Hydroxyzine
| Clinical data | |
|---|---|
| Pronunciation | /haɪˈdrɒksɪziːn/ | 
| Trade names | Atarax, Vistaril, others | 
| Other names | UCB-4492 | 
| AHFS/Drugs.com | Monograph | 
| MedlinePlus | a682866 | 
| License data | 
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| Dependence liability | None | 
| Routes of administration | By mouth, intramuscular | 
| Drug class | First-generation antihistamine | 
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| Pharmacokinetic data | |
| Bioavailability | High | 
| Protein binding | 93% | 
| Metabolism | Liver | 
| Metabolites | Cetirizine, others | 
| Elimination half-life | Adults: 20.0 hours Elderly: 29.3 hours Children: 7.1 hours | 
| Excretion | Urine, feces | 
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| DrugBank | 
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| ChemSpider | |
| UNII | 
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| KEGG | |
| ChEBI | 
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| ChEMBL | 
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| CompTox Dashboard (EPA) | |
| ECHA InfoCard | 100.000.630 | 
| Chemical and physical data | |
| Formula | C21H27ClN2O2 | 
| Molar mass | 374.91 g·mol−1 | 
| 3D model (JSmol) | |
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Hydroxyzine, sold under the brand names Atarax and Vistaril among others, is an antihistamine medication. It is used in the treatment of itchiness, anxiety, insomnia, and nausea (including that due to motion sickness). It is used either by mouth or injection into a muscle.
Hydroxyzine works by blocking the effects of histamine. It is a first-generation antihistamine in the piperazine family of chemicals. Common side effects include sleepiness, headache, and dry mouth. Serious side effects may include QT prolongation. It is unclear if use during pregnancy or breastfeeding is safe.
It was first made by Union Chimique Belge in 1956 and was approved for sale by Pfizer in the United States later that year. In 2022, it was the 46th most commonly prescribed medication in the United States, with more than 13 million prescriptions.