Sedatives & Hypnotics
Hydroxyzine (Vistaril / Atarax)
Street names: Vistaril, Atarax, Hydroxizine
Overdose? Act now. Call emergency services — say "unresponsive, not breathing". Give naloxone for opioid-like signs. Hotlines
⚡What it does
- Prescription antihistamine-anxiolytic: sedation, anxiety relief without addiction — the 'clean benzo alternative' doctors reach for
⚠Key risks
- Not euphoric — dependence rare; the harm is oversedation and combos
- QT-prolongation caution (heart rhythm)
- Potentiates opioids, alcohol, benzos — the same combo deaths apply
- Chronic use: dry mouth, weight gain, tolerance to sedation
✚Overdose signs
- Severe sedation
- Dry mouth, dilated pupils
- Heart rhythm changes (rare)
📋Quick facts
Also known asVistaril, Atarax, Hydroxizine
CategorySedatives & Hypnotics
Schedule / classRx-only — not controlled
Appearance10–100 mg tablets/capsules; syrup
Street price~$0.20–$1 per tablet
Legal statusRx-only everywhere; heavily prescribed
Last updated2026-09-18
Sources: FDA, EMA
Category comparison — Sedatives & Hypnotics
| Substance | Class | Top risks | Street price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hydroxyzine (Vistaril / Atarax) | Rx-only — not controlled | Not euphoric — dependence rare; the harm is oversedation and combos; QT-prolongation caution (heart rhythm) | ~$0.20–$1 per tablet |
| Promethazine (Phenergan) | Rx US; OTC UK/EU | THE LEAN MULTIPLIER: promethazine deepens codeine's respiratory depression — the combination in purple drank is part of why it kills; IV promethazine: severe tissue necrosis (the famous black-box warning) | ~$0.20–$1 per tablet |
| Cyclizine (Marzine / Valoid) | OTC/Rx travel-sickness tablets most countries | THE UK INJECTING SCENE: cyclizine crushed and injected with methadone ('the blue and white') — severe tissue damage, abscesses, and the combination deepens respiratory depression; Anticholinergic load at high doses — delirium | ~$0.10–$0.50 per tablet OTC |
| Quetiapine (Seroquel) | Rx-only — not a controlled drug | The prison/street sleep drug: 'Suzie Q' trades as currency — it's numbing, not a high; Metabolic harm: weight gain, diabetes, dyslipidemia even at low doses | ~$0.50–$3 per tablet |
Street prices are regional estimates. Potency and cuts vary constantly.
?Frequently asked questions
What does Hydroxyzine (Vistaril / Atarax) look like?
10–100 mg tablets/capsules; syrup
What are the signs of a Hydroxyzine (Vistaril / Atarax) overdose?
Severe sedation; Dry mouth, dilated pupils; Heart rhythm changes (rare) Call emergency services immediately.
How addictive is it?
Not euphoric — dependence rare; the harm is oversedation and combos Dependence can develop with regular use.
🔗Sources & further reading
Facts on this page are compiled from these primary sources. External links open in a new tab.