Patient/caregiver was educated on how to take Hydroxyzine as follows:

1. Take this medication as ordered by your physician. Do not change the dose on this medication without consulting your doctor.
2. Take the medication dose at the same time, every day, for the time prescribed, to avoid forgetting the intake of medication. Hydroxyzine is usually prescribed as a short-term treatment for anxiety, motion sickness, and allergies.
3. Hydroxyzine use can induce some dizziness and make one drowsy. Do not take hydroxyzine with alcohol or opioid pain medications, such as, hydrocodone and codeine, as these products can add to the dizziness and confusion caused by hydroxyzine. A number of OTC cough medications, antihistamines, antiseizure medications, muscle relaxants, antidepressant and antianxiety medications, can potentiate the confusion caused by hydroxyzine, thus resulting in many cross reactions and side-effects and so, must be avoided taking along with hydroxyzine. If the dizziness becomes bothersome, report it to your physician and other health care personnel, for any change in plan of care to be considered. Stay away from activities, such as, driving and operating heavy machinery, until you are used to the side effects caused by hydroxyzine intake.
4. Hydroxyzine can interact with a lot of other medications, such as, many antibacterial and antifungal antibiotics, antiarrhythmic medications, antidepressants, and antipsychotic medications, resulting in development or aggravation of underlying cardiac arrhythmias, leading to debility and sudden cardiac death. Discuss with your physician regarding any of your heart complaints, all your current medications and their safety with hydroxyzine, if you are newly being prescribed hydroxyzine. Discuss with your physician regarding your safety with regards to continuing on hydroxyzine, if you are newly diagnosed with any cardiac conditions and being started on any new medications.
5. Low blood levels of potassium and magnesium ions and medications influencing the levels of these ions in the blood, such as, diuretics, can also result in cardiac arrhythmias, which can be seriously aggravated with simultaneous use of hydroxyzine, leading to debility and sudden cardiac death. Report to your physician regarding any worsening signs and symptoms of arrhythmias, such as, frequent episodes of fatigue, lightheadedness, near fainting, shortness of breath, chest pain or discomfort, and/or pounding heartbeat, so that, your dosage on the medication could be revised or alternative plan considered.
6. Hydroxyzine use in expectant mothers could harm the unborn baby and result in birth defects. So, hydroxyzine use should be avoided during pregnancy and in women planning to get pregnant. Women taking hydroxyzine on a regular basis must employ effective contraceptive measures in order to avoid getting pregnant.
7. Hydroxyzine has potential to cause or aggravate seizure episodes, especially in individuals with seizure history and so, must be avoided or cautiously used in individuals with seizure history. Discuss with your physician regarding your status on seizures, if any, and your safety with using hydroxyzine.
8. If hydroxyzine is prescribed for motion sickness, to be used on an as needed basis, take the medication half an hour before starting the journey. If hydroxyzine is prescribed for calming down the pre-surgical or pre-procedural anxiety, take the medication 2 hours before the procedure, or as ordered.
9. Take the tablet as a whole. If you encounter difficulty swallowing the whole tablet, you may cut the tablet and swallow it in pieces with a glass of water. You may also crush the tablet and sprinkle the powder on a spoonful of soft jelly or applesauce and swallow the jelly or sauce along with the medication.
10. If you are prescribed hydroxyzine capsule, try to swallow the capsule as a whole, with a glass of water. If you encounter difficulty swallowing the whole capsule, you may open the capsule and sprinkle the contents on a spoonful of apple sauce or jello or pudding and swallow it along with the medication.
11. When taking hydroxyzine as an oral liquid/suspension, use a measuring spoon/cup to measure the correct dose being taken, in order to avoid risk for over/under dosing. Also, do not forgot to shake the suspension well before you use it.
12. Maintain strict compliance with intake of the medication as ordered, with regards to dosage and frequency, to derive the benefit of the medication.
13. If hydroxyzine is prescribed as part of a combination therapy, for management of anxiety before and after any medical/surgical procedures, observing compliance with alternative anxiety management measures can contribute towards better control of symptoms.
14. If hydroxyzine is prescribed for controlling symptoms of seasonal allergies, observing compliance with other measures to reduce exposure to pollen, such as, wearing a mask, avoiding outside environment during the times of high pollen count, and using humidifiers in the room to increase the environmental moisture, can contribute significantly towards better control of symptoms.
15. Do not discontinue taking the medication without your physician’s consult, as you failed to see the desired result immediately after taking the medication.
16. While using hydroxyzine, periodical evaluation of various electrolytes and ions could be performed, to avoid any serious side-effects from developing. Observe compliance with any labs and evaluations ordered.
17. Your physician could change the dose of hydroxyzine, based on the relief obtained or side-effects developed. So, maintain compliance with follow-up physician appointments, to update on the relief from symptoms. Be accommodative to the plan of frequent dose changes, until you show an optimum response.
18. Continue taking hydroxyzine as ordered, even if your symptoms are under control. Abrupt discontinuation on hydroxyzine intake can result in precipitating the symptoms back again. Discontinuing the medication should only be on your physician’s recommendation.
19. If you miss a dose, try taking it at the earliest notice of noncompliance. If it is time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and take the dose scheduled. Do not take an extra dose to try making up for the missed dose, as it can lead to toxicity with the drug. Notify your doctor and other health care personnel regarding your dose noncompliance.