Question about Atarax

[glassd18]

Hello Everyone,

Hope you are all doing well, and not too stressed getting ready for the holidays!!!!! Bad for the bladder!!! Anyhow my question is this:

If hydroxyzine is going to work, how long does it take to notice a difference? I took my first pill last night, and it knocked me out, but it didn't keep me out. I still woke up about 4 x's with a painful bladder that stops hurting once I go, but then it starts all over again.

I have been in a bad flare for the last couple of weeks. What sucks is that I was actually turning a corner for a while. I was in hardly any pain, but it never seems to last. Maybe I get too relaxed on my diet when I start feeling better. I'm really going to have to watch everything much more closely.

The other thing is I started Ortho Tricyclen Lo BCP yesterday too so here I go again troubleshooting what is making me hurt. :confused:

[sami4]

My doctor told me it takes about two weeks to get full effects and is also dose dependent. Usually you work up to a dose that works.
Sammi

[glassd18]

Wow, I was so knocked out for the night, and the day after I was really woozy I can't imagine going up a dose. I was actually thinking of going to 1/2 a tab and then moving up. Do you get used to this stuff, and does the drowsiness go away? Thanks for your help Sami!! For the record I stopped Prilosec and my flare lessened so I think I have my answer about what was bothering me.

Currently taking:

Pepcid AC
Cystoprotek
Tricyclen Lo BCP
Evening Primrose Oil
Fish Oil
Prelief when needed


Meds I'm still trying:
Elavil
Cymbalta
Atarax

[rosesitty]

I can't take Atarax - it makes me retain urine badly. That's what drives me nuts, some things work for some people, others don't. You just need to find the right combo for you.

[ICNDonna]

If you haven't been following the diet closely, that could easily have caused the flare. Many find that Prilosec really helps --- it could be that your flare has simply run its course.

Please contact your doctor before cutting a tablet in half.

Donna

[glassd18]

Hey thanks everyone. I found a post that I started here a while back, and it was about Prilosec again so I'm pretty sure there is a connection there for me because I was asking if anyone else was flaring from Prilosec, and so I don't think it coincidental that I'm flaring again with it. Maybe it's the dye in the pill because they are brown. I'm taking Pepcid AC instead right now, and that seems to be okay. I will contact my pharmacist to see if it's okay to split Atarax. Thanks for all of your support.

I do not know if I retain urine. What are the symptoms of urine retention. I have extreme pressure (pain) as bladder fills that stops after urination, frequency, some hesitancy, and cold and hot burning urethra. The whole gammut!!!

[msent]

I have been reading about atarax on this site: I am interested in trying it. I am wondering how many feel that it has helped them? What dosages?
thanks

[Sarojini]

Hey msent,

Most people take about 25-50mg of Atarax a day; I personally take 25mg each night before bed. I do feel that it has helped me IC-wise, and it has also had the side benefit of helping my out-of-control dermatographism (a overactivity of mast cells in the skin that results in chronic, itchy hives).

As for how long it takes to work, it depends... I'm not a doctor, but my thoughts are that usually you should give a med about 2 weeks to really see if it makes a difference, and to see if any side effects calm down.

Hope this helps.

[vm]

Here is what Dr. Parsons's said in a guest lecture years back:

<icnmgrjill> You've also championed the use of hydroxyzine with or without Elmiron. Can you tell us more about your recent observations??

<drparsons> For years now, I've had both drugs and used them extensively in several thousand patients. I would simply summarize by saying that Elmiron is the cornerstone to rebuild the bladder surface but allergies are frequently what is breaking it down and you need hydroxyzine for that. Give me hydroxyzine and Elmiron and I can make 90% of my patients better and keep them better. At least 70% of patients need both medications and they will always need both.

Most of my patients tend to stop the Atarax but they will pay a price if they flare during the allergy. They will take three months to really improve again. One bad allergy flare and they usually listen to me. You only need a low dose hydroxyzine.. 25 mgs at bedtime. I think that it is far more important than Elavil.

[miz_sunshine87]

hmm so Parsons thinks he can make 90% of people better with elmiron and hydroxizine. Interesting considering the sucess rate of elmiron is only around 25%. Am I to believe that the hydroxizine is responsible for the remainder?

That said, I DO believe that the hydroxizine helped me alot, and is at least partially responsible for my previous remission (hurray!). I began feeling better within weeks of being on the hydrox (and amytriptyline), and was in remission a few months later.

I can't comment on the elmiron as I haven't taken it yet. Perhaps it is just the way that I am reading it, but Parson's seems a bit cocky for my liking. Of course he could be a lovely man and I am reading into it all wrong.