Atarax side effect

[CeeCee]

Let me begin this by saying no doctor told me that Atarax was definitely the cause of my recent problem. But it is an anticholergenic drug and they have been known to cause an ileus.

New Year's night I was admitted to the hospital with a possible ileus. I was in severe pain and had to have a tube run down my throat into my stomach to take the liquids and gas out of my colon. It was severely distended. On the ultrasound it appeared to be blocked. I spent all of the weekend there on i.v's.

The only meds I take are elmiron, atarax, and davorcet. My dr. and I decided on the davorcet because it is not an opoid drug that can lead to problems with constipation. Plus I can't take them because of other side effects which I dislike.

After some research I discovered that Atarax isn't recommended for a long period of time. I've been on this for two years.

Anyway, I thought it was worth passing this along to anyone using this drug so that you can ask your dr. about side effects.

[Lyn40]

CeeCee,
Thanks for sharing. I am so sorry you had to go through all that and hope you are on the road to recovery.

I have learned from my own experience, that it is best to do further homework on the meds that I take longterm. I have had doctors put me on medications for all the right reasons, but fail to reevaluate them later on. I get my best answers when I come out and ask the right questions. Unfortunately, in many cases, it is trial and error.

Sending healing thoughts,
Lyn
grouphug

[SheriG]

CeeCee,Boy, you have been thru the ringer girl. So sorry to hear about your recent hospital trip. I am an RN , and have placed many of those tubes, and they look to be incredibly uncomfortable! Actually, I had an endoscopy without anesthesia not long ago, so I can relate a bit! banghead Anyhow, I hope you are feeling better and have your meds straightened out with your doc. Also, just for another viewpoint, I have been taking atarax for about 3 years with no problem at all. We are all different, which must make it so hard for docs when they prescribe our meds! Well, CeeCee, you hang in there, and hope you are feeling much better soon!

[havingsuccess]

I also research all my meds. One doc had me on pyridium 3 a day and I took that for over a year and then read that longterm use can cause bone marrow damage. Now I use it as needed only. Congrats on your discovery.

Success

[vm]

Can you link us to some of the sites you found stating Atarax was not for long term use? I have never heard this before. I'm curious b/c I am on Vistaril and plan on it being long term. Thanks.

[vm]

Just in poking around I am not seeing anything saying it is dangerous to take hydroxyzine long term. one site said it is not intended for use longer than 4 months, but it didn't outline any dangers. Other sites mentioned nothing about long term use.

However, I did find this info and wondered if it could have something to do with your experience:

"Atarax increases the effects of drugs that depress the activity of the central nervous system. If you are taking narcotics, non-narcotic analgesics, or barbiturates in combination with Atarax, their dosage should be reduced."

"If Atarax is taken with certain other drugs, the effects of either could be increased, decreased, or altered. It is especially important to check with your doctor before combining Atarax with the following:

*Barbiturates such as Seconal and Phenobarbital
*Narcotics such as Demerol and Percocet
*Non-narcotic analgesics such as Motrin and Tylenol"

http://www.pdrhealth.com/drug_info/r.../ata1035.shtml

[dyno]

The info about 4 months came up awhile back and I am trying to remember what that was about. I think, and I emphasize that I am just trying to remember, that it was referring to when Hydroxyzine is used for the anti-anxiety purpose. That after 4 months it may quit working in that regard.

I have been on it for 1 1/2 years and also have had no problems with it.

CeeCee, I am sorry you are going through this. We are all so different. I hope you find it wasn't the Atarax that was the problem. It can really be helpful to some people.

Jolene

[Melis 26]

Sorry to hear of your recent hospitalization! Thanks for sharing. I hope you feel better now.

Melis

[auntiedeb]

grouphug grouphug grouphug Thanks for sharing. I am on atrax and have no problems with it, it calms me down and my bladder down so that I can sleep. So sorry thatyou have been through the rignger hon. Keep us posted on how you are doing.

[CeeCee]

http://www.pdrhealth.com/drug_info/r.../ata1035.shtml

This is the site where I got my info.

I didn't mean to suggest that Atarax was dangerous to take for longer than four months. Kim, you're right in saying you read it is not intended for more than four months. It needs to re-evaluated by the dr.

My drs. are really just trying to find a cause. This could be it or it could be something that may never be known.

I'm not sure I want to gamble but I have a dr. appt. on Wed and we will discuss it then.

If anyone is currently taking Atarax, please don't stop. But it might be worth talking it over with your dr.

I'll let you know what mine says.

Thanks for your replies.

Cee Cee

[Nicole in ATL]

Cee Cee,
Sorry you have been sick and in the hospital! Sounds really rough! I hope you are feeling better.

I take atarax also and have been taking it for a while (1.5 years, I think).

I do know that sometimes when drugs are listed as not for long term use it's because they don't have any long term studies investigating the effects. Which doesn't necessarily mean it is bad to take long-term. It is usually a judgement call by the doctor and patient. And is also based on doctor's clinical experience with the drug.

Also, it is important to remember that atarax is not indicated by the FDA for treating IC, so there are no FDA established guidelines as far as dosage and length of treatment.

We do need more clinical trials and studies of drugs effects and long-term use. And more drugs approved by the FDA for IC. It is crazy that there is only 1 oral agent approved for IC (elmiron).

Sorry I went on so long about this!! Not trying to get on a soapbox. I just think reading prescribing info on drugs can sometimes be misleading.

It's always good to discuss with your doctor or pharmacist.

Take care,
Nicole blink

[tillysav]

hi

Does anyone know if Atarax or Visteril help with swelling? Are they anti-inflamatory? What is ileus? Thank for any info! I will be seeing my doctor soon and will want to discuss.

Hope you are all having a pain free day!

[lizzy ross]

Please Read

This is long and I apologize but it is worth reading.I have been on atarax since i was six years old. I am 25. 19 years i have taken it. All of you that have been on for a year or so get off of it!!!! There are alteritive medications. I tried them but my body was so dependant on atarax it decreased the effects of the medications. When I was six my mom put this R&C shampoo on me, my little sister and herself. Imediatlly i broke out in these horrible welts and hives. my eyes swelled shut, and my trachea was swelling. my little sister started havin seizures, my mother, who was on her period at the time, ended up bleeding for 2 months straight. eventually she was forced to have a hysterectomy. Not one dr. could explain what was going on with us. I was shipped all opver the place to specialist and military dr.'s. I became a child-lab-rat. They poked me with needles and tubes. I was injected with 8 different substances at once to see which one i was allergic too. I was allergic to nothing. Finally, after being in the hospital 105 times in one year, they diagnosed me with Chronic Uticaria. (hives). I stumped 16 doctors and 8 specialists. It turned out i was chemically poisened. I will always have it in my bloodstream. It is part of my DNA now. I was put on atarax, which took my hives away within 20 to 30 minutes. No other medication would compare. I would get hives all over my body, in places you wouln't imagine. Atarax is not intended for usage past 4 months and there is no known documentation past 6 months. it causes birth defects in lab animals, and i have had 4 boys. my oldest (5) is okay but has a slight learning disability, my twins (4)have hydrocephalus ( accumulation of fluid on the brain) and my youngest (2) has visual problems and has had glasses since he was 5 months. He too seems to have a slight disability to learning. But until they get a little older will i know the real effects. One of my twins, Carson, his hydrocephalus was extremely dangerous to his brain. It was causing increasingly pressure causing the tissue to die. My ex husband, carson's step-father, shook him one evening while I was away, he went into a coma and passed away the next morning. His poor little brain couldn't hold the pressure. I have noticed myself I have a hard time remembering thing, I am a Nurse Practioner and getting through school was very, very hard for me. Atarax effects long term memory.I have occuring endometreosis, visual effects (my prescription constantly changes), I have headaches at least 5-6 hours of everyday, miagrains at least once every 2 days, I have had cervical cancer, cysts, uteran cysts, dizziness, fainting, I get bladder infections at least 3 times a month, i have arthritis and constant abdominal pain. I have also noticed that my teeth are decaying. I have brushed my teeth twice a day for the last 14 years. I have never gone a day without brushing and my teeth are horrible. I have had caps on almost all my teeth & 3 root canals. I have spent thousands of dollars on dentists. Hundreds and thousands of dollars on medical bills, medication and Dr. fees. I have estamated that since the time I was six until now, between my parents and myself being responsible for the dr. bills, tests and medication we have paid out over 1.2 million dollars. Thank god for insurance. Please if your one this medication GET OFF OF IT!!!!!! I have been emailing drug companys and they want me to come in for tests. I guess i am one of the rarest that have been on atarax for such an extended amount of time. odds are about 1 in million. Not one dr. has ever heard of being on this medication for 19 years, noone knows the real long term side effects. I guess i'll find out. I know is that I will have this for the rest of my life. I will keep a post of results. Below are some websites that might be of intrest, they are informative please read them carefully. I am happy to answer any questions anyone has.


http://www.pdrhealth.com/drug_info/r.../ata1035.shtml
www.sntp.net/drugs/drugs.htm
www.pfizer.com/download/uspi_atarax.pdf

[SandyRN]

Not to cause controversy here, but in the case of taking Atarax during pregnancy, it is clearly contraindicated, in all cases, and says so in the literature.

I'm so sorry that some of you have had major problems with this drug. At this stage in my life, I feel this is a good choice for me, and I am monitored regularly while I'm taking it....I don't plan to have children...if I did, I would not take it anymore.

I read all the web pages you listed and one of them led me to recall Tom Cruise and his extremist views on no psychiatry....I believe it is all an individual call, and choice, between doctors and patients. Every drug on the planet has risks, and we all have to decide which drugs are right for us, and which ones aren't.

I wish you and your sweet children luck.

Sandy

[sydkhan]

does anyone has diabetes 2 and ic at the same time.