Vistaril vs. Valium

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

Vistaril (hydroxyzine pamoate) and Valium (diazepam) are used to treat anxiety.

Vistaril is also used together with other medications given for anesthesia. Vistaril may also be used to control nausea and vomiting, or to treat allergic skin reactions such as hives or contact dermatitis.

Valium is also used to treat seizures, muscle spasms, and symptoms of alcohol withdrawal.

Vistaril and Valium belong to different drug classes. Vistaril is an antihistamine with anticholinergic (drying) and sedative properties and Valium is a benzodiazepine.

Side effects of Vistaril and Valium that are similar include dizziness, drowsiness, blurred vision, and dry mouth.

Side effects of Vistaril that are different from Valium include stomach upset and headache.

Side effects of Valium that are different from Vistaril include tired feeling, spinning sensation, fatigue, constipation, loss of balance, memory problems, restlessness, irritability, muscle weakness, nausea, drooling, slurred speech, double vision, skin rash, itching, or loss of interest in sex.

Both Vistaril and Valium may interact with alcohol and 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).

Valium may also interact with grapefruit and grapefruit juice.

Do not stop using Valium suddenly, or you could have increased seizures or unpleasant withdrawal symptoms.

Vistaril may cause serious side effects, including:

• dizziness,
• drowsiness,
• blurred vision,
• dry mouth,
• stomach upset,
• or headache.

Tell your doctor if you experience serious side effects of Vistaril including:

• restless muscle movements in your eyes, tongue, jaw, or neck,
• tremors (uncontrolled shaking),
• confusion,
• or seizures (convulsions).

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.

Vistaril (hydroxyzine pamoate) is an antihistamine with anticholinergic (drying) and sedative properties used as a sedative to treat anxiety and tension. Vistaril is also used together with other medications given for anesthesia. Vistaril may also be used to control nausea and vomiting, or to treat allergic skin reactions such as hives or contact dermatitis. Vistaril is available in generic form.

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. Valium may also be prescribed for the management of pain associated with muscle spasms.

 

Vistaril may interact with probenecid.

Vistaril 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.

 

The recommended dose of Vistaril for treating itch (pruritus) is 25 mg, 3 or 4 times daily. For sedation, the recommended dose is 50 to 100 mg. The dose to treat anxiety and tension is 50 to 100 mg 4 times daily. Vistaril 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). Tell your doctor all prescription and over-the-counter medications and supplements you use. Vistaril is not recommended for use during pregnancy. It could harm the fetus. Discuss birth control with your doctor. It is unknown if this medication passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. Consult your doctor before breastfeeding.

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.