Hydroxyzine for generalised anxiety disorder.

Summary: Do you or a loved one suffer from constant, uncontrollable worry? Doctors often treat Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD) with antidepressants or sedatives, but researchers have also investigated hydroxyzine—an older antihistamine often used for allergies—to see if it helps calm the mind.

A review of five studies involving nearly 900 patients found that hydroxyzine works better than a sugar pill (placebo) and is roughly as effective as standard anxiety medications like benzodiazepines or buspirone. However, there is a catch: it makes patients significantly sleepier than other treatments. Because the existing studies were small and had some flaws, experts conclude that while hydroxyzine works, it shouldn't be the very first option doctors reach for when treating anxiety.