marvelous medicine. Cost, even without insurance, is extremely small."

• Rya...
• April 21, 2014

"I had extreme hives all over my body from an allergic reaction. I took a single 25 mg tablet of hydroxyzine about an hour before I went to sleep, and I was no longer itching by bedtime. When I woke up, there were no hives. They started to return at nighttime, so I took another tablet, and the cycle continued."

• Liz...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• March 24, 2014

"Right after my 2nd child was born in 1969, I found myself scratching till I bled, and I was diagnosed with urticaria. I was prescribed hydroxyzine 10 mg (Atarax) 3 times a day at first, but was soon able to pare that back to 1 x 10 mg pill a day, which I take in the morning. I have never had a problem with drowsiness. The only time I realize I have this condition is if I run out of the medication and don't take it for a few days, then the itching comes back, usually starting on the palms of my hands. I will probably take this medication for the rest of my life, but for me, it has been a Godsend."

• Joh...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 12, 2018

"Periodically, I get hives. This time, I was prescribed the standard prednisone pack and hydroxyzine. I took the prednisone but not the antihistamine. Dumb me. The rash got better, but the back of my head began to itch terribly. As a result, large welts began to form. My hands itched, and other welts on my legs and chest began to form. So, I decided to take my hydroxyzine. I took it right before bed. When I woke up, all the welts were nearly all gone. My hands stopped itching. This drug works wonders. Yes, it made me a little sleepy. Who cares? It knocked my hives out like a heavyweight boxer."

• Cor...
• July 7, 2017

"I had chronic idiopathic urticaria for 6 months before I found anything that remotely helped. Once I got on a cycle of 40 mg hydroxyzine before bed and 150 mg ranitidine + 5 mg of levocetirizine in the mornings, I started to have noticeable improvement. After another 4 months, my hives were completely gone. Of the three medicines, the hydroxyzine by far provided the biggest impact. This medicine stopped hives from forming during sleep, and the anti-anxiety component definitely helped soothe my mood and get me to sleep more quickly. I will say that this medicine gives you some really wacky and vivid dreams. It also makes you feel very groggy after taking it, lasting well into the next morning. Those symptoms are worth it though."

• Fey...
• September 30, 2016

Hydroxyzine "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!"

• Ale...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• March 18, 2019

"I have chronic hives (unknown cause), and I’ve been on this since 2016. I take 100 mg a day, and it keeps me from being covered in large red welts all over my body. Of course, if Benadryl makes you sleepy and you hate that, don’t take this (I feel like that should be common sense, but whatever)."

• Anonymous
• May 28, 2010

"This medicine saved my sanity, if not my life! Months of unexplained pressure hives all over my body had my nerves absolutely shot. I won't go into the details, but after MANY doctors and countless tests, I finally found a doctor who wanted me to try Atarax, 50 mg, 4 times a day. I was willing to try anything! The drowsiness was difficult to deal with for a long time, but the hives had pretty much met their match. I can tell if I'm late taking one or if I've forgotten altogether. I can't live without them!"

• Anj...
• January 10, 2018

"I've been taking this for about a year, and I wish I had found out about it ten years ago. In the past, I've had debilitating hives and rashes no matter what I was doing. It could be from showering or clothing myself to running on a treadmill. They were painful and felt like I had been dipped into a vat of itching powder. It could last hours to days. Summer and winter were brutal for my skin. It has literally changed my life. Yes, the first week or so, it made me super drowsy. Doctor recommended taking it at night instead of morning and night. I take one pill in the morning now that it doesn't make me sleepy. I would love to find a natural remedy, but I haven't been successful yet."

• Jan...
• March 28, 2016

"My doctor prescribed hydroxyzine for my allergic reaction to dust mites and hives, and I began taking it at night. The best sleep I had in years, but it actually increased my hives. It took me a month to figure out it was the hydroxyzine that was causing my hives. Two days after I stopped taking it, my hives subsided. After four days, they are almost all gone. It may work for many people, but not everyone."

• Anonymous
• June 6, 2010

Hydroxyzine "My doctor diagnosed me with dermatographia and prescribed Singulair and Alavert. The condition lessened, but did not go away. I would still break out into hives on a daily basis, though they were not as frequent and covered a smaller portion of my body. After a few months, she prescribed Vistaril in place of Alavert and kept me on the Singulair. Almost immediately, I noticed a significant change! For the first time in months, I went an entire day without any hives - though I had to take the capsule four times a day. If I took fewer capsules, my hives would come back. I did experience severe drowsiness and a slight 'euphoric' feeling, but it lessened over time."

• 2sl...
• December 28, 2011

"I was prescribed hydroxyzine 25 mg (one or two tablets at bedtime) for a very itchy rash. I have also had insomnia for years, it is not unusual for it to take 3 or 4 hours for me to fall asleep. The first time I took this medicine, I was sound asleep within an hour after taking it, and I slept through the night. I have been taking it for about 2 months and wish I had known about it sooner."

• Anonymous
• August 11, 2010

"I have been suffering from rashes, bumps, and itches on my hands and legs for about 15 years, during which time I have been to 7 skin specialists and allergists: nothing except palliative (and messy) creams and covering my hands with 6-8 Band-Aids at a time. Then I found a new doctor who prescribed hydroxyzine and fexofenadine. Two days later, 99% of the problem was gone. It flares up when I eat any meats with preservatives (sodium nitrate and sodium phosphate) and berries with small seeds (figs, raspberries, strawberries, blueberries, etc.). Drowsiness was never a problem, but it would have been a worthwhile trade-off not to spend most of my waking hours itching, creaming up, and then covering with Band-Aids."

• Mim...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 28, 2020

"I always had allergies but recently developed whole body allergic reactions from foods and food additives. Such as hives, face and lips swelling, red skin, rashes, and diarrhea. I had to take daily numerous doses of Benadryl and Zyrtec. From the very first dose I took at night of 50 mg hydroxyzine, I got a wonderful deep and restful full night of sleep, instead of having my allergic reactions waking me up after a few hours of sleep."

• Tre...
• December 4, 2009

"Hydroxyzine has been the magic bullet for my skin allergies. I've tried every over-the-counter option, as well as a couple of prescriptions. I was warned that hydroxyzine might make me more sleepy and wiped out than the other drugs, but for me, it has nearly no sedative effect. My hives, which used to appear over much of my body for several hours a day, stay away almost completely."

• Jen...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• August 27, 2020

"I have chronic hives and have been taking this for over 5 years. I got my first outbreak of hives 17 years ago, and they have never gone away. Biopsies, testing, blood work, and multiple doctors to no avail. I am prescribed 25 mg as needed, but only go through 60 pills a year. They immediately take that deep itch away, so I’m not making myself bleed and driving myself crazy. The downside is you do stay groggy for over 12 hours, but sleep like a baby. I will take that over the itching and rash any day. I highly recommend this. The doxepin I was on prior made me so mean, and I didn’t even care."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 20, 2020

"My doctor prescribed 50 mg hydroxyzine for itchiness. Didn't seem to help much at all. Benadryl worked just as well. But my goodness, the awful drowsiness the next day was crazy! I took it at 8 pm, and the next morning at 8 am couldn't open my eyes. Went back to bed at 10 am and slept till afternoon. Got up after 12, but was still so sleepy. I am a homeschooling mom with four boys. I definitely cannot take this again."

• Itc...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• June 26, 2015

"My itching just kept coming so bad it would keep me awake all night. Even increasing the dosage didn't stop it. I have had no rash, just itch from head to toes. I have had to deal with this for over two years, and it's driving me nuts, constantly itching. Hydroxyzine doesn't work, and neither does Benadryl."

• Ava...
• April 10, 2009

"1 tablet of 25 mg of hydroxyzine can control urticaria for a minimum of 3 days, but for 2 days, I have to sleep. Very effective for urticaria, but the drowsiness side effect is hard, especially for active, working women."

• Anonymous
• December 8, 2009

"Hydroxyzine has worked great for my allergic reactions. I have been fighting these allergies for 8 years now. I have tried everything from Benadryl to prescription allergy medicines. Nothing has worked for me except the hydroxyzine. I have been taking it for 4 months now and have only had very mild, if any, skin irritations since I began taking it. The drowsiness has not affected me at all."

• mmo...
• July 3, 2015

"Itching, sick to my stomach, blood constantly in my nose, shakes, sore throat feel like I have a cold now. Cannot take antihistamines, told doctor still insisted. My bites still itch, and now I feel ill on a daily basis."

• Hen...
• May 10, 2020

Hydroxyzine "About 2 or 3 weeks ago, I started to get itchy after taking a bath. I was very, very itchy. My whole body was itchy, and I was about to go crazy. It was like thousands of ants were running on my skin. It was very awful. I ran to the drugstore and bought Hydroxyzine 25 mg, and hopefully this medication helped me. I've been taking it daily."

• Gm1...
• August 10, 2017

"I've been using hydroxyzine for 6 months for my chronic hives. It's written every 6 hours, but I take it only twice a week as needed. I take it before bedtime, it kicks in after 2 hours, the itching will stop, and most of the hives will go away by the time I fall asleep. But the next day when I try to wake up, that is the awful part. I can't open my eyes, I feel heavy and super tired, even if I slept for 8 hours, it will feel like I never slept at all!! I wake up with no choice to go to work, and I feel grumpy and angry, and that's how it is for the entire day. I hate taking this pill because it has those side effects, but I have no other solution for my situation. Hoping to find another antihistamine that will not have the same side effects."