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Re: Are antihistamines considered an anti-anxiety med?

Posted by fachad on March 31, 2003, at 20:37:32

In reply to Are antihistamines considered an anti-anxiety med?, posted by WorryGirl on March 31, 2003, at 19:43:16

Yes, antihistamines are considered anxiety meds.

Vistaril (hydroxyzine) is specifically marketed as an anti-anxiety med. Phenergan (promethazine) is another antihistamine that is used to treat anxiety, although it is mainly used for nausea.

Some people may think that Vistaril is an obsolete treatment, but there is an article in the current issue, March 2003, of the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, titled "Hydroxyzine for Generalized Anxiety Disorder".

Finally, you have been misinformed about benzodiazepines (e.g. Valium, Xanax) being harmful to the body. It is true that some people do develop behavioral problems like tolerance, dependence or abuse with those medications, but physically, they are very safe and gentle on the body.

However, you may want to try Vistaril if Benadryl seems to help you. It’s available as a very inexpensive generic, and you will have fewer problems with doctors not wanting to write for it.

If you decide to give it a try, ask your pdoc to write for hydroxyzine pamoate; some people think hydroxyzine hcl is less effective for anxiety.

> Hi,
> I haven't been to a new pdoc yet, but am in the process of making an appointment.
> I started coming down with a cold a few days ago. I have always been anti-medicine, but it was getting so bad that I gave in and took continuous doses of Benadryl. I feel so much calmer. Things that usually drive me crazy don't bother me. I do feel a bit fuzzy-headed but isn't that how some people feel when they first get on certain anti-anxiety or anti-depressants?
>
> If I were to continue taking this, would my body adjust accordingly and I would lose that "head in a cloud" feeling? Aside from that and some sleepiness I feel pretty good. Is this medication dangerous to continue taking (i.e., habit forming or hard on the body?). Obviously, anti-anxieties like Xanax and Valium are.
>
> Is it possible that certain meds for anxiety actually contain some antihistamine in them? Has anyone ever heard of them being prescribed to anyone for anything other than cold or allergies?
>
> These may sound like stupid questions but I'd really like to know.
>
> P.S. I haven't raised my voice, taken things the wrong way, or lost my temper once in the past 24 hours - amazing for me. I know that this won't solve my long-term issues, but maybe this could be a start?
>
> Thanks for any responses.


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Psycho-Babble Medication | Framed

poster:fachad thread:214868
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20030329/msgs/214885.html