Hydroxyzine chloride VS antihistamines

Since antihistamines like zyrtec are simply a purer form of hydroxyzine chloride, is it safe to take them in larger doses?
E.g minimum hydroxyzine dose for sleeping problems is like 50mg. Can a person just take 5x 10mg zyrtect pills? Would that produce the same effect?
This is a purely hypothetical question of course. I'm merely curious!

Reply 1

aytuiq

Zyrtect contains a different active ingredient, it is not 'purer', zyrtect contains cetrizine which is less able to cross the blood-brain barrier than hydroxyzine- more would be required to have a sedative effect, but it may not even help for sleeping at all.

Why are you asking this question anyway ?

(edited 6 years ago)

Reply 2

Ciel.

Original post by aytuiq

Really? I didn't know, I remember reading it's a first generation antihistamine, and that it's almost the same thing but in a purer form without additional ingredients and stuff. Guess it was a lie eh. Ah well, for personal research purposes. Thank you.

Reply 3

aytuiq

Cetrizine is second generation, hydroxyzine is first gen. I believe.
All second generation antihistamines have less of a sedative effect (less blood-brain barrier diffusible and more specific)
Are you a pharmacy student ?

(edited 6 years ago)

Reply 4

mahdachod

This is general knowledge lol.

Everyone knows their loratadine from their cetirizine from their fexofenadine.

Reply 5

aytuiq

Apparently cetirizine is a metabolite of hydroxyzine- that may be why you are confused ?

Reply 6

Ciel.

Original post by aytuiq

Ah less of a sedating effect? Are there are firt gen antihistamines available over the counter still? Or have they all been replaced by 2nd gen? Oh, no I'm not.

Original post by mahdachod

This is general knowledge lol.

Everyone knows their loratadine from their cetirizine from their fexofenadine.

Not everyone. I know everything about benzos. Not so much about antihistamines.

Reply 7

mahdachod

Original post by Ciel.

Ah less of a sedating effect? Are there are firt gen antihistamines available over the counter still? Or have they all been replaced by 2nd gen? Oh, no I'm not.

Not everyone. I know everything about benzos. Not so much about antihistamines.

I only know it cos I spent 2 years in a pharmacy for my sins. I actually study finance at PhD level so lol.

Reply 8

Ciel.

Original post by mahdachod

I only know it cos I spent 2 years in a pharmacy for my sins. I actually study finance at PhD level so lol.

I studied law so I'm not obliged to know about them, haha! :colondollar:

Reply 9

aytuiq

Oh okay, did you work as a pharmacy technician ?

Reply 10

mahdachod

Original post by Ciel.

I studied law so I'm not obliged to know about them, haha! :colondollar:

A MPharm student or a Medicine student would know all that stuff. I just learn how to gamble with other people's money.

Reply 11

aytuiq

I think first generation antihistamines are rarely sold over the counter nowadays, especially if they are being sold for hay fever etc. due to side effects.

Reply 12

Ciel.

Original post by aytuiq

I think first generation antihistamines are rarely sold over the counter nowadays, especially if they are being sold for hay fever etc. due to side effects.