Can pregnant woman take hydroxyzine dihydrochloride?

Pregnancy

Pregnancy Category C. Animal reproduction studies have shown an increased incidence of fetal deaths and delayed development when hydroxyzine was administered to pregnant mice and rats at doses approximately 20 times the maximum recommended human dose. Controlled clinical studies in pregnant women have not been conducted. Therefore, hydroxyzine is contraindicated in pregnancy unless the clinical benefit to the woman outweighs the potential risk to the fetus.

Labor and Delivery

Hydroxyzine has been shown to prolong labor in some women; therefore, caution should be exercised when administering this drug to pregnant women at term.

Nursing Mothers

Since hydroxyzine is excreted in human milk, nursing should not be undertaken while a patient is taking this drug.