Thinking of taking Hydroxyzine...anyone have any input...like about side effects?

[summermuffin]

Hi everyone!

I've was diagnosed with IC recently...my problems began last Nov.
I'm now taking 40mg of Elavil and Prelief for my IC. I'm also on Ovcon 35 for birth control.

I'm doing a lot better...but I still wouldn't say my quality of life has changed enough to make me happy. I still have quite a bit of frequency. Especially after I pee. At my last visit with my UroGyn...the doctor offered to put me on Elmiron. I decided to wait on that idea until my next appt..which is next month. I'm too scared to take Elmiron because of all the possible side effects like hair loss and bruisng.

However...I am interested in the Hyrdoxyzine. I seem to see people having postive reactions to it without bad side effects. In a book I have called...The Interstitial Cystitis Survival Guide by Moldwin...the side effects listed was drowsiness. That I can handle...hair loss...not.

Does anyone else know of any othe side effects like acne or weight gain?
What are your experiences with it? I'm struggling with what to ask for...increasing the dose of elavil...which could increase the possible side effect of weight gain..or try this antihistimine with the dose of elavil I have now. Please...anyone's help is much appreciated.
Thanks

[blue]

Atarax, or Hydroxyzine, is helping me. The only side effect I have is drowsiness. So, I take it when I go to bed, problem solved!

I'm wishing you well.

[theclownster]

I have good results with hydroxyzine. Yes there is some grogginess, but overall I think it helps a lot. I'm accidentally missed a does before and the next day I could tell the difference. I usually try to take it about 30 minutes to an hour before bed. It also helps me sleep through the night - which is a bonus.

I hope it can work for you too!
Take Care!
Jennifer

[donutgirl]

I take 2 atarax at night right before bed. Good luck!!!

[Jeanne D.]

I can not take generic atarax (hydroxyzine) due to a sensitivity to the fillers in the drug. I take Vistaril instead, which is a brand name of hydroxyzine. Oddly enough, it is made by the same company that stopped its production of Atarax.

The two most common side effects of this drug are drowsiness and dry mouth.

Jeanne

[summermuffin]

Hi...thanks for the feedback. Do you know what the pills with the red dye is called? I want to know how to ask my doctor to give me the right pills.

[ICTexas]

I take the generic 25 mg pills (they are green) at bedtime. I take 75 mg (3 pills). The hangover drowsiness went away with time and I worked up to the dose I currently take. I would not miss it - ever! It helps me tremendously!

Pam

[ICNDonna]

Many people with IC can take colored pills with no problem at all. One thing I do when I get a new prescription is to ask the pharmacist to fill only a part of the prescription so I can try it for a few days before I spend money to fill the entire thing.

I don't take hydroxyzine full time, but I did take it for an allergic reaction with no problem --- the pills were pink.

Sending encouraging hugs,
Donna

[dyno]

I take Hydroxyzine and have taken it for 2 years and the only side effect was at first a little drowsiness. It has helped me a lot.

[summermuffin]

Has the meds helped with your frequency? I have to say that frequency is my biggest problem. And...right now I feel aweful...I was doing soo well and now I don't know what's going on. Does anyone know how they can detect whether they have a UTI while having IC. I feel like I have to pee all the time...soo I don't know if it's just my IC acting up or if I now have a UTI on top of it?

[peiti]

I had been on Vistaril for 3 months. Just stopped taking 4 days ago. It helped a little for the pain but not too much for the frequency. After 3 months on it, I still felt so sleepy in the morning or noon. I guess I am just too sensitive. I took 25mg at 7PM and was not able to wake up at 8AM.

[theclownster]

I've seen over the counter test strips at the pharmacy before (to test for UTI). I've never bought them nor used them, but it might be worth a try. Frequency can be really annoying.

I hope you feel better soon!
Jennifer

[rjyoon]

Atarax can cause decreased respiration. After a few days, I was staying in bed until 4 p.m., couldn't think clearly, unable to call 911, etc. Turns out my respiration was decreased & I wasn't getting enough oxygen. I'd recommend being around people for the first week or two so if this happens, you're not alone like I was. Very scary.

[blue]

Mine are little green pills. I'm not aware that I have any problem with dyes the way other people do.

[Nicole in ATL]

I've been taking hydroxyzine for IC for years now. I do believe that it helps with my frequency/urgency. At first it made me tired, but definitely did not cause me to oversleep or not be able to function. After the first 2 weeks, the drowsiness was much better. I try to take it a couple of hours before bedtime (rather than at bedtime) to reduce any morning drowsiness. I have had both white pills and pink pills. No bad reaction to the pink pills at all. I haven't noticed any other side effects. I tolerate it well.

We all react differently to meds, so you really won't know how you will react until you try it yourself.

Good luck,
Nicole

[icnmgrjill]

(note to bigdog - In 11 years as a support group leader and the leader of the ICN, I've never talked with a patient who had months or years of fatigue from a single dose of hydoxyzine. What's your source?)

I took hydroxyzine pamoate (Vistaril) for eight years with great success and few side effects. I never had drowsiness from up... but it did make it slightly harder for me to wake up. It was like having to punch through an extra veil of sleep in the morning. But, once I was up, I was fine with no residual drowsiness. Because I have dry eyes anyway, I don't know if that made it worse. But, it did make me just a bit more heat sensitive in the summer. My mom has been on it for the past few months and I can see that heat sensitivity in her as well. No weight gain...

Also, many patients have commented on the more "vivid" dreams while on the meds. After 8 years, I started to have some nightmares which I correlate with both 9/11 and the meds. Now that I've stopped the meds, I rarely have nightmares.. so I do think that it was playing a role. But, that was after about 7 years of taking it.

Now that I haven't taken it for a year or so, I can definitely see that it helped my IC. My bladder is touchier now.

Jill

[Skyler]

I had to respond to medication reactions.. Eleven years ago I had a medication reaction so my primary care doctor recommended I take benadryl. I took a small portion of the dye-free liquid childrens benadryl. Within a short time I was unable to move and decided to to go to the ER. Talk about being a stiff...LOL Unfortunately, none of the doctors had seen any reaction like this. They flushed my body out with electrolyte solution. I believe I was still suffering from the original reaction and the benadryl compounded everything. The benadryl had sorbitol in it and maybe that caused the double reaction? Being allergic as I am. when I try something new, I first put a tiny portion of the med in a glass of water and drink that. If I pass that step, I next wet a portion of the med and tape it to my arm. I can react through the skin. If I pass that test, I break the med up into portions and take the dosages within the time prescribed. Also, a compounding pharmacy can help you eliminate the fillers in your medications, which may eliminate reactions. This is such fun trying to explain this to a new doctor but it works for me...........Leslie

[dminton]

If dyes and fillers weird you out for any reason, even psychologically, then find a compounding pharm and they will make it up with neither. It's worth it, even for peace of mind. It is more expensive, however, and some insurances won't pay for it.

[sue041]

I have taken hydroxyzine for 4 years, it depends which drug company your pharmacy gets them from and the mg that is why the colors are different, I took a kind of blue green one 25mg and now I am taking a white coated (m&m) coated one 25mg, but they are out dated and getting sticky and some of them fizzed like a alkaseltzer. I hate to throw they away, since they are out dated the drug co will not take them back or reinburse me in anyway. I have been taking them and I have bleeding ulcers in my nose again, don't know if this is what caused it or not. If anyone has any infor on what causes ulcers in ones nose (aside from Elmiron)please let me know.
Thanks for your help.
Sue

[kadi]

Unfortunately Atarax gave me a pounding heartbeat & intense anxiety. The pharmacist tells me that is a side effect more likely to happen to children than adults.

[Nina 23]

Hey its Nina and I have been on Atarax for 9 months and it took 6 months to be able to wake up on time every morning. I could not wake up from it.I wasn't taking anything for the pain so it couldn't be anything else.

I am so happy we have this board to talk to :)
:dance: :thumbsup:

[RedLione]

(No, this is not the Matrix!) I read Summermuffins post twice, and my impression was that she was looking for the drug pyridium, or over-the-counter Uristat. Those are red pills that numb the bladder and (thankfully!) urethrea and make your urine yellow. I thought she meant she wanted to ask her dr. for that.

[Cheryl529]

Hi Summermuffin, I hope your doing better. I also take hydroxyzine at bedtime. Usually 1-1.5 hours before I plan to hit the sack. It causes drowsiness in me but that's why my Dr wants me to take it. I think it helps with the frequency during the night. You may want to ask your doctor about Ditropan for daytime frequency that has also helped me.

Has hydrozyzine made anyone else feel sick for a short period of time when they take it? I can't tell if it's that or my Elmiron. Thanks. (hugs)

[Rita]

:hmm: Just need some input!!! I take 50 mg elavil
at bedtime and am just starting Atarax. Can anyone
tell me what dosage you take and how often and do
you take it only at bedtime??? Thanks for any answer
I get.(((HUGS))) Rita

[Cheryl529]

Hi Rita, I am taking Elavil now as well. My doctor has me take 50mg at bedtime (2 pills). Between the Elavil and the hydroxyzine I'm doing better at night time. I have not tried the Atarax yet. Good luck!

[SrMaggie]

I take the green pill, just started last week. I've slept through the night and have felt better than I have felt in the last 4 years. The elavil put 10 pounds on me in a matter of weeks. I'm doing weight watchers now to get rid of it. The amount of water for weight watchers is too much for me though.
Maggie

[theoutlaw77]

Any one have weight gain with hydroxyzine? I take Elmiron, hydroxyzine and percocet. The hydroxyzine is my newest med, and I have been gaining weight- maybe I am just a pig!!

[connie sherman]

I am so happy I found this "thread." My doctor prescribed hydroxyzine to help me sleep when my allegies exaserpated the IC condition. I usually only take it when I've been working in the yard, but now, after reading your comments I might try it everyday and see if it helps. I too have problems with drowsiness the morning after. However, since some of you have that particular problem go away with continuous use, I will give it another go. thanks so much. My pills are purple.

[SrMaggie]

I take the hydroxyzine around dinner time so that I'm not groggy the next morning. I take Ambien just before bed and I usually sleep throught the night. The Ditropan XL, I started at night because it, too, said it would make one sleepy. I might try it during the day as I get accustomed to it.
I occasionally fill sick to my stomache, but sometimes that helps with the weight gain from the other medication. Memorial Day weekend will be a good time to test out the different regime since I won't need to be truly awake for school.

[SrMaggie]

Sorry about the typos -
throught = through
fill = feel

[Angeles]

Do any of these antihistamines cause stomach pain?

[kiraks]

Hey- I have to say Atarax didn't work well for me at all. I got these horrible headaches but I still stayed on it for two weeks, then I had to stop and my headaches went away. I'm really not sure what was up with that. However, I think it works well for most people...I still want to try vistaril. I would ask your doctor to try that first personally because most people w/ IC do better w/ Vistaril than Atarax, at least that's what I hear.

I think you should definitely start Elmiron. It's a minority of people who have hair loss and though I have a little more hair loss than before it's NOT a big deal at all. I just lose a little more in the shower, but I still have lots of hair, nothing you could possibly ever tell. I've had no other side effects from the Elmiron and it could help you greatly!

[chainsaw]

I was wondering. Do we have to take meds the rest of our lives for IC? I have been meaning to talk to the doctor but I keep forgetting to give him a call. I don't have to go back to him unless I start having problems again, but I still call for prescriptions (VesiCare & Hydroxyzine). I saw him last year sometime, and they told me that the bladder looked alot better than what it did the first time I saw him (a year and half before), and that I didn't need to come back unless I started having problems again.

Kim (chainsaw)

[chainsaw]

I have noticed that if I don't take the Hydroxyzine for a few days and then take it again, I get very tired, and very hard to wake up in the morning. I also think alot of that has to do with if I am tired in the first place. I don't get much sleep now days with my soon to be 30 month old daughter. So I think that does tend to make it worse. I don't remember having that before we adopted our daughter back in 2005.

Kim (chainsaw)

[Leah62]

Hydroxyzine made me feel drowsy when I first started to take it but I took it with my evening meal, so it didn't really matter. After awhile it stopped really making me drowsy, but I have noticed that it helps alleviate part of the pain. I've been taking it for years. Not noticed any other side effect. And basically I'm sensitive to medications. So if someone noticed, it would probably be me. I couldn't wait to start Elmiron, but was apprehensive to any hair loss. Well I started and I've never had any hair loss due to the drug! Praise God!:woohoo:
I waited about 6 months for it to fully kick in which the doc told me about. I've been on it for years now. I was told to fast before a physical last year. The appt was for the afternoon.? I didn't take anything before it, not even the elmiron!:bonk: I was in some kind of pain! I now know I really have to have elmiron! The bruising isn't that bad and most people, except my boyfriend don't really notice it. He notices only because his medication does it. I wouldn't wish IC on anyone. Blessings to you and may God guide you on what works best for you!:angel:

[sue041]

The main reason I was put on Hydroxyzine was because something was making me itch really bad. I do not take the Elmiron any more I had a lot of side effects and I could see lno difference when I took it, they even had me bring a capsule to the doctor and he mixed it with water and instilled it into my bladder and told me to hold it in, well I have no control of my muscles:pray: down there and it burned like fire, as fast as he put it in it came out.
Sorry I could not give you any words of comfort, I wish you good luck and good health in the coming new year.
Thoughts and prayers.
Sue 041

[Leah62]

wow sue041, what a reaction to Elmiron. I guess u were told it would hurt u to try and take it orally for 6 months to wait for it to help u? That is the really strange thing about this disease, the meds, and the diet. What works for one may not for another. You said you had no control over the muscles? I had less control and more pain from it until, I called the best hospital in my area's physical therapy dept. and asked who they recommended for INTERNAL physical therapy. Turns out some muscles were hard as a rock down there and needed to be worked with. She did some biofeedback also and gave me some kegal exercises that weren't boring, and I did them. And boy did she help me. I went once a week for six weeks. I think anybody with IC and or Pelvic Pain, painful sex should check this out. Also I found out recently that one reason I had so much painful sex was the IC. Another big reason, to put it nicely, was that my ex and me were anatomically incorrect for eachother. He was oversized, and his technique was "bull in a china shop". I would talk to him about it, but he didn't seem to know how to stop being so aggressive. The urologist said he bruised me internally and there should be breaks, as in days, to recover, inbetween. For other reasons, we are no longer together. My current life partner and I don't have that problem:) We still have to change up the positions sometimes, but I finally know that it wasn't all my issue, like my ex told me it was once. :)
I pray for a cure for this stuff. I also pray that you find what works for you individually. I hope you and yours have a very blessed new year! :angel:

[Thingone]

Out of all the medication I take, this one helps me the most. I'm super sensitive to medication, especially dies.

[sue041]

Out of all the medication I take, this one helps me the most. I'm super sensitive to medication, especially dies.

I am not sure what I am to answer, I did not like the Elmiron it made me have nose bleeds and my bladder hurt something fierce. So then the doctor told me to bring a few capsules to my next appointment and so I did and he put into water and instilled it in my bladder and it burned so bad. He said to try and hold it in my bladder and it ran out as fast as he put it in. When I got off the table, the pain was really bad, much worse than it was when I went in there.
But it does not hurt some of the other ladies say it really works for them. We are all different and medicines react to us all differently.
Take care and I hope you find something to help with your discomfort
Sue 041.
:hi:

[Dawne]

I am currently taking Benedryl, which I don't think helps a whole lot. Is the Hydroxine different from Benedryl?

[tracieg]

I have also been on atarax and the only side effect that I had was sleepiness. I am still taking it every night but not really sure if they help.. I think my flares are mostly hormonal.

[bjcov]

this may be a dumb question but do you take the hydroxzine even if you don't have allergies? Or is that part of the regime of meds for IC? My docs are old school and don't really help me much.

[icnmgrjill]

Yes you can. It has a slightly less effectiveness rating but it's still worth considering. I took it for 8 years and it really helped me!

[bjcov]

thanks for the info. I think I tried it before but I only was on it for about 2 weeks. I usually don't get side effects from drugs tho. But I'm lucky in a sense, I don't usually wake up to use the restroom. Actually I can usually hold my urine in for a long time, I just feel like I have to go all the time. Its just not fun to feel "not right" in that general area, you know?