Hydroxyzine for Anxiety User Reviews (Page 4)

• Anxie...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 16, 2014

Atarax (hydroxyzine) "This medicine does what it's supposed to do. A 50mg capsule usually is enough to dispel panic attacks and return me to baseline. I don't take any more because I can't deal with the drowsiness during the day and I take something else for sleeping at night. No benzodiazepine-like euphoria, just simple no-frills relief."

• CherOT
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 20, 2020

"I took a very low dose of hydroxyzine for anxiety before bed twice. It sedated me so much. But I woke up with tension, anxiety, and rebound adrenaline rush all day. Ended up in the ER the first morning after not realizing it was effects from the drug. Be careful, everyone reacts differently."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• May 16, 2012

Vistaril (hydroxyzine) "I have generalized anxiety disorder. I had only been on Buspar before and it gave me horrible side effects. What I find with Vistaril is that it takes the edge off my anxiety, which means I can actually relax now. Sometimes the anxiety is not as chronic when I'm on it. I can handle high-stress situations better now, too, because the medicine makes it manageable and diminishes the physical symptoms of anxiety. It's been especially helpful in combination with therapy. And no side effects! Although it's not as effective when I start to feel panic symptoms, it has kept me from having full-blown panic attacks on multiple occasions."

• Steve...
• February 6, 2015

Vistaril (hydroxyzine) "I'm glad I was prescribed Vistaril. It relieves anxiety quickly without all the downsides of Klonopin or Xanax. The drowsiness is more pronounced, but I'll take it over a panic attack. This seems like a good medicine to take as needed. Be careful driving, and remember to rely on natural coping skills as well. To the people experiencing an abnormal amount of drowsiness or nausea, just remember it's temporary. It was totally effective for me, and my anxiety is moderate."

• Chris...
• November 7, 2013

Vistaril (hydroxyzine) "I have been taking 25 mg of Vistaril once per day for about the past month. I take it at night. I have depression and anxiety pretty bad with the anxiety being the stronger of the two issues. I can't handle stress very well at all either. I am taking 40 mg of Prozac a day also. The Vistaril at first made me drowsy and lethargic. It took me about a week to adjust. Now I feel much better. I can sleep at night and feel decent when I wake up. It's not perfect but I am not getting any side effects and it's improved my life. I would recommend trying it but I would only take at night and do not drive after taking it until you get used to it."

• Anonymous
• October 12, 2011

Vistaril (hydroxyzine) "I have moderate to severe anxiety associated with a very unhealthy self-esteem. It is a terrible thing because I am generally a very rational person. As a result, I have extreme difficulty telling someone how I feel and of hurting another person's feelings. (I would never want another person to suffer the way I do). My symptoms usually begin with increased heart rate, difficulty breathing, nausea and pain in the chest/throat area, hyperventilation which will sometimes throw me into panic mode and extreme negative thinking that I am unable to deviate from. I was prescribed Vistaril 25mg up to 4 times daily as needed. I have found it very effective so far for immediate relief but it does cause drowsiness."

• Radio...
• June 2, 2014

Vistaril (hydroxyzine) "I was prescribed Vistaril for bad panic attacks, as needed. I was put on Celexa, and less than an hour after taking it, I felt extreme fear and had the worst panic attack I've ever experienced. I called my doctor immediately and was told to go ahead and take the Vistaril. It calmed me down in less than 15 minutes. It did, however, make me so drowsy that I found it impossible to stay awake. Thank goodness I have it on hand for my next attempt with Wellbutrin."

• ok42day
• December 6, 2010

Atarax (hydroxyzine) "The problem was sleep deprivation, and my physician suggested Atarax and explained that sleeping is when the body restores itself, making it vitally important to get a good night of sleep. I take one pill in the evening and sleep soundly, and for now, this is the right solution."

• Storken
• October 19, 2013

Atarax (hydroxyzine) "I have general anxiety disorder and I'm prone to panic attacks. Being afraid of benzo and its addictiveness, I got this prescribed. So far, it has worked great if I take 2 pills at once, and the effect lasts for about 10 hours. I haven't really felt the hangover part people talk about, nor have I experienced headaches. The only thing I really have to complain about is that the breathing can get almost too relaxed at times, so when I fall asleep I wake up with a shortness of breath, as if my lungs forgot to inhale. It's no big deal though, happens maybe 3 times a night and it wakes me up. And I guess it would be nice to have a pill that takes away anxiety but doesn't make you tired (I sleep like a baby after 30 minutes after taking Atarax)"

• BJBD
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 29, 2015

Vistaril (hydroxyzine) "This med is a double-edged sword. My Dr. prescribed Vistaril for my anxiety. It took 3 weeks to wean off Clonazepam—never stop cold turkey. By the 3rd week, I was only on Vistaril. At 4 weeks, the Vistaril was working better than anything I have EVER taken for acute anxiety. I was truly amazed and happy. So why did I only give it a 5 rating? A DRAMATIC increase in appetite and an even more DRAMATIC weight gain. 13 pounds in one month. As good as Vistaril works, I am going to have to go off of it. In 15 years, I have gained no weight and I have not experienced hunger like this in my life. So, I will wean off, then work like crazy to shed this weight...not looking forward to that. I am sad :("

• honest
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• February 13, 2014

Vistaril (hydroxyzine) "I suffer from anxiety, major depression & insomnia. I'm taking Vistaril for the anxiety. I'm on 50mg 4 times a day. When reading, most of you said it made you pretty sleepy... I feel normal for the first time in 40 years, like maybe I can have a life now. My experience so far has been a great one :o) I DON'T GET drowsy at all. LIKE I SAID, THIS IS THE FIRST TIME IN MY LIFE I FEEL 100% NORMAL... I take two Seroquel 100mg in the AM for major depression. That doesn't make me drowsy at all. When I read about Vistaril and Seroquel, people say they are drowsy and lethargic. Not ME, I feel great!!! I also take Seroquel 300mg at bedtime along with 30mg Restoril at bedtime... The only side effects I have are movements in my neck & the chills. Yep, that's it."

• Anony...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 21, 2013

Vistaril (hydroxyzine) "I have used Xanax for the past 15 years for severe anxiety and panic attacks...recently my doctor wanted me to try Vistaril instead. It does NOTHING for my symptoms...going to go back to what I know works!"

• Jessi...
• May 4, 2019

Vistaril (hydroxyzine) "For me, after taking this medication as needed for 3 days, I had no relief for my symptoms. I felt like this med intensified my panic attacks. It is just glorified Benadryl! Meditation, deep breathing exercises, and a long warm bath worked better than this garbage!"

• Tilaaa
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• August 5, 2019

"So I know everyone's body is different, some meds work for others and some don't. But I will say this medication really does help me. Anytime I'm feeling anxious or having a panic attack, I will take one, and even though it takes a while to kick in, it really does help. I'm also prescribed clonazepam, and I take that with it, and that really helps. But on the days that I don't take the clonazepam, the hydroxyzine makes me feel really drowsy, really relaxed. It like removes all the tension and the nervousness and the anxiousness from my body. I hope that this helps."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 16, 2017

Vistaril (hydroxyzine) "Let me start with the obvious disclaimer: everyone is different, and your mileage may vary. Also, always follow your doctor's advice. I am leaving my experience as I hope it will help others. I suffer from severe anxiety, not the mild kind of anxiety. For the last month, I have been having as many as 3-4 panic attacks a day. When I was prescribed this, I was very skeptical. I have been prescribed almost every medication for anxiety, including Xanax, Klonopin, and Ativan. When I first started taking 50 mg of Vistaril, I didn't feel that it was having any effect. In fact, it wasn't until after I had run out and didn't get it refilled that I noticed it had been making a sizable difference. For me, it wasn't a cure, but it was a useful tool."

• Amonzo
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• July 24, 2016

"I have been taking hydroxyzine for social phobia and chronic anxiety and panic attacks for over 7 years. It is the only med that has helped. I tried everything! Helps with sleep. Works like a Xanax and Klonopin where you take as needed. But I also take it at night for sleep. I would definitely recommend!"

• Thoug...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 29, 2016

"I have been tapering off Librium (benzo) for 6 months almost. I started at 150 mg and have worked my way down to 5 MISERABLY. I tried everything to help with withdrawal symptoms: Benadryl, vitamins, trazodone, propranolol, gabapentin, and Zoloft. NOTHING helped...until I was offered this MIRACLE. I was in a panic attack, zombie-like, disassociative state for 13 days, on Christmas, I was devastated and broken and searched for rapid detox places. I was literally ready to spend $25,000 to feel 'normal' and just get 4 hours of sleep. I called my specialist and was prescribed a 25mg pill form of hydroxyzine. I knew it wouldn't help, NOTHING helped. I took it, just one, and within ten minutes was relaxed. Slept 8 hours and now see the light! Better than Xanax!"

• JuneC...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 26, 2014

Vistaril (hydroxyzine) "I am 34, female, with marked panic attacks. I have health/doctor office anxiety. I have to say Vistaril has done wonders for me. It seemed to take a few weeks before I could really feel its effects though. I have to keep a small amount in my system before it helps with a panic attack. I can take 1-2 25 mg pills 3 times a day as needed for anxiety. I usually take half of a 25 mg pill twice a day. When I feel an attack starting, I take another 1 to 1.5 pills. It stops the attack quickly. I feel like I've got my life back somewhat, and it feels like a safety blanket. It does dry my mouth out though, and I only recommend it for marked anxiety. I do not have any depression."

• J P S
• July 9, 2015

Vistaril (hydroxyzine) "This is great for general anxiety. Calms you down fairly quickly and makes you 'zoned out', mildly sedated and definitely less anxious. Not as strong as a benzo and will not stop a panic attack, but is great for when you are feeling panicky or generally anxious. Another plus is that it is not addictive. Absolutely no withdrawal symptoms whatsoever. This DEFINITELY raises my resting pulse about 15 beats per minute and also raises diastolic blood pressure about 10 points even at a small dose. Even with these raises, mine is still within normal range, but just a word of caution."

• Staci
• September 16, 2013

Vistaril (hydroxyzine) "I was having a horrible withdrawal from Cymbalta and was determined to get off it! After my doc's only answer was to take Ativan (which made me extremely zombified). After two trips to the ER, they recommended Vistaril, and it calmed the brain zaps, disorientation, and extreme confusion. It's been a huge help!"

• JC9
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 14, 2023

Vistaril (hydroxyzine) "Was given this for anxiety during alcohol withdrawl, instead of benzos. Did NOTHING positive, no relief of anxiety, became dehydrated, sore hips, unstable gait, worst placebo possible due to the side effects. Benzodiazepines exist for a reason. If Vistaril does not offer you immediate relief, you need something else, not a higher dose which just makes things worse."

• Jack
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• January 2, 2021

"I took hydroxyzine HCl 10 mg for nighttime anxiety and insomnia for 5 years. I will say it helped me through some hard years, but came with costs. My brain is not as healthy as before, and my memory and sleep patterns are forever changed. I developed ADD-type symptoms over the 5 years. Knowing it's an antihistamine, it probably shouldn't be used as an anxiety medicine, but it has anxiolytic effects and is a mild serotonin antagonist, which boosts mood. These benefits shouldn't outweigh the costs of using an anticholinergic drug long-term, which can cause serious side effects, but providers freely prescribe it out instead of benzos all the time, due to high risks of addiction for benzos (hydrox isn't addicting for most people). Overall, I wish I had not taken it and had other options like I do now. It helped and ruined my life over the 5-year span."

• soldier...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• December 27, 2015

Vistaril (hydroxyzine) "For anyone taking this medication, do not take it with any kind of antidepressants or mood medication like Celexa, Zoloft, Tegretol, Xanax, or Abilify. Definitely do not take it with Ambien. It works wonders by itself. I've been on it since 2005, it helps with the anxiety symptoms I get from my PTSD. Anytime I feel disoriented or way too anxious where I'm throwing up, it usually takes about 30 to 40 minutes to work. But it's better than the feeling of thinking that you are having a heart attack, because it's just panic. Panic attacks can be managed many ways, I use breathing techniques (child breathing will not work, lol), meditation, and medication. This is how I deal with that small aspect of my PTSD psychosis."

• Icant...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• February 17, 2016

Vistaril (hydroxyzine) "I used to take this medication for panic attacks, and it worked absolute wonders. It took about 30 minutes to kick in but really calmed me down and it wasn't at all addictive. I later found out I have severe hereditary liver problems and it has a bad interaction with what I have to take to keep my liver in check, so I can no longer take it. With the medicines combined I just felt foggy and had to sleep for at least 15 hours if I had to take a Vistaril, I couldn't keep my eyes open and function until I'd slept it off. I'm now trying out Xanax, and I don't really like it, Vistaril kept me calm longer and was just amazing when I needed it. With Xanax the half-life is just terrible and I end up with a worse panic attack than I began with."

• CMano
• November 23, 2019

Vistaril (hydroxyzine) "My doctor prescribed this medication as needed for anxiety a few days ago. She told me to take 25 to 50 mg a day, as needed. I took 25 mg, and it was horrible. I had chest tightness, felt like I couldn't breathe. Chest pain, the pain was shooting through to my back. I thought about going to the ER. I still had anxiety yesterday, took the Vistaril the day before. Still dealing with anxiety today. I don't think I'll ever take it again. The anxiety I had before wasn't this bad. Just to let everyone know, I don't take benzos for anxiety. One of the reviews for this medication made a comment about people taking benzos, it said that's why people don't like Vistaril, because they would rather have benzos. That is not the case. This medication doesn't work well for some people. I have better results using my DARE app and meditation."