Hydroxyzine is a generic prescription medication. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved it for the following uses in adults and some children:

There’s also an injectable form of hydroxyzine that’s used to treat certain types of anxiety, and nausea and vomiting. This article covers only the oral forms of the drug. For more information about hydroxyzine’s uses, refer to this article.

Drug details

Here are some details about hydroxyzine:

  • Drug class: antihistamines
  • Drug forms:
    • oral tablet
    • oral capsule
    • oral solution (syrup)
    • solution for intramuscular injection by a doctor or another healthcare professional
  • Brand-name version: Vistaril (approved for the same uses above and comes as an oral capsule)

Read on to learn about how much hydroxyzine costs, as well as how to save money on prescriptions.

As with all medications, the cost of hydroxyzine can vary. Factors that may affect the price you’ll pay include your treatment plan, your insurance coverage, and the pharmacy you use.

To find out what the cost of hydroxyzine will be for you, talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or insurance provider.

Note: If you have insurance, your insurance company may require prior authorization before it covers hydroxyzine. This means the company and your doctor will discuss hydroxyzine in regard to your treatment. The insurance company will then determine whether the medication is covered. If a drug requires prior authorization but you start treatment without the prior approval, you could pay the full cost of the medication. You can ask your insurance company whether hydroxyzine requires prior authorization.

Here are answers to some frequently asked questions about drug cost and hydroxyzine.

What’s hydroxyzine’s price per pill for the 10-mg, 25-mg, and 50-mg strengths?

Hydroxyzine’s cost per pill will depend on several factors. These include:

  • the pharmacy you use
  • the number of days your prescription covers
  • whether you have insurance and what type

Typically, there isn’t a big difference in cost among drug strengths. However, the best way to find out the cost per pill is to talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or insurance provider.

How much does hydroxyzine cost without insurance?

The hydroxyzine cost without insurance may depend on what pharmacy you use and your treatment plan.

If you don’t have insurance, talk with your doctor or pharmacist to find out your cost for hydroxyzine.

Note: Typically, generic drugs cost less than brand-name drugs. So, your cost for hydroxyzine will likely be less than the cost of the brand-name version Vistaril. To find out how the costs of these medications differ without insurance, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. You can also refer to the “Generic vs. brand-name drugs” section below.

Hydroxyzine is a generic drug, which means it’s an exact copy of the active drug in a brand-name medication. A generic drug is considered to be as safe and effective as the original drug. And generics tend to cost less than brand-name drugs.

Hydroxyzine is available as the brand-name drug Vistaril. If your doctor has prescribed hydroxyzine and you’re interested in using Vistaril instead, talk with your doctor. They may have a preference for one version or the other. You’ll also need to check with your insurance provider, as it may only cover one or the other.

To find out how the cost of Vistaril compares with the cost of hydroxyzine, talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or insurance provider.

If you take hydroxyzine long term, you may be able to lower its cost in the following ways.

Getting a 3-month supply

You may be able to get a 90-day supply of hydroxyzine. If approved by your insurance company, getting a 90-day supply of the drug could reduce your number of trips to the pharmacy and help lower the cost. If you’re interested in this option, check with your doctor, pharmacist, or insurance provider.

Using a mail-order pharmacy

Hydroxyzine may be available through a mail-order pharmacy. Using this type of service may help lower the drug’s cost and allow you to receive your medication without leaving home. Some Medicare plans may help cover the cost of mail-order medications. You may also be able to get a 90-day supply of the drug via mail order.

If you don’t have health insurance, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. They may be able to suggest online pharmacy options that could work for you.

If you need financial support to pay for hydroxyzine, consider looking into websites that offer cost resources and information. Two such organizations are:

These sites can provide details about drug assistance programs, ways to make the most of your insurance coverage, and links to savings cards and other services.

Now that you’ve learned about cost and hydroxyzine, you may still have some questions. Talk with your doctor or pharmacist, who can provide personalized guidance about cost issues related to hydroxyzine. However, if you have health insurance, you’ll need to talk with your insurance provider to learn the actual cost you would pay for hydroxyzine.

Here are some other resources you may find helpful:

Disclaimer: Medical News Today has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.