I would seriously consider trying hydroxyzine. I've had times I've taken it and the effect hasn't lasted long (usually when I'm in the hospital and taking it as often as possible and at a higher dose) and I had several years when I took it 10 mg either scheduled 3 or 4 times/day or PRN depending on circumstances and then again at bedtime in a 50 mg (50-70?) dose and it worked pretty well. I think I was able to be off benzos for a while that way and I know that when I was suicidal they removed me from benzos and put me on hydroxyzine until I was a bit safer and it worked pretty well during those weeks which were some of the hardest of my life. My own pdoc put me back on it fairly soon after the hospital when she felt it was safe enough since I didn't have access to my meds but I think I was off it a month or maybe 2 and went back on because I couldn't sleep or something completely typical for me that the benzos help.

It is much better than benadryl (which after being given a bunch of doses of it in the hospital with akathesia imposed on mania once we finally realized makes me agitated; it does not do that at all). I am certain I'll be on a lot of it in the hospital and will be glad to have it (I've been trying to not use it so that I'll respond the best possible in there to it).

It's really not bad stuff. I discovered it worked for me accidentally; when I had lamictal rash it was prescribed in pretty high doses to keep the horrible itching under control and to make me sleep so I wouldn't scratch. I realized that I was more calm that week than ever so we tried it PRN and then routinely at bedtime and it was good. I don't remember when or why I stopped it.