Antihistamines work by having a calming effect on the brain, helping you to feel less anxious. As with benzodiazepines, this type of medicine is only effective when used for a short period of time.
Hydroxyzine is used to help control anxiety and tension caused by nervous and emotional conditions. It can also be used to help control anxiety and produce sleep before surgery. This medicine is also used to relieve symptoms of allergic conditions (eg, chronic urticaria and atopic and contact dermatoses).
Hydroxyzine is an antihistamine. It is approved for the treatment of anxiety.
Antihistamine medications relieve these symptoms by blocking the unwanted effects of histamine. Unrelated to the immune system, histamine is also produced in the brain, where it plays an important part in feeling awake.
Antihistamines
Antihistamines are known to cause extreme drowsiness; however, in certain people, they can cause insomnia, excitability, anxiety, restlessness, and a rapid heart rate.
Is it safe to take Zyrtec every day? Yep. "When taken in the recommended doses, antihistamines can be taken daily. This is especially true with Zyrtec, since it doesn't show decreasing effectiveness if used daily," says Sima Patel, MD, an allergist at New York Allergy & Sinus Centers.
In the brain, histamine acts as a neurotransmitter which can affect the levels of mood altering neurotransmitters such as GABA, dopamine and serotonin; causing the increased expression of anxious and depressive feelings.
Benzodiazepines (also known as tranquilizers) are the most widely prescribed type of medication for anxiety. Drugs such as Xanax (alprazolam), Klonopin (clonazepam), Valium (diazepam), and Ativan (lorazepam) work quickly, typically bringing relief within 30 minutes to an hour.
Benadryl is an antihistamine that may cause you to feel sedated and drowsy. This doesn't mean it calms anxiety symptoms, though. There's simply no scientific evidence to support its use for anxiety. In fact, it's not recommended for this purpose.
The over-the-counter allergy medication cetirizine (Zyrtec and generic) has been linked to depression, as has another type of drug, montelukast (Singulair), which is often used to treat people with allergic asthma.
Response and effectiveness. Peak concentrations are reached within one hour of administration of Zyrtec tablets or syrup. The onset of effect occurs within 20 minutes in 50% of people and within an hour in 95%. Effects persist for at least 24 hours following a single dose of Zyrtec.
Magnesium reduces stress hormones in the brain to lessen anxiety, restlessness, mood swings, memory loss, depression, insomnia, and a host of other mental health issues. Magnesium limits the release of cortisol, which is the primary stress hormone, and prevents it from reaching the brain.
Observational studies have found that allergic rhinitis is associated with a high risk of anxiety. And researchers in Taiwan have reported that allergic rhinitis was associated with a higher risk of psychiatric disorders in adults.
Too much histamine frequently causes anxiety, panic attacks, and insomnia. There are many potential underlying causes for too much histamine and there is no universal treatment that works for everything.
Types of Anti-anxiety Medications (Benzodiazepines)
Benzodiazepines most commonly used to treat anxiety disorders are clonazepam (Rivotril)*, alprazolam (Xanax) and lorazepam (Ativan).
As an antihistamine, hydroxyzine blocks the effects of histamine in your body, which makes you sleepy. (Think about how you feel after taking Benadryl or Nyquil.) Serotonin is a chemical that affects your mood. Hydroxyzine's unique effect on serotonin is likely why it's the only antihistamine used for anxiety.
While there is no solid evidence to prove the connection between histamine and mental disorders, symptoms like hyperactivity, obsessive-compulsive behavior, panic, anxiety, and depression are often observed among those who suffer from histamine imbalance.
The only antihistamine that's FDA approved to treat anxiety is hydroxyzine (Vistaril, Atarax), which is a prescription-only medication. However, an older 2014 study found that hydroxyzine negatively affected mood. Be sure to speak with your doctor if you're thinking of taking antihistamines to manage anxiety.
You should not use Zyrtec-D if you have narrow-angle glaucoma, severe high blood pressure (hypertension), severe coronary artery disease, if you are unable to urinate, or if you are allergic to hydroxyzine (Atarax, Vistaril). Do not use this medicine if you have taken an MAO inhibitor in the past 14 days.
Because antihistamines like Claritin and Zyrtec are now available over the counter, we can trust that they're generally safe for longterm use, says Shih.
What happens if I overdose on Zyrtec (Cetirizine (Oral/Injection))? Overdose symptoms may include extreme drowsiness, vision problems, agitation, feeling restless and then drowsy or tired, fast heartbeats, stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, trouble walking, or trouble swallowing or speaking.