Atarax vs. Valium

• Are Atarax and Valium the Same Thing?
• What Are Possible Side Effects of Atarax?
• What Are Possible Side Effects of Valium?
• What Is Atarax?
• What Is Valium?
• What Drugs Interact with Atarax?
• What Drugs Interact with Valium?
• How Should Atarax Be Taken?
• How Should Valium Be Taken?

Atarax (hydroxyzine hydrochloride) and Valium (lorazepam) are used to treat anxiety.

Atarax is also used to treat itching caused by allergies.

Valium is also used to treat insomnia, panic attacks, and alcohol withdrawal.

Atarax and Valium belong to different drug classes. Atarax is an antihistamine and Valium is a benzodiazepine.

Side effects of Atarax and Valium that are similar include drowsiness, dizziness, blurred vision, or constipation.

Side effects of Atarax that are different from Valium include dry mouth.

Side effects of Valium that are different from Atarax include tiredness, muscle weakness, headache, sleep problems (insomnia), loss of balance or coordination, forgetfulness or amnesia, difficulty concentrating, nausea, vomiting, changes in appetite, or skin rash.

Common side effects of Atarax include:

• drowsiness,
• dizziness,
• blurred vision,
• constipation, or
• dry mouth.

Tell your doctor if you experience serious side effects of Atarax including mental/mood changes (such as restlessness, confusion, hallucinations), shaking (tremor), difficulty urinating, or fast/irregular heartbeat. Hydroxyzine is available in generic form.

Common side effects of Valium include:

• drowsiness,
• tired feeling,
• dizziness,
• spinning sensation,
• fatigue,
• constipation,
• ataxia (loss of balance),
• memory problems,
• restlessness,
• irritability,
• muscle weakness,
• nausea,
• drooling,
• dry mouth,
• slurred speech,
• blurred or double vision,
• skin rash,
• itching, or
• loss of interest in sex.

Atarax (hydroxyzine hydrochloride) is an antihistamine with anticholinergic (drying) and sedative properties used for symptomatic relief of anxiety and tension associated with psychoneurosis and as an adjunct in organic disease states in which anxiety is manifested.

Valium is indicated for the management of anxiety disorders or for the short-term relief of the symptoms of anxiety. Anxiety or tension associated with the stress of everyday life usually does not require treatment with an anxiolytic.

Atarax may interact with other medicines that make you sleepy (such as cold or allergy medicine, sedatives, narcotic pain medicine, sleeping pills, muscle relaxers, and medicine for seizures, depression, or anxiety).

Centrally Acting Agents

If Valium is to be combined with other centrally acting agents, careful consideration should be given to the pharmacology of the agents employed particularly with compounds that may potentiate or be potentiated by the action of Valium, such as phenothiazines, antipsychotics, anxiolytics/sedatives, hypnotics, anticonvulsants, narcotic analgesics, anesthetics, sedative antihistamines, narcotics, barbiturates, MAO inhibitors and other antidepressants.

Alcohol

Concomitant use with alcohol is not recommended due to enhancement of the sedative effect.

Antacids

Diazepam peak concentrations are 30% lower when antacids are administered concurrently. However, there is no effect on the extent of absorption. The lower peak concentrations appear due to a slower rate of absorption, with the time required to achieve peak concentrations on average 20 - 25 minutes greater in the presence of antacids. However, this difference was not statistically significant.

Atarax may interact with other medicines that make you sleepy (such as cold or allergy medicine, sedatives, narcotic pain medicine, sleeping pills, muscle relaxers, and medicine for seizures, depression, or anxiety).

Take Valium exactly as your healthcare provider tells you to take it. Your healthcare provider will tell you how much Valium to take and when to take it.

Talk to your healthcare provider about slowly stopping Valium to avoid withdrawal symptoms.

If you take too much Valium, call your healthcare provider or go to the nearest hospital emergency room right away.