TREATMENT DATABASE

Hydroxyzine (Atarax, Vistaril) is an older first-generation antihistamine used for allergies, motion sickness, nausea and mild anxiety. Although it has sedative effects, it is not addictive, nor does it produce the side effects common to tranquilizers and anxiolytics. Hydroxyzine is frequently used in conjunction with opioid pain killers to increase the effectiveness of the drugs without increasing toxicity.

USES IN ME/CFS: Hydroxyzine has a wide range of uses in treating ME/CFS symptoms, including anxiety, pain and interstitial cystitis. Dr. Paul Cheney prescribes Vistaril to treat muscle pain (CFIDS Chronicle, Spring 1995).

Two physicians who specialize in treating interstitial cystitis, Dr. Grannum Sant and Dr. Theoharis Theoharides of Tufts University, have published several papers detailing the effectiveness of hydroxyzine. Dr. Theoharides noted that several patients given hydroxyzine experienced improvement in urinary frequency and bladder pain. He theorizes that this drug may inhibit secretion of mast cells, a type of cell involved in allergic reactions that may be responsible for many symptoms in interstitial cystitis. Dr. Theoharides states that hydroxyzine is unique in that other antihistamines do not seem to be effective in treating interstitial cystitis (Seminars in Urology, 1991). Symptoms often recur after discontinuation of the drug. However, the success rate is high and the risks low, compared with more invasive therapies for interstitial cystitis.

Treatment rating for Vistaril (hydroxyzine pamoate)