Hydroxyzine
Hydroxyzine, sold under the brand names Atarax and Vistaril among others, is an antihistamine medication. It is used in the treatment of itchiness, insomnia, anxiety, and nausea, including that due to motion sickness. It is used either by mouth or injection into a muscle.
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Pronunciation | /haɪˈdrɒksɪziːn/ |
Trade names | Atarax, Vistaril, others |
Other names | UCB-4492 |
AHFS/Drugs.com | Monograph |
MedlinePlus | a682866 |
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Dependence liability | None |
Routes of administration | By mouth, intramuscular injection |
Drug class | First generation antihistamine |
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Bioavailability | High |
Protein binding | 93% |
Metabolism | Liver |
Metabolites | Cetirizine, others |
Elimination half-life | Adults: 20.0 hours Elderly: 29.3 hours Children: 7.1 hours |
Excretion | Urine, feces |
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ECHA InfoCard | 100.000.630 |
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Formula | C21H27ClN2O2 |
Molar mass | 374.91 g·mol−1 |
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Common side effects include sleepiness, headache, and a dry mouth. Serious side effects may include QT prolongation. It is unclear if use during pregnancy or breastfeeding is safe. Hydroxyzine works by blocking the effects of histamine. It is a first-generation antihistamine in the piperazine family of chemicals.
It was first made by Union Chimique Belge in 1956 and was approved for sale by Pfizer in the United States later that year. In 2021, it was the 58th most commonly prescribed medication in the United States, with more than 11 million prescriptions.