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Hydroxyzine - is there an alternative?

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Lesza

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Hi. I’m not a ptsd sufferer but I’ve decided to seek some professional help in the close future. Can't now because I will be abroad for a few months. I’m flying soon to my traineeship and will go to my family doctor asking for general blood testing, as every year. I went to my family doctor a few times earlier, describing my problems with heartaches, headaches and so on. He seemed to be very annoyed with me when I kept suggesting that I may need further help with it. He told me I’m just oversensitive and prescribed me atarax 25mg to take twice a day.

I tried it but felt very sick, my symptoms even worsened, I was so sleepy I couldn’t function normally and pain was still there, besides there was some side-effects. I came back after a while, when I felt I can’t deal with it anymore, but he smiled ironically, told that no examination is needed and prescribed me atarax again – telling I am just stressed and I should just take it, that my symptoms were present because I overreacted. He just told me to return when it will run out and he will write me a next prescription. I didn’t buy it, I am a bit afraid to take it. Especially that I’ve read on the brochure that I shouldn’t take it if there is a history of heart problems in the family (e.g. my uncle and father died because of heart disease, my sister is sick too) and if I have problems with thyroid. My family doctor doesn’t see them as an obstacle.

My mother told me that I actually took hydroxyzine when I was a child but I had no side effects. I’ve recently learnt that I can have refunded visits to a specialist but I have to get a referral, which is impossible now. Maybe I really overreacted and I don’t need it. Anyway, I go to my traineeship with hope I can become stronger but my fear of being alone and helpless there is growing so much that my body gets ill (e.g. diarrhea, really strong attacks of heartaches, migraines, panic attacks). I’ll ask my family doctor when I will have a visit soon to prescribe my something but I’m afraid I will end up with Atarax again. Could you give me some advice – should I take it or propose something else? What else can I suggest him to prescribe me? I just want to survive somehow, just the next few months.

I’m very sorry I bother you, I’m just too lost at the moment.
 
Hello, I get panic attacks still at times and when there are weeks, used to be months, where I will have the same flashback every day and those are the times I dont sleep or eat well. I have found Hydroxyzine to be very helpful. I am in recovery so I dont take narcotics and this is the safest drug that I have used in the last 3 years when my PTSD really took over my life. Now with taking this medicine 1x day and if needed 2x and the right tools now that I have gained from people here and my T and my psych, I am getting better each day. So thats my experience. Good luck
 
I am so sorry your Dr was so insensitive. Atarax I usually prescribed as an as needed medication for anxiety. There is no need to take it is you are having anxiety at that moment. It is not a pain medication and wouldn't help for pain. It made me super sleepy at first, even at only 25mg, but after only taking it at night time for a while, it no longer makes me tired. I take 150mg as needed without feeling drowsy now.

As far as the family history, I have never seen a Dr think that was a real concern.

Have you suffered trauma? DO you have trouble sleeping, if so, I would suggest taking it at night. It won't help with emotional pain physical pain unless it is allergy related, but it will help with allergies and anxiety. It is also used in conjunction with other medications for nausea.
 
Oh, thank you all for your responses. I should be more courageous and take that atarax, you made me feel calmer about it.

Nah, the doctor was just annoyed by me, he has so many patients and it’s surely exhausting – and I come with my silly complaining ;) I don't blame him.

I’m not diagnosed with anxiety or any problem – I am just considered as oversensitive. Actually, the doctor once suggested me that I make things up to attract attention. I do not complain since then, however, I braced myself and wrote about my problems here.

I was taking hydroxyzine when I was 5 after I got very violent night terrors, nightmares and night hallucinations, fears with severe anxiety and bed-wetting after some life-threatening bullying. Maybe it was a trauma for me. I don’t remember but it probably helped since I wasn’t diagnosed further. I remember that my mother was angry at me because I was bed-wetting until I was 12 or so and had to sleep with her in bed because I was too afraid to sleep alone.

The doctor said my pain is related to my overreacting, so taking atarax should help with it. He prescribed it when I described him my other symptoms like memory and concentrating problems, high pulse, raised body temperature, palpitations, weight loss, cold hands and feet, clumsiness, crying a lot, feeling of being stuck and reoccurring depressive mood. When he saw me trembling he measured my pulse and asked teasingly if my heart always pounds like a crazy. I was very embarrassed and didn’t answer.

Well, I’m not sure if my experiences were traumatic, I’ve been making a list but it’s long already and I start to suspect that I just can’t cope with reality, that’s my problem. Just like my mother said, people have real problems and I am just an egoistic idiot who keeps messing up with the simplest tasks. She doesn’t see future for me but I believe that I will be stronger.

Thank you a lot, I will take atarax. I have night terrors and I constantly think how people will react when I’ll be abroad – hearing me screaming and yelling for help. I don’t want to disturb them, so I will take it. You’ve made me more confident about it :)

Take care!
 
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