AboutEric Brandt Expertise I am a practicing pharmacist.On my drug information website, I have answered hundreds of questions to date. The articles posted on my site include Parkinson`s disease. depression, menopause, diabetes, sleep and aging, congestive heart failure, calcium channel blockers, thyroid hormone replacement therapy, ADHD, multiple sclerosis an more.
Experience I have experience in retail as well as hospital pharmacy pracice. Currently working in a hospital pharmacy. I am experienced in drug information. Over the last 6 years I have developed a successful web site for drug information.
The addressfor my drug information website is http://www.druginformation.bc.caThere you can read articles on varios areas of health interest. You can also leave me questions which I will personally answer. I also have a free health information newsletter called The Caplet. To subscribe send e-mail to
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Question Hi - While in the process of withdrawing from a minimal amount of Vallium used for sleep my doctor prescribed Atarax for the same purpose. For the past eight months I have taken it regularly before bed - usually 10 mg every night, maybe some nights 15 mg.. Last week I thought I was having some issues from this drug and I stopped taking it because I was told it's not addictive and could be easily stopped. But - I have noticed that, yes I still can sleep without it, but I am feeling more nervous and have pins and needles and tingling once again, just like when I had problems coming off valium. Is it possible that stopping Atarax could bring this all about in someone like me, who's at the moment very drug sensitive and still under the throws of valium withdrawal (15 months.) It kind of makes sense to me but I am not a pharmacist or physician and can only assume or guess. Would you be able to suggest a good way to stop taking Atarax if indeed you do think it causes a possible withdrawal effect in one who's already going through same.
Thanks for your reply.
Answer Hi Marge,
Atarax has anti-anxiety properties. Using it helps with the anxiety associated with withdrawal from Valium. Stopping Atarax brings on the withdrawal symptoms of Valium. Depending on the dose of Atarax you can try gradual dose decrease to see how low a dose you can get away with. Atarax is available in syrup form which makes it easier to taylor a dose to your needs.
Thank you for using Allexperts
Sincerely,
Eric Brandt, B.Sc. Pharm
