Opioids Potentiation Potential of Cetirizine

[Eagleman]

Can anyone give me some good insight on Cetirizine Hydrochloride? My opiate tolerance is quite low since breaking my dependency on heroin some months ago. I can get pretty blasted off 30 mg of hydrocodone, and on the occasions I do take the hydrocodone (the most readily accessible opiate to me right now), I like to top it off with a couple Hydroxyzine capsules.
I am out of Hydrox, I have Benadryl but I hate diph for potentiation. I found a full bottle of 10 mg Cetirizine tablets while cleaning out my seldom-used third floor bathroom. I had no idea they were there, and I couldn't find many concise reports about this drug...therefore I am ignorant.
I plan on dosing up some hydrocodones tonight, and hopefully potentiate it with the 'cet tabs. Can anyone give me some anecdotal advice? I know Cetirizine is similar to Hydroxyzine, but can it match the power of Hydrox?

 

[Vaya]

I don't think so; cetirizine is a readily-availalbe OTC antihistamine here in America; hydroxyzine is a prescription-only, first generation antihistamine with a lot of different properties that can enhance downer drugs (anxiolysis, analgesia, sedative, hypnotic, tranquilizer).

From the Wikipedia entry for 'hydroxyzine,' too:

"The second-generation antihistamine cetirizine is in fact one of the metabolites of hydroxyzine produced in the human body, therefore having a narrower spectrum of effects, making it an effective antihistamine but removing some or all of the anxiolytic and analgesic-sparing properties."

Hydroxyzine and Promethazine will always be the only two I'll ever use; I agree with you about benadryl and using cetirizine would likely be no better.

~ vaya