atarax

How long does Hydroxyzine Hydrochloride stay in your body?

The elimination half-life of hydroxyzine hydrochloride is about 14 to 20 hours in healthy adults (two reported mean values: 20.0 ± 4.1 hours and 14.0 hours) — the time it takes the body to clear about half of it. As a rule of thumb, a medicine is mostly gone after roughly 4 to 5 half-lives, though this varies from person to person with age and kidney or liver function. This is the parent drug's elimination half-life. It varies a lot by age — averaging about 29 hours in older adults and about 7 hours in children. Hydroxyzine is broken down into an active metabolite, cetirizine (itself an antihistamine), which is cleared by the kidneys and can build up when kidney function is impaired.

This is general information, not medical advice. It doesn’t tell you when a drug test would read negative (tests detect substances for different, often longer, windows) or when it’s safe to take another dose — ask your pharmacist or prescriber. Source: Hydroxyzine Hydrochloride 25 mg Film-coated Tablets — Summary of Product Characteristics (SmPC), section 5.2 Pharmacokinetic properties.

Frequently asked questions

What does Atarax treat?

Atarax (Hydroxyzine Hydrochloride) may be used to treat anxiety disorders, nausea, pruritus, substance withdrawal syndrome, vomiting, based on NIH RxClass drug-classification data (conditions a drug may treat — not a verbatim copy of the FDA-approved label). This is general reference, not medical advice.

How is Atarax rated?

pharmaranks gives Atarax a composite score of 3.2 out of 5, currently based on 1 weighted source (FDA regulatory recall-safety data weighted highest). See our methodology at /how-we-rate.

How much does Atarax cost?

Nobody can tell you what you will pay — your price is set by your insurer's formulary, your deductible and the pharmacy's markup, and none of those are published. What IS published is what the pharmacy paid to acquire it: about $0.04 per ml, per the CMS NADAC survey. Treat that as the floor, not the quote — ask the pharmacist for the cash price as well as your copay, because for cheap generics the cash price often wins.

Is there a coupon or discount for Atarax?

pharmaranks is an independent ratings site, not a pharmacy — we don't issue coupons or sell Atarax. To pay less, ask your prescriber or pharmacist whether a generic equivalent exists, check the manufacturer's copay/savings card and patient-assistance program, and compare a pharmacy discount card against your insurance copay. Prices vary by pharmacy, insurance, and location, so always confirm at the counter. This is general reference, not medical or financial advice.

Who makes Atarax?

Atarax is marketed by Pfizer. You can see Pfizer's full profile, rating, and other products on pharmaranks.

Is Atarax a brand-name or generic drug?

Atarax is a brand-name product with the active ingredient Hydroxyzine Hydrochloride. Lower-cost generic equivalents containing Hydroxyzine Hydrochloride are available — ask your pharmacist.

Is Atarax available over the counter?

No. Atarax is a prescription (Rx) medication in the US — you need a prescription from a licensed clinician (in person or via telehealth); it isn't sold over the counter. For some conditions there are OTC alternatives — ask your pharmacist.

What forms does Atarax come in?

Atarax is currently marketed as tablet, per the FDA's National Drug Code Directory.

What class of drug is Atarax?

Atarax is classified as antihistamine, per the FDA's Established Pharmacologic Class.

Is Atarax FDA-registered?

Atarax is on record with the U.S. FDA under application number NDA010392. You can verify this on its official FDA label.

Has Atarax been recalled by the FDA?

Atarax has no FDA recalls recorded under its own application in the openFDA enforcement database. Its recall-safety score reflects its manufacturer's overall recall record. This is general reference, not medical advice — check the FDA recall database for the latest alerts.

Is Atarax safe?

There's no single safe-or-not verdict. pharmaranks gives Atarax a recall-safety score of 64/100, based on its FDA recall history (no recalls under its own FDA application) — not an efficacy or side-effect rating. Review its FDA-label side effects and warnings before use, and always consult a licensed professional.