Atarax

Leaflet attached to the packaging: patient information

Atarax, 10 mg, coated tablets

Atarax, 25 mg, coated tablets

Hydroxyzine hydrochloride

Read the leaflet carefully before taking the medicine, as it contains important information for the patient.

• Keep this leaflet, you may need to read it again.
• If you have any further questions, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
• This medicine has been prescribed specifically for you. Do not pass it on to others. It may harm them, even if their symptoms are the same as yours.
• If you experience any side effects, including those not listed in this leaflet, tell your doctor or pharmacist. See section 4.

Table of contents of the leaflet

• 1. What is Atarax and what is it used for
• 2. Important information before taking Atarax
• 3. How to take Atarax
• 4. Possible side effects
• 5. How to store Atarax
• 6. Package contents and other information

1. What is Atarax and what is it used for

Atarax is a medicine with antihistamine, sedative, and anxiolytic effects.
Atarax is indicated for:

• symptomatic treatment of anxiety in adults,
• symptomatic treatment of itching,
• premedication before surgical procedures.

2. Important information before taking Atarax

When not to take Atarax

• if you are allergic to the active substance or any of the other ingredients of Atarax,
• if you are allergic to cetirizine, other piperazine derivatives, aminophylline, or ethylenediamine,
• if you have porphyria,
• if your ECG (electrocardiogram) shows heart rhythm disturbances called "QT interval prolongation",
• if you have cardiovascular disease or if your heart rate is very slow,
• if you have low levels of electrolytes (e.g., low potassium or magnesium levels),
• if you are taking certain medicines used to treat heart rhythm disorders or medicines that may affect heart rhythm (see "Atarax and other medicines"),
• if someone in your family has died suddenly due to heart disease,
• during pregnancy and breastfeeding.

Warnings and precautions

Before starting treatment with Atarax, discuss it with your doctor:

• if you have an increased tendency to seizures (seizures have been reported more frequently in children than in adults),
• if you have glaucoma, difficulty urinating, impaired gastrointestinal motility, myasthenia gravis(a disease characterized by muscle weakness and fatigue after repeated exertion, the first symptoms are: drooping eyelids, double vision, nasal voice, difficulty chewing and swallowing, difficulty lifting upper limbs, walking, and rarely, respiratory muscle weakness) or dementia,
• if Atarax is used concomitantly with other medicines that have a sedative effect on the central nervous system or with anticholinergic properties (in these patients, dose adjustment may be necessary).

Taking Atarax may be associated with an increased risk of heart rhythm disturbances, which can be life-threatening. Therefore, you should tell your doctor about any heart problems and about taking any other medicines, including those available without a prescription.
If you experience heart symptoms such as rapid heartbeat (palpitations), breathing problems, loss of consciousness during treatment with Atarax, you should immediately consult a doctor.
You should also stop treatment with hydroxyzine.
Treatment should be discontinued at least 5 days before performing allergy tests or methacholine bronchial provocation tests to avoid affecting the results of these tests.

Atarax and other medicines

Tell your doctor about all medicines you are currently taking or have recently taken, as well as any medicines you plan to take. Atarax may affect the action of other medicines. Other medicines may affect the action of Atarax.
This applies to the following medicines:

• medicines with a sedative effect on the central nervous system or with anticholinergic properties,
• alcohol and alcohol dehydrogenase inhibitors,
• betahistidine and cholinesterase inhibitors,
• monoamine oxidase inhibitors (used, among other things, in depression),
• adrenaline,
• medicines that may cause heart rhythm disturbances.

Do not take Atarax if you are taking medicines used to treat:

• bacterial infections (e.g., antibiotics such as erythromycin, moxifloxacin, levofloxacin) ,
• fungal infections (e.g., pentamidine),
• heart disease or high blood pressure (e.g., amiodarone, quinidine, disopyramide, sotalol),
• psychoses (e.g., haloperidol),
• depression (e.g., citalopram, escitalopram),
• gastrointestinal diseases (e.g., prucalopride),
• allergies,
• malaria (e.g., mefloquine, hydroxychloroquine),
• cancer (e.g., toremifene, vandetanib),
• drug addiction or severe pain (methadone).

Taking Atarax with alcohol

It is recommended to avoid concomitant use of Atarax and alcohol.

Pregnancy, breastfeeding, and fertility

Atarax should not be used during pregnancy or breastfeeding. Breastfeeding should be discontinued if it is necessary to use Atarax.
In newborns whose mothers received hydroxyzine during late pregnancy and/or during delivery, directly or a few hours after birth, the following symptoms may occur: trembling, stiffness, and/or muscle weakness, breathing problems, and urinary retention.
Women of childbearing age should use appropriate contraception to prevent pregnancy during treatment with hydroxyzine.
Animal studies have not shown a negative effect on fertility. Data on the effect on human fertility are not available.

Driving and using machines

While taking Atarax, do not drive vehicles, operate machines, or use tools, as Atarax may impair your ability to react and concentrate.

Atarax contains lactose

Atarax in the form of tablets contains lactose. If you have previously been diagnosed with intolerance to some sugars, you should consult your doctor before taking the medicine.

3. How to take Atarax

This medicine should always be taken exactly as directed by your doctor. If you are unsure, consult your doctor or pharmacist.
Atarax should be taken in the smallest effective dose. The treatment period should be as short as possible.
In adults and children over 40 kg, the maximum daily dose is 100 mg. The following doses are usually used:

Adults
In symptomatic treatment of anxiety
50 mg/day in 2-3 divided doses.
In severe cases, doses up to 100 mg/day can be taken orally.
In symptomatic treatment of itching
Treatment should be started with a dose of 25 mg before bedtime, continuing therapy by increasing the dose if necessary, administering 25 mg 3 to 4 times a day.
In premedication before surgical procedures
50 mg in two administrations or 100 mg in a single dose orally.

Use in children (from 12 months) and adolescents

In children and adolescents weighing up to 40 kg, the maximum daily dose is 2 mg/kg body weight per day.
In children and adolescents weighing over 40 kg, the maximum daily dose is 100 mg.
In symptomatic treatment of itching
1 mg/kg body weight per day to 2 mg/kg body weight per day in divided doses.
In premedication before surgical procedures
0.6 mg/kg body weight orally in a single dose.
The cumulative daily dose should not exceed 2 mg/kg body weight per day.
Dose adjustment
Dosing should be adjusted individually, within the recommended dose range, depending on the patient's response to treatment.
Elderly patients
The use of hydroxyzine in elderly patients is not recommended. If a decision is made to treat, it is recommended to start treatment with half the recommended dose.
In elderly patients, the maximum daily dose is 50 mg.
Patients with renal impairment
In patients with moderate or severe renal impairment, due to reduced excretion of the drug's metabolite, cetirizine, the doses used should be reduced.
Patients with hepatic impairment
In patients with liver impairment, it is recommended to reduce the daily dose by 33%.

Overdose of Atarax

If you have taken or used too much Atarax, you should immediately contact the emergency services, especially if it concerns a child. In case of overdose, symptomatic treatment can be used. ECG monitoring is recommended due to the possibility of heart rhythm disturbances [including bradycardia (very slow heart rate)], such as QT interval prolongation or torsade de pointes.
Symptoms of Atarax overdose are: nausea, vomiting, tachycardia (rapid heart rate), fever, drowsiness, disturbances of pupillary reflex, tremors, confusion or hallucinations, and then decreased consciousness, respiratory depression, seizures, hypotension, or heart rhythm disturbances, as well as deepening coma and cardiopulmonary collapse.
There is no specific antidote.

Missing a dose of Atarax

Do not take a double dose to make up for a missed dose.

Stopping treatment with Atarax

If you have any further questions about the use of this medicine, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

4. Possible side effects

Like all medicines, Atarax can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.
Very common: may affect more than 1 in 10 people

• drowsiness

Common: may affect up to 1 in 10 people

• dry mouth
• fatigue
• headache
• sedation (calmness)

Uncommon: may affect up to 1 in 100 people

• nausea
• malaise, fever
• dizziness, insomnia, tremors
• agitation, confusion

Rare: may affect up to 1 in 1,000 people

• tachycardia (rapid heart rate)
• accommodation disorders, blurred vision
• constipation, vomiting
• hypersensitivity reactions
• abnormal liver function test results
• seizures, dyskinesia (involuntary, uncoordinated movements of limbs and other body parts), disorientation, hallucinations
• urinary retention
• itching, rash, urticaria, skin inflammation
• hypotension

Very rare: may affect up to 1 in 10,000 people

• anaphylactic shock (caused by a severe, systemic allergic reaction, its symptoms are: shortness of breath, swelling of the throat and larynx, skin itching and redness, headache, feeling of "pressure", dizziness, significant weakness, up to loss of consciousness); in severe cases, it can be life-threatening
• bronchospasm
• angioedema (skin rash in the form of irregular spots, blisters, and swelling), increased sweating, fixed drug eruption, acute generalized exanthematous pustulosis (pustular rash on reddened skin, which may be accompanied by swelling and general symptoms, e.g., fever), erythema multiforme (skin rash that can cause blistering and looks like small targets)

Frequency not known: frequency cannot be estimated from the available data

• QT interval prolongation in the electrocardiogram, heart rhythm disturbances of the torsade de pointestype
• hepatitis
• loss of consciousness (fainting)
• bullous reactions [e.g., toxic epidermal necrolysis (widespread rash with blisters and peeling skin, occurring mainly in the mouth, eyes, nose, and genital areas), pemphigoid (an autoimmune skin disease characterized by well-tensioned blisters, located in the area of reddened and swollen skin and in apparently unchanged skin)]
• weight gain

You should stop taking the medicine and immediately consult a doctor if you experience heart rhythm disturbances, such as rapid heartbeat (palpitations), breathing problems, or loss of consciousness.
Additionally, the following side effects have been observed with cetirizine, the main metabolite of hydroxyzine, which may also occur after administration of hydroxyzine: decreased platelet count, aggression, depression, tics, involuntary movements, paresthesia, episodes of forced gaze with eye rotation, diarrhea, difficulty urinating, involuntary urination, asthenia (fatigue, weakness), edema, weight gain.
In some people, during treatment with Atarax, other side effects may occur.
If any of the side effects get worse or if you experience any side effects not listed in this leaflet, you should tell your doctor, pharmacist, or nurse.

Reporting side effects

If you experience any side effects, including those not listed in this leaflet, you should tell your doctor, pharmacist, or nurse. Side effects can be reported directly to the Department of Adverse Reaction Monitoring of Medicinal Products, Medical Devices, and Biocidal Products, Al. Jerozolimskie 181 C, 02-222 Warsaw, tel.: +48 22 49 21 301, fax: +48 22 49 21 309, website: https://smz.ezdrowie.gov.pl.
Side effects can also be reported to the marketing authorization holder.
Reporting side effects will help to gather more information on the safety of the medicine.

5. How to store Atarax

Store in a temperature below 25°C.
Store in the outer packaging.
The medicine should be stored out of sight and reach of children.
Do not use this medicine after the expiry date stated on the carton and blister after "Expiry date" and (or) "EXP". The expiry date refers to the last day of the month.
Medicines should not be disposed of via wastewater or household waste. Ask your pharmacist how to dispose of medicines that are no longer needed. This will help protect the environment.

6. Package contents and other information

What Atarax contains

• The active substance of Atarax is hydroxyzine hydrochloride.
• The other ingredients are: o 10 mg coated tablets:lactose monohydrate, cornstarch, talc (E553b), calcium stearate, povidone K 30. Coating composition: methacrylate copolymer, sodium lauryl sulfate, silicon dioxide (E551), stearic acid (E570), and talc (E553b). o 25 mg coated tablets:lactose monohydrate, microcrystalline cellulose, magnesium stearate, colloidal anhydrous silica. Coating composition: Opadry Y-1-7000 (titanium dioxide, hypromellose, macrogol 400).

What Atarax looks like and what the package contains

Atarax, 10 mg coated tablets, are white, round tablets.
Atarax, 25 mg coated tablets, are white, oblong tablets with a dividing line in the middle.
The package contains 25 coated tablets.

Marketing authorization holder and manufacturer

Marketing authorization holder:
UCB Pharma SA
Allée de la Recherche 60
B-1070 Brussels
Belgium
Manufacturer:
Atarax 10 mg coated tablets
UCB Pharma SA, Chemin du Foriest, B-1420 Braine l’Alleud, Belgium
Aesica Pharmaceuticals GmbH, Alfred-Nobel-Str. 10, 40789 Monheim am Rhein, Germany
Atarax 25 mg coated tablets
UCB Pharma SA, Chemin du Foriest, B-1420 Braine l’Alleud, Belgium
To obtain more detailed information, please contact the local representative of the marketing authorization holder:
UCB Pharma Sp. z o.o.
ul. Kruczkowskiego 8
00-380 Warsaw
Tel. + 48 22 696 99 20
Date of last revision of the leaflet:December 2024