Hydroxyzine for Sedation User Reviews (Page 3)

• Wap...
• June 9, 2021

"My doctor advised me that it's not for daily use over a long period of time because I'll build up a tolerance against it, so I take two 25 mg pills at bedtime maybe two or three times a week. It affords me 8 full hours of sleep. If I take just one pill, then I'll sleep only 4 hours. Without it, I sleep my 'normal' sleep pattern, which is: fall asleep as soon as my head hits the pillow (literally within 10 - 20 seconds of going to bed), sleep for 45 minutes, wake up for 20 minutes (at least), then back to sleep for 45 minutes or less. I'm awake after that second wake-up. When I take it, I actually wake up refreshed. Zero side effects. I've been taking it for approximately 3 weeks now. Without it, I wake up with burning eyes and exhausted. As the days pass with insufficient sleep and rest, I become more agitated, my short-term memory erodes, and after a week of not getting sufficient sleep, I 'crash' for about 4 or 5 hours. Then it's back to my 'normal.'"

• uni...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 24, 2019

Hydroxyzine "Prescribed 25 mg Vistaril, 1 to 2 pills as needed at night for sedation and anxiety. On the first 3 nights, it made me sleep very deeply. Woke up several times, gritting my teeth. Next day, felt drunk and slept way too much. I was irritable and overwhelmed by everything. The 4th night, which was last night, I didn't sleep as well and woke up way too early. Also, the drunk, drowsy feeling is gone. I may quit taking it but am going to stick with it another week to see how it helps with anxiety."

• Ell...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 30, 2019

"I thought I was the only person that woke up very groggy after taking this for a full night's sleep. I even tried 1/4 of the 50mg pill and still woke up groggy. It took me about 2 hours to get 'right' by taking a long shower and drinking water... lots of water! I don't like this medicine! I have to find something else so I can sleep and not wake up feeling like a zombie."

• Ben...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• September 23, 2017

"I got hydroxyzine prescribed by request after experiencing what feels like a never-ending benzodiazepine withdrawal. When 6 months off the benzos passed and I was losing my mind, I decided to research safer, non-addicting central nervous system depressants out of desperation. It was hit and miss at first with the insomnia, it seems to work better after a few days of continuous use and calms some other symptoms down as well. If you get this prescribed and it doesn't work at first, give it a few tries. It works even better the farther out you get from your discontinuation date from the benzos. Some days this med dopes me up like a drunk, and I don't care for that feeling, but it's a much better place to be than having a wide-open nervous system."

• Gp1...
• July 17, 2019

"Not much for anxiety, but helps for sleep. Take 50 mg at night, wouldn’t say bad dreams, but vivid. Helps, I take 40 mg of Vyvanse a day, so it brings me down at night. Recommend it for anyone looking for a pretty safe sleep med."

• Ema...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• July 7, 2019

"I’ve been taking hydroxyzine for about 2 years. And boy, does it make me sleep. Almost a little too much. But my insomnia and anxiety are so awful that I would be up for 3 days straight if I weren’t taking it, so I would really rather be sleeping too much rather than not at all. The only things I can really say that are bad are that it gives me pretty bad headaches and it’s made me sleep through my alarm quite a few times."

• sri...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 7, 2016

"My experience: I was prescribed 1-2, 25 mg tabs before bed for sleep. It did put me to sleep in about an hour to 2 hours, and I would only wake up once during the night, but the grogginess, zombie-like feeling made it very difficult to wake up and stay up the rest of the day. I would sneak in a nap or two. It would finally wear off around 4 in the afternoon. After about a month, I stopped taking it."

• JBo...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• December 17, 2020

"I used hydroxyzine years ago, off and on. First used for benzo withdrawal. Then I used it for maintenance of anxiety and insomnia. Works GREAT for sedation, rest, relaxation, and sleep. Hydroxyzine works even better than Ambien."

• Mis...
• January 1, 2021

"I’ve been taking this hydroxyzine med for two years every night along with clonazepam 1 mg. I cut the 50 mg in 4 pieces and take 1/4 only of the hydroxyzine. I have horrible, vivid dreams and feel sleepy all day the next day. I sleep many hours sometimes, and I feel like I didn’t sleep at all. I still want to sleep during the day. I feel mentally exhausted. I don’t know what to do at this point. I deal with sleep problems for so long."

• Ele...
• October 12, 2016

"Used hydroxyzine for mild anxiety and as a relief for sleep problems. Worked 50% of the time, can't fall asleep the other 50%. But will always get hangover effects next morning, hardly good for working. Do consider other sedatives/antihistamines if this does not work."

• Ren...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 7, 2016

"I can never get a full night's sleep. I was prescribed this for anxiety. It helped for that, but the downfall was I got too sleepy to even function. But for sleep, this worked amazing. I woke up feeling a little groggy, but that wore off within about an hour. And, man, did I feel so rested after that!!"

• Chr...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 21, 2022

"Terrible drug. I've tried up to 30 mg, and every time I feel so dizzy. Makes my anxiety shoot entirely through the roof and causes even more anxiety to the point where I have severe, uncontrollable breakdowns and mood swings, as well as suicidal thoughts due to days without sleep. The dizziness and continued lack of sleep have caused me to toss the pills and almost lose faith in doctors. What a terrible, terrible drug; I would almost rather die than take it again (as that is what I felt like on it trying to sleep; then couldn’t sleep for days after). Doctors should not be allowed to give this stuff out."

• lee...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 25, 2019

"I have severe anxiety and insomnia that I never went to the doctor for because I can't afford a behavioral type of doctor. However, after I was prescribed oxy and stopped cold turkey, my withdrawals were all mental and gave me the worst anxiety and insomnia I hadn't had since high school. I hadn't been taking the OxyContin for that long, but I think I did just enough to where my body was like, “woah, no.” When I went to my doctor, I told him I was very anxious about him prescribing me more to wean me off of, so he prescribed me Hydroxyzine and Clonidine. When I took the Hydroxyzine before bedtime (80 mg), I slept, but only for about 3 hours. However, after my days got better and went on, the Hydroxyzine worked great. If you have severe insomnia, I wouldn't say this is the best to have, but it definitely helped. I think it's more helpful in more mild cases. Hope this helps (:"

• Aly...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• July 15, 2021

"I have been on 10 mg at bedtime each night for 8 years. This not only helps me sleep with no next day zombie feelings, but also takes the edge off my anxiety. I hope I can take these little magic pills forever. They have been a Godsend!"

• mar...
• February 12, 2012

"I was prescribed this for sleep. Because of my fibromyalgia, I wasn't sleeping well. I also was taking Percocets, but I decided to stop them and resulted in anxiety. I find this is helping me tremendously, way better than being on any opiate or something that's going to give you harsh side effects."

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

Hydroxyzine "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."

• Dix...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 7, 2015

Hydroxyzine "I have chronic insomnia, my doctor had me on 2 mg of Xanax, which worked great. When I switched doctors, they wouldn't write prescriptions for Xanax. Put me on Restoril, didn't work. Now I've been on 50 mg Vistaril for several nights. It helps me sleep pretty well, but during the day I feel so out of it. I am so dizzy and lightheaded, even when I'm sitting, I feel like I'm going to pass out! If this keeps up, I don't think I'll be able to continue this medication."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 2, 2019

"Doctor prescribed this to me to replace a generic sleeping pill I was prescribed in Canada. I am wide awake with a racing heart and anxiousness. Probably would have fallen asleep by now naturally, I think this medicine is actually keeping me from falling asleep. I will never take it again. I’m an insomniac and can’t risk losing any more sleep."

• Bus...
• August 25, 2019

"I was prescribed this, and it knocked me out. I’m underweight, so it might have had a stronger toll on me. Anyways, it made me feel good, maybe because I’m a recovering drug addict. Anyway, the first day I slept forever and had vivid dreams, but found myself so dizzy and lightheaded at work (I’m a waitress, so always moving). On day two, I couldn’t even get up and felt like I was loaded, I was so tired. Even more dizzy at work, so I drank water and that helped. I’d just stay hydrated. It’s not for me because I felt like I was going to pass out. The sedative factor worked really well. Still feeling groggy too."

• kat...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• December 31, 2019

"I just got a prescription filled for hydroxyzine HCL 25 mg (green ones from Epic Pharma) that do nothing. I think they're either fake or hydroxyzine pamoate (which does nothing for me). I just took some older supply of hydroxyzine HCL, so if I fall asleep soon, I'll know whether or not it's true. I haven't taken any in a long time either. For what it's worth, hydroxyzine is so underrated for anxiety reduction and sedation."

• Dan...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 26, 2015

Hydroxyzine "I have been dealing with insomnia on and off for over 10 years. I have always managed it with OTC meds like Unisom. Finally decided to see a doc about it after having to take 3-4 Unisom a night (I was feeling like a zombie till 10 a.m.!). She prescribed 25 mg of Vistaril - take one at bedtime. Last night was my first time using it, and it took a few hours to get me to sleep. All night I had weird, vivid dreams, and it was hard to tell if I was asleep or awake. I felt on the brink of deep sleep but still awake. It's hard to describe. I am going to give it a week and see how it goes. I was a bit groggy this morning, but not like on Unisom."

• cra...
• May 21, 2019

"Have insomnia for weeks now. Fell down the steps I was so sleepy and went to urgent care to make sure I didn't break anything. A PA gives me this to help me sleep. I have tried 1 pill, 2 pills, yet at no dose has made me sleep! Instead, I lay awake all night with a racing heart, feeling weird and crazy, anxiety. I feel insane, slurring my words, can barely walk straight, etc. I am new at my job, so I have no choice but to come, and I look and act like a drug addict. Going to my PCP tomorrow, who I hope can give me sleeping pills. I don't understand why they are scared to give you sleeping pills when science says you need sleep, but they give out opiates like candy."

• Ann...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 10, 2021

"Started hydroxyzine a week ago. I have had insomnia for two months with waking in the middle of the night and not falling back asleep. I tried melatonin, valerian, herbs, Benadryl. This helps me sleep all night. I can still tell my brain wants to be awake still, but this makes me sleep through. I do have very vivid dreams and some lethargy. Green tea in the morning helps."

• Vik...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• September 9, 2024

"I have severe problems with my sleep. It started when I was four years old, and I go up to 5-6 days without any sleep. I had great sleep hygiene—I didn’t use my phone for an hour before bed, journaled, then read a book. I don’t drink caffeine or soda, didn’t eat any sweets before bed, etc. I used 6 pills of melatonin a night, and it didn’t do anything. I’ve been prescribed many medications, even ones so strong that I wouldn’t be able to go to work in person, according to a doctor. Medicine didn’t touch it. Hydroxyzine is literally the ONLY thing that can get me to sleep."

• mik...
• January 29, 2010

Hydroxyzine "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."