hydroxyzine hydrochloride at a glance
Medicine class
Sedating first-generation H1 antihistamine with antimuscarinic effects.
Licensed uses
Anxiety in adults and itching associated with urticaria or dermatitis.
Alertness
Can cause drowsiness, impaired concentration and poor coordination. Do not drive or operate machinery if affected.
Alcohol
Avoid alcohol because it can increase sedation and impairment.
Heart rhythm
Can prolong the QT interval and is unsuitable with specified cardiac risk factors or interacting medicines.
What is hydroxyzine hydrochloride used for?
The selected UK product is licensed for:
Assisting the management of anxiety in adults.
Managing itching associated with acute or chronic urticaria, including physical and cholinergic urticaria.
Managing itching associated with atopic or contact dermatitis in adults and children.
How does hydroxyzine hydrochloride work?
Hydroxyzine blocks histamine at H1 receptors, reducing histamine-driven itching, redness and swelling. It enters the brain, causing sedative effects, and has antimuscarinic activity that contributes to dry mouth and blurred vision.
hydroxyzine hydrochloride preparations and strengths
Tablet
Route: Oral
Strengths: 10 mg, 25 mg
How to take hydroxyzine hydrochloride
Take the film-coated tablet by mouth exactly as directed on the dispensing label. Avoid alcohol and take care with activities requiring alertness or coordination until you know how it affects you.
Tell the prescriber if you have kidney or liver impairment because its effects may be prolonged.
Tell healthcare staff before allergy skin testing or a methacholine test because hydroxyzine can alter the results.
The selected tablets contain lactose.
hydroxyzine hydrochloride side effects
Common or expected effects
- Drowsiness or sedation
- Dizziness or poor coordination
- Headache
- Reduced concentration or slower reactions
- Dry mouth
- Blurred vision
- Constipation
Get urgent medical advice
- Palpitations, breathlessness, fainting or loss of consciousness
- Severe allergic reaction with swelling or breathing difficulty
- Severe blistering or peeling skin reaction
- Seizure
- Severe confusion or hallucinations
- Yellowing of the skin or eyes
- Inability to pass urine
hydroxyzine hydrochloride in pregnancy
The selected UK product is contraindicated during pregnancy and when trying to conceive. Human evidence is limited; a small prospective study did not identify an increased malformation rate, but this does not override the product restriction. Contact a prescriber, pharmacist or midwife for an individual review if pregnancy is planned, suspected or confirmed.
hydroxyzine hydrochloride while breastfeeding
The selected product information contraindicates hydroxyzine during breastfeeding. NHS SPS advises that it may sometimes be used cautiously after individual assessment, although better-established alternatives are preferred. The infant should be monitored for drowsiness, irritability, dry mouth, poor feeding or inadequate weight gain.
hydroxyzine hydrochloride interactions
Check all prescribed, non-prescription and herbal products before using hydroxyzine. Important interactions include:
QT-prolonging medicines
Medicines such as amiodarone, sotalol, haloperidol, citalopram, escitalopram, erythromycin, levofloxacin, moxifloxacin and methadone can increase the risk of dangerous cardiac arrhythmia; specified combinations are contraindicated.
Medicines that slow the heart or lower potassium
They can increase susceptibility to QT prolongation and require careful risk assessment.
Alcohol, opioids, benzodiazepines, hypnotics and other sedatives
Common questions about hydroxyzine hydrochloride
Answers are fully visible for fast scanning and source review.
Is hydroxyzine hydrochloride a sedating antihistamine?
Yes. It enters the brain, so drowsiness and impaired coordination are more likely than with less-sedating antihistamines.
Is hydroxyzine hydrochloride the same as cetirizine?
No. They are different medicines, although hydroxyzine is partly metabolised into active cetirizine.
Can hydroxyzine hydrochloride be taken with alcohol?
Sources
These sources were used to prepare and review this medicine page.
Prepared and reviewed by the iatroX editorial team.