Hydroxyzine oral tablet interactions: A detailed guide

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Overview

This article describes possible interactions with hydroxyzine oral tablet. Interactions can cause a drug to have a different effect on the body than expected. Interactions can occur due to medications, alcohol, or certain health conditions.

To find coupon options for hydroxyzine and to learn more about the drug, including its uses, see this article.

Hydroxyzine comes as a liquid syrup and capsules that you’ll swallow. It’s also available as a solution that’s injected into the muscle.

Other drugs and hydroxyzine

Drugs that may interact with hydroxyzine oral tablet are listed below. This article doesn’t include all drugs that may interact with hydroxyzine. Your doctor or pharmacist can give you more information about what you cannot take with hydroxyzine.

Drugs that may interact with hydroxyzine oral tablet include:

• central nervous system (CNS) depressants:
  • drug class examples: benzodiazepines, including alprazolam (Xanax), opioids such as oxycodone (Roxicodone, Oxycontin), and certain sleep medications such as zolpidem (Ambien, Edluar)
  • what might happen: can increase the risk of side effects from hydroxyzine and the CNS depressant
• antipsychotic drugs:
  • drug examples: haloperidol (Haldol), ziprasidone (Geodon)
  • what might happen: can increase the risk of side effects from hydroxyzine and the antipsychotic drug
• antiarrhythmic drugs:
  • drug examples: amiodarone (Pacerone), sotalol (Betapace, Sorine)
  • what might happen: can increase the risk of side effects from hydroxyzine and the antiarrhythmic drug
• certain antibiotics:
  • drug examples: clarithromycin, azithromycin (Zithromax)
  • what might happen: can increase the risk of side effects from hydroxyzine and the antibiotic drug
• certain antidepressant drugs:
  • drug examples: citalopram (Celexa), fluoxetine (Prozac)
  • what might happen: can increase the risk of side effects from hydroxyzine and the antidepressant drug
• monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs):
  • drug examples: phenelzine (Nardil), isocarboxazid (Marplan)
  • what might happen: can increase the risk of side effects from hydroxyzine
• certain antifungal drugs:
  • drug examples: ketoconazole, itraconazole (Sporanox, Tolsura)
  • what might happen: can increase the risk of side effects from hydroxyzine and the antifungal drug

Alcohol and hydroxyzine

Hydroxyzine oral tablet is known to interact with alcohol.

Taking hydroxyzine oral tablet and drinking alcohol may cause severe central nervous system depression. Symptoms include:

• problems with coordination or balance
• slurred speech
• slowed or stopped breathing
• coma

If you drink alcohol and have concerns about avoiding it during hydroxyzine oral tablet treatment, talk with your doctor.

Questions about hydroxyzine and interactions

Here you’ll find answers to some common questions about hydroxyzine and possible interactions.

Does hydroxyzine interact with caffeine?

No, it’s not known to. Interactions with caffeine haven’t been reported with hydroxyzine.

Hydroxyzine commonly causes drowsiness or sleepiness as a side effect. For some people, caffeine may be useful to manage these symptoms. Unlike hydroxyzine, which causes central nervous system (CNS) depression, caffeine is a CNS stimulant. This means it may help you feel alert.

Talk with your doctor if you have additional questions about whether foods you consume may interact with hydroxyzine.

Can I consume grapefruit while I’m taking hydroxyzine?

Yes. Grapefruit and grapefruit juice are not known to interact with hydroxyzine.

However, grapefruit and grapefruit juice do interact with some other medications. If you consume grapefruit, it’s important to check with your doctor and pharmacist for interactions with any medications you take. They can advise you on whether this combination is safe.

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When to avoid hydroxyzine

Certain health conditions or other factors could raise some risks with hydroxyzine oral tablet. Because of this, doctors may not prescribe hydroxyzine in these cases. These health conditions or other factors are called contraindications.

Here’s a list of contraindications for hydroxyzine oral tablet:

• Long QT interval. If you have long QT syndrome or another condition that causes long QT interval, taking hydroxyzine oral tablet may worsen your condition.
• Pregnancy. If you’re pregnant, taking hydroxyzine oral tablet may cause problems with fetal development (commonly known as birth defects).
• Past allergic reaction to hydroxyzine. If you’ve had an allergic reaction to hydroxyzine oral tablet in the past, taking hydroxyzine oral tablet may cause the same allergic reaction.
• Past allergic reaction to cetirizine or levocetirizine. If you’ve had an allergic reaction to cetirizine or levocetirizine in the past, taking hydroxyzine oral tablet may cause the same allergic reaction.

Before starting treatment with hydroxyzine, tell your doctor if anything listed above relates to you. They can recommend whether you should take hydroxyzine.

Other interactions and hydroxyzine

Interactions can occur with supplements, foods, vaccines, and some lab tests. Below you can learn whether hydroxyzine oral tablet has these interactions.

The information below doesn’t include all other possible interactions with hydroxyzine.

Hydroxyzine and supplements

Before taking hydroxyzine oral tablet, tell your doctor and pharmacist about any supplements, herbs, and vitamins you take. Doing so may help you avoid possible interactions.

If you have questions about interactions that may affect you, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Hydroxyzine interactions with herbs

Hydroxyzine oral tablet may interact with several herbs, including:

• echinacea, which may be used for immune support
• ginseng, which may be used for energy support
• St. John’s wort, which may be used to support mood

Taking hydroxyzine and these herbs may lead to an irregular heart rhythm called long QT syndrome. (For more information, see the “When to avoid hydroxyzine” section above.)

This is not a full list of herbs that may interact with hydroxyzine. Talk with your pharmacist or doctor before taking any herbal supplement during treatment with hydroxyzine. They can check to see whether it’s safe to take with the drug.

Hydroxyzine interactions with vitamins

Hydroxyzine oral tablet isn’t known to interact with any vitamins. But this doesn’t mean interactions with vitamins can’t happen or won’t be identified later.

Because of this, you should ask your doctor or pharmacist before taking any of these products during treatment with hydroxyzine oral tablet.

Hydroxyzine and food

Hydroxyzine oral tablet isn’t known to interact with foods. But this doesn’t mean interactions with foods can’t happen or won’t be identified later.

Because of this, talk with your doctor or pharmacist about what foods you should avoid during treatment with hydroxyzine oral tablet.

Hydroxyzine and vaccines

Hydroxyzine oral tablet isn’t known to interact with any vaccines. But this doesn’t mean interactions with vaccines can’t happen or won’t be identified later.

Because of this, you should talk with your doctor or pharmacist before receiving any vaccines during treatment with hydroxyzine oral tablet.

Hydroxyzine and lab tests

Hydroxyzine oral tablet isn’t known to interact with lab tests. But this doesn’t mean interactions with lab tests can’t happen or won’t be identified later.

Because of this, you should talk with your doctor or pharmacist before having any tests during treatment with hydroxyzine oral tablet.

Hydroxyzine and cannabis or CBD

Reports have shown cannabis (commonly called marijuana) and cannabis products may interact with hydroxyzine. Cannabidiol (CBD) is an example of a cannabis product.

Taking hydroxyzine and cannabis may lead to central nervous system depression, which may be mild or serious. Symptoms can include:

• problems with coordination or balance
• slurred speech
• slowed or stopped breathing

Before you take hydroxyzine, tell your doctor and pharmacist if you use cannabis. Doing so may help prevent possible interactions.

Note: Cannabis is illegal at a federal level but is legal in many states to varying degrees.

Health factors and hydroxyzine

Certain medical conditions or other health factors may increase the risk of interactions with hydroxyzine oral tablet. Before taking Hydroxyzine, tell your doctor about your health history. They’ll determine whether hydroxyzine is right for you.

Here’s a list of health conditions or other factors that might interact with hydroxyzine oral tablet:

• age 65 years or above
• epilepsy or seizures
• heart conditions
• kidney conditions
• liver conditions
• low blood pressure
• pregnancy or breastfeeding
• past allergic reaction to hydroxyzine

Preventing hydroxyzine interactions

You may be able to help avoid certain interactions with hydroxyzine oral tablet. Before taking this drug, you may want to discuss possible interactions with your doctor and pharmacist.

Things to consider include:

• Whether you drink alcohol or use cannabis.
• Other medications you take, as well as any supplements and herbs. Your doctor or pharmacist can help you fill out a medication list.
• What to do if you’re prescribed a new drug during your hydroxyzine oral tablet treatment.

Taking hydroxyzine exactly as prescribed can also help prevent interactions.

What to ask your doctor

If you have questions about hydroxyzine and possible interactions, talk with your doctor.

Questions you may want to ask your doctor include:

• Are hydroxyzine’s interactions similar to other drugs used to treat anxiety?
• Does my hydroxyzine dosage affect my risk of interactions?
• If hydroxyzine interacts with a medication I take, do I need to space my doses throughout the day to avoid interactions?
• What should I do if my doctor prescribes a medication that interacts with hydroxyzine?

Disclaimer: Optum Perks has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.