drug what is hydroxyzine

What is the most important information I should know about hydroxyzine?
• Use caution when driving, operating machinery, or performing other hazardousactivities drug what is hydroxyzine. Hydroxyzine may cause dizziness or drowsiness drug what is hydroxyzine. If you experiencedizziness or drowsiness, avoid these activities drug what is hydroxyzine.
• Use alcohol cautiously drug what is hydroxyzine. Alcohol may increase drowsiness and dizzinesswhile you are taking hydroxyzine drug what is hydroxyzine.

What is hydroxyzine?
• Hydroxyzine depresses activity in the central nervous system (brain andspinal cord), which causes relaxation and relief from anxiety drug what is hydroxyzine. Therefore, hydroxyzineis used to treat anxiety disorders and tension in stressful situations--beforesurgery, for example drug what is hydroxyzine.
• Hydroxyzine may also increase the effects of other medicines, such aspain relievers and sedatives, so it is useful after surgery also drug what is hydroxyzine.
• Hydroxyzine is also an antihistamine drug what is hydroxyzine. It blocks the effects of the naturallyoccurring chemical histamine in your body drug what is hydroxyzine. This makes hydroxyzine useful fortreating allergic conditions, especially those that involve the skin, such ashives, itching, and rashes drug what is hydroxyzine.
• Hydroxyzine may also be used for purposes other than those listed inthis medication guide drug what is hydroxyzine.

Who should not take hydroxyzine?
• Before taking hydroxyzine, tell your doctor if you have any other medicalconditions, especially heart, liver, or kidney disease drug what is hydroxyzine. You may require a lowerdose or special monitoring during hydroxyzine therapy if you have any othermedical conditions drug what is hydroxyzine.
• It is not known whether hydroxyzine will harm an unborn baby drug what is hydroxyzine. Do nottake hydroxyzine without first talking to your doctor if you are pregnant drug what is hydroxyzine.
• It is also not known whether hydroxyzine passes into breast milk drug what is hydroxyzine. Donot take hydroxyzine without first talking to your doctor if you are breast-feedinga baby drug what is hydroxyzine.
• If you are over 60 years of age, you may be more likely to experienceside effects from hydroxyzine drug what is hydroxyzine. You may require a lower dose of this medication drug what is hydroxyzine.

How should I take hydroxyzine?
• Take hydroxyzine exactly as directed by your doctor drug what is hydroxyzine. If you do not understandthese directions, ask your pharmacist, nurse, or doctor to explain them to you drug what is hydroxyzine.
• Take each dose with a full glass of water drug what is hydroxyzine.
• To ensure that you get a correct dose, measure the syrup form of hydroxyzinewith a special dose-measuring spoon or cup, not with a regular tablespoon drug what is hydroxyzine. Ifyou do not have a dose-measuring device, ask your pharmacist where you can getone drug what is hydroxyzine.
• Store hydroxyzine at room temperature away from moisture and heat drug what is hydroxyzine.

What happens if I miss a dose?
• Take the missed dose as soon as you remember drug what is hydroxyzine. However, if it is almosttime for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take only your next regularlyscheduled dose drug what is hydroxyzine. Do not take a double dose of this medication unless otherwisedirected by your doctor drug what is hydroxyzine.

What happens if I overdose?
• Seek emergency medical attention drug what is hydroxyzine.
• Symptoms of a hydroxyzine overdose include extreme drowsiness, nausea,vomiting, seizures, hallucinations, and decreased breathing drug what is hydroxyzine.

What should I avoid while taking hydroxyzine?
• Use caution when driving, operating machinery, or performing other hazardousactivities drug what is hydroxyzine. Hydroxyzine may cause dizziness or drowsiness drug what is hydroxyzine. If you experiencedizziness or drowsiness, avoid these activities drug what is hydroxyzine.
• Use alcohol cautiously drug what is hydroxyzine. Alcohol may increase drowsiness and dizzinesswhile you are taking hydroxyzine drug what is hydroxyzine.

What are the possible side effects of hydroxyzine?
• Stop taking hydroxyzine and seek emergency medical attention if you experiencean allergic reaction (difficulty breathing; closing of your throat; swellingof your lips, tongue, or face; or hives) drug what is hydroxyzine.
• Other, less serious side effects may be more likely to occur drug what is hydroxyzine. Continueto take hydroxyzine and talk to your doctor if you experience
· dizziness, drowsiness, sleepiness, or confusion;
· blurred vision or a dry mouth; or
· nausea or vomiting drug what is hydroxyzine.
• Side effects other than those listed here may also occur drug what is hydroxyzine. Talk to yourdoctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome drug what is hydroxyzine.

What other drugs will affect hydroxyzine?
• Many drugs may increase the effects of hydroxyzine and lead to heavysedation drug what is hydroxyzine. Before taking this medication, tell your doctor if you are takingany of the following drugs:
· other antihistamines, such as brompheniramine (Dimetane, Bromphen,others), chlorpheniramine (Chlor-Trimeton, Teldrin, others), azatadine (Optimine),clemastine (Tavist), and many others;
· narcotics (pain killers) such as meperidine (Demerol), morphine (MSContin, MSIR, others), propoxyphene (Darvon, Darvocet), hydrocodone (Lorcet,Vicodin), oxycodone (Percocet, Percodan), fentanyl (Duragesic), and codeine(Fiorinal, Fioricet, Tylenol #3, others);
· sedatives such as phenobarbital (Solfoton, Luminal), amobarbital (Amytal),and secobarbital (Seconal);
· phenothiazines such as chlorpromazine (Thorazine), fluphenazine (Prolixin),mesoridazine (Serentil), perphenazine (Trilafon), prochlorperazine (Compazine),thioridazine (Mellaril), and trifluoperazine (Stelazine); or
· antidepressants such as amitriptyline (Elavil), doxepin (Sinequan),imipramine (Tofranil), nortriptyline (Pamelor), fluoxetine (Prozac), paroxetine(Paxil), sertraline (Zoloft), phenelzine (Nardil), and tranylcypromine (Parnate) drug what is hydroxyzine.
• Drugs other than those listed here may also interact with hydroxyzine drug what is hydroxyzine. Talk to your doctor and pharmacist before taking any prescription or over-the-countermedicines drug what is hydroxyzine.

Where can I get more information?
• Your pharmacist has more information about hydroxyzine written for healthprofessionals that you may read drug what is hydroxyzine.

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