Hydroxyzine and Insomnia: What Users Say

• 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."

• cry...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• October 21, 2016

Hydroxyzine for Anxiety "I've been on this medicine for 2 years now and it continues to work well against anxiety and panic attacks. I take a 25 mg pill per day. At first, I experienced slight drowsiness and wanted to sleep a lot, but after a few days these side effects went away completely. Skipping a dose won't affect me, but after skipping several doses once I felt nervous, irritated, and had trouble sleeping. Overall, it's good and reliable."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 14, 2020

For Anxiety "I don't understand why this exists when you could just go to the drugstore and get Benadryl. It's not stronger, it's not more helpful for sleep or anxiety or anything else. It's dumb. Pointless. Waste of time. It put me to sleep. I don't want sleep, I want to be alert and calm. Specifically told the doctor. I wanted Valium, but she said 10 mg of this hydroxyzine would be a good start. It's not."

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

For Sedation "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."

• cat...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 7, 2017

For Anxiety "Have had major depressive disorder with borderline bipolar since I was 9. These last several years started to develop anxiety. Haven't been able to find medications to help with my depression, so the anxiety really just pulled everything farther down for me. Thankfully though, I have a wonderful doctor now, and whereas still having trouble finding anything to help with my depression, I have started hydroxyzine for my anxiety. I am sensitive to medication, and first tried half a 25 mg pill, which knocked me on my behind! But during the day, I take roughly 6-7 mg when needed, and it calms me enough to be able to go outside and to the store. I also have insomnia, so taking a half pill at bedtime on bad nights usually helps me sleep okay. Fully recommend!"

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

For Sedation "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 (:"

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

For Sedation "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."

• Sb0...
• December 9, 2015

For Anxiety "Started out with Zoloft only, and that helped. However, I was still experiencing racing thoughts and bad sleep. Doctor prescribed Hydroxyzine 25 mg (three times a day as needed). I take 50 mg before bed and absolutely feel wonderful the next day. I wake up early, feel great, and can get through the day. Been taking this combo for about 7 months now."

• Anonymous
• May 9, 2012

For Allergies "I was prescribed hydroxyzine by my dermatologist because I am severely allergic to insect venom. I live in Hawaii and am often bitten by a number of creepy crawlers. Even flea bites will cause me to break out and have difficulty breathing. I have found this medication very helpful in keeping me from itching and reducing the anxiety that can be caused when I have a lot of bites. I also use a steroid cream. The combination of the two has worked wonders for me and put an end to the insomnia I used to experience as a result of being so itchy at night."

• Bri...
• May 5, 2016

For Anxiety "Hydroxyzine and Benadryl saved my life! I took a trip for 4 months to Wisconsin. In the last month, I was full-blown with panic, sense of fear, insomnia, fear of being alone! I thought it must be from stress, but I was wrong! I left that state and returned to Florida, my homeland, and again the insane anxiety, and after 2 trips to the ER, I was prescribed hydroxyzine. Voila, my suicidal thoughts were gone! And now I can sense the symptoms coming, and I pop a pill of either, and I'm good. ❤"

• Kat...
• April 29, 2016

For Anxiety "I have only been taking this medicine for 3 days now, but I am extremely sensitive to medication, so I usually know quite quickly how it affects me. It makes me extremely drowsy and also makes the bottom half of my face feel slightly numb. I also feel like I am about to pass out frequently, which is not great. I hope it evens out after a while. It was prescribed to me to take the place of Xanax and to help me sleep. I was prescribed 25 mg to take 1-2 twice daily as needed. I have already cut it down to 1 once a day about an hour before I go to bed. It does help me sleep, but it makes it difficult to wake up in the morning. It also helps with my anxiety."

• Fed...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 7, 2016

For Pain "I've been on this med for 5 days now. MD put me on 50 mg along with my Oxycodone 15 mg 4x daily for severe pain in my medial scapular region. At 50 mg, all I do is sleep. I tried breaking them in half and taking 25 mg also. At 25 mg, I'm in a fog, feeling tired, sad, overall depressed basically. Overall effectiveness of this med for pain... I'd give it a zero!"

• ser...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 3, 2023

Hydroxyzine for Anxiety "No, no, no. Please don’t take Vistaril if you do not want to be addicted or have major side effects. Doctors are so quick to prescribe it to you, but it causes a lack of sleep, a short temper, and headaches. Never again! I was in a mental facility and can’t tell you how many kids are addicted to that drug, snorting the pill and getting high. I do not recommend at all. This is sad."

• mmo...
• July 20, 2015

For Allergies "My 4 1/2-year-old started taking this when he was 2 for a severe dust mite allergy. He takes the maximum dose for his weight. It does help tremendously. If he misses a dose, his skin breaks out in a rash. Unfortunately for him, it has the opposite effect than it does with most people. It causes hyperactivity and insomnia."

• sle...
• July 11, 2016

For Anxiety "I started taking this about a month ago because my anxiety gradually got so bad that I didn't sleep for a week. The first few nights it worked amazingly, but it was difficult to wake up, but then I'd be very alert and awake all day. However, my doctor told me to take it twenty minutes before bed, and I would not feel the effect until much later. I actually took my dose about 40 minutes ago, and I'm just now starting to relax."

• Nig...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• March 21, 2023

For Anxiety "Every time I’ve been prescribed this medication for anxiety, I have the worst traumatic night terrors of my life, and it makes it counterproductive for my anxiety because then I’m up, overthinking for hours. I take 50-75 mg throughout the day, and while it helps me regulate during the day, my sleep has gotten even worse. It’s even disrupting my partner because I’m kicking him, screaming, sitting up, and freaking out while being “awake” but actually not. Last night, I ran for the front door after yelling. This happened every time I take it. I don’t recommend it for those who have a history of nightmares or night terrors."

• Dis...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 29, 2021

For Allergies "I have been taking hydroxyzine for 6 days for itching from my skin condition. I also am not sleeping well because of the itchy skin, so I was prescribed this. I thought great, it will do two birds with one stone since it claims to help both problems. I took no more than 25 mg, 3 times a day. It did knock me out day 1, but only for a short time and did little for the itch. Since then, it has been causing terrible insomnia and anxiety for me. Not to mention the medicine head feeling all the time and lack of concentration. I never stop feeling groggy but can't sleep either. I have also experienced jerks or a feeling of falling while trying to sleep. And it still hasn't done much for the itch on day 6. I'm not taking this stuff anymore as of this review. Hopefully, I won't experience any withdrawal symptoms as it claims it won't, but I don't trust this stuff. I would not recommend trying this medication."

• Anonymous
• February 25, 2022

For Sedation "It works well for me, but just 10 mg. Maybe some people are taking a dose that is too high. I was prescribed for bladder spasms but find that it also helps with insomnia, which I have had all my life. I do need to take it at least an hour before going to bed."

• Jsu...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• November 7, 2017

For Sedation "Works very well, don't usually wake up feeling drugged. I sleep fairly well on it. I do wake once or twice, but also if I do wake up at night and try to go back to sleep, I see hundreds of shapes dancing around in my vision. Very strange, but all in all, no complaints and bizarre dreams now and then, nothing frightening though. I'd recommend it."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 8, 2012

For Allergic Urticaria "My itching went down some after taking 10 mg of hydroxyzine, and that's good, but now I am totally awake and will be for 36 hours or so, I can tell. That is how I react to Benadryl, but not to Allegra, which doesn't seem to affect my sleeping. The little bit of relief that I have gotten from taking it is not worth the complete loss of sleep. The prednisone I started today is working already, and I think I'll just take that plus Allegra until my rash goes away."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 8, 2012

For Allergic Urticaria "My itching went down some after taking 10 mg of hydroxyzine, and that's good, but now I am totally awake and will be for 36 hours or so, I can tell. That is how I react to Benadryl, but not to Allegra, which doesn't seem to affect my sleeping. The little bit of relief that I have gotten from taking it is not worth the complete loss of sleep. The prednisone I started today is working already, and I think I'll just take that plus Allegra until my rash goes away."

• Ano...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 16, 2017

For Anxiety "Prescribed to help me discontinue opiates, mainly for anxiety. In general, I’ve not had any results I’d say were helpful. Nothing harmful, but it hasn’t helped much with anxiety. It did seem to alleviate sneezing with opiate discontinuation, which was good. It has helped slightly with insomnia as well, but only moderately. It causes my heart to race a bit for an hour after taking it. No other effects, good or bad, though."

• Gin...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 2, 2018

For Anxiety "I was put on hydroxyzine March 26, but I didn't take it until March 28. I am also on Prozac, and they raised the dosage to 20 mg. Well, since being on hydroxyzine, I feel very dizzy throughout the whole day. I have trouble sleeping at night. Went to the ER the day before Easter because I felt so out of it. My heart was racing, my head felt so groggy. Woke up this morning and still feel out of it. Didn't take it at 2 like I was supposed to, so let's see what happens. But not being able to function or feel like I'm able to breathe properly sucks. Not taking this drug again."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• September 7, 2021

For Sedation "My PCP prescribed hydroxyzine for my insomnia, and I did, indeed, fall asleep for a VERY, VERY, VERY LONG TIME! Trying to get up in the morning after taking hydroxyzine was excruciatingly debilitating! No more! I’ll get in touch with my “off the radar prescriber” before I take hydroxyzine EVER AGAIN!"

• Nce...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• May 26, 2021

For Allergies "I was prescribed hydroxyzine for skin allergies, and the doctor said it would also help with my anxiety. I take it at nighttime. I tend to fight insomnia a lot. This definitely helps me sleep. But I’m still waking up a lot during the night. It didn’t help me stay asleep at all. As for skin allergies, it does help get rid of itchy hives. But after 8 months of regularly taking one pill at bedtime, there are some definite bad side effects. It leaves me very tired most of the next day. I can literally stay in bed most of the day when I take these. I literally don’t feel like doing anything active at all. By that evening, when it wears off, my anxiety is just terrible. And I find I’m just so hungry then as well. I’m small, I usually don’t have a very big appetite. I have gained 25 lbs taking this. I’m so disappointed and mad. I will not be using these anymore."