II. Indications
- Pruritus
- Anxiety
III. Mechanism
- See Antihistamine
- H1 Receptor Antagonist (First Generation Antihistamine)
- Hydroxyzine is a piperazine derivative with Antihistamine, Antiemetic, and Anxiolytic activity
- Cetirizine (Zyrtec) is the active metabolite of Hydroxyzine
IV. Precautions
- Although FDA approved for children, FDA does not recommend routine Antihistamine use age <4 years
- Deaths have occurred in younger children related to Anticholinergic Toxicity
V. Dosing: Pruritus
- Adult: 25 to 100 mg orally or IM three to four times daily as needed
- Child (age 4 to 6 years): 50 mg/day divided four times daily orally or IM as needed
- Dose: 0.5 mg/kg up to 25-50 mg oral or intramuscular every 4-6 hours as needed
- Child (age >=6 years): 50 to 100 mg/day divided four times daily orally or IM as needed
VI. Dosing: Anxiety
- Adult: 50 to 100 mg orally three to four times daily as needed
VII. Adverse Effects
- See Antihistamine
- See Anticholinergic Toxicity
- Sedation
VIII. Safety
- Pregnancy category C
- Avoid in Lactation
IX. Resources
X. References
- Olson (2020) Clinical Pharmacology, Medmaster Miami, p. 146-7
- Hamilton (2020) Tarascon Pocket Pharmacopoeia
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Related Studies
| hydroxyzine (on 12/21/2022 at Medicaid.Gov Survey of pharmacy drug pricing) | ||
| HYDROXYZINE 10 MG/5 ML SOLN | Generic | $0.07 per ml |
| HYDROXYZINE 10 MG/5 ML SYRUP | Generic | $0.07 per ml |
| HYDROXYZINE HCL 10 MG TABLET | Generic | $0.04 each |
| HYDROXYZINE HCL 25 MG TABLET | Generic | $0.05 each |
| HYDROXYZINE HCL 50 MG TABLET | Generic | $0.09 each |
| HYDROXYZINE PAM 100 MG CAP | Generic | $0.42 each |
| HYDROXYZINE PAM 25 MG CAP | Generic | $0.08 each |
| HYDROXYZINE PAM 50 MG CAP | Generic | $0.10 each |
Ontology: Hydroxyzine (C0020404)
| Definition (CHV) | a kind of antihistamine and mild anti-anxiety drug |
| Definition (NCI) | A piperazine derivative with antihistamine, antiemetic, and anxiolytic properties. Hydroxyzine's antihistaminic effect is due to its metabolite, cetirizine, a potent H1 receptor antagonist and selective inhibitor of peripheral H1 receptors. This agent competes with histamine for binding at H1-receptor sites on the effector cell surface. The sedative properties of hydroxyzine occur as a result of suppression of certain subcortical regions of the brain. Secondary to its central anticholinergic actions, hydroxyzine may be effective as an antiemetic. |
| Definition (MSH) | A histamine H1 receptor antagonist that is effective in the treatment of chronic urticaria, dermatitis, and histamine-mediated pruritus. Unlike its major metabolite CETIRIZINE, it does cause drowsiness. It is also effective as an antiemetic, for relief of anxiety and tension, and as a sedative. |
| Concepts | Pharmacologic Substance (T121) , Organic Chemical (T109) |
| MSH | D006919 |
| SnomedCT | 372856003, 80165005 |
| LNC | LP15171-9, MTHU002560 |
| English | Hydroxyzine, 2-(2-(4-((4-Chlorophenyl)phenylmethyl)-1-piperazinyl)ethoxy)ethanol, Ethanol, 2-(2-(4-((4-chlorophenyl)phenylmethyl)-1-piperazinyl)ethoxy)-, Hydroxyzine [Chemical/Ingredient], hydrOXYzine, HydrOXYzine, hydroxyzine, HYDROXYZINE, Hydroxyzine (product), Hydroxyzine (substance) |
| Swedish | Hydroxizin |
| Czech | hydroxyzin |
| Finnish | Hydroksitsiini |
| Russian | GIDROKSIZIN, ГИДРОКСИЗИН |
| Japanese | アタラックス-P, ヒドロキシジンパモ酸塩, パモ酸ヒドロキシジン, アタラックスP, ジスロンP, 塩酸ヒドロキシジン, ジスロン, アタラックス, ヒドロキシジン, ハタナジン, ヒドロキシジン塩酸塩 |
| Spanish | hidroxizina (sustancia), hidroxicina (producto), hidroxicina, hidroxizina, hidroxizina (producto), Hidroxizina, Hidroxicina, hidroxicina (sustancia) |
| Polish | Hydroksyzyna |
| French | Hydroxyzine |
| German | Hydroxyzin |
| Italian | Idrossizina |
| Portuguese | Hidroxizina |
