Hydroxyzine for Anxiety User Reviews (Page 2)

• Wynnie
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 27, 2024

Vistaril (hydroxyzine) "Look, this medicine either works for some people or doesn't. All medications are like that; it's very personal to every individual. However, I don't understand why some reviews just talk about how it made them gain weight; therefore, it's an awful drug... Many, MANY mental health (and other) medications make you gain weight. Not sure how that's relevant to their effectiveness. I'd take being 50lbs bigger any day if that meant not dealing with panic. That being said, for me, like many others, Vistaril works GREAT for anxiety. I've taken Xanax before, so I can wholeheartedly say that a 25mg pill works JUST as well, if not a little bit better than a low dose of Xanax. Even the next day, I have almost no anxiety in my body. However, like another review stated, I am in a terrible mood the day after a dose. Just something I'm gonna have to learn to work around. Honestly, if you are prescribed this, just give it a try. Those it works for, it can work wonders."

• Peaches
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 18, 2020

Atarax (hydroxyzine) "Hydroxyzine 25mg, EQ Atarax. If your dr prescribes you Atarax for anxiety, tell them you’ve already taken it and all it does is make you sleepy. I had a hot flash within 20min of taking it, and my chest, dead in the center feels like someone is sitting on me. I slept for 12hrs and at times felt like I wasn’t breathing. Yea, maybe my anxiety did decrease, because I was asleep..... This is the WORST medication I’ve ever tried. I’d rather take Benadryl, at least I don’t get hot flashes with it."

• Yates...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• October 17, 2012

Atarax (hydroxyzine) "I cold turkeyed off Xanax after 16 years of 1 mg a day. I had horrible withdrawal symptoms. At 4 months my MD (not the doctor that suggested I go cold turkey) but the one that helped me through it, put me on Atarax, 10 - 25 mg as needed up to 100 mg a day. It really made a difference in my recovery. I take it as I need, or don't take it at all. It helps with the anxiety, nausea, shaking. I have been on it for 9 months now and really recommend people try it."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• June 14, 2018

Vistaril (hydroxyzine) "It doesn't work at all for me and the doctor doesn't want to get in trouble for with the government for prescribing benzos with pain meds. The government rules everything and doctors are useless. Guess I will just have go to the streets for my meds now."

• Dale...
• February 16, 2014

Vistaril (hydroxyzine) "I would like to say that I have taken all the big medicines for my depression and anxiety, panic. To be truthful, this medicine has worked for me. I had issues with a lot of things - getting mad, wanting to argue all the time, and just could not deal with feeling that way. I have always had a great outlook on life, even if life was horrific. Since I have been on this medicine, it has helped me. Yes, the medicine makes you want to sleep more, and sometimes you feel groggy. But I noticed that if I start taking it in the evening and close to bedtime, it works best. Just don't take it when you wake up or in the afternoon because it will make you drowsy. I would say if you have some of the problems that the rest of us do, I would say it would not hurt to try it."

• Sam...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 6, 2016

Vistaril (hydroxyzine) "I have hereditary depression, bipolar type 2, PTSD, high anxiety, insomnia, and I am also breastfeeding baby #4. (I also suffer from severe postpartum depression beginning late in my pregnancies.) I have been on over 50 combinations of medications. (I caution you, readers, to be leery of reviews by those who previously took addictive medications to Vistaril, as they may have formed a biased addiction to their previous meds.) I am currently taking Prozac and Vistaril. My best medication combination when not pregnant or breastfeeding was Prozac and Doxepin. The Vistaril is helping so greatly with both my anxiety and insomnia that I am switching permanently! I can even take Vistaril if my anxiety flares, plus it is not addictive! Loving it!!!"

• Sam
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 20, 2019

Vistaril (hydroxyzine) "I have been taking 50mg of Vistaril every 4 hours for about one week. It was prescribed to me for anxiety. It has worked well and allowed me to function without panic attacks and calms me and keeps me out of fight or flight mode. Life has just been easier entirely. I have had some mild to moderate side effects, specifically a few headaches, impaired coordination, and occasional dizziness. I personally would take that over the mind-crushing anxiety. I would recommend avoiding operating a vehicle until you're comfortable with the medication and keep your water intake up."

• mixie
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 12, 2016

"I was recently diagnosed with anxiety, like 1 month ago. I really thought I was going to die. Anxiety was the worst thing that ever happened to me. It frustrated me to hear the doctors say, 'Just deep breath, you're not going to die,' like they truly didn't understand the feeling. Anxiety is the worst feeling ever. I cried for 3 days straight, constantly feeling like the air was being taken from me and just depressed. It was hard to describe the amount of emotions I felt. My doctor prescribed this medication, and to be honest, it's the best thing that ever happened to me. From now and then, I can feel my chest tightening but never as severe. I just want to let those who feel helpless know if I got through it, you can too. Be strong, you can do it."

• Tdawggg
• December 18, 2020

"Doctor prescribed Hydroxyzine 25mg HCL tablets for the treatment of my general anxiety. Was recently diagnosed with severe obstructive sleep apnea and I've been having bad anxiety at night while trying to sleep with the machine. Used to have bad panic attacks but they went away a few years ago. I was a bit apprehensive to take this medication because of the bad reviews but it worked GREAT for me. Took one tablet before bed and I slept 10 hours with my CPAP machine, woke up feeling amazing. Yes, I was a little groggy in the am but not nearly as severe as other reviews. Highly recommend and I hope it works for you!"

• anxious...
• February 28, 2020

Vistaril (hydroxyzine) "my dr prescribed me this Vistaril and I hate it. Does absolutely nothing for panic attacks. It didn’t even make me drowsy like Benadryl does. I upped the dose and nothing happened. Pretty pointless medication"

• Mlynn
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 11, 2019

Atarax (hydroxyzine) "I recently had anxiety trigger for me and I had a very scary panic attack that woke me from a dead sleep. My GP prescribed Atarax 10 mg form. I do not take anything regularly so I was a tad apprehensive. However I was reading and saw that people take much more higher doses on the medication, so I assumed it wasn’t going to work - wrong It takes a little bit to get the full effect but once it happens I was out like a light. I also woke up a little groggy, but my day has been better than ever. I slept finally fully and o didn’t have tightness of chest at work or during the day. 10mg is plenty and I didn’t have any weird dreams or side effects. I will say just having the bottle provided me calmness before I went to bed. I look forward to another night of rest."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• May 1, 2012

Vistaril (hydroxyzine) "I have been taking Vistaril for the last 6 months. I use it for anxiety and trouble sleeping. It calms me down with no side effects, and when I take it in the evening for sleep, I wake up feeling good. I've taken multiple drugs for sleep including Restoril, trazodone, and Ambien. All of those caused me to have the 'sleep hangover'. I would have trouble waking up and would spend the whole day feeling as if the medications just wouldn't leave my system. Vistaril is the best medication I've found for anxiety and sleep. It allows me to take a few lower doses during the day and a higher dose at night to sleep. Highly recommended."

• 3pcie
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 1, 2024

"Hydroxyzine is a unique anxiolytic, distinct from benzodiazepines, targeting anxiety at its source. It's more akin to atypical antipsychotics than benzodiazepines. 70% metabolizes into non-drowsy cetirizine, lacking anxiolytic effects, but the rest acts as an antagonist on serotonin 5-HT2A, dopamine D2, and α1-adrenergic receptors. The drowsy nature of the drug initially caused me to believe that hydroxyzine was 'SUPER-BENADRYL.' Yet, after combining hydroxyzine 25mg with 1/2 Nodoz (100mg caffeine), my anxiety dissolved in front of me. All the years of overthinking just stopped for a moment and I could just sit with my thoughts. I know a lot of the reviews say that this just put you to sleep, but I implore you to try the combination because it has spared me so many panic attacks. I questioned why I hadn't tried it sooner. Please give it a chance!"

• PriPre
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 27, 2015

Atarax (hydroxyzine) "I experienced unremittingly high anxiety for almost a year before trying this medication. Panic attacks at least every third day, sometimes more than once each day, so severe that I visited the ER at least twice a month. Xanax helped for a few days, but after that, it just made things worse and caused withdrawal even when taken less often than prescribed. Buspar did nothing at all, and Celexa barely helped. Finally, a nurse gave me a sample of this medication. It was a miracle drug. After a month anxiety-free, I was able to stop taking it and now feel great. Side effects were so mild compared to other medications I've tried that I did not even notice them. It works much better than Dramamine for nausea too, though it does make you sleepy."

• Beyon...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• April 24, 2015

Vistaril (hydroxyzine) "Of the non-benzodiazepine anti-anxiety agents, Vistaril is my first choice. Vistaril separates itself from the others by rapidly inducing a pleasant & warm feeling. By comparison, things like Compazine and clonidine are much colder and more harsh in side effects. Although Vistaril is gentle & easy-going for the first hour or so, a strong drowsiness will come on by Hour #2. But overall I'd still rank it as a side-effect-free type of medicine when compared to other non-benzo anxiolytics."

• Chrissy
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 8, 2019

"I suffer with severe anxiety attacks, that sometimes turn into panic attacks. I suffer with major anxiety everyday of my life. It’s been debilitating. I went to the doctor and was given this to combat my anxiety & panic attacks. I took my first pill last night and after an hour, I felt very tired. I slept for 10 hours. Helped calm me down, and I slept great. Woke up feeling a bit groggy, but the anxiety is non-existent for me this morning. That NEVER happens. I was given 50 mg. to take every 6 hours as needed. I’m 5’4 and 115 lbs, so I can’t imagine how groggy I’d feel taking more than one a day. I am glad I have found something that isn’t addictive as a benzodiazepine, and helps me sleep while helping my anxiety tremendously. Just be cautious and follow your doctors orders. Just wanted to share my experience in hopes it may help someone. Stay encouraged!"

• This...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 2, 2019

Atarax (hydroxyzine) "I was prescribed this for anxiety, was SUPPOSED to take it 3 times a day or as needed, I took ONE pill at 7:30 pm and was in bed within the hour and slept till 9:30 am the next morning and the next day I just kept falling asleep all day! What makes me so mad is I told my doctor what worked for me and she INSISTED on giving me this sedative instead I was a stay at home mom to a child that was a year old at the time this was given to me and I told her this, knowing that she gave me a straight up sedative that she told me to take 3 times a day and at night to help me sleep, thats NOT what I needed needless to say I took one of these and never took another one. I have anxiety I don't need to be in a coma and I need something that will allow me to take care of my child, I have been on benzos for several years and NOTHING has ever put me out like this did. Do NOT take this and expect to function let alone take care of your kids especially if your at home ALONE!! Thanks but no thanks!!"

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 5, 2020

Atarax (hydroxyzine) "Was prescribed 10mg Atarax tablets with directions to take 1-2 as every 6 hours as needed for anxiety and panic attacks. Taking 1 pill did nothing, so I took 2 the next time I felt anxiety creeping in. It made me very tired and dizzy, then sent me into a panic attack. I am better off not taking this medication when I feel anxiety coming on because it usually does not develop into a panic attack, let alone as worse as this one got."

• Crazy...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 22, 2013

Vistaril (hydroxyzine) "I have weaned off of Effexor 150mg and 75 mg over the past 3 weeks. I started Cymbalta 30 mg 2 days ago and was still having horrible adverse effects coming off of the Effexor. Effexor worked great for my anxiety and severe PMDD, but was making me extremely sluggish. I have also had chronic back pain for the past 7 years, and my doctor wanted to switch me to Cymbalta. Well, the transition/withdrawal has been terrible. A lot of crying and panicking for no reason, crawling skin, etc. I took one Vistaril and found it very helpful. My doctor has prescribed Vistaril 25-50 mg every 6 hours as needed. It has been a godsend to help my anxiety during this transition. It has also been very helpful for my son's anxiety as well."

• anxio...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 19, 2014

Vistaril (hydroxyzine) "I took a 25 mg dose of this medicine for the first time last night. It took about 45 minutes to an hour before it made me sleepy, although I was calmed within 15 minutes. I slept great—I usually wake up around 2 am every night, but not last night. I slept until 9:30 am, which is rare for me. I did feel like a zombie for about an hour or two after I got up, but I didn't have any panic feelings during the day. I didn't feel 100% normal, but this was a pretty good start. I'm hopeful that the sleepiness is a transient effect and that some of my other physical symptoms go completely away."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 3, 2023

"I've been struggling with GAD for about a year now. Recently, in the course of three weeks, I developed agoraphobia of leaving the house and fear of having anxiety. I haven't been able to go to work or go to the bar or even go on a walk. I'm very scared to try any new drug, I just about killed myself trying to grow the balls to take this. If your doctors prescribed you MORE THAN 10mg, do not start with that. I cut my 10mg in half, I took 5mg. A lot of people got tired from taking this. This was the absolute opposite for me. I was energized! Uplifted! Not a worry in the world! After taking this, I had a complete euphoria experience, just from 5mg. It wears off after a couple of hours. Because of this drug, I've been able to leave the house again and not live in complete fear. Don't be scared, just take it. Start off small and build up to it."

• Anxie...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• April 19, 2017

Vistaril (hydroxyzine) "Amazing. Absolutely give this a chance if you suffer from anxiety. On Prozac 20mg daily, Ativan as needed, and Vistaril. When my anxiety skyrockets and my mind races so fast I don't know what I'm thinking, Vistaril has brought my mind and anxiety to a calm state within minutes. Life-saving."

• Jilly...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• May 27, 2017

Vistaril (hydroxyzine) "I've struggled with anxiety my whole life. I've tried SSRIs and benzodiazepines. The SSRIs made me sick and sluggish, and benzos are severely addicting, and I refuse to become addicted to something. Vistaril works great for me. As you take it longer, you won't be very sleepy. I take 10mg at night and only need it at night, sometimes in the day, and it lasts. I have no panic attacks, hardly ever. I went from having panic attacks daily to one every once in a while. I love this medication."

• Bons
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 9, 2021

"I have severe GAD/OCD and honestly, this really does take the edge off enough for me to be able to reign myself in and focus. That's all I need to be able to do. It allows me to be more clear headed and rational. It's done wonders for me honestly the past few weeks. I am not looking for it to take my anxiety completely, I'm also not looking for a stronger medication/SSRI/ or something similar. So yeah, I think if you don't want to take anything like that because you react badly to it then hydroxyzine is good."

• Mbminga
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 19, 2019

Vistaril (hydroxyzine) "I was given Vistaril for severe GAD with panic attacks. Very soon after taking the first one my anxiety tripled and I began having back to back panic attacks. After a call to the doctor I was told to take a higher dose. Long story short, for whatever reason, I can not take this medication. It has the complete opposite effect on me as it should."