Hydroxyzine and Anxiety: What Users Say

• Ste...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 27, 2020

For Anxiety "I was prescribed hydroxyzine to take as needed for anxiety. I took it once and it did not work at all. It didn't make me feel sleepy at all, and it didn't help my anxiety. It made my anxiety a thousand times worse, and I had a panic attack that lasted about 3 hours and I could not calm down. It didn't help me cope, it canceled out my ability to cope."

• Dan...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 22, 2020

For Sedation "I am 22 years old. I was prescribed hydroxyzine to help me sleep because I was waking up in the middle of the night from horrible panic attacks, afraid to sleep. When I first started taking hydroxyzine as needed, it was good and made me feel refreshed. Now, recently I took it, and I felt so exhausted and tired. It's been 24 hours since I took it, and I still don't feel good. I'm tired, and I've been sleeping, but it doesn't help. My body feels so weak and tired, and it's making my anxiety worse. Is this normal? Should I still be feeling tired even after taking this medication a day earlier? I really don't like this feeling. Never taking this again."

• Yik...
• July 3, 2021

For Sedation "My psychiatrist prescribed me 25 mg of hydroxyzine every night before bed to help with my insomnia. I took it one time about a month ago and woke up feeling tired and sick. I took a nap about an hour after waking up and felt bad the whole day. I took one again last night at about 11 pm. I didn't start to feel drowsy until about 2 am, but when I did, it hit me like a truck. I slept through the night until about noon. I forced myself to get up but could barely move because of how tired my body felt. Right now, I feel dizzy with blurred vision, it's slightly hard to breathe (feels like there's a weight on my chest), and I'm still exhausted to the point that I can't function properly. Only 25mg and I'm rendered useless for about 12-15 hours and feel like garbage the rest of the day. I also have severe anxiety, and this medication makes it go through the roof because I'm not in control of my body to the point that I can't move or see properly."

• ser...
• November 20, 2019

Hydroxyzine for Sedation "My doctor prescribed me this drug Vistaril as I have trouble sleeping. I was getting around 5 hours of sleep, and with Vistaril I am now getting 3 hours. It makes you feel drowsy, but not in a good way. Falling asleep on this drug is very difficult. I wake up several times during the night, and the next morning I don’t know if I was asleep or awake during the night. I feel the side effects of this drug a whole 24 hours after taking it. The next morning after taking it for sleep, my muscles do not work properly, and I feel like I’ve lost motor function in my limbs and fingers. My brain is not comprehending information quickly, and I have a hard time typing and reading. I was out and felt like I had to be taken to the emergency because of how much anxiety I was feeling with my body feeling limp and weak. Everything about this drug affected me negatively. Didn’t help with my anxiety. Didn’t help me fall asleep. I’ve only taken this drug 3 times (not even in a row) and will not be taking it again."

• Kja...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 14, 2019

For Sedation "Prescribed hydroxyzine after trying trazodone (made me wake up every few hours with night sweats and more anxiety!) Hydroxyzine has given me back my sleep! I take either 12.5 to 25 mg and fall asleep within 15 minutes. I stay asleep through the night, and the next day I may be a little loopy on occasion, but it’s better than having horrible anxiety and panic attacks."

• Mbm...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 19, 2019

Hydroxyzine for Anxiety "I was given Vistaril for severe GAD with panic attacks. Very soon after taking the first one, my anxiety tripled, and I began having back-to-back panic attacks. After a call to the doctor, I was told to take a higher dose. Long story short, for whatever reason, I cannot take this medication. It has the complete opposite effect on me as it should."

• Che...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 20, 2020

For Anxiety "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."

• cin...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 30, 2019

For Sedation "I was prescribed this for sleep. It makes me sleepy, but causes a lot of jerking and a panicky feeling as I'm falling asleep and causes me to wake up in the middle of the night with confusion and jerking reflexes. Will not take it again."

• Ske...
• February 1, 2017

Hydroxyzine for Anxiety "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."

• Rel...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 3, 2021

Hydroxyzine for Anxiety "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."

• Tin...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• August 17, 2018

Hydroxyzine for Anxiety "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."

• don...
• February 9, 2015

Hydroxyzine for Anxiety "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."

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

Hydroxyzine for Anxiety "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."

• Nik...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 6, 2019

Hydroxyzine for Anxiety "This drug is amazingly sedating. After reading the reviews, I was reluctant to take it, thinking it would not work. Boy, was I wrong. Sadly, I am starting antidepressant therapy, and my anxiety is through the roof. I was given Ativan but am reluctant to take it often for fear of tolerance and addiction. The Vistaril has really worked at calming me down after increased anxiety, especially when worrying when trying to fall off to sleep. It shut down the worry and made me slow down, which in my case is what I needed. I only took 10 mg and caution against driving or other activities until you know how it will affect you."

• Mac...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 2, 2018

For Anxiety "Hydroxyzine is quite possibly the worst medication for anxiety, in my opinion. It did nothing to calm me down. In fact, it made me more anxious, jittery, and extremely irritable. It acted like a stimulant rather than a sedative. It's frustrating when you know there are medications out there that are truly effective, but no one will prescribe them. My experience with hydroxyzine has been negative all around."

• Mac...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 2, 2018

For Anxiety "Hydroxyzine is quite possibly the worst medication for anxiety, in my opinion. It did nothing to calm me down. In fact, it made me more anxious, jittery, and extremely irritable. It acted like a stimulant rather than a sedative. It's frustrating when you know there are medications out there that are truly effective, but no one will prescribe them. My experience with hydroxyzine has been negative all around."

• Jeh...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 20, 2016

Hydroxyzine for Anxiety "I have just started this med. This is day 3 of taking it, and it has not helped with anxiety at all. In some ways, it makes it worse. It clouds my head, and not being able to think heightens my anxiety. It does, although, put me to sleep within a couple of hours (Zzzquil does that job better, though), but the anxiety stays present."

• Guy...
• March 6, 2016

Hydroxyzine for Anxiety "My psych put me on this yesterday, and I took it today for the first time this morning. It made me feel cloudy all day, and it made my anxiety worse. Ativan works way better! Never taking Vistaril ever again!"

• Cou...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• January 22, 2020

Hydroxyzine for Anxiety "I used to take hydroxyzine pretty regularly. It used to help a lot when I was on other anxiety meds and when I needed an extra boost. I stopped taking it for a good few months, but the last few times I've taken it have been awful. Took one today, and yeah, it helped me sleep a bit, but I was jittery, anxious, and restless."

• Cou...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• January 22, 2020

Hydroxyzine for Anxiety "I used to take hydroxyzine pretty regularly. It used to help a lot when I was on other anxiety meds and when I needed an extra boost. I stopped taking it for a good few months, but the last few times I've taken it have been awful. Took one today, and yeah, it helped me sleep a bit, but I was jittery, anxious, and restless."

• Lur...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• October 27, 2016

For Anxiety "I quit using meth a year ago and have had random anxiety, panic attacks, and an insane racing heart all the time. Xanax and benzos make me way uncomfortable, so my Dr. prescribed me hydroxyzine. It works AMAZING for me. If you can get the pressed pills instead of the capsules. Sometimes the whole 25 mgs makes me too tired, especially if I'm at work. With the pressed pill, it's easy to just take half. I really recommend it for anyone who hasn't found something else that works."

• PJI...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 5, 2019

For Anxiety "Hydroxyzine reminds me of Deplin. The medicine makes anxiety worse. Definitely feels like it creates panic disorder. Staying on it for longer than a week would probably send me to the hospital. Do not recommend this medication."

• rai...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 5, 2019

For Anxiety "I was given this for anxiety. I was originally given 10 mg and told to take 1 a day at night. It worked for a little while but stopped, so they upped me to 50 mg (!!!!). Last night, I took half of the 50 mg (25 mg) pill because I was nervous about taking the whole thing (I'm underweight), and I wake up this morning feeling hyper-focused on some things, not focused at all on others, SEVERELY anxious about some things and not anxious at all with others. I slept until noon (that never happens, I'm usually up between 6-8 AM). It is 3 PM right now and I could definitely fall asleep, but I'm forcing myself not to. I don't enjoy this pill, it's making me feel funky and my motor skills are off and my brain is fuzzy. I have worse racing thoughts, and it's like my panic disorder is worse. I'm sick right now too, and I'm already washing all of my bedding, and I want to peel my skin off and wash it from the inside out. It's frustrating."

• lee...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 25, 2019

For Sedation "I have severe anxiety and insomnia that I never went to the doctor for because I can't afford a behavioral type of doctor. However, after I was prescribed oxy and stopped cold turkey, my withdrawals were all mental and gave me the worst anxiety and insomnia I hadn't had since high school. I hadn't been taking the OxyContin for that long, but I think I did just enough to where my body was like, “woah, no.” When I went to my doctor, I told him I was very anxious about him prescribing me more to wean me off of, so he prescribed me Hydroxyzine and Clonidine. When I took the Hydroxyzine before bedtime (80 mg), I slept, but only for about 3 hours. However, after my days got better and went on, the Hydroxyzine worked great. If you have severe insomnia, I wouldn't say this is the best to have, but it definitely helped. I think it's more helpful in more mild cases. Hope this helps (:"

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 2, 2019

For Sedation "Doctor prescribed this to me to replace a generic sleeping pill I was prescribed in Canada. I am wide awake with a racing heart and anxiousness. Probably would have fallen asleep by now naturally, I think this medicine is actually keeping me from falling asleep. I will never take it again. I’m an insomniac and can’t risk losing any more sleep."