Drug name
Atarax (Hydroxyzine)
Drug Description
Atarax is prescribed for treating anxiety, for antianxiety before and after general anesthesia, as well as treating itching due to some allergic conditions, involving hives and contact dermatitis (e.g., poison ivy). It also may be advised for using for other medical conditions as prescribed by your physician.
Intake Instruction
Please thoroughly follow the instructions for using this medicine advised by your health care provider.
This medicine should be taken with meals or without it. If stomach upset happens, make sure to take with food to decrease stomach irritation.
Swallow the medicine whole. Never crush or chew the medicine before swallowing.
Keep on taking Atarax even if you show improvement. Never miss any doses. Taking Atarax at the same time daily will help you to fix the time for its taking.
Please discuss with your health care provider your additional queries on the medicine use.
Drug Category and Mechanism
Atarax represents a category of an antihistamine. It functions by affecting the brain to decrease anxiety. It also performs other activities, involving opening breathing tubes, decreasing threshold of pain or allergy symptoms, as well as preventing or treating emesis and vomiting caused by motion weariness.
Missed Dose
Should you miss a dose of this medicine please take it asap. If you find you have missed the previous dosage when it is almost time for your next dose, you should better skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Taking double or extra doses or missing ones is recommended only after thorough advice of your attending medical doctor.
Storage
The best conditions to keep the medicine at are to store them room temperature at 59 and 77 degrees F (15 and 25 degrees C).. The container where the medicine is stored should be tightly closed. It should be also strictly protected from moisture, heat and light.
Please make sure to keep Amantadine out of the reach of children and pets.
Safety Precautions
Taking Atarax is not recommended in case:
you have allergic reaction to any component in Atarax;
you take sodium oxybate (GHB);
you are at your first 3 months of pregnancy.
Contact your health care provider immediately if any of the mentioned conditions are applicable to you.
Certain medical conditions may step into interaction with Atarax . Inform your health care provider if you have any medical conditions, especially if any of the following are applicable to you:
you are pregnant/will become pregnant,
you are breast-feeding
you are taking any prescription or nonprescription medicine, herbal preparation, as well as dietary supplement
you have allergic reactions to medicines, foods, or other substances
you have asthma, glaucoma, hard urinating, urinary or intestinal problems, a prostate illness, or a blood disease
you drink alcoholic beverages
Some MEDICINES MAY step into INTERACTION with Atarax . Please inform your health physician if you are taking any other medicines, especially any of the following:
Sodium oxybate (GHB) as side effects such as a growth in sleep duration and deferred breathing may happen
Probable Side Effects
All medicines may cause side effects, but many people have no, or minor, side effects. Check with your health care provider if any of these most COMMON side effects are continuos or becoming bothersome:
Giddiness; dry mouth.
Please seek medical attention immediately if any of these SEVERE side effects happen:
Austere allergic reactions (rash; hives; itching; hard breathing; tenseness in the thorax; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue); unintentional movements.
More Information
Atarax may cause giddiness. These effects may worsen in case you take it with alcohol or certain medicines. Please make sure to use Atarax with precaution.
Make sure not to drive or perform other likely unsafe tasks before you know for certain how you react to it. Please avoid drinking alcohol or using medicines which may be the reason for gidiness (eg, sleep aids, muscle relaxers) while you are taking Atarax ; it may add to their effects.
Please discuss with your health care provider your additional queries on the medicine use and giddiness caused by it.
The potency of Atarax as anxiety treatment for longer than 4 months is not yet explored.
Make sure to intake Atarax very carefully in the ELDERLY; as they show more sensitivity to its effects.
Atarax must not be used in NEWBORNS; safety and effectiveness in newborns have not yet been confirmed.
PREGNANCY and BREAST-FEEDING:
Please never use Atarax in case you are in your first 3 months of pregnancy. If you are suspicious that you are pregnant, please immediately contact your health care provider. It is not yet explored whether Atarax outfalls into breast milk or not. Please do not breast-feed if you are taking Atarax .