To Take the Pill or Not Take It?

I have an appointment with my therapist on Monday in the morning and I was thinking of taking 6 mcg of Atarax to help me relax that day because I know I am going to be such a nervous wreck. I don't understand how a drug like Atarax that makes me so sleepy is supposed to alleviate anxiety. I don't know why I'm so aprehensive about it. When I do go I usually drink chamomile tea but it takes a while to work and by the time I get to the clinic it hasn't even started working yet only until I get home. So it totally defeats the purpose of that. I just wish I knew more about how this medicine works on others who have been taking it for a while.