This can't be right, can it??

[meResque]

While waiting to get in to see a very good uro, I'm depending on my gyno for treating my IC, which was just diagnosed last month. He prescribed Elmiron, offered to do instillations (um, thanks, gonna wait for the uro!), and sent me on my way. After some research here, I went back and asked him to prescribe Atarax, which he was more than happy to do.

I went and picked up the prescription, and saw that he'd prescribed it, "Every 4-6 hours for pain." Is this right? It pretty much seems that people here are taking this at either 25 mg, 50 mg, or 75 mg. My pills are 25 mg... so if I take one every 4 hours... I could be taking 150 mg a day!

I took 25 mg this morning, and came here to ask if I need to be taking more... kind of figured I'd take 25 for a few days, then 50, then see how I was doing... 25 mg didn't make me sleepy in the least. Is this why most people take it at night, or is there a reason I'm missing? Thanks for any help you can give me!

[JeanAnn56]

Hi there,
I just started taking Vistrail, i am also doing lots of herbal tea and supplements....
But my pain specialist wrote the script. He started me at 25mg 2 times perday......
So far so good...take one in the am and one at night. Does help me sleep...

[musiclover]

My IC Specialist told me to take anywhere between 25-75mg/per day, with 75 being the max. I was at 50mg/day but now take only 25mg. I think with any more than that, I would be asleep all day! It sounds pretty high. And when I read a transcript by Dr. Theoharides, the investor of cystoprotek, I think he was giving his patients 75mg/day of Atarax and then down to 50mg or something like that.

I definitely would only start with 25mg, no more until you adjust. I actually split mine in two to start with because the side effects are so harsh when you first start.

[traceann]

I take the Vistaril version of hydroxyzine and just take 25mgs at bedtime (well, not bedtime, more like 7pm for me, lol). During high allergy season I may take another 25mg in the morning, for a total of 50mgs a day. Here's an excerpt from a Q&A session here on the ICN (along with the link to the actual transcript) with some information on it :)

Link: http://www.ic-network.com/guestlectures/theotranscript.html

Excerpt:
One of the problems from the beginning was (and is) that when physicians hear hydroxyzine, they prescribe patients with a high dose of 100 mgs a day. That dosage would put an elephant to sleep. Instead, what one should do is start a patient at 25 mg at night for a week and usually that sedation goes away within one to two weeks. Then advance the dosage to 50mgs at night and wait 1-2 weeks. That’s a critical point because if the patient still feels sedated after that they should stay at 50. If they aren't very sedated, then they can go to 75mgs. Usually it is 50mgs at night and 25mgs sometime before noon.

[meResque]

Thanks so much, I knew 150 mg couldn't be right! I'm going to stick to 25 mg for a week, then start one before bed as well. 25 mg doesn't make me sleepy, but when I combine it with my muscle relaxer, I sure could go for a nap! I'm lucky in that things that would have most people passed out on the floor make me feel mildly tired, I guess.

25 mg seems to be doing the job, anyway... I haven't had the pressure or urethral burning at all since I started taking it, and my frequency (or lack of, compared to most here) is down as well... down from about 7-8 times a day to 5-6. So that's nice.

[babygirl1071]

Is Atarax the same as Hydroxyzine? I've been taking 25mg for a little over a month and I think it's helping some. How long did you guys take it before you noticed results? I'm still have some burning issues.

[meResque]

It is the same. I saw results right away, but I know the protocol is to start at 25mg then increase your dosage to 50mg, then if tolerated and needed, increase to 75mg.

[babygirl1071]

hmmm, wondering if I should keep taking it or not if it hasn't really worked by now. I guess it does help me to get to sleep, but hasn't helped with the burning.

I have to add a little tidbit. I looked at my Rx and it's actually 10mg, not 25. Anybody think this is a little low? Should I call my uro and see if she'll up it to 25mg without another visit? Now that's I've been reading all this stuff, I'm starting to second-guess her. She's really not a uro, but a PAC, so I would think that with her having to do things under the careful watch of a uro that things would be okay, but maybe not.

[traceann]

It is one of those meds that the longer you're on it - the more effective it can be. From what I've read here, is that 3 months is a good chance to give it. :) When I first started taking it, that first week I had an increase in my frequency, and I almost stopped taking it - but then that stopped and things started looking up, glad reminded myself I made myself a deal to give it at least 3 months barring any horrific side-effects, lol. ;)

[babygirl1071]

Trace,

Thanks for letting me know. It's just so hard to keep the faith sometimes. I was one of the lucky few that was able to go 4 years and live an almost normal life. Now I've had to adjust my diet and even places I go. It SUCKS!!!

[traceann]

You're so welcome, and yup you are so right, IC SUCKS! LOL Just do keep the faith but also remember pity parties are acceptable as long as they don't last too long, lol. I'd have been lost without them - the permission to be mad, upset, etc etc is very freeing, lol. ;)

[babygirl1071]

Praise be to God!!! I am FINALLY starting to feel better. Must be the meds are starting to kick in. I just got my first bottle of Cystoprotek, so gonna start on that tomorrow. That was the 2-month long flare from hell!!!

[meResque]

I'm really glad to hear you're starting to feel better.

[JeanAnn56]

i am glad you are better. I too have been in a flare for the past 2 months or longer. What really is helping is hot baths 2-3 times per day with tea tree oil and lavender, sometimes sage in the bath. It relaxes my back and pelvic muscles.

I have also been taking the 25mg of visteral 2 times per day. I like the idea of 50 mg at night and then 25 mg before noon. I will talk with my doc about this.

I am using herbal teas and suplements. I am so grateful for this site and all of you.

Jean Ann

[Turtlecat]

I just started Enablex today and my urologist office called in some hydroxyzine--only 10 mg. She stressed to only take it at night for me and to please try to stick with it because it can make you feel really groggy. My Cystoprotek is due to arrive Wednesday. She said normally it takes a couple of weeks to know if Enablex is going to help (so far no side effects, but then I've only had one dose!). I have IBS-C, so I'm hoping it doesn't make that worse. Then she mentioned an instill if these don't help, something I do not want to do! My main problem is frequency and what I can only describe as nerve hypersensitivity in "that" area (no pain)---and it was horrible earlier today.

For those who are on hydroxyzine, does the grogginess get better over time? I noticed some said they were taking part of their dose during the daytime.

babygirl, SO glad you're starting to feel better!! :woohoo: Please post and let us know how the Cystoprotek works for you, too.

[JeanAnn56]

CAPA machine????

[traceann]

Yes, generally the grogginess does get better - when I stick to it regularly that side effect evens out. It's when I have a bad run - like forgetting to take it on and off etc, I have troubles with the groggies - and when I take it too late in the day. If I take it too late, I don't want to get up at all, but when I take it in the evening around 7pm or earlier I do just fine. :)

[Turtlecat]

Thanks, Tracey!

[traceann]

Turtlecat you're most welcome! :)

[meResque]

It has never made me feel groggy in the least. I take it as soon as I wake up in the morning, with my Elmiron, LOL! So interesting that only some people have certain side effects!