Vistaril and Drowsiness: What Users Say (Page 2)

• Anonymous
• February 9, 2016

For Anxiety "I have anxiety/panic attacks. Was using Ativan, and it was great. Calmed me immediately, didn't make me drowsy or out of it, but the psychiatrist told me some people's depression gets worse. Mine didn't, but she made me switch to Vistaril, which does nothing for me. I've tried taking several at a time, and it still doesn't help. I really wish I could go back to Ativan. Hopefully, next appointment she'll let me. I cannot stand feeling like I'm having a heart attack anymore!"

• Lee...
• October 26, 2020

For Sedation "Took Vistaril once and scared to take it again. I've taken clonazepam for insomnia, and that feeling of drowsy is a gentle lull. Benadryl is like a mildly hazy pull to sleep. Within 30 minutes of taking hydroxamine, I felt like I was being forced against my will to sleep, and I couldn't help but resist, completely defeating the purpose. I want to see if it'll help, but man, that feeling was scary."

• SPI...
• July 28, 2015

For Pain "I take OxyContin 60 mg 3x a day, and Roxicodone 15 mg 4x a day for chronic back/neck pain. Sometimes I do too much walking or get severe neck pain that the pain meds don't control. I add one 25 mg Vistaril, and it enhances my pain meds' effectiveness. About 3 to 4 hours later, I become EXTREMELY drowsy and often fall asleep, not good in the middle of the afternoon! I think the occasional Ativan is almost as helpful, w/o all the sedation. Good drug, only if I can afford to be asleep."

• SPI...
• July 28, 2015

For Pain "I take OxyContin 60 mg 3x a day, and Roxicodone 15 mg 4x a day for chronic back/neck pain. Sometimes I do too much walking or get severe neck pain that the pain meds don't control. I add one 25 mg Vistaril, and it enhances my pain meds' effectiveness. About 3 to 4 hours later, I become EXTREMELY drowsy and often fall asleep, not good in the middle of the afternoon! I think the occasional Ativan is almost as helpful, w/o all the sedation. Good drug, only if I can afford to be asleep."

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

For Sedation "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."

• CJ1...
• September 7, 2017

For Anxiety "Worst medication ever. You can't function after you take it, and you feel terrible for days after. It's basically Benadryl (a sedating antihistamine). Does nothing for anxiety except make you feel weird and uncomfortable, then puts you to sleep. Another sorry excuse, poor man's anti-anxiety med. Stay away. If your doctor prescribes, they are an idiot."

• Anonymous
• June 6, 2010

For Allergic Urticaria "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."

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

For Sedation "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."

• Lei...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• December 18, 2017

For Anxiety "Vistaril is an antihistamine. It can make you drowsy if you have not taken it before. This is all that it may have in common with a real anxiety medication. It does nothing for anxiety unless you are shaking and trembling due to poison ivy or hives! Whoever got the bright idea to try to convince anyone that suffers from real anxiety to use this med for help is risking their patient's life. I take it for chronic hives and have done so for 45 years."

• Dev...
• January 11, 2011

For Anxiety "I've been using Vistaril for over a year now, went up from 25 mg once to 4 times a day. I have to take 2-3 for it to work for ONE panic attack. Considering I'm in school, this is very bad because it makes me fall asleep in school or driving on the way home. For me, this medicine is very ineffective."

• Dyl...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 16, 2014

For Anxiety "I was pretty disappointed by Vistaril. I asked my psychiatrist about it, hoping it helps in addition to the Zoloft I was taking to cure my itchiness, anxiety, sedation, and allergies. The only thing I saw improve were my allergies, and not by much. Yes, I have only been on Vistaril for 12 days, but still, I was disappointed with the results. One Benadryl and one Zyrtec a night were more helpful than this. Oh well, I guess I'll have to keep looking."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• September 26, 2017

For Anxiety "I’ve had severe anxiety my whole life but was never put on anything until about 7 months ago. I was also diagnosed with bipolar, so when I’m manic and having an extremely hard time falling asleep, this medicine works. But for my anxiety, which it was prescribed for, it doesn’t do anything except make me pass out and not want to do anything for days! It also makes me fall asleep at the drop of a dime, for example, while driving! This may work for others, but it’s definitely not the pill for me when it comes to anxiety, though for when I need to get some shut-eye, it works great!"

• rob...
• February 13, 2013

For Anxiety "It calms me down a little bit, but it makes me drowsy more than anything."

• Me-...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• September 21, 2016

For Anxiety "Good experience; have some sleepiness/sluggishness (not sure if related)?"

• kni...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 21, 2013

For Anxiety "Worked while I was inpatient, but wasn't offered it once I left. Did make me groggy, but helped take the focus off the physical symptoms of anxiety."

• Pea...
• September 28, 2015

For Anxiety "Well, I started this medication at 50 mg, 4 times daily as needed. The only time I noticed that it helped or worked was the first time I took it. All it does is sedate me extremely."