Hydroxyzine Dosage
Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Mar 13, 2020.
Applies to the following strengths: hydrochloride 25 mg/mL; hydrochloride 50 mg/mL; hydrochloride 10 mg/5 mL; hydrochloride 10 mg; hydrochloride 25 mg; hydrochloride 50 mg; hydrochloride 100 mg; pamoate 25 mg; pamoate 50 mg; pamoate 100 mg; pamoate 25 mg/5 mL; hydrochloride; pamoate
Usual Adult Dose for:
Usual Pediatric Dose for:
Additional dosage information:
Usual Adult Dose for Anxiety
Oral: 50 to 100 mg orally 4 times a day
Parenteral: 50 to 100 mg IM immediately, then every 4 to 6 hours as needed
Comments:
-Use should be periodically reassessed.
-Treatment for longer than 4 months have not been assessed in clinical studies.
Uses:
Oral:
-As an adjunct in organic disease states in which anxiety is manifested
-Symptomatic relief of anxiety and tension associated with psychoneurosis
Parenteral:
-Adjunctive treatment in alcoholism
-Allay associated anxiety and apprehension attendant to certain types of heart disease
-Alleviating anxiety and tension in acute emotional problems or in the preparation for dental procedures
-As pre-/postoperative and pre-/postpartum adjunctive medication to allay anxiety
-Management of anxiety associated with allergic conditions with strong emotional overlay (e.g., asthma, chronic urticaria, pruritus)
-Management of anxiety associated with organic disturbances
-Treatment of patients who are acutely/chronically alcoholic with anxiety withdrawal symptoms or delirium tremens
-Treatment of patients who are acutely disturbed or hysterical
Usual Adult Dose for Atopic Dermatitis
Oral: 25 mg orally 3 to 4 times a day
Use: Management of pruritus due to histamine-mediated pruritus and allergic conditions (e.g., atopic/contact dermatoses, chronic urticaria)
Usual Adult Dose for Pruritus
Oral: 25 mg orally 3 to 4 times a day
Use: Management of pruritus due to histamine-mediated pruritus and allergic conditions (e.g., atopic/contact dermatoses, chronic urticaria)
Usual Adult Dose for Urticaria
Oral: 25 mg orally 3 to 4 times a day
Use: Management of pruritus due to histamine-mediated pruritus and allergic conditions (e.g., atopic/contact dermatoses, chronic urticaria)
Usual Adult Dose for Sedation
Oral: 50 to 100 mg orally ONCE
Parenteral: 25 to 100 mg IM ONCE
Comment: This drug may potentiate barbiturates and/or meperidine.
Uses:
Oral:
-As a sedative when used as premedication or following general anesthesia
-Pre-anesthetic adjunctive treatment
Parenteral:
-Pre-/postoperative adjunctive medication to permit reduction in narcotic dosage
-Pre-/postpartum adjunctive therapy to permit reduction in narcotic dosage
Usual Adult Dose for Nausea/Vomiting
Parenteral: 25 to 100 mg IM ONCE
Uses:
-Control of nausea and vomiting, excluding nausea and vomiting of pregnancy
-Pre-/postoperative adjunctive medication to control emesis
-Pre-/postpartum adjunctive medication to control emesis
Usual Pediatric Dose for Sedation
Children:
Oral: 0.6 mg/kg orally ONCE
Parenteral: 1.1 mg/kg IM ONCE
Uses:
Oral:
-As a sedative when used as premedication or following general anesthesia
-Pre-anesthetic adjunctive treatment
Parenteral:
-Pre-/postoperative adjunctive medication to permit reduction in narcotic dosage
-Pre-/postpartum adjunctive therapy to permit reduction in narcotic dosage
Usual Pediatric Dose for Anxiety
Children:
-Under 6 years: 50 mg orally per day, given in divided doses
-Over 6 years: 50 to 100 mg orally per day, given in divided doses
Uses:
-Allay associated anxiety and apprehension attendant to certain types of heart disease
-Alleviating anxiety and tension in acute emotional problems or in the preparation for dental procedures
-As pre-/postoperative and pre-/postpartum adjunctive medication to allay anxiety
-Management of anxiety associated with allergic conditions with strong emotional overlay (e.g., asthma, chronic urticaria, pruritus)
-Management of anxiety associated with organic disturbances
-Management of pruritus due to histamine-mediated pruritus and allergic conditions (e.g., atopic/contact dermatoses, chronic urticaria)
-Treatment of patients who are acutely disturbed or hysterical
Usual Pediatric Dose for Atopic Dermatitis
Children:
-Under 6 years: 50 mg orally per day, given in divided doses
-Over 6 years: 50 to 100 mg orally per day, given in divided doses
Uses:
-Allay associated anxiety and apprehension attendant to certain types of heart disease
-Alleviating anxiety and tension in acute emotional problems or in the preparation for dental procedures
-As pre-/postoperative and pre-/postpartum adjunctive medication to allay anxiety
-Management of anxiety associated with allergic conditions with strong emotional overlay (e.g., asthma, chronic urticaria, pruritus)
-Management of anxiety associated with organic disturbances
-Management of pruritus due to histamine-mediated pruritus and allergic conditions (e.g., atopic/contact dermatoses, chronic urticaria)
-Treatment of patients who are acutely disturbed or hysterical
Usual Pediatric Dose for Pruritus
Children:
-Under 6 years: 50 mg orally per day, given in divided doses
-Over 6 years: 50 to 100 mg orally per day, given in divided doses
Uses:
-Allay associated anxiety and apprehension attendant to certain types of heart disease
-Alleviating anxiety and tension in acute emotional problems or in the preparation for dental procedures
-As pre-/postoperative and pre-/postpartum adjunctive medication to allay anxiety
-Management of anxiety associated with allergic conditions with strong emotional overlay (e.g., asthma, chronic urticaria, pruritus)
-Management of anxiety associated with organic disturbances
-Management of pruritus due to histamine-mediated pruritus and allergic conditions (e.g., atopic/contact dermatoses, chronic urticaria)
-Treatment of patients who are acutely disturbed or hysterical
Usual Pediatric Dose for Urticaria
Children:
-Under 6 years: 50 mg orally per day, given in divided doses
-Over 6 years: 50 to 100 mg orally per day, given in divided doses
Uses:
-Allay associated anxiety and apprehension attendant to certain types of heart disease
-Alleviating anxiety and tension in acute emotional problems or in the preparation for dental procedures
-As pre-/postoperative and pre-/postpartum adjunctive medication to allay anxiety
-Management of anxiety associated with allergic conditions with strong emotional overlay (e.g., asthma, chronic urticaria, pruritus)
-Management of anxiety associated with organic disturbances
-Management of pruritus due to histamine-mediated pruritus and allergic conditions (e.g., atopic/contact dermatoses, chronic urticaria)
-Treatment of patients who are acutely disturbed or hysterical
Usual Pediatric Dose for Nausea/Vomiting
Children:
Parenteral: 1.1 mg/kg IM ONCE
Uses:
-Control of nausea and vomiting, excluding nausea and vomiting of pregnancy
-Pre-/postoperative adjunctive medication to control emesis
Renal Dose Adjustments
Data not available
Liver Dose Adjustments
Data not available
Precautions
CONTRAINDICATIONS:
-Hypersensitivity to the active component or to any of the ingredients
-In early pregnancy
-Patients with a prolonged QT interval
-Parenteral formulations: Intraarterial, IV, or subcutaneous administration
Consult WARNINGS section for additional precautions.
Dialysis
Data not available
Other Comments
Administration Advice:
-Tablets should be taken with enough water.
-This drug may be taken without regard to food.
-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.
Storage Requirements:
The manufacturer product information should be consulted.
IV compatibility:
-Incompatible: Aminophylline, benzylpenicillin salts, chloramphenicol sodium succinate, dimenhydrinate, doxorubicin hydrochloride (in a liposomal formulation), thioridazine, and some soluble barbiturates
General:
-This drug has demonstrated primary skeletal muscle relaxation and antispasmodic properties experimentally.
-This drug is not chemically related to benzodiazepines, phenothiazines, reserpine, or meprobamate.
Patient Advice:
-Inform patients that this drug may cause drowsiness, and they should avoid driving or operating machinery if these side effects occur.
-Patients should be instructed to avoid drinking alcohol while taking this drug.
-Patients should be advised to avoid changing the dose without consulting with their healthcare provider.
-Advise patients to speak to their healthcare provider if they become pregnant, intend to become pregnant, or are breastfeeding.
Further information
Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.
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- Drug class: antihistamines
Consumer resources
- Hydroxyzine
- Hydroxyzine Capsules and Tablets
- Hydroxyzine Injection
- Hydroxyzine Syrup
- Hydroxyzine (Advanced Reading)
- Hydroxyzine Intramuscular (Advanced Reading)
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