Atarax for Anxiety Relief and Allergic Itching

Atarax is a medication containing hydroxyzine hydrochloride, used primarily to relieve symptoms of anxiety and tension related to psychoneurosis. It is also prescribed to manage itching caused by allergic skin conditions. Available as oral tablets and syrup, Atarax can be used as a sedative before and after anesthesia as well.

• Anxiety and tension: Symptomatic relief in adults and children for anxiety associated with psychoneurosis and accompanying organic diseases.
• Pruritus (itching): Management of itching due to allergic conditions like chronic urticaria, atopic and contact dermatoses, and histamine-mediated pruritus.
• Sedation: Used as a sedative agent for premedication and post-anesthesia in both adults and children.

hydroxyzine hydrochloride

Atarax acts by suppressing activity in certain subcortical areas of the central nervous system rather than depressing the cortex. This results in muscle relaxation, bronchodilation, antihistamine, and analgesic effects. It also has an antiemetic effect, helping to reduce nausea and vomiting. The drug is rapidly absorbed, with effects typically noticeable within 15 to 30 minutes after oral intake.

Anxiety and tension: Adults typically take 50 to 100 mg four times daily. Children under 6 years receive 50 mg daily divided into doses; children over 6 years receive 50 to 100 mg daily divided into doses.

Pruritus due to allergic conditions: Adults take 25 mg three or four times daily. Children under 6 years get 50 mg daily divided into doses; children over 6 years get 50 to 100 mg daily divided into doses.

Sedative premedication and post-anesthesia: Adults receive 50 to 100 mg; children receive 0.6 mg/kg. Initial treatment may start intramuscularly, with subsequent doses by mouth.

Dosage should be adjusted based on individual patient response.

• Known hypersensitivity to hydroxyzine.
• Use in early pregnancy is contraindicated due to potential fetal risk and insufficient human safety data.

• Atarax is contraindicated during early pregnancy due to risk of fetal abnormalities observed in animal studies and lack of safety data in humans.
• Hypersensitivity to hydroxyzine is a contraindication.
• Not known if excreted in human milk; nursing mothers should avoid use.
• Use caution when combined with other central nervous system depressants such as narcotics, barbiturates, and non-narcotic analgesics; doses of these agents may need reduction.
• Patients should be aware of possible drowsiness and avoid driving or operating machinery while taking Atarax.
• Alcohol use may increase sedation effects.
• Careful dosing and monitoring is advised for elderly patients due to higher risk of sedation and potential decreased hepatic and renal function.
• Atarax tablets contain 1,1,1-trichloroethane, a substance harmful to the environment.

• Common: Dry mouth, transient drowsiness (which may diminish with continued use or dosage reduction).
• Rare but serious: Involuntary motor activity including tremor and convulsions, usually with doses higher than recommended.
• No significant respiratory depression reported at therapeutic doses.

• Potentiates effects of other central nervous system depressants such as narcotics, barbiturates, and non-narcotic analgesics; dosage adjustments of these drugs may be necessary when used concurrently.
• Does not affect atropine or other belladonna alkaloids, and does not interfere with digitalis action.
• Atarax counteracts the pressor action of epinephrine; epinephrine should not be used to treat hypotension caused by overdose.

Pregnancy: Hydroxyzine is contraindicated in early pregnancy based on animal studies showing fetal abnormalities and lack of adequate human data.

Lactation: It is unknown whether hydroxyzine passes into human milk. Consequently, Atarax should not be used by nursing mothers.

Overdose most commonly causes marked sedation. Management includes induction of vomiting if spontaneous vomiting has not occurred, followed by gastric lavage. Supportive care involves monitoring vital signs and close patient observation. Hypotension, although unlikely, can be treated with intravenous fluids and vasopressors such as Levarterenol or Metaraminol; epinephrine should be avoided. There is no specific antidote, and hemodialysis is unlikely to be helpful unless other drugs such as barbiturates are involved.