My vet (2nd opinion vet) has prescribed hydroxyzine for my itchy mare. He really didn’t tell me anything about it other than it should help relieve her itchiness.
Looking it up apparently it can also cause drowsiness and relieve anxiety. A bit of calm probably won’t hurt her but I wonder about the drowsiness, how will that affect riding her?
He prescribed 250mg once a day.
2 Likes
My mini gets it once in awhile. It does make him drowsy at the prescribed dose but at half a dose he’s fine and it still works. My welsh was on it for a couple of weeks years ago, he didn’t experience any drowsiness at all BUT he did develop anhidrosis which lasted the entire summer even after stopping the drug. That’s just my experience with 2 ponies and YMMV.
1 Like
One experience with it many years ago, when it was prescribed for one of my mares. While she was eating the pills from my hand, she got a strange look on her face, then immediately dropped like a stone. I still can’t believe that she didn’t take me down with her, as it happened so quickly – the odd expression lasted only a split second before she collapsed, I didn’t have time to jump out of the way.
We’d just returned from the vet clinic, and my husband hadn’t finished unhooking the trailer. I called to him to hitch it back up, while I did everything in my power to get my mare back up on her feet. I thought she might be dying, and was stunned from the quick drop/near miss.
Amazingly, she responded to my efforts, staggered to her feet, and wobbled the short distance to the trailer (husband had it at the opening to the barn), with me alongside encouraging her to keep going, step by step. We got her loaded with no extra help, as no one else was at the barn at that time. Still can’t believe this mare got to her feet and made it into the trailer – she was such a good girl, all heart, to try her best and be cooperative at such a time when she must have felt awful. She was the eventual grandmother of my current horse, who is also wonderful.
The clinic was only a couple of miles away, and I waited for the thump of her going down the entire way there. Vet met us outside, and gave her injections to counteract what seemed to be a severe allergic reaction. He kept apologizing, but how would he have known she’d react that way? I certainly didn’t blame him.
Needless to say, the mare did not ever have this medication again, and it’s never been prescribed for any of my other horses – I admit I’d be nervous about giving it, even though I realize that this was one of those freak things.
Best wishes for the OP’s horse to do well on it.
4 Likes
My horse has been taking hydroxyzine for itchyness for about seven months. At most, he’s been at 1000 mg/day. Currently 500 mg/day. I’ve not noticed much sluggishness from the medication.
Unfortunately, hydroxyzine didn’t relieve his mane and tail itching so we did allergy testing, and now he’s doing the allergy shots. Finally making some progress where he’s not itching himself anymore.
1 Like
that’s horrifying! I did stay out in the barn for a time tonight with my girl after she ate the meds. So far she seemed fine.
4 Likes
One time a nurse, during a visit of mine to an ER, told me that “anyone can be allergic to anything at anytime,” and I guess that’s true with animals, too.
Hadn’t thought of this episode in a very long time; it took me by such total surprise when it happened.
ETA fixed typo
3 Likes
Mine gets it intermittently for hives. He appears to be allergic to some bug bites in the late summer. I usually do a 7 day course as soon as the hives start to appear.
It doesn’t make him drowsy. He stays in normal work and is fine.
Worth noting that you can’t show on it, though. There is a withdrawal period requirement that is longer than you might expect.
2 Likes
I haven’t had any issues using hydroxyzine when my late gelding had itchiness and rubbed himself raw in a few places. I would say overall, a short course of dexamethasone worked better and faster though. Never did get to the bottom of his itching issues though I was suspicious of PPID and was planning to test for it but then he passed.
I’ve also used hydroxyzine as a sleep medication so it can definitely cause drowsiness. It’s also apparently used for addicts coming off drugs or alcohol too. Sort of an interesting antihistamine IMO.
1 Like
Did he ever start sweating again?
1 Like
Omg my heart was in my throat reading this.
I’ve had two be allergic to meds. One Mare I gave some Robaxin, and she all of a sudden broke out in hives all over her body. We were able to stop that and she was fine. Then her daughter later was on metroclonizole (sp) and had a reaction to it, but it was more of a behavioral reaction after the first full day of the meds she all of a sudden turned into a raging nutcase. You could barely get in the stall with her. That was all very out of character, so we stopped the meds and after 36 hours or so she was back to herself.
thank God I never had any reactions as dramatic as yours that had to be terrifying
2 Likes
Yes, he did but it took an entire year to get him back to anything near normal. One AC and salt got him started. The next Spring he seemed to “reset” himself but I still give him the One AC starting in April/May through the summer just to be on the safe side.
1 Like
Wow. I’m glad he started back up
1 Like
I had not herd that itchiness is an effect of PPID…
My senior has been getting Hydroxyzine (250mg capsules) for his seasonal allergy induced heaves for 8-9 years. He gets 1-2 capsules per day April - September, and as needed the rest of the year. On bad days he’s gotten another 1-2 capsules in the evening (so up to 4 in one day).
I’ve never noticed any sleepiness, but the higher dose days are because he’s not feeling good or breathing well. I’m not sure sleepiness from the drugs would be noticeable.
2 Likes
Ski infections are a sign. And itchiness resulting from it could be.
2 Likes
This is what my horse gets as part of the pre-treatment before vaccines or if she has an issue with hives or bites. I have never noticed it making her drowsy.
I am guessing it is like taking something like Benadryl. That makes some people very drowsy, other people it does not.
2 Likes
I work in mental health for humans and we often give it to patients and explain it as “beefed up Benadryl”. It is helpful for anxiety, withdraws, and allergies.
2 Likes
My mare was on it for years due to severe allergies and respiratory issues. It never caused any change in her behavior at all. I wish it had 
1 Like
My mate survives on it randomly in our 3 years together. On and off. But game changing. Sadly illegal for shows but suggest it !
You just give as needed then? How long did it take before you notice it working?
