hydroxyzine sleepy

[snslife]

Ive been taking a lot of meds but i think the culprit of the intense drowsiness is the hydroxyzine. i mean i cant even keep my eyes open! does this affect anyone else? what does hydroxyzine do?

[glassd18]

Hi Shannon,

Here is a link from this website and it talks about the meds, and why they are used. I got very sleepy too on hydroxyzine, but I did not stick with this med so far, but I heard that that side effect goes away with continued use. This is generally a good side effect for most IC'rs because it helps them to sleep.

http://www.ic-network.com/handbook/oral.html

[waterflow]

Are you taking it at night or during the day? I take mine only at night so it helps to calm down the bladder and I can sleep. I tried taking it during the day and ended up sleeping to much and that was only on 10 mgs. I take 100 mgs now at night. The drowsy thing got less for me the longer I took it.

[snslife]

I take it 2x a day. should i just take it before bed for now until I start to build a tolerance?

[tigger_gal]

absolutely, I take 75 mg and my doctor told me to take it b4 I went to bed.. it dose make you sleepy.

[waterflow]

I don't think it could hurt just trying it at bedtime and see how that goes. My uro wanted me taking it during the day too but I told him I end up sleeping the day away.

[snslife]

thanks everone. i appreciate your help!:toilet:

[SrMaggie]

Before bed is my vote. And if you wake up (or maybe just roll out of bed) in the morning and still feel the effects, you might try taking it a little before you go to bed so that it can get out of your system by the time you need to be alert.

[ICNDonna]

Don't forget to talk with your doctor before changing your medication regime.

:)
Donna

[Sarojini]

Gosh, when I started hydroxyzine I got almost high first, and then would just fall asleep wherever I was... it was awful. I almost quit, and then the side effects waned. Now, I get a little drowsy, but not too bad... I just take it before bedtime.

Ask your doc about this. He also may want to try starting you on a lower dose and then working up.

[Claredale]

I started out the same way, but now I can even take them during the day and not fall asleep.

[Moonheart]

Hydroxizine is like Benadryl on steroids. We all know how sleepy Benadryl makes you right? They prescribe it now for children with sleep issues because it is so benign. If I were to take either one during the day I'd be out for the count. :)

[windwalker]

Hey Shannon, my uro had me on 10 mg. in the a.m and 10 in the p.m. So I started it at night knowing from reading on the boards it would make me drowsy. It took two or three days till my body got "used to it". Maybe best to start med when you have the next day or two off?

[ESKIMO]

MY DR. HAD ME TAKE IT MORNING & NIGHT. MY DOSAGE WAS LOW AT FIRST. IT DIDN'T MAKE ME SLEEPY. I TAKE 100 MGS. & I GET TIRED BUT NOT SLEEPY. I DON'T KNOW WHY, MAYBE IT'S MY METABOLISM? I UP DURING THE NIGHT 5-6 TIMES:toilet: . I ALSO TAKE ELAVIL 75 MGS AT NIGHT, WHICH IS BEING SLOWLY INCREASED ALSO. I WOULD TALK TO YOUR DR. & EXPLAIN IT. MY DR. KNOWS WHAT IS HAPPENING WITH ME, & INFORMED ME TO CALL ANYTIME WITH QUESTIONS OR PROBLEMS WITH MY MEDICATON.:angel:

[rjyoon]

It slowed my respiration down to 8 breaths a minute & I was "sleepy" as I wasn't getting enough oxygen. I was very scared, as I knew something was wrong, but couldn't think clearly enough to figure out what to do. Thank goodness I had a friend's number on speed dial -- he did the thinking for me. Once it wore off, I was fine.

[irishnan3]

I'm only taking 5mgs and it makes me sleepy.
Does anyone have a retension problem from this med? I feel like I have to really push to Pee. But of coursr I'm constantly going. It is starting to worry me a bit. I see the uro/gyn on the 23rd of March.

[KathrynPInk]

Hi everyone,

I do not know what I would have done without my 75 mgs oh hydroxyzine at bedtime. it helped heal me and increased my sleep time at night. I love atarax (hydroxyzine) and it has been a mainstay of my treatment given to me by my uro for the last 12 years.
It has a down side as far as making the less tolerant of it, sleepy in the daytime, but now I can take 3 and still read for awhile. Anyone else in my family: one-- and they are down for the count. I really think it is just a matter of time before the body adjusts. Frankly, I would like to decrease just b/c I do not like taking all these drugs...but QUALITY of LIFE comes into the picture, and I say what the hello* it helps me, so I take it.
Love and PEACE to ALL-
Katheryn (Peace Freak once again)