How Long Does Atarax Stay In The Body?
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Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXXXXX -
I just asked you which medication you are using before I saw this information. The effective dose of the Atarax should be mostly out of your system in around 6-8 hours from the time you took it.
It is a sedating antihistamine and so it can help people with anxiety a very little bit by causing sedation. But it is not good at all for preventing anxiety, and it is not a good choice for someone who has significant anxiety.
And yes, it can make your head feel kind of foggy. And for some people, the older class of antihistamines can cause agitation.
I highly recommend an SSRI. SSRIs are useful for preventing panic attacks and for addressing frequent anxiety. They take a couple of weeks to work well. They are not for instant use for panic attacks. They are not addicting or dependency forming, although you do need to withdraw slowly from them if going off of them. Lexapro (escitalopram) is an SSRI with the best profile for low rate of side effects and earliest onset of action. You take one pill a day. It doesn't make you foggy.
I recommend you talk with your doctor about this. You might feel a lot better soon!
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Detailed Answer:
If it is the hydroxyzine (which it may very well be), you should be feeling better tomorrow.
If you are sensitive to medications (which it sounds like you might be), and if you do decide to take an SSRI, it might be best to start with half of the recommended dose and stay at that lowered dose for a week or two so your body gets used to it. I tend to be very sensitive to some medications, and found that taking a whole (Zyrtec), an antihistamine in the same family as hydroxyzine, gave me agitation and insomnia. I had to take a very small amount and go up on it gradually. Then I tolerated it fine. Hydroxyzine is an older antihistamine, and while it is a safe medication overall, it does come with a number of side effects.
With Lexapro (escitalopram), most of the side effects are gone after about 2 weeks. But a pediatric dose of 5 mg may be the best way to start for you.
Glad to help.
Detailed Answer:
I'm sure it would be very stressful to feel symptoms and think they are do to a brain tumor! I hope you are feeling better tomorrow, and then do consider medication for ongoing or frequent anxiety and you will feel better from that too.