It's used for:. You can buy diphenhydramine from pharmacies and it is also available on prescription. It comes as tablets and a liquid that you swallow. For skin allergies like hives or bites and stings it's also available as a cream. The cream is much less likely to make you feel sleepy than the tablets or liquid. You can also buy it mixed with other medicines, such as levomenthol, paracetamol , pholcodine and pseudoephedrine , to treat cough and cold symptoms.
Take our survey. Diphenhydramine can be taken by most adults and young people aged 16 years and above. You can sometimes give diphenhydramine to children, depending on their age and their symptoms. Ask your pharmacist for advice. For cough and cold symptoms, you can give diphenhydramine tablets and liquid to children over the age of 6.
For allergy symptoms, you can give it to children over Check with your pharmacist or doctor to make sure a product is suitable for your child. Do not give your child diphenhydramine to help them get to sleep. Diphenhydramine is only suitable for sleep problems in people aged 16 years and above. Diphenhydramine is not suitable for some people. To make sure it's safe for you, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you:. If you or your child have been prescribed diphenhydramine, follow your doctor's instructions about how and when to take it.
Only take or use diphenhydramine when you need it, for example if you're unable to sleep because you're worrying about something or your cold symptoms are keeping you awake. If you've bought diphenhydramine or any medicine containing diphenhydramine from a pharmacy, follow the instructions that come with the packet, or ask a pharmacist for advice. The instructions will be different depending on the type of medicine you buy, and the other medicines it's mixed with.
If you're aged over 65, start with the lower dose, as you may be more likely to get side effects. The usual dose depends on the type of diphenhydramine medicine you're taking, and why. Diphenhydramine comes as 25mg and 50mg tablets. You'll usually take 50mg, 20 minutes before you go to bed. Diphenhydramine comes mixed with other medicines to treat the symptoms of coughs and colds.
It comes as tablets and as a liquid that you swallow. The usual dose depends on the type of medicine you're taking.
Check the instructions on the packaging carefully, or ask your doctor or pharmacist if you're unsure. The usual dose is 25mg or 50mg, taken 3 or 4 times a day. Try to space your doses evenly throughout the day. Diphenhydramine comes as a cream which you use once or twice a day. You'll only need a small amount, enough for a thin layer.
Always take your diphenhydramine tablets with a drink of water. Swallow them whole. Do not chew them. Liquid medicines containing diphenhydramine come with a plastic syringe or spoon to help you measure the right dose. If you do not have a syringe or spoon, ask your pharmacist for one. Do not use a kitchen teaspoon as it will not measure the right amount. With the cream, put a small amount onto the affected area and smooth it in gently.
Do not use it on large areas of skin. Keep the cream away from your eyes, mouth and nose. Remember to wash your hands afterwards, unless you're treating your hands. If you're taking diphenhydramine to help you sleep and you forget to take it by bedtime, skip your missed dose and start again the next evening.
If you're taking any other medicine containing diphenhydramine and forget to take a dose, take your medicine when you next need it to ease your symptoms. Never take 2 doses at the same time. Never take an extra dose to make up for a forgotten one. If you forget doses often, it may help to set an alarm to remind you. You could also ask your pharmacist for advice on other ways to help you remember to take your medicine. In serious cases you can become unconscious and may need emergency treatment in hospital.
Do not use diphenhydramine cream at the same time as other products containing diphenhydramine. This can lead to overdose. Go to Get someone else to drive you or call for an ambulance.
Take the diphenhydramine packet or leaflet inside it plus any remaining medicine with you. Like all medicines, diphenhydramine can cause side effects, although not everyone gets them.
However, you may be more likely to get them if you're over Common side effects happen in more than 1 in people. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist if these side effects bother you or do not go away:. Diphenhydramine cream can sometimes make your rash worse. It may also make your skin sensitive to sunlight. In rare cases, it's possible to have a serious allergic reaction anaphylaxis to diphenhydramine. These are not all the side effects of diphenhydramine.
For a full list, see the leaflet inside your medicine packet. While diphenhydramine can be used during pregnancy, it is not normally recommended. This is because of the side effects, which may be more significant during pregnancy.
Discuss with your doctor or pharmacist other medicines, such as chlorphenamine , that may more suitable. If you have difficulty sleeping while you're pregnant, your doctor or midwife may suggest ways to improve your sleep routine, like relaxing, and avoiding naps. If you have a cough or cold, you can help to ease your symptoms by resting, drinking plenty of fluids and taking paracetamol. If your doctor or health visitor says your baby is healthy, you can take diphenhydramine while you're breastfeeding, but it's better to take occasional doses or only take it for a short time.
Diphenhydramine passes into breast milk in very small amounts. Although it's unlikely to cause any side effects in your baby, it is a drowsy antihistamine, so could make your baby sleepy. If you're breastfeeding, or planning to breastfeed, talk to your doctor.
They may recommend similar antihistamines, called loratadine and cetirizine , that are more suitable while you're breastfeeding. Talk to your doctor, pharmacist, midwife or health visitor if your baby is not feeding as well as usual, seems unusually sleepy, seems irritable, or if you have any other concerns about your baby. The first-generation antihistamines usually cause more sleepiness and other side effects than the second-generation antihistamines. Benadryl contains diphenhydramine, a first-generation antihistamine.
Examples of the other medications in these groups are listed below. You may wonder how Benadryl compares to other medications that are prescribed for similar uses. Below are comparisons between Benadryl and several medications.
Benadryl is a first-generation antihistamine. Claritin loratadine is a newer, second-generation antihistamine. Oral Benadryl products are approved for decreasing symptoms of hay fever and other respiratory allergies, and symptoms of the common cold such as sneezing and runny nose.
Benadryl products that are topical applied to the skin are approved for decreasing pain and itchy skin caused by things such as hives and insect bites. Oral Benadryl products are usually taken every 4 to 6 hours. Topical products are typically used up to 4 times daily.
Claritin tablets, liquid-filled capsules, and syrup are taken once daily. The orally disintegrating tablets are used either once daily or twice daily. Benadryl and Claritin have some similar side effects, and some that differ. Below are examples of these side effects. Benadryl and Claritin are both effective for reducing symptoms of hay fever and other allergies, and for treating hives or itchy skin. Benadryl and Claritin are both brand-name, over-the-counter products.
Claritin usually costs more than Benadryl. Both of these products have store-brand versions. Store brands are usually cheaper than the brand-name versions. Zyrtec cetirizine is a newer, second-generation antihistamine. Benadryl products that are topical applied to the skin are approved for decreasing pain and itchy skin due to hives, insect bites, and other causes.
Topical Benadryl products are typically used up to 4 times daily. Benadryl and Zyrtec have some similar side effects, and some that differ. Benadryl and Zyrtec are both effective for reducing symptoms of hay fever and other allergies, and for treating hives or itchy skin. Zyrtec and other second-generation antihistamines are usually preferred.
Benadryl and Zyrtec are both brand-name over-the-counter products. Zyrtec usually costs more than Benadryl. Allegra fexofenadine is a newer, second-generation antihistamine. Allegra is approved for decreasing symptoms of hay fever and other respiratory allergies, and itchy skin caused by hives, insect bites, and other causes. Benadryl and Allegra have some similar side effects, and some that differ. Benadryl and Allegra are both effective for reducing symptoms of hay fever and other allergies and for treating hives or itchy skin.
Allegra and other second-generation antihistamines are usually preferred. Benadryl and Allegra are both brand-name, over-the-counter products.
Allegra usually costs more than Benadryl. There are different forms of Unisom. Most of these also contain the ingredient diphenhydramine. However, one Unisom product contains a similar drug, doxylamine. Unisom is approved for helping relieve occasional sleeplessness. Benadryl and most Unisom products contain the same ingredient, diphenhydramine.
One form of Unisom contains a different ingredient, doxylamine. Doxylamine is very similar to diphenhydramine and causes very similar common and serious side effects. Benadryl and most forms of Unisom contain the same active ingredient, diphenhydramine. Both products can help with falling asleep in people with occasional sleeplessness.
This effect may decrease or wear off with continued use. Benadryl and Unisom are both brand-name over-the-counter products. These products usually cost about the same. Melatonin is a hormone that naturally occurs in the body. Benadryl and melatonin have some similar side effects, and some that differ. Benadryl can help with falling asleep in people with occasional sleeplessness.
However, this effect may decrease or wear off with continued use of the product. In an analysis of clinical studies, melatonin slightly decreases the time it takes to fall asleep and increases total sleep time. According to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine , neither Benadryl nor melatonin are recommended to treat ongoing or long-term insomnia trouble sleeping.
Drinking alcohol with Benadryl can increase the effects of alcohol and cause excess sleepiness that can impair your abilities. For instance, you may have trouble driving. Benadryl can interact with several other medications. It can also interact with certain supplements. Below is a list of medications that can interact with Benadryl. Different drug interactions can cause different effects.
For instance, some can interfere with how well a drug works, while others can cause increased side effects. If you take other medications, talk with your pharmacist before taking Benadryl. Your pharmacist can help you avoid potential interactions.
Anticholinergic drugs block the action of acetylcholine, a chemical that relays messages between cells in your body. Benadryl also blocks acetylcholine. Because anticholinergic drugs and Benadryl work in the same way, taking them together can increase the risk of side effects.
Examples of these drugs include:. Many medications can cause sleepiness. Taking these drugs with Benadryl can increase the risk of excessive sleepiness.
Examples of these medications include:. Xanax alprazolam is a type of drug called a benzodiazepine, which can cause sleepiness. Taking Xanax with Benadryl can increase your risk of excessive sleepiness.
This can make you too sleepy to drive or prevent you from doing other potentially dangerous activities safely. If you take Xanax, talk with your doctor before taking Benadryl. They may recommend other treatment options. Zoloft sertraline is an antidepressant that can cause sleepiness in some people who take it. Taking Zoloft with Benadryl may increase the risk of excessive sleepiness.
If you take Zoloft, talk with your doctor before taking Benadryl. Zyrtec cetirizine is an antihistamine. Benadryl is also an antihistamine.
Taking Benadryl with Zyrtec may increase the risk of certain side effects such as sleepiness, dry mouth, fatigue, and headache. If you take Zyrtec, talk with your doctor before taking Benadryl. Some herbs and supplements can cause sleepiness. Taking these with Benadryl can increase the risk of excessive sleepiness. Examples of these supplements include:. For hay fever or other respiratory allergies, oral Benadryl is typically taken every 4 to 6 hours.
If topical Benadryl is used to treat itchy skin, it should be applied up to 4 times daily. Each application should be separated by 4 to 6 hours. Benadryl tablets can be crushed. If you have trouble swallowing whole tablets, Benadryl liquid solution and chewable tablets are available. If you have allergies or have a cold, your body releases a chemical messenger called histamine. This messenger causes symptoms such as inflammation, edema swelling , itchiness, and runny nose.
Benadryl blocks some of the effects of histamine and decreases some of the symptoms caused by it. Do not give diphenhydramine products that are made for adults to children. Before you give a diphenhydramine product to a child, check the package label to find out how much medication the child should receive. Give the dose that matches the child's age on the chart. Ask the child's doctor if you don't know how much medication to give the child.
If you are taking the liquid, do not use a household spoon to measure your dose. Use the measuring spoon or cup that came with the medication or use a spoon made especially for measuring medication.
If you are taking the dissolving strips, place the strips on your tongue one at a time and swallow after they melt. If you are taking the rapidly dissolving tablets, place a tablet on your tongue and close your mouth.
The tablet will quickly dissolve and can be swallowed with or without water. This medication is sometimes prescribed for other uses; ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information. Diphenhydramine is usually taken as needed. If your doctor has told you to take diphenhydramine regularly, take the missed dose as soon as you remember it.
However, if it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and continue your regular dosing schedule. Do not take a double dose to make up for a missed one. Diphenhydramine may cause other side effects. Call your doctor if you experience any unusual problems while you are taking this medication. Keep this medication in the container it came in, tightly closed, and out of reach of children.
Store it at room temperature and away from excess heat and moisture not in the bathroom. It is important to keep all medication out of sight and reach of children as many containers such as weekly pill minders and those for eye drops, creams, patches, and inhalers are not child-resistant and young children can open them easily. To protect young children from poisoning, always lock safety caps and immediately place the medication in a safe location — one that is up and away and out of their sight and reach.
Unneeded medications should be disposed of in special ways to ensure that pets, children, and other people cannot consume them. However, you should not flush this medication down the toilet. Instead, the best way to dispose of your medication is through a medicine take-back program.
In case of overdose, call the poison control helpline at If the victim has collapsed, had a seizure, has trouble breathing, or can't be awakened, immediately call emergency services at It is important for you to keep a written list of all of the prescription and nonprescription over-the-counter medicines you are taking, as well as any products such as vitamins, minerals, or other dietary supplements. You should bring this list with you each time you visit a doctor or if you are admitted to a hospital.
It is also important information to carry with you in case of emergencies.
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