Hydroxyzine and Drowsiness: What Users Say

• Spi...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 15, 2019

Hydroxyzine for Anxiety "Listen Vistaril is pretty decent for anxiety! I was on this 25mg 3x daily, and it has helped take off the edge. It doesn't stop it 100%, but with other medication and proper anxiety relief techniques, this will help you immensely with anxiety. However, since I'm a teen dropout (due to anxiety), I can sleep 9 hours and then sleep another 9 hours without feeling tired at all (great side effect - I like). I highly recommend this for people with panic attacks! Don't listen to the scary reviews. If you've truly tried everything except meds, try this and don't be scared..."

• Jos...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• July 23, 2020

Hydroxyzine for Anxiety "Had a few panic attacks shortly before my son was born. Went to a psychiatrist and they prescribed 50mg of Atarax. I found that a whole pill knocks me out and leaves me groggy for a few days but I cut the pill in half and it works great. Puts you to sleep within an hour or so, but the next day the tightness in my chest was gone and my anxiety was also gone. I only take it when the physical symptoms are too much and I can't enjoy life. I've had the prescription for over a year and only taken it a half dozen times or so."

• Sam...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 30, 2020

Hydroxyzine for Anxiety "My doctor prescribed the 10 mg dose of this medicine, Atarax, with the directions that I could take 1/2-1 tablet once daily for acute anxiety and 2-3 tablets at night for insomnia. I took 1/2 tablet for the first time around 6:15 pm, and I was out cold by 7 pm. I slept until 7:45 am and had to get up for an appointment. I could barely drag myself out of bed, and if I hadn’t only been going 2 miles from home, I wouldn’t have been able to drive myself. I came home and slept on and off until about 3 pm, when I finally started to feel more like normal. I guess you could say it helped my anxiety because you can’t feel anxious if you’re unconscious! But there is no possible way I could ever take this medicine and go to work or get anything productive accomplished. I am going to hold onto it in case I have a major anxiety episode that I need to just sleep through, but at my follow-up appointment, I will definitely request that we try something else."

• Tor...
• November 5, 2020

Hydroxyzine for Anxiety "Atarax works great for my anxiety! I was on Xanax for many years to treat my GAD. I stopped and started using Atarax, 25mg 3 times a day. It will make you sleepy, although for me, it’s way better than experiencing constant worry and anxiety."

• Nic...
• September 10, 2014

Hydroxyzine for Anxiety "I have tried a lot of different medications for my anxiety, and nothing has ever worked, that is, until I was prescribed Atarax. I was going through some very, very stressful times and had to go on something. Nothing has ever helped me, not Paxil, Lexapro, Effexor, Zoloft. I know that is a lot of different ones! But this is spread out over many years of trying new ones, not one of them really worked for me, and I had lots of bad side effects from them. Atarax was one that I had never heard of, till the doctor prescribed it to me. Immediately it works. You take it, and within 30 mins it kicks in, and last for hours. You can take one or two at a time, every six hours. The only side effect is sleepiness, and I did experience this."

• Dal...
• February 16, 2014

Hydroxyzine for Anxiety "I would like to say that I have taken all the big medicines for my depression and anxiety, panic. To be truthful, this medicine has worked for me. I had issues with a lot of things - getting mad, wanting to argue all the time, and just could not deal with feeling that way. I have always had a great outlook on life, even if life was horrific. Since I have been on this medicine, it has helped me. Yes, the medicine makes you want to sleep more, and sometimes you feel groggy. But I noticed that if I start taking it in the evening and close to bedtime, it works best. Just don't take it when you wake up or in the afternoon because it will make you drowsy. I would say if you have some of the problems that the rest of us do, I would say it would not hurt to try it."

• Dal...
• February 16, 2014

Hydroxyzine for Anxiety "I would like to say that I have taken all the big medicines for my depression and anxiety, panic. To be truthful, this medicine has worked for me. I had issues with a lot of things - getting mad, wanting to argue all the time, and just could not deal with feeling that way. I have always had a great outlook on life, even if life was horrific. Since I have been on this medicine, it has helped me. Yes, the medicine makes you want to sleep more, and sometimes you feel groggy. But I noticed that if I start taking it in the evening and close to bedtime, it works best. Just don't take it when you wake up or in the afternoon because it will make you drowsy. I would say if you have some of the problems that the rest of us do, I would say it would not hurt to try it."

• Yik...
• July 3, 2021

For Sedation "My psychiatrist prescribed me 25 mg of hydroxyzine every night before bed to help with my insomnia. I took it one time about a month ago and woke up feeling tired and sick. I took a nap about an hour after waking up and felt bad the whole day. I took one again last night at about 11 pm. I didn't start to feel drowsy until about 2 am, but when I did, it hit me like a truck. I slept through the night until about noon. I forced myself to get up but could barely move because of how tired my body felt. Right now, I feel dizzy with blurred vision, it's slightly hard to breathe (feels like there's a weight on my chest), and I'm still exhausted to the point that I can't function properly. Only 25mg and I'm rendered useless for about 12-15 hours and feel like garbage the rest of the day. I also have severe anxiety, and this medication makes it go through the roof because I'm not in control of my body to the point that I can't move or see properly."

• ser...
• November 20, 2019

Hydroxyzine for Sedation "My doctor prescribed me this drug Vistaril as I have trouble sleeping. I was getting around 5 hours of sleep, and with Vistaril I am now getting 3 hours. It makes you feel drowsy, but not in a good way. Falling asleep on this drug is very difficult. I wake up several times during the night, and the next morning I don’t know if I was asleep or awake during the night. I feel the side effects of this drug a whole 24 hours after taking it. The next morning after taking it for sleep, my muscles do not work properly, and I feel like I’ve lost motor function in my limbs and fingers. My brain is not comprehending information quickly, and I have a hard time typing and reading. I was out and felt like I had to be taken to the emergency because of how much anxiety I was feeling with my body feeling limp and weak. Everything about this drug affected me negatively. Didn’t help with my anxiety. Didn’t help me fall asleep. I’ve only taken this drug 3 times (not even in a row) and will not be taking it again."

• ice...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• April 17, 2016

For Sedation "I can't believe all the negative reviews! I have been on Hydroxyzine for years, and it has been the only remedy that has worked effortlessly for sleep. It calms you and makes you tired. It also helps you to sleep well - REM. It is also an antihistamine!!!! :) So two-in-one miracle for me."

• Mly...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 11, 2019

Hydroxyzine for Anxiety "I recently had anxiety trigger for me and I had a very scary panic attack that woke me from a dead sleep. My GP prescribed Atarax 10 mg form. I do not take anything regularly so I was a tad apprehensive. However, I was reading and saw that people take much higher doses on the medication, so I assumed it wasn’t going to work - wrong. It takes a little bit to get the full effect, but once it happens, I was out like a light. I also woke up a little groggy, but my day has been better than ever. I slept finally fully and didn’t have tightness of chest at work or during the day. 10mg is plenty and I didn’t have any weird dreams or side effects. I will say just having the bottle provided me calmness before I went to bed. I look forward to another night of rest."

• Ado...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 21, 2019

For Sedation "I was prescribed hydroxyzine for my anxiety/sleep. My doctor said 1-2 pills for sleep at night. I sleep well with it. I used to wake up in the middle of the night with a panicked/dissociated/confused feeling without it. But I am EXTREMELY exhausted the next day or two. That makes me not want to take it anymore since I’m an absolute zombie. I took a nap and that didn’t even help! Being this groggy makes me nervous but I’m pretty sure it’s the medicine because it happened to me before when I was previously prescribed this for sleep. Be very careful guys, start with the lowest dose and work your way up! I just can’t believe 1-2 days later I’m still exhausted. Lord give me strength ✊"

• Tda...
• December 18, 2020

For Anxiety "Doctor prescribed Hydroxyzine 25mg HCL tablets for the treatment of my general anxiety. Was recently diagnosed with severe obstructive sleep apnea and I've been having bad anxiety at night while trying to sleep with the machine. Used to have bad panic attacks but they went away a few years ago. I was a bit apprehensive to take this medication because of the bad reviews but it worked GREAT for me. Took one tablet before bed and I slept 10 hours with my CPAP machine, woke up feeling amazing. Yes, I was a little groggy in the am but not nearly as severe as other reviews. Highly recommend and I hope it works for you!"

• Pri...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 27, 2015

Hydroxyzine for Anxiety "I experienced unremittingly high anxiety for almost a year before trying this medication. Panic attacks at least every third day, sometimes more than once each day, so severe that I visited the ER at least twice a month. Xanax helped for a few days, but after that, it just made things worse and caused withdrawal even when taken less often than prescribed. Buspar did nothing at all, and Celexa barely helped. Finally, a nurse gave me a sample of this medication. It was a miracle drug. After a month anxiety-free, I was able to stop taking it and now feel great. Side effects were so mild compared to other medications I've tried that I did not even notice them. It works much better than Dramamine for nausea too, though it does make you sleepy."

• NKa...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 15, 2021

For Sedation "I came to this site to see if it’s normal to feel so crummy after taking this to sleep. While I am now 'asleep' for 8.5 hours, I am certain the sleep is not restorative. I wake feeling weird, groggy, detached and tired all day. My reflexes are slow and emotions are off. I prefer nighttime anxiety and sleeplessness to a full day of floating in the clouds. Never taking again."

• Bey...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• April 24, 2015

Hydroxyzine for Anxiety "Of the non-benzodiazepine anti-anxiety agents, Vistaril is my first choice. Vistaril separates itself from the others by rapidly inducing a pleasant & warm feeling. By comparison, things like Compazine and clonidine are much colder and more harsh in side effects. Although Vistaril is gentle & easy-going for the first hour or so, a strong drowsiness will come on by Hour #2. But overall I'd still rank it as a side-effect-free type of medicine when compared to other non-benzo anxiolytics."

• Chr...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 8, 2019

For Anxiety "I suffer from severe anxiety attacks that sometimes turn into panic attacks. I suffer from major anxiety every day of my life. It’s been debilitating. I went to the doctor and was given this to combat my anxiety & panic attacks. I took my first pill last night and after an hour, I felt very tired. I slept for 10 hours. Helped calm me down, and I slept great. Woke up feeling a bit groggy, but the anxiety is non-existent for me this morning. That NEVER happens. I was given 50 mg to take every 6 hours as needed. I’m 5’4 and 115 lbs, so I can’t imagine how groggy I’d feel taking more than one a day. I am glad I have found something that isn’t addictive as a benzodiazepine, and helps me sleep while helping my anxiety tremendously. Just be cautious and follow your doctor's orders. Just wanted to share my experience in hopes it may help someone. Stay encouraged!"

• anx...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 19, 2014

Hydroxyzine for Anxiety "I took a 25 mg dose of this medicine for the first time last night. It took about 45 minutes to an hour before it made me sleepy, although I was calmed within 15 minutes. I slept great-I usually wake up around 2 am every night, but not last night. I slept until 9:30 am, which is rare for me. I did feel like a zombie for about an hour or two after I got up, but I didn't have any panic feelings during the day. I didn't feel 100% normal, but this was a pretty good start. I'm hopeful that the sleepiness is a transient effect and that some of my other physical symptoms go completely away."

• Jil...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• May 27, 2017

Hydroxyzine for Anxiety "I've struggled with anxiety my whole life. I've tried SSRIs and benzodiazepines. The SSRIs made me sick and sluggish, and benzos are severely addicting, and I refuse to become addicted to something. Vistaril works great for me. As you take it longer, you won't be very sleepy. I take 10mg at night and only need it at night, sometimes in the day, and it lasts. I have no panic attacks, hardly ever. I went from having panic attacks daily to one every once in a while. I love this medication."

• Pea...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 18, 2020

Hydroxyzine for Anxiety "Hydroxyzine 25mg, EQU Atarax. If your doctor prescribes you Atarax for anxiety, tell them you’ve already taken it and all it does is make you sleepy. I had a hot flash within 20 min of taking it, and my chest, dead in the center, feels like someone is sitting on me. I slept for 12 hrs and at times felt like I wasn’t breathing. Yeah, maybe my anxiety did decrease because I was asleep... This is the WORST medication I’ve ever tried. I’d rather take Benadryl, at least I don’t get hot flashes with it."

• Eva...
• October 1, 2019

For Sedation "I was prescribed this 2 years ago for insomnia side effects of Zoloft, but found that while it helped me sleep, I was so drowsy for most of the morning, so I stopped. Almost 2 years later, even though I was off Zoloft, my insomnia was at its peak and I was awake every morning around 4 am. For 11 months, I was also suffering from 10-15 migraines per month with multiple auras per day. Both my doctor and neurologist tried preventative medications, but I am sensitive to most meds and did not react well. To counteract insomnia, I went back on Hydroxyzine, and wow, this stuff works wonders! I sleep so much better now, and after being on it steadily for a month, I haven't had a single migraine! I thought it was my imagination, decided to do more research, and sure enough, this is used for migraine prevention! Honestly, this is my wonder drug! I am less irritable now, getting amazing sleep, and not a migraine in 4 weeks! I will gladly put up with being tired for a few hours in the mornings."

• Eva...
• October 1, 2019

For Sedation "I was prescribed this 2 years ago for insomnia side effects of Zoloft, but found that while it helped me sleep, I was so drowsy for most of the morning, so I stopped. Almost 2 years later, even though I was off Zoloft, my insomnia was at its peak and I was awake every morning around 4 am. For 11 months, I was also suffering from 10-15 migraines per month with multiple auras per day. Both my doctor and neurologist tried preventative medications, but I am sensitive to most meds and did not react well. To counteract insomnia, I went back on Hydroxyzine, and wow, this stuff works wonders! I sleep so much better now, and after being on it steadily for a month, I haven't had a single migraine! I thought it was my imagination, decided to do more research, and sure enough, this is used for migraine prevention! Honestly, this is my wonder drug! I am less irritable now, getting amazing sleep, and not a migraine in 4 weeks! I will gladly put up with being tired for a few hours in the mornings."

• Anonymous
• July 19, 2019

Hydroxyzine for Anxiety "I love this medication!! I take it for PTSD-related sleep disturbance. It literally cured my insomnia. It works like a charm, and I only take it probably once a week now. It feels good just to have it as my security blanket though. It does make me feel a bit drowsy the next day, but it’s so worth it to not have a night when I’m up until 3 am with insane anxiety. It’s also safe for people who are in recovery! Huge plus!"

• Thi...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 2, 2019

Hydroxyzine for Anxiety "I was prescribed this for anxiety, was supposed to take it 3 times a day or as needed. I took one pill at 7:30 pm and was in bed within the hour and slept till 9:30 am the next morning. The next day, I just kept falling asleep all day! What makes me so mad is I told my doctor what worked for me, and she insisted on giving me this sedative instead. I was a stay-at-home mom to a child that was a year old at the time this was given to me, and I told her this. Knowing that she gave me a straight-up sedative that she told me to take 3 times a day and at night to help me sleep, that's not what I needed. Needless to say, I took one of these and never took another one. I have anxiety, I don't need to be in a coma, and I need something that will allow me to take care of my child. I have been on benzos for several years, and nothing has ever put me out like this did. Do not take this and expect to function, let alone take care of your kids, especially if you're at home alone. Thanks, but no thanks!"

• Thi...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 2, 2019

Hydroxyzine for Anxiety "I was prescribed this for anxiety, was supposed to take it 3 times a day or as needed. I took one pill at 7:30 pm and was in bed within the hour and slept till 9:30 am the next morning. The next day, I just kept falling asleep all day! What makes me so mad is I told my doctor what worked for me, and she insisted on giving me this sedative instead. I was a stay-at-home mom to a child that was a year old at the time this was given to me, and I told her this. Knowing that she gave me a straight-up sedative that she told me to take 3 times a day and at night to help me sleep, that's not what I needed. Needless to say, I took one of these and never took another one. I have anxiety, I don't need to be in a coma, and I need something that will allow me to take care of my child. I have been on benzos for several years, and nothing has ever put me out like this did. Do not take this and expect to function, let alone take care of your kids, especially if you're at home alone. Thanks, but no thanks!"