1. What is atarax 25mg?
The active ingredient of atarax 25 mg is Hydroxyzine dichlorhydrate 25 mg, along with excipients: Calcium phosphate, lactose, magnesium stearate, maize starch, silicon dioxide, and sodium lauryl sulfate. Atarax 25 mg is a product of UCB Pharma S.A. - Belgium.
Hydroxyzine is a competitive histamine H1 receptor antagonist. Additionally, the drug has central nervous system depressant effects, anticholinergic effects, antispasmodic effects, and provides local anesthetic, calming, and antiemetic effects. Hydroxyzine may cause respiratory depression, particularly in young children.
The calming and sedative effects of hydroxyzine are due to the reduction of activity in the subcortical central nervous system. However, hydroxyzine does not exert an inhibitory effect on the cerebral cortex. The mechanism of action for its antiemetic and motion sickness effects is still unclear, but it is likely related to its central anticholinergic effects and central nervous system inhibition.
The efficacy of long-term use of hydroxyzine for more than 4 months in the treatment of anxiety has not been established. However, clinicians believe that benzodiazepine medications are more effective than hydroxyzine for anxiety disorders.
2. The effects of atarax 25 mg
- Atarax 25 mg helps reduce symptoms of anxiety and stress, provide sedation before anesthetics are administered and post-anesthesia.
- Atarax 25 mg is also used to treat itching caused by allergies in conditions such as allergic dermatitis and contact dermatitis.
3. Dosage of atarax 25 mg
- Adults take atarax 25 mg at a dosage of 2-4 tablets (25 mg) per day, administered orally.
- Children aged 30 months to 15 years take atarax 25 mg at a dosage of 1 mg/kg/day, administered orally.
4. Contraindications of atarax 25 mg
Atarax 25 mg should not be used in the following cases:
- Difficulty urinating;
- Patients with glaucoma;
- Allergy to any component of atarax 25 mg.
5. Precautions when using atarax 25 mg
Do not consume food or medications containing alcohol while being treated with atarax 25 mg;
Read the instructions for use of atarax 25 mg carefully before taking it. If you need more information, please consult a pharmacist or doctor. Atarax 25 mg should only be used as prescribed by a healthcare professional, and keep atarax 25 mg out of reach of children.
Atarax 25 mg may cause drowsiness; therefore, caution should be exercised if the user needs to drive or operate machinery;
Atarax 25 mg should not be used by pregnant or breastfeeding women due to insufficient data to demonstrate safety for pregnant women; atarax 25 mg may cross the placental barrier.
6. Side effects of atarax 25 mg
- Common side effects: Constipation, difficulty urinating, mild to moderate drowsiness, headache, fatigue, restlessness, dizziness, discomfort, thickening of bronchial secretions, sore throat, weight gain, nausea, abdominal pain, joint pain, dry mouth, etc...
- Less common: Palpitations, hypotension, lethargy, paradoxical excitement, bronchospasm, nose bleeding, angioedema, rash, hepatitis, muscle pain, tremors, paresthesia, blurred vision.
7. Drug interactions of atarax 25 mg with other medications
Atarax 25 mg may enhance the effects of central nervous system depressants such as opioids, analgesics, barbiturates, other sedatives, anesthetics, and alcohol. Caution should be exercised when atarax 25 mg is used in conjunction with central nervous system depressants to avoid excessive sedation; the dosage of the central nervous system depressant may need to be reduced by up to 50%;
When atarax 25 mg is used alongside other anticholinergic medications, it may increase the anticholinergic effects;
Hydroxyzine in atarax 25 mg can inhibit and reverse the vasoconstrictive effects of epinephrine (also known as adrenaline); therefore, if a vasoconstrictor is needed for a patient taking hydroxyzine, noradrenaline or metaraminol should be used instead of epinephrine.
8. What to do in case of an overdose of Atarax 25 mg?
Symptoms of an overdose of atarax 25 mg include seizures, drowsiness, and hypotension. There is no specific treatment for overdose of antihistamines like atarax 25 mg; the only option is to remove the drug from the stomach by inducing vomiting or performing gastric lavage.
If the patient is comatose, experiencing seizures, or has lost the gag reflex, gastric lavage may be performed if an endotracheal tube with a cuff is placed to prevent aspiration of gastric contents. If the patient has hypotension, intravenous fluids may be administered along with noradrenaline or metaraminol (adrenaline should not be used).
Atarax 25 mg is a prescription medication commonly indicated to relieve itching due to allergies, urticaria, atopic dermatitis (Eczema), or to reduce stress and anxiety in adults. To ensure effective use and avoid unwanted side effects, it is essential to read the instructions carefully before use or follow the advice of a doctor or pharmacist.
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