Hydroxyzine for Anxiety User Reviews (Page 5)

• 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."

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

Vistaril (hydroxyzine) "This stuff is like an OTC version of Benadryl (it's an antihistamine). It has been helping me wean off of the Klonopin I've been taking to help me sleep for the last 2 years. This stuff takes almost an hour to kick in, but when it does, it almost always kills my anxiety at times when benzos didn't. If you're gonna take it for sleep, take it at least an hour before you plan on going to bed and make sure you have 8 to 9 hours to sleep because it will knock you out. Grogginess is its biggest negative, along with tolerance building up fast, so I try to take every other day if I can, though it's non-addictive and safe to take regularly at least far safer than a benzo."

• Mandy
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 29, 2016

"Due to family illnesses, family addictions, and marital problems, I had been having severe anxiety and panic attacks that seemed to be getting worse. I was having difficulty sleeping at night. I was prescribed 50mg of Hydroxyzine up to 3 times a day as needed for anxiety. After about 10 minutes of taking my first dose, it was as if someone snapped their fingers and the weight of the world was finally lifted off my chest, and I could breathe. This really helped melt away my anxiety. I didn't feel numb or drugged, but I felt relaxed. It was like a heavy and grounded feeling. I did sleep a lot the first two days I took it, but I feel like that was due to my body finally getting to catch up on some much-needed rest. I feel like I have my life back :)"

• Kid...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• September 27, 2015

Vistaril (hydroxyzine) "I suffer from Anxiety, Depression, and Alcoholism (in recovery). I've been using Vistaril at 50 mg, three times per day for about 6 months now. I find it works well in combination with Neurontin (Gabapentin). I like that the drug is non-addictive and available as a generic with little cost. I get a stuffy nose intermittently, which I believe to be a side effect of Vistaril, but the benefit outweighs this minor side effect. I would recommend trying this drug if you suffer from anxiety. It works very well for me."

• Sketc...
• February 1, 2017

Vistaril (hydroxyzine) "I have been on Vistaril for a little over a week now, and I have to say that it has been an overall therapeutic and positive experience. I was on Lexapro (escitalopram) for almost 3 months and found that the medicine would make me pretty anxious, though it did level me out during a very rocky time in my life. I chose to start taking Vistaril since Lexapro wasn't effective in the ways I wanted. Now on 50mg to 100mg a day, I can say that it is easier to be focused on things that I really care about. I can usually notice the subtle change in my body when it stops working (primarily in my stomach), and I'll pop another one to stay pretty level as long as it is in my system."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 5, 2024

"So about 3 years ago, my doctor prescribed me to use Hydroxyzine for my panic attacks. All of these comments made me so nervous that I decided to not try it. Now, I have been taking it since January 2024 along with Lexapro. Boy, do I regret waiting for so long to try this. I know it’s different for many people. But, this has really been life-saving for me! I get the full effect of it within an hour. Yes, it makes you sleepy, but I'd rather be sleepy than have a panic attack out in public. I am on 25mg and I can take it up to 3 times a day if needed. Please, don’t let the negative comments scare you. Just try it out for yourself, and if you don’t like it, there are plenty more medications out there that will help you."

• TheVi...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• January 19, 2017

Vistaril (hydroxyzine) "I deal with extreme anxiety in a lot of different scenarios, likely arising out of autism. I'm on about 75 mg a day, and I cannot say I have side effects, other than waking up with a pounding heart for a few hours if I drink too heavily. I have had such good effects from the drug to the point where I can actually see major differences in how I interact with people and events and almost see a difference in my personality (for the better) over the past several years. I have recommended Vistaril to several people."

• donew...
• February 9, 2015

Atarax (hydroxyzine) "I was on Cymbalta 90mg and had to stop cold turkey... thank goodness for my Atarax. I am having severe withdrawals and I take 50mg up to 4 times a day. I also use this for my anxiety. I was addicted to Klonopin so I am thankful for this non-addictive Atarax."

• Zozo
• October 18, 2019

"I take 25 mg hydroxyzine once a day for anxiety, and it helped me a lot! I do not have anything bad to say about this medication. I've been dealing with my mom's death, and this medication has helped me out a lot!"

• Anxiety...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 26, 2019

Vistaril (hydroxyzine) "The worst experience of my life! Took one 25mg Vistaril and had the worst panic attack of my life and had harmful thoughts! Never would recommend this drug to anyone. I couldn't breathe, stop crying, and kept having suicidal thoughts like thoroughly hated myself and wanted to slit my throat. It's the day after I took it, and I feel very depressed, I have a horrible headache, and it's hard for me to breathe. I have never cried so hard in my life, and I'm hyperventilating that horribly until I took that stupid medication. On top of it, it didn't even work for allergies or sedation like it's supposed to. I would have voted it 0 out of 10, but the lowest it goes is 1 and a hyperventilating that horribly, until I took that stupid medication. It didn't even work for allergies or sedation like it's supposed to. You're better off just taking Benadryl, an antihistamine."

• Macke...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 18, 2019

Vistaril (hydroxyzine) "I have severe anxiety. My first psychiatrist prescribed this to me for anxiety. It did not help but did make me sleep. Now I am going to a new psychiatrist, and he is insisting I try it again! So now I am back on it. The only way it helps relieve anxiety is by knocking you out to sleep! Sure, I’m not anxious when I'm sleeping, but I can’t sleep 24/7!"

• BreeKG
• May 8, 2014

Vistaril (hydroxyzine) "My experience with it. The medicine works great for itch relief (pruritus) and anxiety. I have Graves' Disease, this was to treat anxiety temporarily after a thyroid storm. The problem I had with it was it made me too drowsy to function normally. I stayed tired and experienced grumpiness and lack of patience. I've taken Xanax and Elavil before and definitely was able to work and socialize normally, unlike with this medicine. There is no way I can take it every four to six hours and function throughout the day. I've never been one to tolerate antihistamines very well, I get the shakes, etc., and experienced the same with Vistaril. All that aside, at night, it did help me sleep and ease the anxiety as it's supposed to."

• Relief
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 3, 2021

Vistaril (hydroxyzine) "I was on 3 mg Xanax for 8 years and weaned off. My anxiety returned and it was a horror show. I trembled all night long, I vomited twice from anxiety, my mind started thinking suicidal thoughts, as if my mind was searching for relief. Words cannot describe how horrible it was. I was absolutely determined to get back on Xanax because what I was experiencing was simply intolerable. My doctor prescribed this and I was certain it wouldn’t work. The first day I felt jittery and cold. The second day I woke up and didn’t want to vomit. I thought it was too good to be true. There is no way an antihistamine could help my anxiety. However, it is working. I feel great, I’m focused, confident, calm, alert, sleep well. It’s so weird, zero anxiety and clear as a bell. Thank God for this."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• May 20, 2024

"A miracle medication for me. Ever since menopause, I get anxiety attacks from things that never used to bother me. Like too much light, being too warm, too many people, noise, etc. Another issue would be thinking too much, which after taking just 20 mg stops that unproductive activity in ten minutes so that you can get productive! It’s helped me so much with feeling calmer and stops me from overthinking, gets me on with life!"

• Tink
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• August 17, 2018

Vistaril (hydroxyzine) "I’ve taken this medication on and off. I take it whenever I feel overwhelmed and I’m filled with anxiety. This medication helps me relax my mind. It’s also good when I can’t sleep at night. My doctor had told me to try it, and I have a lot of allergies to medication, so this medication has helped me with a lot of different uses: allergies, anxiety, and sedation. So I’m gonna say 10 out of 10. I recommend."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• February 17, 2024

"Hydroxyzine simply made the crazy feeling of anxiety, going round and round with to-do's at night, disappear so I sleep peacefully and wake up refreshed and optimistic. No side effects, gentle and kind."

• Anonymous
• July 11, 2019

Vistaril (hydroxyzine) "This is really not a drug for people with serious, long-term issues with anxiety. But it's also the lowest-risk prescription a doctor can write, so expect to get this as a first-line treatment in lieu of any personalized care. I have taken Vistaril on and off for nearly 10 years, and while it does help in some specific circumstances, it's just not a particularly effective drug. It basically produces a mild sedative effect that can take some of the edge off of background anxiety. If you take it on a daily basis, expect the benefits to fade somewhat. Increasing the dosage just makes you more drowsy and the side effects worse. If you can identify in advance circumstances that make your anxiety worse, taking a Vistaril before that can help alleviate things a bit. This drug will not stop or even really affect an imminent anxiety or panic attack, and even at its most effective, it won't help with many of the side effects of anxiety (rapid heartbeat, trembling, numbness, etc.)."

• Details
• August 10, 2019

Atarax (hydroxyzine) "I’ve been taking Atarax for anxiety after my doctor took me off Klonopin. It is a hard battle I have with myself now, I am getting more panic attacks now, but not as strong because of Atarax. It’s still hard, especially when my panic attacks come at night now."

• Helpi...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 29, 2024

"It does help, but the drowsiness is a major downside. My partner, who also takes it for their anxiety, and I have a joke about the logic behind the drug - 'Can't be anxious if you're asleep!' Even when I take it early in the day with food and caffeine, by evening I'm out like a light. That being said, it works pretty well. If I'm already full anxiety attack, then it seems to stop quicker than just waiting it out. And if I catch anxiety early, it definitely calms things."

• Milmil
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 24, 2020

"Was prescribed hydroxyzine as an alternative to Xanax for anxiety. In my experience, it doesn’t help with an anxiety attack that’s already in progress, however, it does help with stopping that on-the-edge feeling that anxiety gives, especially at night (where my anxiety is the highest). However, prepare to be very tired and wanting to sleep. I haven’t had any dreams or anything similar that others have referenced. It also really does help with allergies and especially itchiness that I get when at the gym."

• rose
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 5, 2019

"I have been on this for 6 months now, and I take two 25 mg capsules twice daily-once upon awakening and one before bedtime. I read others' reviews, and I can't relate. It doesn't make me sleepy, I've had no adverse effects. I don't feel any different outside of not being so 'paranoid' and just more like my normal self. Frankly, it's a Godsend."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 19, 2012

Atarax (hydroxyzine) "Developed a flaky skin rash and went to see my OBGYN about it. It became a vicious circle: scratch, then it would flake, which made me scratch even more, etc. He took several samples and said it was not a rash but dermatitis caused by anxiety. So, he prescribed Atarax and told me to take half a pill each day for a month. I didn't even realize I was suffering from anxiety until he mentioned it. So, I have been taking it when I feel anxious (about halfway through my menstrual cycle) and it has helped. No side effects so far and I feel better, like taking the edge off and calming me down."

• blott...
• March 20, 2010

Vistaril (hydroxyzine) "I have Chronic Anxiety associated with PTSD and chronic panic attacks. I was given this for about 4 months with no effect on my panic whatsoever. I had a doctor that was dead set against Benzodiazepines and she later put me on BuSpar for 8 months, which was also worthless. I have switched doctors and am currently on 0.5 mg of Xanax 2 times a day, and it takes care of all my symptoms."

• Kari
• August 25, 2019

"My MD prescribed hydroxyzine for anxiety. I got night sweats, dizziness, headaches... and more. I was taking it for 2 months. It made my anxiety worse, so I stopped it totally. Be careful with this med, try not to take it. I am feeling really good now and spent time going out to social worlds again. I wish everyone the best. You are stronger than you think."