Hydroxyzine

Prescription ·Exploratory record · not publication-reviewed ·Updated July 13, 2026

Prescription first-generation antihistamine used for the management of anxiety, pruritus, and as a preoperative sedative. Available in two salt forms: hydroxyzine pamoate (Vistaril) typically used for anxiety, and hydroxyzine hydrochloride (Atarax) for pruritus. Offers anxiolytic effects without the dependence risk of benzodiazepines. Its active metabolite cetirizine is a second-generation antihistamine. Dosage must be determined by your prescribing physician.

Exploratory record, not a reviewed medical publication.

See the editorial and medical-review policies for the publication gate.

This generated database record has not completed a claim-level review by a qualified human medical reviewer. Bibliography links and evidence labels are not approval. The page remains available for reference and is excluded from search indexing.

In short

What the research says.

A quick, data-only summary. The full evidence, dosing, and sources are below.

Prescription first-generation antihistamine used for the management of anxiety, pruritus, and as a preoperative sedative. NutriStack rates the supporting evidence as moderate. Common adult dosing is 25–100 mg up to four times daily (as prescribed by your physician), though a prescriber sets the actual dose. This profile indexes 10 sources.

What it's good for

Anxiety relief^6,7
No dependence or abuse potential
Pruritus relief
Sedation for procedural anxiety^4,6
Antiemetic effects

What to watch for

Drowsiness
Dry mouth
Dizziness
Known hypersensitivity to hydroxyzine or cetirizine^1,2
Early pregnancy

The bottom line

Evidence rating moderate. Most-documented uses: anxiety relief, no dependence or abuse potential, pruritus relief. 10 sources indexed (1996–2026), with 0 interaction records on file.

The science

How it works, mechanistically.

Core mechanism

Antagonizes histamine H1 receptors in the central nervous system, producing sedative, anxiolytic, and antiemetic effects. Also has anticholinergic (muscarinic antagonism) and antiserotonergic properties. Does not interact with GABA receptors, so it has no abuse or dependence potential.⁹

Class

Non-Benzodiazepine Anxiolytic

Dosing

Dosing & protocol.

Common range

25–100 mg up to four times daily (as prescribed by your physician)

Recommended form

Capsule, tablet, oral solution, or intramuscular injection

Rapidly absorbed orally. Can be taken with or without food. Onset of effect within 15–30 minutes.

Safety

Full safety detail.

Side effects

Drowsiness
Dry mouth
Dizziness
Headache
Constipation
Blurred vision

Contraindications

Known hypersensitivity to hydroxyzine or cetirizine^1,2
Early pregnancy
QT prolongation (at high doses)
Concurrent use of other QT-prolonging medications

Sources

Sources, by evidence tier.

Numbered references. Citations throughout the page link here.

Randomized controlled trials

1Cetirizine versus hydroxyzine and placebo in chronic idiopathic urticariaPMIDBreneman DL · The Annals of pharmacotherapy · 1996
Breneman DL. Cetirizine versus hydroxyzine and placebo in chronic idiopathic urticaria. The Annals of pharmacotherapy. 1996

Reviews & position papers

2Impact of atropine and hydroxyzine pretreatment in contemporary bronchoscopyPMIDTsuchiya K, Miyamoto R, Tsunoda T et al. · Respiratory investigation · 2026
Tsuchiya K, Miyamoto R, Tsunoda T et al.. Impact of atropine and hydroxyzine pretreatment in contemporary bronchoscopy. Respiratory investigation. 2026
3Hydroxyzine-Induced Torsade De Pointes: A Case Report and a Literature ReviewPMIDAfzal MA, Khalid N, Abdullah M et al. · Cureus · 2023
Afzal MA, Khalid N, Abdullah M et al.. Hydroxyzine-Induced Torsade De Pointes: A Case Report and a Literature Review. Cureus. 2023
4Safety of hydroxyzine in the sedation of pediatric dental patientsPMIDKim T, Kim K, Kim S et al. · Journal of dental anesthesia and pain medicine · 2022
Kim T, Kim K, Kim S et al.. Safety of hydroxyzine in the sedation of pediatric dental patients. Journal of dental anesthesia and pain medicine. 2022

Observational studies

5Hydroxyzine Initiation Following Drug Safety Advisories on Cardiac Arrhythmias in the UK and Canada: A Longitudinal Cohort StudyPMIDMorrow RL, Mintzes B, Souverein PC et al. · Drug safety · 2022
Morrow RL, Mintzes B, Souverein PC et al.. Hydroxyzine Initiation Following Drug Safety Advisories on Cardiac Arrhythmias in the UK and Canada: A Longitudinal Cohort Study. Drug safety. 2022

Reference material

FAQ

Common questions.

Quick answers about Hydroxyzine, drawn from the data on this page.

What is Hydroxyzine?

What is Hydroxyzine used for?

Commonly cited benefits of Hydroxyzine include: Anxiety relief; No dependence or abuse potential; Pruritus relief; Sedation for procedural anxiety; Antiemetic effects. NutriStack rates the overall evidence as moderate.

What is a typical dose of Hydroxyzine?

A typical adult dose of Hydroxyzine is 25–100 mg up to four times daily (as prescribed by your physician). The commonly recommended form is Capsule, tablet, oral solution, or intramuscular injection. These are general ranges, not personalized advice; confirm the right dose with a clinician.

What are the side effects of Hydroxyzine?

Reported side effects include drowsiness, dry mouth, dizziness, headache, constipation, blurred vision. This is educational information; check with a healthcare professional before use.

How strong is the evidence for Hydroxyzine?

NutriStack rates this as Moderate, meaning several aligned RCTs or one large RCT plus supporting reviews. Full tier criteria are at https://nutristackapp.com/methodology/evidence-tiers.

Use this with your stack

Hydroxyzine in NutriStack.

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