6 replies to this topic

[Ramona80]

This is a bit of a complicated question....

 

I've been weaning from 90 mg Cymbalta (so far so good), and getting away from the high dose that's been causing me insomnia and hypnic jerks, among other things.

 

5 days ago, I decided to stop taking Vistaril (Hydroxyzine) because I read that some antihistamines can cause or contribute to hypnic jerks happening. I had been on a low dose, anyway, just 25 mg. So I stopped. 

 

The next few days I was itching like mad, my 4th day off (yesterday) being the worst. No hives, just suddenly an area of my body would get super itchy. The itch travels around. Yesterday part way through the day I got heavy sinus pressure & pain, dizziness, nausea, and felt hot on and off (not feverish). I woke up with that today, too. It's like being motion sick.

 

Vistaril is said to be non-habit forming, but reading online I've found that there are people who do get withdrawal symptoms. I believe Vistaril is related to Zyrtec, and people have reported the same thing after stopping Zyrtec. Itching all over, with the most intense day being 4 days out has been reported, just like I experienced.

 

So - here I am on day 5 after quitting Vistaril, and the itching has mostly stopped, but I am dizzy & hot with a sickening headache and my stomach is queasy, and I'm not getting much done. Some other people have also reported these things after quitting Vistaril. (Vistaril is prescribed for nausea sometimes, and there's apparently "rebound nausea" that can happen on discontinuation.)

 

My question is this: Would you think the dizziness / headache / stomach ache/ feeling hot is more likely due to stopping Vistaril, or could this be from lowering Cymbalta? Seems either one could cause these effects.

I'm not sure if I should:

-just leave everything as it is

-or if I should resume taking Vistaril & see if that helps

-or if I should stop weaning Cymbalta for a while, or even go back to where I was a few days ago.

Not sure where to start on this.

[fishinghat]

Given the timing I would lean towards the hydroxyzine but on the other hand many on this site have suffered through periods of itching and nearly all of us have had bouts of nausea and stomach issues with the withdrawal. I don't know if there is an answer to that question or not but the good thing is it is fading away.

[Ramona80]

Yes, the itching fading is a good thing for sure. So far the rest hasn't faded. I hope it's soon.

[gail]

Fisherman,

What would be the proper way for tapering hydroxyzine?
Out of curiosity! Thanks. I know for clonidine, thanks to you. Going well there.

[fishinghat]

I have never heard anyone having withdrawal from hydroxyzine nor is it recorded in any medical literature I have seen although a slight increase in bp has been noted in some. I will check over the med literature and let you know what I find.I would say that the itching was from the Cymbalta withdrawal and the hydroxyzine was probably keeping it under control (it is used for that). When you stopped the hydroxyzine the itching was then able to come to the surface. More to follow.

[fishinghat]

OK Here is what I found.

 

One medical report of one case where when a patient stopped a 200 mg a day dose of hydroxyzine hydrochloride the patient suffered a "brief" psychotic episode which never reoccurred. I assume you are taking hydroxyzine pamoate  which is the one normally prescribed for anxiety and/or depression.  Matter of fact hydroxyzine pamoate is often used to treat other withdrawals like heroin, benzos, alcohol, etc.

[gail]

Thanks for the info. I do not take it. Just wanted to learn something new!