Whenever research work needs to be performed on a specific drug medication it’s not unusual to find uses, side effects, precautions, interactions, warnings, contraindications, indications and perhaps a few more. We may safely describe these terms as the medicinal features of any drug medication you may want to study and know. These features are also the hallmark of Hydroxyzine Hcl which is the topic for this article. Read on to learn more about this drug medication.
How Hydroxyzine is used
If you are a person who suffers continuously from itching,then it’s very likely you’re under the influence of one or more allergies.
The most appropriatetreatment for this itching is the drug mediation,Hydroxyzine which fallsunder the drug category of anantihistamine.
The unique characteristic of this category of drugs is its ability to impede the production process of a natural substance calledhistamine which your body produces whenever an allergic reaction takes place.
In the short-term Hydroxyzine can also be used to treat an attack of anxiety by helping to enter a sleepy or relaxed state of composure before and after a surgical operation.
Administering Hydroxyzine Hcl for treating your condition
This drug medication is taken orally in the mouth precisely as directed by your doctor and may be taken with or without food and is usually taken three or four times every day.
The medication also comes in liquid form and if your condition requires that you take the liquid medication, you need to do the following:
Carefully measure out your dose as prescribed by your doctor using a recommended device or spoon that usually comes with your prescribed medication. If none is provided ask your pharmacist for one. Avoid using a household spoon as it will not give you the correct dose.
Normally, the prescribed dose your doctor has provided will be based on your age, your medical condition and how you respond to medical treatment.
For young children the dose can also be determined according to the weight of the patient.
Side effects caused by Hydroxyzine
All drug medications are responsible for causing different types of side effects that users experience after taking the medication. For Hydroxyzine, the following side effects may appear:
These side effects usually dissipate on their own but if by any chance they stubbornly persist or grow worse, you should immediately get in touch with your doctor or pharmacistand inform them of your situation.
If you get a dry mouth as the side effect for taking the medication, you should suck on a sugarless hard candy bar or ice chips. You can also chew sugarless gum, drink water, or you can use a substitute for saliva
Sometimes, your side effects may be serious ones that may include the following:
- mental or mood changes such as
- restlessness
- confusion
- shaking or tremors
- urinating problems
Sometimes however, you may feel that you are experiencing very serious side effects, in which case you should promptly seek medical attention. These very serious side effects can include:
It should be noted however that a very serious allergic reaction from taking this drug medication is rare. Nevertheless if you believe you are noticing symptoms that indicates a serious allergic reaction, you should immediately seek medical attention.
You should note that these serious allergic reactions can include the following:
- rash
- itching
- swelling of the face, throat and tongue
- severe dizziness
- problem breathing
A list of Hydroxyzine side effects by likely occurrence and severity
What are the necessary precautions for using hydroxyzine?
Prior to taking hydroxyzine, you should make your doctor or pharmacist know if you are:
- allergic to hydroxyzine, cetirizine, levocetirizine or any other allergies. This drug medication may harbor ingredients which are inactive which may cause adverse allergic responses or other issues. You should consult with your pharmacist to learn more details.
Before you actually use this medication, you should inform your doctor or pharmacist about your medical history, especially the following conditions if you’ve had them:
- breathing difficulties such asemphysema orasthma)
- high pressure of theeye or glaucoma
- high blood pressure
- kidney problems
- seizures
- stomach or intestinal problems such as ulcer and tract blockage
- overactive thyroid also known as hyperthyroidism
- urinating problems due to enlarged prostate
It’s medically known that hydroxyzine may potentially cause a condition known as QT prolongation that can affect your heart beat.
QT prolongation will rarely cause a fatal fast or irregular heartbeat or cause any other severe symptoms such as dizziness or fainting that require immediate medical attention.
The risk with QT prolongations may increase if you are suffering under some medical conditions or you are using other drug medications that cause QT prolongation.
It’s essential therefore that prior to using hydroxyzine, you inform your doctor or pharmacist about all the drug medications you are currently taking and also if you have the following conditions:
- some heart issues such as heart failure, slow heartbeat or EKG QT prolongation
- family history of some heart problems such as EKG QT prolongation or sudden cardiac death.
If you have low levels of potassium or magnesium in your blood your risk of getting QT prolongation may also rise.
Your risk for getting QT prolongation may also increase if you are taking drugs such as diuretics or water pills or if you suffer from severe sweating, diarrhea or vomiting.
Learn more from your doctor about safety precautions when you’re using this drug medication.
Bottom line
There is definite advantage in knowing the special medicinal features that drug medications such as hydroxyzine. Essentially, when you become familiar with the nature of a medication, how to use it, what it’s capable of doing for you, its side effects and the remedies available in avoiding or counteracting such side effects, you no longer feel alienated but instead feel confident about using the medication to remove your source of discomfort.