Hydroxyzine Dosage

Medically reviewed on March 23, 2017.

Usual Adult Dose for Anxiety

-Oral: 50 to 100 mg 4 times a day
-IM: 50 to 100 mg immediately, then every 4 to 6 hours as needed

Uses:
-Oral: Provides symptomatic relief of anxiety and tension associated with psychoneurosis; an adjunct treatment in organic disease states in which anxiety is manifested.
-IM: Treatment for psychiatric and emotional emergencies, including acute alcoholism.

Usual Adult Dose for Pruritus

Oral: 25 mg 3 or 4 times a day

Use: Management of pruritus due to allergic conditions such as chronic urticaria and atopic and contact dermatoses, and in histamine-mediated pruritus.

Usual Adult Dose for Sedation

-Oral: 50 to 100 mg orally
-IM: 25 to 100 mg

Uses:
-Oral: As a sedative when used as premedication and following general anesthesia.
-IM: Pre- and postoperative and pre- and postpartum adjunctive treatment.

Usual Adult Dose for Nausea/Vomiting

IM: 25 to 100 mg

Use: Treatment of nausea and vomiting, excluding nausea and vomiting of pregnancy.

Usual Pediatric Dose for Sedation

-Oral: 0.6 mg/kg
-IM: 0.5 mg/lb of body weight

Uses:
-Oral: As a sedative when used as premedication and following general anesthesia.
-IM: Pre- and postoperative adjunctive treatment.

Usual Pediatric Dose for Anxiety

Under Age 6:
Oral: 50 mg/day in divided doses

Age 6 and Over:
Oral: 50 to 100 mg per day in divided doses

Uses:
-Provides symptomatic relief of anxiety and tension associated with psychoneurosis; an adjunct treatment in organic disease states in which anxiety is manifested.
-Management of pruritus due to allergic conditions such as chronic urticaria and atopic and contact dermatoses, and in histamine-mediated pruritus.

Usual Pediatric Dose for Pruritus

Under Age 6:
Oral: 50 mg/day in divided doses

Age 6 and Over:
Oral: 50 to 100 mg per day in divided doses

Uses:
-Provides symptomatic relief of anxiety and tension associated with psychoneurosis; an adjunct treatment in organic disease states in which anxiety is manifested.
-Management of pruritus due to allergic conditions such as chronic urticaria and atopic and contact dermatoses, and in histamine-mediated pruritus.

Usual Pediatric Dose for Nausea/Vomiting

IM: 0.5 mg/lb of body weight

Use: Treatment of nausea and vomiting.

Renal Dose Adjustments

Data not available

Liver Dose Adjustments

Data not available

Precautions

Consult WARNINGS section.

Dialysis

Data not available

Other Comments

Administration Advice:
-Use at the lowest effective dose and for the shortest possible duration.
-Adjust dosage according to the patient's response to therapy.
-If initiating treatment by the IM route, administer subsequent doses orally whenever practical.
-Vigorously shake the oral suspension product until it is completely resuspended prior to use.

Storage Requirements:
-Consult the manufacturer product information as storage requirements vary based on drug formulation.

General:
-This drug should not be used as the sole treatment of psychosis or of clearly demonstrated depression.
-This drug has demonstrated primary skeletal muscle relaxation and antispasmodic properties experimentally.
-This drug is unrelated chemically to benzodiazepines, phenothiazines, reserpine, and meprobamate.
-This drug has been reported to be incompatible with aminophylline, benzylpenicillin salts, chloramphenicol sodium succinate, dimenhydrinate, doxorubicin hydrochloride (in a liposomal formulation), thioridazine, and some soluble barbiturates.
-Overdosage: There is no specific antidote; the manufacturer product information should be consulted for treatment options.

Patient Advice:
-This drug may cause side effects such as drowsiness that can affect your ability to perform certain tasks; avoid driving and activities such as operating machinery until you know how this drug affects you.
-Do not drink alcohol while taking this drug.

Further information

Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.

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