Dosage for hay fever and allergies Diphenhydramine comes as 25mg and 50mg tablets. Dosage for insect bites, stings and eczema Diphenhydramine comes as a cream which you use once or twice a day. How to take or use it You can take diphenhydramine tablets and liquid with or without food. How to take diphenhydramine tablets Always take your diphenhydramine tablets with a drink of water. How to take diphenhydramine liquid Liquid medicines containing diphenhydramine come with a plastic syringe or spoon to help you measure the right dose.
How to use diphenhydramine cream With the cream, put a small amount onto the affected area and smooth it in gently. What if I forget to take or use it? What if I take or use too much? Too much diphenhydramine can be dangerous. If you've taken more than the usual dose you may: feel very sleepy feel sick nauseous get blurry eyesight feel your heart beating very fast In serious cases you can become unconscious and may need emergency treatment in hospital.
Urgent advice: Contact for advice if:. Common side effects 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: feeling sleepy, or drowsy, during the daytime dry mouth feeling dizzy or unsteady on your feet, or having difficulty concentrating Diphenhydramine cream can sometimes make your rash worse.
Serious side effects. Urgent advice: Contact for advice now if:. Immediate action required: Call if:. Serious allergic reaction In rare cases, it's possible to have a serious allergic reaction anaphylaxis to diphenhydramine. Other side effects These are not all the side effects of diphenhydramine.
Information: You can report any suspected side effect using the Yellow Card safety scheme. Visit Yellow Card for further information. What to do about: feeling sleepy, or drowsy, during the daytime — drowsiness usually wears off 8 hours after a dose. Do not drive, ride a bike or use tools or machinery if you're feeling this way. If the feeling does not go away or is worrying you, do not take any more medicine and speak to a pharmacist or your doctor.
Diphenhydramine and pregnancy While diphenhydramine can be used during pregnancy, it is not normally recommended.
Diphenhydramine and breastfeeding 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. Non-urgent advice: Tell your doctor if you're:. Check with your pharmacist or doctor if you're taking: antidepressants, such as venlafaxine or a monoamine oxidase inhibitor such as phenelzine metoprolol , a heart medicine any medicine that makes you drowsy, gives you a dry mouth, or makes it difficult for you to pee — taking diphenhydramine might make these side effects worse If you're taking a cough or cold remedy or a painkiller containing diphenhydramine, check carefully what the other ingredients are.
Mixing diphenhydramine with herbal remedies and supplements There might be a problem taking some herbal remedies and supplements alongside diphenhydramine, especially ones that cause side effects such as sleepiness, a dry mouth or making it difficult to pee. Important: Medicine safety Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you're taking any other medicines, including herbal medicines, vitamins or supplements.
How does diphenhydramine work? How long does it take to work? The medicine should work for around 4 to 6 hours. How long can I take it for? Only take diphenhydramine for a short time. Is diphenhydramine addictive? Can I take more than one antihistamine at a time? Important Do not take 2 antihistamines together unless you've been advised to by your doctor.
What's the difference between diphenhydramine and other antihistamines? How is it different to other cough and cold remedies? Can I take it with painkillers? Can I drive or ride a bike with it? Will it affect my fertility?
Will it affect my contraception? Can I drink alcohol with it? Do not drink alcohol while you're taking diphenhydramine. Is there any food or drink I need to avoid? You can eat normally while taking diphenhydramine. Does diphenhydramine make you put on weight? There's no evidence that diphenhydramine makes you put on weight. Can lifestyle changes help me sleep better? There are a number of things you can try to help yourself have a good night's sleep : set regular times for going to bed and waking up relax before bedtime — try taking a warm bath or listening to calming music use thick curtains or blinds, an eye mask and earplugs to stop you being woken up by light and noise avoid caffeine, cigarettes or vapes, alcohol, heavy meals and exercise for a few hours before bedtime do not watch TV or use phones, tablets or computers in bed, or before bedtime do not nap during the day make a list of your worries and any ideas for how to solve them before you go to bed — this can help you forget about them until the morning.
Can lifestyle changes help with hay fever and other allergies? Tips for when you're outside Do not cut grass or walk on grass.
Wear wraparound sunglasses to stop pollen getting into your eyes. Put Vaseline petroleum jelly around your nostrils to help trap pollen. Shower and change your clothes after you've been outside to wash off pollen. 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. When taken by mouth, Benadryl begins to work within 15 to 30 minutes.
When applied to the skin, it works right away. Yes, Benadryl causes most people who take it to feel sleepy. This side effect may go away after three to four days of daily use. Since Benadryl can make you feel sleepy, some people may feel that it causes them to relax.
However, this effect often goes away after using the product for a few days. An expectorant is a product that loosens mucus in your respiratory tract so you can cough it up. Before taking Benadryl, talk with your doctor about any medical conditions you have. Benadryl may not be a good choice for you if you have certain medical conditions. Examples of these conditions include:. Each Benadryl package is given an expiration date by the manufacturer of the product.
This date is printed on the package. The purpose of the expiration date is to guarantee the effectiveness of the medication during this time. However, an FDA study showed that many medications may still be good beyond the expiration date listed on the bottle. How long a medication remains good can depend on many factors, including how and where the medication is stored.
Benadryl should be stored at room temperature in its original container. Excessive humidity should be avoided. If you have unused medication that has gone past the expiration date, talk to your pharmacist about whether you might still be able to use it. Benadryl is an H1-receptor antagonist. It competes with free histamine at the H1-receptor binding sites. Benadryl antiemetic effects are likely due to central anticholinergic effects.
Benadryl also has central nervous system depressant effects and has a direct suppressive effect on the cough center. After oral administration, the onset of action is approximately 15 to 30 minutes. Peak concentrations occur in 2 to 4 hours.
Benadryl is metabolized hepatically. The plasma half-life is 2 to 8 hours with a duration of action of about 4 to 6 hours. Benadryl is contraindicated in patients with a known hypersensitivity to Benadryl or any of its components.
Disclaimer : MedicalNewsToday 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 other 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.
Taking medications can mean other substances, such as alcohol, are more dangerous. Mixing benadryl and alcohol has several distinct dangers to be…. Hives can result from a medical condition or exposure to substances or extreme temperatures. They can be very irritating, but there are many ways to…. Poison ivy is a plant that can cause skin issues, such as contact dermatitis.
Various home remedies can help reduce the itching and other symptoms…. Read on to learn more about the health benefits of air purifiers, how to…. Learn about cost and promethazine, financial and insurance assistance, ways to lower long-term costs, and more. The U. Food and Drug Administration FDA is warning that taking higher than recommended doses of the common over-the-counter OTC allergy medicine diphenhydramine Benadryl can lead to serious heart problems, seizures, coma, or even death.
We are investigating these reports and conducting a review to determine if additional cases have been reported. We will update the public once we have completed our review or have more information to share. Always follow directions on the medicine label about giving diphenhydramine to a child.
Do not use the medicine only to make a child sleepy. Death can occur from the misuse of antihistamines in very young children. For motion sickness , take diphenhydramine 30 minutes before you will be in a situation that causes you motion sickness such as a long car ride, airplane or boat travel, amusement park rides, etc. Continue taking diphenhydramine with meals and at bedtime for the rest of the time you will be in a motion-sickness situation.
Measure liquid medicine carefully. Use the dosing syringe provided, or use a medicine dose-measuring device not a kitchen spoon. Remove an orally disintegrating tablet from the package only when you are ready to take the medicine. Place the tablet in your mouth and allow it to dissolve, without chewing. Swallow several times as the tablet dissolves. Call your doctor if the condition you are treating with diphenhydramine does not improve, or if you have a fever with a headache, cough, or skin rash.
Do not use diphenhydramine for longer than 2 weeks to treat sleep problems, or longer than 7 days to treat cold or allergy symptoms. This medicine can affect the results of allergy skin tests.
Tell any doctor who treats you that you are using diphenhydramine. Since diphenhydramine is used when needed, you may not be on a dosing schedule. Skip any missed dose if it's almost time for your next dose. Do not use two doses at one time.
0コメント