Hydroxyzine for Sedation User Reviews (Page 2)

• Alan
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 16, 2021

"I've had chronic insomnia for almost 5 months now and my psychiatrist prescribed me hydroxyzine, worked well for the first few days before it just stopped working for me. I started taking it and needing more just to feel a mild sedative effect until the point where it just did nothing anymore. A few weeks passed and I decided to try it again in which it worked and made me sleep easily, but once again a sort of tolerance built up again and it stopped working. Overall, it is good for short term use but not for anything chronic, don't take too much or it will make you very groggy as well."

• EmmaJ...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• September 26, 2017

Atarax (hydroxyzine) "This drug works wonders for me. Was prescribed 25 mg for anxiety and to help me sleep. I take it occasionally, when I feel anxious or worried at nighttime or just have problems falling asleep. I feel so calm, relaxed and sleepy :) Only bad thing is the hangover I get the next day. I feel like a zombie. But if I don't take it too late at night there's usually not a problem. I will need a good 10-12 hours of sleep on it though. 24 year old female"

• Alexa...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• August 23, 2015

Atarax (hydroxyzine) "Hydroxyzine is an oldie; but a keeper. It is more powerful than it's younger brother Zyrtec and lasts 24-36 hours. If taken at night, there is little chance of a 'hangover effect' or residual drowsiness. It is probably the safest and most effective sleep medication available; and you don't build a tolerance or addiction. As a HCL salt; check your liver and kidneys annually to make sure there are no ill affects which are rare."

• Crapp...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 28, 2014

"I have had sleep issues since my early 20s. I have been prescribed Ambien, Lunesta, Xanax, Klonopin, Ativan, and Seroquel. All of them helped me fall asleep with no problem; however, 3 hours later, I'm awake again. The hydroxyzine didn't help me fall asleep as much as it kept me asleep! I usually toss and turn a dozen times at night, but this gives me solid, uninterrupted sleep. I do notice that I will wake slightly agitated at times, which is annoying when you have 3 kids to wake up to and need to be on your toes and think fast. I have to say out of all the meds I've tried, this one KEEPS me sleeping, which is the point."

• Bri
• March 31, 2019

"After the death of my brother, I would just lay in bed at night and cry while I relived the whole situation over. OTC medications that make you sleepy didn't help. I was prescribed 25mg. The first 2 or 3 nights I didn't think it was working. I still was staying awake for hours after getting in bed. I started taking it about 2 hrs before bedtime, and I am now falling asleep within 30 mins of being in bed. My anxiety related to my brother's passing is not gone, but with a full nights sleep I can manage my anxiety better. Also I have never in my life dreamed this much and remembered them. I don't know if it is the medicine or if I am just sleeping good enough to dream. They are pleasant dreams, so they are welcomed."

• Billy...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• March 10, 2016

"I have had sleep problems for years. I used to work 3rd shift and it screwed my system up. They gave me Restoril. Than lorazepam, than Ambien and than Lunesta....all failed. This pill at 50mg put me out like a light with some weird vivid dreams but I still got the best sleep in years, woke up feeling great and have been taking it now every night for about 7 months. Really great and not addictive."

• Des
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 13, 2020

"I’ve always had insomnia. Even as a child. I’ve taken trazodone and mirtazapine for sleep and neither worked well. My nurse practitioner prescribed me hydroxyzine and it has been awful. I’ve been on it for a little over a week and I haven’t had a good night sleep since. I fall asleep well but, I wake up 3-4 hours after and am wide awake. This does not help for sleep in my experience. I feel horrible. I’m so exhausted."

• UTJason
• March 31, 2016

"I developed insomnia for the first time several months ago, and other medications such as Ambien, Lunesta, and Restoril were ineffective (I would wake up 3-4 hours later). Hydroxyzine has worked beautifully. I sleep until my alarm goes off, but wake up feeling rested. Like others on this forum, I've found it promotes a very vivid dream state. I believe the medication promotes REM sleep. This is probably a good thing, assuming the dreams are tolerable, as REM sleep supposedly enhances memory and learning. The medication is also very inexpensive, which is a plus!"

• Eds...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• August 4, 2016

"Have been taking 10mg for years on a semi regular basis. Only when I need a good sleep or if I slept poorly for a couple days. Don't notice the anti histamine effect, but do sleep well and rested. If nervous system is too aroused it doesn't always work. But for me, its good. Not much side effect apart from slight drowsiness but very short term on waking."

• Lee
• October 26, 2020

Vistaril (hydroxyzine) "Took Vistaril once and scared to take it again- I've taken clonazepam for insomnia and that feeling of drowsy is a gentle lull, benadryl is like a mildly hazy pull to sleep.... within 30 min of taking hydroxamine I felt like I was being forced against my will to sleep, and I couldn't help but resist, completely defeating the purpose. I want to see if it'll help but man that feeling was scary."

• Istva...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 17, 2014

"This really works pretty well. It takes about 15-25 minutes to fully work but it will knock you out for a solid eight hours minimum. I used to use trazodone for sleep/sedation as I have insomnia but honestly hydroxyzine is better. The best difference was the size of the pill. The trazodone was too LARGE trapezoid pills that felt like they got stuck in my throat tasted horrible even with 1-2 cups of water. The "hangover" of trazodone was also much more intolerable. The hydroxyzine takes about 10 minutes once you are up for the grogginess to go away versus 30 minutes with my previous alternative. I find showers and hot water with lemon and honey help the throat if it's still feeling itchy from the medicine."

• Jilly...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 8, 2016

"After struggling with high anxiety and panic attacks for a few months, I developed insomnia, which was another stressor. I didn't want to try Ambien, so my doctor suggested hydroxyzine (Atarax). I was reluctant, but finally tried it after another month of not sleeping well. It worked! I take 12.5mg or 25mg (low dose, though I am sensitive to meds). I now take it every other night for sleep. I take it about 7pm (don’t drive) and I’m out by 9 or 9:30 and wake at 5 (my normal wake-up time). I would give it a 10, but it does leave you with a hangover fuzzy feeling in the morning (that clears by lunch). To me, the hangover is worth the SLEEP. I also take a low dose of Ativan during the day, plus B-vitamins, Vitamin C, fish oil and magnesium."

• Dual...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 24, 2016

"I am a heavy drinker that doesn't want to quit drinking his pint of Vodka every evening. However, I suffer from MDD so I take 20Mg lexapro every other day and sometimes I cut the pill in half for only 10Mg in the morning due to sleepiness. Vistaril was prescribed as an anti anxiety solution over Ativan -- which just made me want to drink more. Vistaril at bedtime has given me the most solid 8 -10 hours of sleep with awesome vivid dreams, strange sometimes yes, but man, the REM is fantastic and I truly feel energetic when I wake up now."

• KickR...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 17, 2014

Vistaril (hydroxyzine) "My psychiatrist just prescribed me this medication to help me sleep at night since I have trouble sleeping, supposedly it takes 15 to 45 mins to take in effect, the only effect I got was a calming effect but wasn't sleepy like it was intended for..therefor I became more agitated, crying for no apparent reason, and more fidgety then ever..So unfortunately I was the unfortunate one where it does not work for."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 27, 2017

"I started this medication a few months back when I was taken off of ativan and it has helped a lot as both a sleep aid and anxiety reliever :) it does make me sleepy after I wake up but that normally goes away after an hour or so"

• Sleep...
• August 20, 2015

"I have been having pretty bad anxiety for most of my life. It has much recently become worse. I saw a psychiatrist for the first time, and she asked how my sleep was. I told her it was pretty awful. I woke up every two hours. I never felt like I got a full nights rest. She prescribed me this medicine. She said I could take one 25mg capsule and if I still couldn't sleep, take another 25mg capsule. I took a 25mg capsule before bed. It definitely calmed me down and made me somewhat drowsy, but I still couldn't fall asleep. I waited 2 hours and took another 25mg capsule as directed. I fell asleep in about 10 minutes and never woke up during the night. I woke up feeling refreshed! No side effects except dry mouth! I love this drug."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 9, 2016

"I have been a poor sleeper for a few years now due to anxiety related issues. After having tried both benzos and z-drugs, which only really made things worse, I have been using atarax with good results. Strangely for me a small dose (12.5mg) seems to work as well as a larger dose, which definitely wasn't the case for me with other drugs. On the down side it can leave me feeling a bit spaced out for several hours after waking."

• Jmano
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 25, 2019

"I take two 50mg pills of hydroxyzine before bedtime, along with 5mg of melatonin to help sleep. I can fall asleep within 15 minutes as before I would lay awake tossing and turning all night with my mind racing. No real side effects to speak of, maybe some grogginess in the morning but nothing I can't handle."

• Cheryl
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 16, 2019

"I tried this for sleep as my dr said it is used often to help people sleep. I will say it makes you tired. Exhausted actually but 2 hours later I wake up with like almost panic attack symptoms and I have to take a benzodiazepine to combat them. They then last all through the following day. I am so thirsty that I feel like I ate an entire container of salt. The shaky feeling stays with me the entire next day along with feeling exhausted. Like my body is drained. This may work for some people but definietly not for me. Never again"

• Flapple
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• September 22, 2015

"This medication works great for our daughter who has a lot of anxiety and fear at nighttime and would not sleep at all some nights. The trick with this drug is not giving up too soon. This med has to be adjusted to you as an individual. Our Dr. started by giving us 10mg tablets so that I could adjust my daughter's dosage until we found the right amount. When I got to 30 mg it was just enough for her. She now goes to sleep in 15-20 minutes and stays asleep. It's a life saver for us."

• Anonymous
• March 9, 2009

"This is such a blessing, I have tried many medications. My depression, pain, and sleeping disorders made it almost impossible to function. The hydroxyzine is a perfect medication for someone who doesn't want to get too deep into medication. Well-balanced pill."

• mar
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 7, 2019

"This hydroxyzine was prescribed to me for anxiety and it makes me irritated and so sleepy. I could be in a deep sleep all day and all night which makes it hard for me to get up for work in the A.M. I'm supposed to take it 3x's a day (25mg) but one is enough! Hydroxyzine works great for insomnia, I give it that but for my anxiety not to good. I've had nights of just bad dreams kind of like the body is asleep mind still awake and it sucks."

• Gp1
• July 17, 2019

"Not much for anxiety, but helps for sleep. Take 50mg at night, wouldn’t say bad dreams but vivid. Helps, I take 40 mg of Vyvanse a day, so it brings me down at night. Recommend it for anyone looking for a pretty safe sleep med."

• kataja
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• December 31, 2019

"I just got a prescription filled for hydroxyzine hcl 25mg (green ones from epic pharma) that do nothing. I think they're either fake or hydroxyzine pamoate (which does nothing for me). I just took some older supply of hydroxyzine HCL, so if I fall asleep soon, I'll know whether or not it's true. I haven't taken any in a long time either. For what it's worth, hydroxyzine is SO underrated for anxiety reduction and sedation."

• Ihate...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 22, 2019

"TL:DR (Too long: didn't read)- Do your sleep hygiene, schedule time to be groggy when you wake up, drink plenty of water. Full story: History of insomnia, sleep paralysis, anxiety, and depression. I’d started drinking alcohol to get my brain to shut up so I could sleep. Decided that needed to stop so I tried hydroxyzine. (Used Benadryl to fall asleep before, but it only gets me four hours.) Works great for me. Makes me a bit sleepy, but mostly it dulls the anxiety-chatter so I can fall asleep. Still have to do my sleep-hygiene routine before bed - won’t knock me out, just makes the sleep-hygiene stuff work. I take it when I know I can get eight hours. Waking up is hard, but I’ve always woken up hard and this isn’t much worse than usual. Been giving myself two hours to fully wake up before I have to leave the house for decades, so this hasn’t been an adjustment for me. It does noticabealy dry me out. It’s better when I take it with a big glass of water and then continue to hydrate the next day."