Atarax Help!!

[glassd18]

Okay I have now tried Atarax twice. First time I took a whole one, and my breathing was really shallow, and the next day I could bearly function all day. Last night I took 1/2, and slept fine, but I am so out of it still at 4:00pm in the afternoon, and I'm extremely irritable. Does Vistaril do the same thing? Anyone have any ideas for me? I'm going to see my uro on Oct 15th, and I'm so afraid because I can't tolerate many of the things she's prescribed. I still didn't tried the Elavil yet. Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks DOPEY!!!

[traceann]

It took my body about a week or so to adjust to taking hydroxyzine, boy was I groggy during that time, lol. After I got more adjusted to it, I found that if I took it around 7pm, I had no groggies in the following morning, it'd had time to wear off, lol. And I only 25mg, and it works just fine. ;)

[glassd18]

Thanks Traceann, I only did a half of a 25mg and I was a Zombie all day, and am still feeling out of it. I couldn't get anything done at home. I'm glad I didn't start it on a work week. I think I would need a week off because I just could not work with how groggy I was. Is Vistiril the same as Atarax side effect wise?

[Berkshire Road]

I think vistaril and atarax are essentially the same thing. It can take time to build up a tolerance. I don't know if that helps you; you obviously can't do this while you're working!

If the elavil knocks you out too, try asking your doctor about nortriptyline. It's very closely related to elavil but has far fewer side effects. My doctor recommended it for me and it's been a lifesaver, so I'm always suggesting that people ask their own doctors if it's appropriate for them. :)

Good luck. I'm sorry you're so groggy. Hope it gets better.

[marysxx]

Started taking atarax one week ago. My period just finished so right now really nothing helps. My question is ow long does it take atarax to work and exactly what does it do?:help:

[traceann]

I think for me the immediate effects (I take the Vistaril version) I felt were due to the groggy's, lol, but being it's an antihistamine/allergy med I think it has to build up in your body. I want to say it's like give it at least 3 months, I seem to remember my doc wanting me to wait that long before I judged it one way or another. Like the longer you'd give it the more benefits you'd get from it etc.

If I were you, I'd ask my doc how long they'd want me to give it before any decisions were made etc. See what they have to say! ;) I hope it works for you, it's one med I won't ever want to give up, lol. I do know that the first week I was on it, along with the groggys, it felt like it upped my frequency - I almost ditched it right then, but glad I didn't as that went away and things started looking up. :)

[tiffRN83]

Atarax and Vistaryl are the same medications, it's just made by 2 different pharmaceutical companies. I just started it about a week ago, and stopped the elavil cold turkey, and I did notice a little bit of an increase in the flare, but it went away after it was in my system for a day or two, plus I think it may have had a little to do with me stopping the elavil suddenly (but I had to get off of it, I gained 20lbs in 3 months and my BP and heart rate shot up!) Atarax/Vistaryl is an awesome drug for IC if you have a lot of allergies. It doesn't hurt to talk to your doc or pharmacist about the side effects. My pharmacist warned me about them before I left with my meds (even though I already knew all about them!)

[snowgirl]

I am on atarax from the pain clinic for the bladder . I am on elavil from pscy. to help me sleep. I know elavil is also good for bladder pain much like atarax.
Do I really need them both? They both make you feel groggy. I was thinking one or the other but not both. Any ideas?

Vicky

[tiffRN83]

I would talk to your doctor first, but I would go with one or the other. They both cause drowsiness, so since sleep is an issue, it could probably take care of it. I know for me, the less medications I'm on the better I feel, plus the elavil gave me major weight gain.

[Charisse]

I had the same problem with Atarax. I am currently breaking the 25 mg tablet into quarters with a pill cutter and only taking it a few nights a week. I still can't handle the grogginess if I take it too many days in a row. It does get better though and believe me I thought it never would! I have heard it takes 3 months to really get into your system.