TaperCommunityhydroxyzine
Hydroxyzine is a first-generation antihistamine used as an anxiolytic, antipruritic, and pre-anesthetic. Non-controlled, non-dependence-forming, often chosen as a benzodiazepine-sparing option for short-term anxiety.
10mg, 25mg, 50mg, 100mg tablets/capsules; 10mg/5mL syrup
Tablets/capsules: 10mg, 25mg, 50mg, 100mg; Syrup: 10mg/5mL; IM injection
Category C
Potent histamine H1 antagonist; mild muscarinic and 5-HT2A antagonism. The active metabolite cetirizine accounts for some of the long-acting effect.
Most patients can stop with a brief 1-week step-down or directly. No benzodiazepine-style withdrawal.
A genuinely low-risk discontinuation profile compared with benzodiazepines or Z-drugs.
1-3 days
3-7 days
1-2 weeks
Rare
Toxicity
Sedation, dry mouth, dizziness, blurred vision, urinary retention. QT prolongation at higher doses or in combination with other QT-prolonging drugs.
Pharmacokinetics
Hepatic to cetirizine and other metabolites.
~93%
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