Hydroxyzine, and anti-histimines in general for anxiety/BPD

[PearlsBefore]

a) Searched forums, no results for hydroxyzine, Google-fu showed https://bpdfamily.com/message_board/index.php?topic=280976.0 but nothing else...seems odd.

b) Forum really needs a "General" for where we want input from everyone, not just people dealing with a daughter not a wife, etc...questions about medications for example, would prefer the larger sample pool from a "General"

Actual:

So we have a lot of experience with Alprazolam and Buspirone and Escitalopram and such in the household dealing with BPD - in fact I'm a cheerleader of Alprazolam and I don't care what studies say about addiction rates...we haven't faced any addictions, but it's doubtless saved her life on several occasions.

Now our S10 is facing the same BPD roller-coaster as his mother did at that age, and he's got a new therapist who is wanting to put him on a PRN antihistimine "since it isn't habit-forming and it works better than Benadryl".

The idea of "Oh yes, Benadryl can calm him down by making him drowsy" seems so antithetical to me as to make me bristle - but in fairness I've never heard of Hyroxyzine/Atarax before, though obviously they're both antihistimines, etc.

Does anyone have any anecdotal thoughts from their own family history on the use of Hydroxyzine? How sudden is the onset? Is it legitimately just drowsy+dopamine=calm? Am I right to be skeptical?

Our objective is to better understand the struggles our child faces and to learn the skills to improve our relationship and provide a supportive environment and also improve on our own emotional responses, attitudes and effectiveness as a family leaders

[beatricex]

Hi Pearlsbefore,

My High Conflict People (mom, step daughters) aren't going to tell me if they've consulted a doctor and are taking any medication.  My hunch is 'no' as all three complain of debilitating anxiety.  I observe impulsiveness.  I observe they're not taking something that makes them tired or gives them a knock out nap, or good night's rest.  Their emotional dysregulation and anxiety is everyone else's fault except their own (I think the psychological term for this is they are outwardly centered?  The world needs to change for them, they're not changing to fit in in this world).  Wish there was a pill for that. 

That said, my anecdotal evidence is that when I get a good night's rest I am less emotionally dysregulated.  Sleep can really clear the FOG.

b

[I Am Redeemed]

Another name for hydroxyzine is Vistaril. The oral surgeon who took out my wisdom teeth over twenty years ago gave it to me to keep me calm before using anesthesia. I was prescribed it for anxiety about eight years ago. It works pretty quickly and did make me drowsy. I did not like taking it because I had an infant at the time and I was worried that I would not hear the baby crying in the night because I was so sound asleep.

I don't like drugs that make me sleepy and that's all this medicine did for me. It did not do much for my anxiety except for putting me to sleep. My anxiety comes from PTSD, though, and at the time I was not being treated for that.

I actually have an appointment with a psychiatrist next week to discuss going on anxiety medication again, after three years of trauma therapy without meds, and I will be telling him I don't want to use hydroxyzine again.

[TiredMom88]

My daughter has been on hydroxyzine for over a year. She used to be on a benzo, I think alprazolam but switched. Anyway I'm not sure how effective hydroxyzine has been for anxiety. It could be that she is on a low dose (25 mg as needed). She was able to take this and attend school without getting too sleepy. 

[Couscous]

Have you ever your son evaluated by a pediatric occupational therapist? That was my son’s pediatrician’s recommendation when I told her about his emotional reactivity.