Hydroxyzine Dosage

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Mar 14, 2022.

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.

Frequently asked questions

• Can hydroxyzine be taken long-term?
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Further information

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

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