Hydroxyzine Dosage: Pediatric, Adult And Geriatric Doses

Vistaril pamoate is an antihistamine drug generally used to treat anxiety, nausea, vomiting, and alcohol withdrawal. There is a difference in strength available in each dosage; it is essential for people to understand the importance of following the dosage guidelines before taking Atarax pill. Learn more about Atarax dosage for adults, children, old people, and different dosage forms available for use.

Table of content

• What Are The Common Dosages For Hydroxyzine?
• What Is The Difference Between Hydroxyzine Hcl And Pamoate?
• What Are The Dosage Forms Of Hydroxyzine?
• What Are The Hydroxyzine Dosage Guidelines For Kids?
• What Are The Hydroxyzine Dosage Guidelines For Adults?
• What Are The Hydroxyzine Dosage Guidelines For Geriatric Patients?

Widespread Atarax Dosages

Hydroxyzine exists in the following dosages:

• 10mg Tablet
• 25mg Tablet
• 50mg Tablet
• 100mg Tablet

Hydroxyzine dosage varies depending on some factors. For example, doctors prescribe Vistaril for anxiety differently for each patient. The number of doses, frequency of drug administration, and time intervals between each dose solemnly depend on an individual’s medical problem, reaction to treatment, the severity of side effects, etc. For this reason, patients should not neglect the instructions given by a doctor or try to imitate someone’s prescription. How long does Vistaril stay in one’s system? It solely depends on the individual’s organism, but generally, the elimination time is about 25 hours.

Difference Between Hydroxyzine Hcl And Pamoate

There are two different kinds of Hydroxyzine available for use today. They are namely:

• Hydroxyzine pamoate (Vistaril generic name)
• Hydroxyzine HCl (Atarax)

Hydroxyzine Hcl And Hydroxyzine pamoate are both antihistamines, yet they may be used for different diagnosis. Vistaril pamoate is mostly used to treat nausea and anxiety, whereas, Atarax (hydroxyzine HCl), is used for allergies and itching. One noticeable difference between the forms is that hydroxyzine pamoate has the ability to penetrate the blood-brain barrier while hydroxyzine HCL can’t. This, in turn, also means that they may produce different side effects.

Both of the forms of Hydroxyzine are a prescription drug, and as such, they cannot be purchased OTC. Keep in mind that Vistaril cost can be lowered by using the discount coupons or by enrolling in the patient assistance program.

Dosage Forms For Vistaril

Pills

Vistaril pills are commonly prescribed to adults. When consumed, hydroxyzine is rapidly absorbed in the gastrointestinal tract and metabolized by the liver. Patients can start to see its effects within 30 minutes.

Syrup

Hydroxyzine syrup is usually given to children. Its main ingredients are peppermint oil, spearmint oil, purified water, alcohol 0.5%, liquid sugar, propylene glycol, and a list of others. Close supervision should be made during administration to prevent overdose and extended Atarax side effects.

Capsule

Hydroxyzine pamoate (Vistaril) comes in the form of a capsule. It is either green and white capsule containing 50mg, or a two-tone green capsule containing Vistaril 25mg.

Injection

Hydroxyzine injection is a sterile solution used for intramuscular administration. Each milliliter contains 25mg or 50mg of Hydroxyzine HCl. But unlike other dosage forms of Hydroxyzine, the use of Intramuscular hydroxyzine injections can be quite dangerous. If not administered correctly, patients can experience tissue necrosis, gangrene, and extensive tissue damage.

Recommended Atarax Dosage For Children

Oral forms

Atarax dose for anxiety

• Children (younger than 6 years old) – 50mg per day, divided into small fragments.
• Children (6 years and above) – 50 to 100 mg per day, divided into small fragments.

To relieve the symptoms of an allergic reaction

• Children (younger than 6 years old) – 50mg per day, divided into small fragments.
• Children (6 years and above) – 50 to 100 mg per day, divided into small fragments.

Atarax dosage for itching

• Children (younger than 6 years old) – 50mg orally per day, given in divided doses.
• Children (6 years and above) – 50 to 100mg orally per day, given in divided doses.

Parenteral forms

To relieve the symptoms of sedation

• Children (younger than 6 years old) – 1.1 mg/kg IM once

Recommended Atarax Dosage For Adults

Oral forms

• A dose of Atarax for anxiety and tension management – 50 to 100 mg orally, 4 times a day.
• To relieve the symptoms of sedation – 50 to 100 mg, orally.
• To control symptoms of atopic dermatitis – 25 mg, orally, 3 to 4 times a day

Parenteral forms

• Vistaril dose for anxiety – 50 to 100 mg, IM, single-dose, then every 4 to 6 hours as needed.
• To control sedation – 50 to 100 mg, IM, single-dose, then repeat the dose for every 4 to 6 hours.

Recommended Geriatric Dosage Of Hydroxyzine

Oral forms

• To relieve anxiety and tension – 50-100 mg, PO, divided, every 6hr
• To cure pruritus – 25 mg, PO/IM, every 6-8hr; increased to 25 mg every 6-8hr

Parenteral forms

Vistaril dosage for anxiety and tension – 50-100 mg, IM, divided, every 4-6hr

Missed Dose

Patients who miss a dose of Vistaril during treatment should take it as soon as possible. However, patients can go ahead to skip the missed dose if it is almost time for the next one.

Avoid Overdose And Addiction

While Hydroxyzine can be used to treat certain diagnoses, it poses some serious risks if abused. This leads to the question: can one overdose on Vistaril? Yes. It is possible to overdose upon consuming more than the normal or recommended dose.

Atarax high is a result of overdosing and can result in hypersecretion, intense hallucinations, and a variety of health problems.

At this stage, it is important that people learn that Atarax and alcohol don’t go together; The concomitant use of Atarax with alcohol can increase the effects of alcohol, resulting in additive drowsiness, severe psychomotor impairment, and other serious side effects.

For people already addicted to Hydroxyzine, the quickest and safest path to recovery is by enrolling in an addiction treatment program in a rehabilitation facility. Rehabilitation centers provide a conducive environment for addicts to safely overcome drug abuse and relapse in the long run.

Page Sources

1. FDA. Vistaril Description. (2014) https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2014/011459s048%2C011795s025lbl.pdf