This medication may impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be alert.
Stop using Atarax and call your doctor at once if you have a serious side effect such as tremors, confusion, seizures, or restless muscle movements in your eyes, tongue, jaw, or neck.
Drinking alcohol can increase certain side effects of hydroxyzine.
Before taking this medicine
You should not use Atarax if you are allergic to hydroxyzine, or if you are pregnant.
To make sure you can safely take Atarax, tell your doctor if you have any of these other conditions:
epilepsy or other seizure disorder;
asthma, emphysema, or other breathing problem;
glaucoma;
heart disease or high blood pressure;
stomach ulcer, blockage in your stomach or intestines;
thyroid disorder;
enlarged prostate or problems with urination;
liver disease; or
kidney disease.
Do not use Atarax without telling your doctor if you are pregnant. It could harm the unborn baby. Use effective birth control, and tell your doctor if you become pregnant during treatment.
It is not known whether hydroxyzine passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. Do not use this medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.
Older adults may be more likely to have side effects from this medication.