Hydroxyzine is an antihistamine that is chemically related to the chemical compound piperazine. It was first made in the 1950s and has a variety of medical uses, primarily those based on its ability to block the effects of histamine. Hydroxyzine can be packaged with hydrochloride or with pamoate, which allows it to be made as a solid powder that can be packaged into pills.
For Allergies
Hydroxyzine pam is a strong antihistamine, which means it can be used to treat allergies. During allergic reactions, the immune system releases a chemical called histamine, which leads to much of the sneezing, congestion and runny nose that is associated with allergies. By blocking the effects of histamine, hydroxyzine pam can be used to treat the symptoms of allergies.
For Anxiety
Hydroxyzine pam has also been approved as a way of treating anxiety or for symptomatic relief of diseases that have anxiety as a symptom. It does not appear to depress activity in the cortical area (the part of the brain where anxiety usually manifests), but it instead lowers activity in certain parts of the brain that help regulate the cortex. Because anxiety is often caused by excessive activity in the cortex, hydroxyzine pam is able to relieve symptoms of anxiety.
Sedative
Antihistamines also have a mild hypnotic and sedative effect, which is why so many over-the-counter antihistamines can cause drowsiness. As a strong prescription-strength antihistamine, hydroxyzine pam can sometimes be used as a sedative. Its strong sedative effects can make it dangerous when mixed with alcohol.
Anesthesia
Hydroxyzine pam has been shown to potentiate the effects of certain anesthetics, which means that it heightens their effect. As a result, it can be given before surgery to lower the amount of anesthesia needed to render the patient unconscious. This can help minimize the side effects of administering anesthesia.
Medical Research
Hydroxyzine pam is also used for some types of psychiatric research. In rodents, it can be used to counteract a condition known as learned helplessness, in which the subject (the rodent) finds itself unable to escape an unpleasant sensation and, as a result becomes unresponsive and unwilling to move. Hydroxyzine pam has been shown to relieve this behavior.
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