Is Hydroxyzine Safe? Getting a Lot of Panic Attacks, Need Something to Help Myself

Hi, I have very stressful time right now regarding my tinnitus (dental work...) and I need some help. My panic attacks are so strong that I'm literally shaking and it's hard to take a breath.

I got Hydroxyzine 25mg, but is it safe? I saw some posts on Tinnitus Talk that makes me think that it's ototoxic medicine. If so then what can I take and ask doctors about? I need something, I can't take this stress by myself.

 

did you try the drug? How did it go for you?

 

I think people here will tell you nearly everything is ototoxic.. Hydroxyzine is an antihistamine, not an antibioitic or some other thing actually known to be ototoxic. I recently took hydroxyzine for the first time, also 25mg. I found 25mg to be way too strong for me.

30 minutes or so after taking it, I started to feel dizzy and tired, and I fell asleep. I woke up at some point during the night to pee, and maybe once or twice after that. Each time I woke up, I was able to get back to sleep without any effort. In the morning I was very groggy and didn't feel too well rested that day.

I later checked with the pharmacist to see if it's OK to split the pills, and they said yes, so next time I will try a smaller dose. Hopefully I don't need it too often though.

 

I should've picked this over Xanax. This is probably safer overall.

 

So why don't more people use this as opposed to the more stronger ones?

 

I don't think the distinction is strong vs weak, but rather addictive vs non-addictive. I would say that hydroxyzine is definitely a very strong medication - no pill I've ever taken has knocked me out the way does. In fact, it may be too strong in that regard.

I think many doctors prescribe drugs recklessly. Thankfully, my dr is very much against sleeping pills like ambien, and against using benzos unless absolutely necessary.

 

That is very interesting, because I have taken Diphenhydramine in the past and it didn't really have any effect on me. I was told Hydroxyzine is just a stronger version of it. How does it compare with Ambien for instance? Have you taken it?

 

I’ve never taken ambien, but hydroxyzine’s effect on me is way stronger than diphenhydramine or doxylamine.

 

Just my 2 cents for anyone else with the same question;

I've taken Hydroxyzine (Atarax) during spans of 1-2 days just to sleep back when I had my onset of tinnitus, it did not cause any worsening.

At one point though, I took the drug for 7 consecutive days and at the 4th-5th day I developed many new tones in tinnitus. Most tones is still remaining 3 months later, some is gone. During this time though, I began to sound deprive my hearing, so that could also have been a factor.

I'm not a doctor, but based on my experience, I'd say that Hydroxyzine is overall safe, but be very careful if you intend to use it on more than 3 consecutive days. If you notice changes in your tinnitus; quit it.