Description

Hydroxyzine  hydrochloride  has the chemical name of (±)-2-[2-[4-(p-Chloro-a­ phenylbenzyl) -1-piperazinyl]ethoxy]ethanol  dihydrochloride and occurs as a white, odorless powder  which is very soluble in water.

It has the following structural formula:

Molecular Formula: C21H27CIN202•2HCI                                   Molecular Weight: 447.83

Hydroxyzine  Hydrochloride  Injection,  USP is a sterile  aqueous  solution  intended  for intramuscular administration.

Each mL contains:  Hydroxyzine HCI 25 mg or 50 mg, Benzyl Alcohol 0.9%, and Water for Injection q.s. pH adjusted with Sodium Hydroxide and/or Hydrochloric Acid.

Clinical Pharmacology

Hydroxyzine  hydrochloride  is unrelated chemically  to phenothiazine, reserpine,  and meprobamate.  Hydroxyzine  has demonstrated  its  clinical effectiveness  in  the chemotherapeutic aspect of the total management of neuroses and emotional disturbances manifested by anxiety, tension, agitation, apprehension or confusion.

Hydroxyzine has been shown clinically to be a rapid-acting true ataraxic with a wide margin of safety. It induces a calming effect in anxious, tense, psychoneurotic  adults  and also in anxious,  hyperkinetic children without impairing mental alertness. It is not a cortical depressant, but its action may be due to a suppression of activity in certain key regions of the subcortical area of the central nervous system.

Primary skeletal muscle relaxation has been demonstrated experimentally.

Hydroxyzine has been shown experimentally to have antispasmodic properties, apparently mediated through interference  with the mechanism that responds to spasmogenic  agents  such as serotonin, acetylcholine, and histamine.

Antihistaminic effects have been demonstrated experimentally and confirmed clinically.

An antiemetic  effect,  both by the apomorphine  test and the veriloid test, has been demonstrated. Pharmacological and clinical studies indicate that hydroxyzine in therapeutic dosage does not increase gastric secretion or acidity and in most cases provides mild antisecretory benefits.

Indications and Usage

The total management of anxiety, tension, and psychomotor agitation in conditions of emotional stress requires in most instances a combined approach of psychotherapy and chemotherapy. Hydroxyzine has been found to be particularly useful for this latter phase of therapy in its ability to render the disturbed patient more amenable to psychotherapy in long term treatment of the psychoneurotic and psychotic, although it should not be used as the sole treatment of psychosis or of clearly demonstrated cases of depression.

Hydroxyzine is also useful in alleviating the manifestations of anxiety and tension as in the preparation for dental procedures and in acute emotional problems. It has also been recommended for the management of anxiety associated with organic  disturbances  and as adjunctive therapy in alcoholism and allergic conditions with strong emotional overlay, such as in asthma, chronic urticaria, and pruritus.

Hydroxyzine hydrochloride intramuscular solution is useful in treating the following types of patients when intramuscular administration is indicated:

1. The acutely disturbed or hysterical patient.

2. The acute or chronic alcoholic with anxiety withdrawal symptoms or delirium tremens.

3. As pre- and postoperative and pre- and postpartum adjunctive medication to permit reduction in narcotic dosage, allay anxiety and control emesis.

Hydroxyzine hydrochloride  has also demonstrated  effectiveness in controlling nausea  and vomiting, excluding nausea and vomiting of pregnancy. (See CONTRAINDICATIONS).

In prepartum states, the reduction in narcotic requirement effected by hydroxyzine is of particular  benefit to both mother and neonate.

Hydroxyzine benefits the cardiac patient by its ability to allay the associated anxiety and apprehension attendant to certain types of heart disease. Hydroxyzine is not known to interfere with the action of digitalis in any way and may be used concurrently with this agent.

The effectiveness of hydroxyzine in long term use, that is, more than 4 months, has not been assessed by systematic clinical studies. The physician should reassess periodically the usefulness of the drug for the individual patient.

Contraindications

Hydroxyzine  hydrochloride  intramuscular  solution is  intended only for intramuscular administration and should not, under any circumstances, be injected subcutaneously, intra­ arterially or intravenously.

Hydroxyzine is contraindicated in patients with a prolonged QT interval.

This drug is contraindicated for patients who have shown a previous hypersensitivity to it.

Hydroxyzine, when administered to the pregnant mouse, rat, and rabbit, induced fetal abnormalities in the rat  at doses  substantially  above  the human  therapeutic range.  Clinical  data in human beings are inadequate  to establish  safety in early pregnancy.  Until such data are available,  hydroxyzine  is contraindicated in early pregnancy.

Warnings

Tissue damage: Intramuscular hydroxyzine hydrochloride  may result in severe injection site reactions (including extensive tissue damage,  necrosis  and gangrene) requiring surgical intervention (including debridement, skin grafting and amputation).

Adverse Reactions

Therapeutic doses of hydroxyzine  seldom produce impairment  of mental alertness. However, drowsiness may occur;  if so, it is usually transitory and may disappear in a few days of continued  therapy or upon reduction of the dose. Dryness of the mouth may be encountered at higher doses. Extensive clinical use has substantiated the absence of toxic effects on the liver or bone marrow when administered in the recommended doses for over four years of uninterrupted therapy. The absence of adverse effects has been further demonstrated in experimental studies in which excessively high doses were administered.

Involuntary motor activity, including rare instances of tremor and convulsions, has been reported, usually with doses considerably higher than those recommended. Continuous therapy with over one gram per day has been employed in some patients without these effects having been encountered. Hydroxyzine hydrochloride is associated with Acute Generalized Exanthematous Pustulosis (AGEP) in post marketing reports.

Dosage and Administration

The recommended dosages for hydroxyzine hydrochloride intramuscular solution are:

As with all potent medications, the dosage should be adjusted according to the patient's response to therapy.

FOR  ADDITIONAL  INFORMATION  ON THE ADMINISTRATION  AND SITE OF SELECTION  SEE PRECAUTIONS  SECTION.  NOTE: Hydroxyzine  hydrochloride intramuscular  solution may be administered without further dilution.

Patients may be started on intramuscular therapy when indicated. They should be maintained on oral therapy whenever this route is practicable.

Parenteral drug products should be inspected visually for particulate  matter and discoloration prior to administration, whenever solution and container permit.

How Supplied

Storage Condition: Store at 20° to 25°C (68° to 7JOF); excursions permitted to 15° to 30°C (59° to 86°F) (See USP Controlled Room Temperature). Protect from light. Discard unused portion of the single dose vial.

AMERICAN REGENT, INC.

SHIRLEY, NY 11967

IN4201

Rev. 10/16

MG #7842

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