Retrospective Evaluation of Moderate Sedation Visits That Used Oral Meperidine and Hydroxyzine With Oral or Intranasal Midazolam.

Purpose: To examine the influence of substituting intranasal (IN) midazolam (MID) for oral (PO) MID, within the three-drug combination of meperidine (MEP), hydroxyzine (H) and MID, on sedation treatment outcomes. Methods: A retrospective, cross-sectional analysis examined patient variables and sedation outcomes in 508 pediatric dental patients sedated by single- and multi-drug sedation regimens (MEP-H; MEP-H-(PO)-MID; MEP-H-(IN)-MID; single-agent MID). The outcome assessment examined sedation visit effectiveness, sedation treatment completion, treatment time and medication administration to discharge time. Multivariable logistic regression analyses assessed predictive variables associated with sedation visit effectiveness. Results: Both three-drug combinations (MEP-H-(PO)-MID; MEP-H-(IN)-MID) were used for behavior guidance in children of a similar age (median age=7.1 and 6.5 years, respectively, for the two drug combinations) and weight (median weight = 23.7 and 23.5 kg, respectively, for the two drug combinations). These three-drug combinations had a higher likelihood of sedation effectiveness over the reference sedation regimen of single-agent midazolam (MEP-H-(PO)-MID adjusted odds ratio [OR] = 2.65; 95 percent confidence interval [95% CI]=1.09 to 6.45; P=0.032; and MEP-H-(IN)-MID OR=2.08; 95% CI=1.03 to 4.18; P=0.039). MEP-H-(IN)MID was associated with a shorter medication administration to discharge time for patients by 23 minutes (interquartile range [IQR]=9.5 to 34 minutes) compared to MEP-H-(PO) MID (P<0.05) while providing a comparable number of teeth treated (median=five). All sedation drug regimens, including MEP-H-(IN)MID, had high levels of oxygen saturation during all sedation appointments. Conclusion: Substituting IN for PO MID in MEP-H-MID was associated with a shorter total time to discharge while demonstrating comparable efficacy during sedation.

Efficacy and safety of hydroxyzine for sleep in adults: Systematic review.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this systematic review is to assess the efficacy and safety of hydroxyzine for insomnia in adults. METHODS: A comprehensive literature search of PubMed, Embase, and CENTRAL databases was conducted to identify relevant published studies through October 2022 using the search terms: hydroxyzine and sleep, insomnia, sleep disorder or sleep initiation and maintenance disorders. Studies identified for review included prospective, interventional designs or cohort trials that reported impact of hydroxyzine on sleep in adults. Animal studies, case reports, non-English articles, letters to the editor, case studies, and conference abstracts were excluded. Data were extracted using a standardized systematic process. RESULTS: Five articles were identified for inclusion, including 1 open-label and 4 randomized controlled trials, evaluating a total of 207 patients receiving hydroxyzine 25 mg, 50 mg, or 100 mg at bedtime. Mixed efficacy was demonstrated in the sleep measures of sleep onset, sleep maintenance, and sleep quality. The most common adverse drug effect was dry mouth, although 4 of the 5 studies did not report safety outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: The studies in this review suggest hydroxyzine could be considered as a short-term treatment option for adults with insomnia for whom previous therapy was ineffective, not tolerated, or contraindicated. Additional long-term studies with an active comparator are needed to further establish its role in insomnia treatment.

Comparisons of Varying Dosages of Chloral Hydrate-Hydroxyzine with and without Meperidine for Managing Challenging Pediatric Dental Behavior: A Retrospective study of 35 years of Sedation Experiences.

PURPOSE: This retrospective study compares the efficacy and safety of variable dosing of Chloral Hydrate - Hydroxyzine with and without Meperidine (Mep)for managing varying levels of anxiety and uncooperative behavior of young pediatric dental patients over a 35-year period. STUDY DESIGN: Reviews of the sedation logs of 2,610 children, 3-7 years were compared in search of what dosing proves safe and effective for differing levels of challenging behavior. Variable dosing of CH with and without Mep were judged using a pragmatic approach which defined sedation success as optimal, adequate, inadequate, or over-dosage using oneway analysis of variance. Descriptive analyses of behavior and physiologic assessment was included with regard to the extent to which physical restraint occurred to control interfering behavior. Arousal levels requiring stimulation, oxygen desaturation, and adverse reactions were included as indications of safety. RESULTS: Where Mep was used, success rates were consistently higher; need for higher-end dosing of CH was not found beneficial when Mep was included. Significantly less need for physical restraint accompanied the addition of Mep. CONCLUSIONS: There appears to be strong basis for the safety and efficacy of the use of CH-H-Mep in combination at lower dosing than historically used. Addition of Mep was observed to enhance sedations, permit lower CH dosing, lessen or eliminate the need for physical restraint and adverse reactions.

Hydroxyzine-induced Torsade de Pointes in a Patient with Complete Atrioventricular Block.

An 82-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital because of dyspnea and bradycardia during exertion. Electrocardiography revealed complete atrioventricular block. During pacemaker implantation, a small dose (12.5 mg) of hydroxyzine was injected for sedation, and torsade de pointes (Tdp) occurred. The QT interval was prolonged after administration of hydroxyzine, and Tdp was observed after the R on T phenomenon occurred, indicating that hydroxyzine was capable of prolonging the QT interval and causing Tdp. Therefore, we must be cautious when administering hydroxyzine for sedation during surgery, especially in patients with bradycardia.

Comparison of Two Morphine-Benzodiazepine-Hydroxyzine Combinations for the Oral Sedation of Pediatric Dental Patients: A Retrospective Study.

PURPOSE: To investigate the effectiveness of oral morphine sulfate regimens in sedating pediatric dental patients and assess whether pre-sedation disposition and willingness to take the sedative were related to the outcome of the sedation. METHODS: The sedation records of 271 pediatric dental patients sedated with oral morphine were reviewed. Children were either sedated with regimen one (morphine plus midazolam plus hydroxyzine) or regimen two (morphine plus diazepam plus hydroxyzine). Data gathered included the patient's pre-sedation disposition, willingness to take the sedative, effectiveness of sedation, and occurrence of any adverse event. Data analysis was conducted using descriptive statistics, Pearson's chi-square, and logistic regression. RESULTS: Regimens one and two had an overall success rate of 80 percent (143 out of 178) and 81 percent (75 out of 93), respectively. A positive correlation was observed between the patient's willingness to take his/her sedative medication and the effectiveness of the sedation using both the Pearson's chi-square (P=.004) and logistic regression (P=.028). Adverse events occurred in six percent (17 out of 271) of the cases. CONCLUSIONS: Overall rate of effective sedation using various oral morphine sulfate regimens was above 80 percent. Minimal adverse events occurred. The patient's willingness to take the sedative was positively associated with the outcome of the sedation regimen.

Road traffic crash risk associated with prescription of hydroxyzine and other sedating H1-antihistamines: A responsibility and case-crossover study.

BACKGROUND: H1 antihistamines differ from each other by their ability to cross the blood-brain barrier. The resulting sedating effect can be sought in therapy but may be a driving hazard. The aim of this study was to estimate the impact of sedating H1-antihistamines on the risk of road traffic crash, with a particular focus on hydroxyzine which is also indicated as an anxiolytic in France. METHODS: The study consisted in extracting and matching data from three French nationwide databases: the national healthcare insurance database, police reports and the police national database of injurious crashes. All sedating H1-antihistamines, including hydroxyzine, were considered in the study. A case-control analysis, in which responsible drivers were cases and non-responsible were controls was performed. A case-crossover analysis, comparing for the same subject exposure during a period immediately before the crash with exposure during an earlier period, was also conducted. RESULTS: The extraction and matching procedures over the July 2005-December 2011 period led to the inclusion of 142,771 drivers involved in an injurious road traffic crash. The responsibility study found an increased risk of being responsible for an injurious road traffic crash in hydroxyzine users who were registered with a long-term chronic disease (mostly psychiatric disorders) on the day of the crash (OR=1.67 [1.22-2.30]). Among them, the risk was even higher in drivers with highest exposure levels (OR=2.60 [1.23-5.50]). There was no impact of sedating H1 antihistamine treatment initiation on the risk of crash. CONCLUSION: Even if it is difficult to disentangle the part of the increased risk that would be causally related to hydroxyzine and the part related to behaviours of patients with a heavy psychiatric disorder, our study raises the alarm on the crash risk linked to hydroxyzine utilization in countries in which the anxiolytic indication is widespread.

Oral Sedation Postdischarge Adverse Events in Pediatric Dental Patients.

The study investigated patient discharge parameters and postdischarge adverse events after discharge among children who received oral conscious sedation for dental treatment. This prospective study involved 51 patients needing dental treatment under oral conscious sedation. Each patient received one of various regimens involving combinations of a narcotic (ie, morphine or meperidine), a sedative-hypnotic (ie, chloral hydrate), a benzodiazepine (ie, midazolam or diazepam), and/or an antihistamine (ie, hydroxyzine HCl). Nitrous oxide and local anesthesia were used in conjunction with all regimens. After written informed consent was obtained, each guardian was contacted by phone with specific questions in regard to adverse events following the dental appointment. Out of 51 sedation visits, 46 were utilized for analysis including 23 boys and 23 girls ranging from 2 years 2 months to 10 years old (mean 5.8 years). 60.1% of patients slept in the car on the way home, while 21.4% of that group was difficult to awaken upon reaching home. At home, 76.1% of patients slept; furthermore, 85.7% of patients who napped following the dental visit slept longer than usual. After the appointment, 19.6% exhibited nausea, 10.1% vomited, and 7.0% experienced a fever. A return to normal behavior was reported as follows: 17.4% in <2 hours, 39.1% in 2-6 hours, 28.3% in 6-10 hours, and 15.2% in >10 hours. Postdischarge excessive somnolence, nausea, and emesis were frequent complications. The time to normality ranged until the following morning demonstrating the importance of careful postdischarge adult supervision.

Cutaneous drug eruption induced by antihistamines.

Topical application of antihistamines commonly leads to sensitization for patients, but systemic administration of antihistamines rarely induces allergic hypersensitivity, which is mainly linked to phenothiazine-derived and piperazine-derived compounds. We report a 70-year-old woman whose medical history included lichen planus, and who was referred by the dermatology department of our hospital for suspected allergy to corticosteroids. The reason for referral was that on the fourth day of treatment with prednisone and hydroxyzine, the patient presented a bilateral highly pruritic palmar erythema that evolved to a generalized morbilliform rash with subsequent complete desquamation. At a later time, she took cetirizine for a cold, and developed palmar erythema and desquamation. Skin tests (prick and intradermal tests) were performed with steroids, and patch tests (read after 48 and 96 h) with corticosteroids and antihistamines. Controlled oral challenge tests were performed with prednisone and with an alternative antihistamine. Skin tests were negative for all corticosteroids. Patch tests were negative for all corticosteroids, but the antihistamine test was positive for hydroxyzine. Oral challenge with prednisone and dexchlorpheniramine was negative. The patient was diagnosed with cutaneous drug eruption from hydroxyzine and cetirizine. We consider it is important to assess every patient whose skin condition worsens after treatment with antihistamines, especially hydroxyzine, because it is known that antihistamines are often not recognised as the culprit in cases of cutaneous eruption.

Postdischarge events occurring after pediatric sedation for dentistry.

PURPOSE: To investigate postdischarge events occurring in children during the 24 hours following sedation for dentistry. METHODS: A convenience sample of 50 children undergoing sedation with combinations of midazolam, hydroxyzine, and meperidine were included. Parents received a standardized timesheet to record child's behavior, alertness, activity level, motor imbalance, emesis, and soft tissue trauma every two hours from discharge until bedtime. A questionnaire asked about transportation, supervision, and return to normal activity. Families were telephoned after 24 hours to collect the information. RESULTS: Sixty-six percent of children slept in the car; of these, 30 percent were supervised by only the driver, and 12 percent were difficult to awaken. Agitation was observed in 22 percent, restlessness in 10 percent, withdrawn behavior in 16 percent, and soft tissue trauma in 18 percent. Motor imbalance was significantly associated with midazolam (P=.002), as was restlessness (P=.004). Eighty-two percent slept between discharge and bedtime, with 16 percent sleeping for greater than four hours. Return to normal activity was greater than four hours in 36 percent, and was inversely correlated with age (P=.02). CONCLUSIONS: Postdischarge sleepiness, drug-specific motor imbalance, sleep during transit, and recovery times greater than four hours were common and warrant vigilant adult supervision.

A comparison of sedation-related events for two multiagent oral sedation regimens in pediatric dental patients.

PURPOSE: This study compared the incidence of adverse sedation-related events occurring with two different multiagent oral sedation regimens in pediatric dental patients. METHODS: Forty healthy patients (three to six years old), received either a sedation regimen of chloral hydrate, meperidine, and hydroxyzine with nitrous oxide (CH/M/H/N2O; N=19) or a regimen of midazolam, meperidine, and hydroxyzine with nitrous oxide (MZ/M/H/N2O; N=21). The two treating dentists answered a questionnaire regarding the perioperative period. Parents received two phone interviews at eight and 24 hours after sedation. Statistical analysis included chi-square, Pearson correlation coefficient, and t-test (P<.05). RESULTS: Children sedated with MZ/M/H/N2O showed a significant increase in hyperactivity during dental treatment, slurring/difficulty speaking, and difficulty walking postoperatively within eight hours after discharge. Children sedated with CH/M/H/N2O showed a significant increase in frequency of sleeping, talking less than normal after arriving home, and an increased need for postoperative pain medication. CONCLUSIONS: Different oral sedation regimens produce different adverse sedation-related events. The provider of pediatric oral sedation should select a sedative regimen with an adverse sedation-related profile that he/she believes is optimal for the patient being treated. Parents should be counseled as to possible postsedation effects anticipated based on the sedative regimen administered.

Comparing the effect of prazosin and hydroxyzine on sleep quality in patients suffering from posttraumatic stress disorder.

OBJECTIVES: In light of the high prevalence of sleep disorders in patients suffering from posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), this study sought to compare the effect of prazosin and hydroxyzine on sleep quality in this patient group. METHODS: A total of 100 patients suffering from PTSD were assessed (mean age = 35.51 years, SD = 6.41; 28% females). Next, they were randomly assigned to one of three treatment groups: prazosin (33 patients), hydroxyzine (34 patients) or placebo (33 patients). The trial lasted for 8 weeks. The patients' sleep quality was assessed using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. Items taken from the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview were used to operationalize PTSD. RESULTS: Compared to controls, patients treated with prazosin and hydroxyzine reported improved sleep and less nightmares. Improvement was greatest in patients treated with prazosin compared to hydroxyzine and placebo. Improvement in sleep was associated with an amelioration of their PTSD symptoms. CONCLUSION: Both prazosin and hydroxyzine can be used to treat psychopharmacological sleep disorders and nightmares in patients suffering from PTSD, also leading to reductions in PTSD symptoms.

DTB Select: 7 | July 2014.

Every month, DTB scans sources of information on treatments, disease management and other healthcare topics for key items to bring to our readers' attention and help them keep up to date. To do this, we produce succinct, contextualised summaries of the information concerned. We also include comments on, for example, the strengths of the information, whether it contains anomalies, ambiguities, apparent error or omissions, or whether or how it affects current practice.