A MULTICENTER DOUBLE-BLIND PLACEBO-CONTROLLED STUDY INVESTIGATING THEANXIOLYTIC EFFICACY OF HYDROXYZINE IN PATIENTS WITH GENERALIZED ANXIETY

The efficacy of hydroxyzine was investigated in 110 patients suffering from generalized anxiety, in a double-blind placebo controlled multic entre study. Oral hydroxyzine 50mg/day for four weeks significantly im proved standard measurements of anxiety compared with placebo control. These improvements were seen from the end of the first week of treatm ent and were maintained throughout the study; there was no rebound eff ect after cessation of therapy. The most commonly reported adverse eff ect in both active and placebo treatment groups was a transient sleepi ness. We conclude that hydroxyzine is an effective and well-tolerated treatment for generalized anxiety.