Misc Hydroxyzine

[polymath]

Has any of you been prescribed hydroxyzine(Atarax) for anxiety and insomnia? I suffer from both and I've become an alcoholic while trying to self-medicate these problems with beer and booze. I need at least a six-pack of beer every night to get to sleep, usually more. I also get an anxious feeling with a scary feeling of pressure on my chest every night and alcohol helps that too.

I don't want to take benzos because I'd just get addicted to them, and my doctor isn't going to prescribe them to me anyway because she knows that I have a history of drug abuse... I'm thinking of trying to get my doctor prescribe me hydroxyzine instead.

Hydroxyzine is supposed to be a sedative antihistamine, like diphenhydramine is. I can't buy diphenhydramine OTC here in Finland where I live. The only sedative antihistamine that's OTC here is cyclizine, which is only supposed to be used for motion sickness and it's embarrassing to buy it because the pharmacists know that idiot kids often use it to get a delirious high.

Why is hydroxyzine the only antihistamine that's really prescribed for anxiety? Does it act by other mechanisms in addition to blocking H1 receptors? I already take 2mg risperidone everyday to prevent psychotic episodes. Risperidone blocks DA and 5HT2A receptors and also has affinity to H1 receptors, and it actually somewhat helps me get to sleep, but not enough. Sometimes when I absolutely have to go to sleep at a certain time, I even take more risperidone than the doctor told me to, and that usually knocks me out(like Seroquel or something)... I don't want to make that a habit because large doses of antipsychotics can cause tardive dyskinesia and other motion disorders.

 

[Cface]

I was wondering about this myself. Friend of mine said it helped with benzo withdrawals as well.

Any info?

 

[Mudvayne]

my mom was perscribed it by her doctor for xanax withdrawal instead of upping her dose
she says it just knocks her out

when i've used hydroxizine it has potenated opiates for me and seemed to potenate my benzos aswell although i'm not sure. i've also used it in higher doses as a sedative to help me sleep. pretty decent med imo.

 

[amapola]

Why is hydroxyzine the only antihistamine that's really prescribed for anxiety? Does it act by other mechanisms in addition to blocking H1 receptors?

It's stronger and has acts on serotonin as well. Let me pull it up...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydroxyzine#Pharmacology
Hydroxyzine's predominant mechanism of action is as a potent H1 receptor inverse agonist (Ki = 2 nM).[15][16][17][18] Unlike most other first-generation antihistamines, it has very low affinity for the mACh receptors (Ki = >10,000 nM) and therefore does not produce any clinically significant anticholinergic effects.[16][17][18][19][20] In addition to its antihistamine activity, hydroxyzine has also been shown to act as a 5-HT2A (Ki = ~50 nM), D2 (Ki = 378 nM), and α1-adrenergic (Ki = ~300 nM ) receptor antagonist.[16][17][19] It may act on the 5-HT2C receptor as well.[citation needed] Hydroxyzine's antiserotonergic effects likely underlie its usefulness as an anxiolytic,[21][22] as other antihistamines without such properties are not effective in the treatment of anxiety.[22]

 

[polymath]

Thanks Amapola!

This was just what I was looking for... The stuff blocks same receptors as risperidone, except that it doesn't have the nasty dopamine antagonist effect that can cause extrapyramidal symptoms... I'm gonna try this med if my doctor lets me.

 

[NeighborhoodThreat]

^They most likely will. The nice thing about hydroxyzine is it is basically non-abuse-able (by itself anyway), its unscheduled and cheap.

It also has many uses besides anxiety/insomnia treatment.

 

[Skelu]

Your doctor will most likely prescribe Hydoxyzine for you. My ex doctor was very pleased when I asked her Atarax for my anxiety problems. She prescribed 1-2 25mg pills 1-3 times a day. I am from Finland too as you can see from my English skills. Those helped me to sleep but didn’t have almost any noticeable effects to my anxiety problems. I never took more than 3 pills a day and I used it only few weeks.

 

[SM420]

IMO, it's a lot like Diphenhydramine, but seems to be more efficient at relieving anxiety. On its own, it doesn't have very much recreational value. I've found that it's a decent potentiator for opioids and, well, giving just about any downer more of a "downer" effect. Could be good for coming down from other stuff. At the very least, a 50mg hydroxyzine/50mg diphenhydramine stack will chill me out.

 

[HdoubleODeezy]

ive been on hydroxyzine for 4 years for anxiety (even in combo when i was on benzos) but for great anxiety relief without benzos, a hydroxyzine and clonidine combo works almost as well as benzos for anxiety and feels somewhat like an opiate towards the beginning of treatment with the clonidine. it makes you nod.

 

[DeLee]

I have had Hydroxyzine prescribed, did not help a bit.
I prefer Promethazine if I have to choose a antihistamine. I still take Promethazine daily in combination with other meds.

Doctors (atleast here in Sweden) like to precribe Atarax as a first step in battling anxiety/depression.