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Can Escitalopram And Hydroxyzine Be Taken Together?
Question: I was given 10 mg of escitalopram to be taken daily for anxiety and 25 mg of hydroxyzine hcl when needed during an anxiety attack. But i read that there are interactions between the two and they shouldn't be taken together. So i was concerned about whether it was safe to take the hydroxyzine if needed?
Brief Answer:
Information
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
The combination of escitalopram and hydroxyzine can cause for some people, a heart rhythm problem, and so the combination is considered to be a risk for major interaction. However this problem is considered relatively rare, but still it is a consideration.
Using hydroxyzine is not usually a first choice medication for acute panic attacks. Most physicians prescribe one of the shorter acting benzodiazepines such as lorazepam for occasional attacks. It's effects are much more specific for addressing panic and anxiety and it's onset of action is fairly quick. Hydroxyzine is a 1st generation antihistamine and it's effects that might be beneficial to a panic attack would be that it has the side effect of sedation. But it is not specifically an anti-anxiety medicine as lorazepam is.
The reason your doctor may have chosen hydroxyzine instead is that the benzodiazepines can be dependency forming if you take them every day. But for occasional use (a few times per week) they are not.
Benzodiazepines such as lorazepam and alprazolam are compatible with escitalopram.
I recommend talking with your doctor about this option.
Information
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
The combination of escitalopram and hydroxyzine can cause for some people, a heart rhythm problem, and so the combination is considered to be a risk for major interaction. However this problem is considered relatively rare, but still it is a consideration.
Using hydroxyzine is not usually a first choice medication for acute panic attacks. Most physicians prescribe one of the shorter acting benzodiazepines such as lorazepam for occasional attacks. It's effects are much more specific for addressing panic and anxiety and it's onset of action is fairly quick. Hydroxyzine is a 1st generation antihistamine and it's effects that might be beneficial to a panic attack would be that it has the side effect of sedation. But it is not specifically an anti-anxiety medicine as lorazepam is.
The reason your doctor may have chosen hydroxyzine instead is that the benzodiazepines can be dependency forming if you take them every day. But for occasional use (a few times per week) they are not.
Benzodiazepines such as lorazepam and alprazolam are compatible with escitalopram.
I recommend talking with your doctor about this option.
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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