Antihistamines are used for treating allergic conditions like flu, common cold, allergic-rhinitis, and other similar problems. Some antihistamines are available via over the counter i.e., OTC route, and can be purchased without the prescription of a certified medical expert. Generic meds of this genre help treat hives triggered by mites, pollen, etc., spells of sneezing as well as blocked nasal passages. There are meds of this genre that need a prescription from a physician to buy them. In general, these drugs are offered only for a few days. Hydroxyzine is one of the antihistamine meds. But can you use hydroxyzine for sleep? It helps to have more inputs.
In clinical terms, antihistamine refers to a genre of drugs that block or inhibit the functioning of histamine-receptors in your body. However, in common language – these meds are referred to as drugs that help treat allergic reactions. There are two broad classifications namely, H1 – antihistamines and H2 – antihistamines. The former binds with H1 receptors present in your muscles as well as skin. These meds work well to treat a runny nose, itchiness of skin as well as episodes of sneezing.
H2 – antihistamines work through their binding with histamine-H2 – receptors. These are present in the top part of our gastric channel, and in some parts of your stomach. These drugs are increasingly used for treating conditions caused by excessive gastric acids. These include acid reflux, heart burn as well as formation of ulcers in your gastric tract. A few antihistamines are taken to resolve eustachian tube-related problems like fullness inside your ears, muffled or restricted sense of hearing, tinnitus, etc.
In this light, what is hydroxyzine?
This is an antihistamine med. This drug is administered for the treatment of anxieties, itchy skin, abdominal conditions like nausea – especially, maladies triggered by motion sickness. This drug is available as pills and intramuscular injections. In essence, hydroxyzine blocks a few allergy-causing histamines.
Hydroxyzine
It was launched in the mid-1950s. As per latest medical data, hydroxyzine features among the top-50 meds in terms of number of prescriptions each year. This number has already crossed the 12.50-million mark in the US.
Hydroxyzine dose for sleep
Hydroxyzine is known to breach the brain-blood barrier with relative ease. Its oral form is easily absorbed on to the gastric channel. Its concentration level is more pronounced in your skin than in your plasma. It takes about 100 – 110 minutes for hydroxyzine to attain highest level of concentration; this timeline is common among both children as well as adults.
Hydroxyzine is known to have sedative properties. This is used to make people sleep; especially those who are living with conditions like sleeplessness or insomnia. It is also taken for treating spells of anxieties or restlessness. However, its use is strictly for a few days; long term intake of hydroxyzine is unsafe in adults and in younger patients.
Maximum dose of hydroxyzine for sleep
Clinical research done on how hydroxyzine puts you for sleep has not arrived at any evidence-based conclusion. But some light is shed on the effects of this drug on neurotransmitters like serotonin. This med is found to enhance the availability of serotonin in your cerebral system. You need to know that such neuro-transmitting substances help stabilise moods and promote sleepiness.
Added to the above, hydroxyzine works on H1 receptors which are present in muscles. This causes drowsiness to set in; this works as another reason that makes you sleep. As key compounds of hydroxyzine get absorbed at a faster rate, this med works within 20 minutes form the time of dosage.
Typical dose is 50 milligrams (mg) for inducing sleep; this dose is taken before bed-time. It is unsafe to have alcohol along with hydroxyzine as it can lead you to severe spells of dizziness / drowsiness. To know more about using hydroxyzine for sleep, talk to your treating physician.
Disclaimer
Information provided here are only of supplementary nature. Information shared here does not substitute a qualified doctor’s advice. This website is not suggesting intake of this drug as safe or appropriate. Hence it is advised to talk to your doctor before consuming this med or any other drug
Education: Bachelor’s in Journalism with a minor in Nutrition from Northwestern University. Experience: 15 years as a health journalist, writing for major publications like The New York Times and TIME, with a focus on diet, exercise, and chronic disease management.
