{"id":630878,"date":"2025-01-02T10:25:07","date_gmt":"2025-01-02T15:25:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/?p=630878"},"modified":"2026-01-28T14:13:42","modified_gmt":"2026-01-28T19:13:42","slug":"buspirone-and-hydroxyzine","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/buspirone-and-hydroxyzine\/","title":{"rendered":"Can you take buspirone and hydroxyzine together?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Buspirone<\/span><\/a> (brand-name BuSpar) is a prescription medication used in the treatment of medical conditions like anxiety disorders. Another potential treatment option for anxiety is <\/span>hydroxyzine<\/span><\/a>, which is often sold under the names Atarax and Vistaril. Buspirone is an anxiolytic, which works by balancing the levels of serotonin and dopamine in your brain. Hydroxyzine is an antihistamine that is frequently used to treat allergic reactions by blocking histamine receptors associated with immune responses to allergies such as hay fever, and inflammation such as hives and insect bites. Hydroxyzine is also used to treat anxiety. The two drugs can be safely taken together, but healthcare providers do not typically recommend it.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

A treatment involving both medications should only take place under the supervision of a healthcare provider, as taking buspirone with hydroxyzine causes an increase in serious side effects. If you take these medications simultaneously, it\u2019s important to know their side effects and potential interactions beforehand.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Can you take buspirone and hydroxyzine together?<\/span><\/h2>\n

While medical experts say that it is possible to take <\/span>buspirone<\/span> and <\/span>hydroxyzine<\/span> together when necessary for quick <\/span>anxiety<\/span> relief, it is not a recommended course of <\/span>treatment<\/span>, especially in the <\/span>long term<\/span>. \u201cThere is an increased risk of side effects if they\u2019re taken together,\u201d says Taylor McDaniel, PharmD<\/span>, a pharmacy manager at VIGILINT in <\/span>Fuquay-Varina, North Carolina.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Benefits of taking buspirone and hydroxyzine at the same time<\/span><\/h2>\n

In certain situations, buspirone and hydroxyzine may be taken together under the supervision of a healthcare provider. Both drugs are used to treat anxiety, and taking both together can help to quickly reduce symptoms, particularly in the interim, while your healthcare provider is working to determine the best treatment plan for your long-term health.<\/span><\/p>\n

Ankur Bindal, MD<\/span><\/a>, a board-certified psychiatrist and CEO of <\/span>KAB Medical Group Inc.<\/span><\/a> in California, says that the drugs can safely be taken together, but he recommends proceeding with caution.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIn specific situations where a doctor carefully monitors dosage and potential side effects, [taking buspirone and hydroxyzine together] might be considered safe for short-term use, particularly for individuals experiencing mild anxiety symptoms with occasional bouts of severe itching or allergic reactions where the sedative effect of hydroxyzine is necessary for symptom management,\u201d he explains. \u201cHowever, if your physician approves this combination, the medications need to be started at a lower dose, with close monitoring, special caution to be taken in older patients, and avoidance of driving or operating machinery.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Individually, buspirone and hydroxyzine have different benefits in treating anxiety. Hydroxyzine is a faster-acting drug used for more immediate treatment needs. Buspirone, on the other hand, takes longer to build up in your system and become effective and is often used for chronic anxiety.<\/span><\/p>\n

Because it can take <\/span>three to four weeks<\/span><\/a> to begin to see a change in your anxiety symptoms from taking buspirone, hydroxyzine may be used in the meantime to help ease immediate anxiety symptoms such as severe panic attacks or anxiety attacks. This provides short-term relief of the symptoms of anxiety while you work with a healthcare provider to find the buspirone dosage that is right for you.<\/span><\/p>\n

As the effects of hydroxyzine are much more short-lived, buspirone is the better choice of the two for the long-term treatment of anxiety disorders. However, hydroxyzine may be used for temporary periods of anxiety or emotional stress, <\/span>as the <\/span>use of this medicine<\/span> can also <\/span>treat physical symptoms of anxiety<\/span><\/a>, such as nausea, vomiting, or hives.<\/span><\/p>\n

Buspirone and hydroxyzine risks and interactions<\/span><\/h2>\n

As mentioned, many healthcare providers don\u2019t recommend taking buspirone and hydroxyzine together due to the increased risk of certain side effects.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

On its own, the <\/span>most common side effects of buspirone<\/span><\/a> include:<\/span><\/p>\n