Hydroxyzine HCl is indicated for-

• symptomatic relief of anxiety & tension associated with psychoneurosis
• pruritus
• sedative 
• prevention of nausea & vomiting

Anxiety

Pruritus

Nausea

• For symptomatic relief of anxiety and tension associated with psychoneurosis and as an adjunct in organic disease states in which anxiety is manifested: Adults, 50 to 100 mg 4 times a day .; children under 6 years, 50 mg daily in divided doses; children over 6 years, 50 to 100 mg daily in divided doses.
• For use in the management of pruritus due to allergic conditions such as chronic urticaria and atopic and contact dermatoses and in histamine-mediated pruritus: adults, 25 mg 3 or 4 times a day; children under 6 years, 50 mg daily in divided doses; children over 6 years, 50 to 100 mg daily in divided doses.
• As a sedative when used as a premedication and following general anesthesia: 50 to 100 mg for adults and 0.6 mg/kg of body weight in children.

Side effects reported with the administration of hydroxyzine hydrochloride are usually mild and transitory in nature.

• dry mouth
• somnolence
• allergic reactions
• hallucinations
• rash
• pruritus
• urticaria

Dry Mouth

Somnolence

Rash

Urticaria

• When hydroxyzine is combined with central nervous system depressants like narcotics, non-narcotic analgesics, and barbiturates, its potentiating effect must be taken into account. As a result, when central nervous system depressants are given at the same time as hydroxyzine, the dosage of the central nervous system depressive should be lowered.
• Because drowsiness is a risk with this medication, patients should be told about it and advised against driving or operating risky machinery while taking it. Patients should also be warned against taking other CNS depressants at the same time, and that the effects of alcohol may be amplified.