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. It is also important to avoid drinking alcohol when taking ZzzQuil as this can increase drowsiness. Older adults should use ZzzQuil with caution as side effects such as drowsiness, dizziness, and low blood pressure can increase the risk of falling.
Taking ZzzQuil may worsen certain medical conditions, including :. People who experience urinary difficulties while taking ZzzQuil should stop taking the medication and speak to a doctor.
Not everyone can take ZzzQuil. People should not give ZzzQuil to children under the age of 12 years. The active ingredient of ZzzQuil can pass into breastmilk, so people who are breastfeeding should consult a doctor before taking it. Pregnant women should also seek medical advice before using this medication. People taking monoamine oxidase inhibitors MAOIs , which are a type of antidepressant , should avoid taking ZzzQuil or speak to a doctor first.
MAOIs can worsen some of the side effects of antihistamines. Although ZzzQuil contains diphenhydramine, which can help relieve allergy symptoms, it can still cause allergic reactions in some people. Anyone who has previously had an allergic reaction to ZzzQuil or medicines containing diphenhydramine should avoid taking it. According to a review , diphenhydramine is among the list of medications misused by people presenting to the emergency department for drug treatment.
Antihistamines are widely available OTC medications. The drowsing effect of antihistamines can help relieve sleeplessness and anxiety. Taking too much diphenhydramine can cause a calming effect and mild euphoria.
Some people misuse diphenhydramine for its hallucinogenic effects, which may occur at doses of — mg. Diphenhydramine is not additive at the recommended dosage. However, taking very large doses of diphenhydramine, such as over 1, mg per day , for a prolonged period can lead to dependence. People who become dependent on diphenhydramine can experience withdrawal symptoms when they stop taking it.
These may include :. Doctors usually recommend a gradual dosage reduction schedule for people who become dependent on diphenhydramine. 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.
Some medicines can affect the way diphenhydramine works, and increase the chances of you having side effects. Check with your pharmacist or doctor if you're taking:. If you're taking a cough or cold remedy or a painkiller containing diphenhydramine, check carefully what the other ingredients are.
For example, check whether it contains paracetamol. Ask your pharmacist for advice before you take this medicine together with any other painkillers or medicines. 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.
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you're taking any other medicines, including herbal medicines, vitamins or supplements. Diphenhydramine is a medicine called an antihistamine.
It is classed as a drowsy sedating antihistamine. When you come into contact with something you're allergic to, your body produces a chemical called histamine. This can cause symptoms such as a runny nose or skin rashes. Diphenhydramine blocks the effects of histamine in your brain and this reduces symptoms. It enters the brain in large quantities and this can make you feel drowsy. Diphenhydramine also blocks the effects of another chemical called acetylcholine.
This can help a cough or runny nose but can also cause side effects such as a dry mouth and dry nose. If you're taking diphenhydramine for short-term sleep problems, it will start to make you feel drowsy around 20 to 30 minutes after you take it. For coughs and colds, your symptoms will normally start to improve within 20 minutes.
You can become dependent on it if you take it continuously for too long. To avoid this, follow the instructions that come with the medicine and only take diphenhydramine for a very short time, unless your doctor advises otherwise.
It is unlikely that you'll become addicted to diphenhydramine but it's best to only take it for a short time. You can become dependent on diphenhydramine if you take it continuously for too long. Follow the instructions that come with the medicine and only take diphenhydramine for a very short time, unless your doctor advises otherwise.
If you have a severe itchy skin rash, your doctor may recommend taking 2 different antihistamines at the same time for a few days. As well as taking a non-drowsy antihistamine during the day such as fexofenadine , cetirizine or loratadine , your doctor may advise that you take a drowsy antihistamine at night if itching is making it difficult to sleep.
Do not take another drowsy antihistamine together with diphenhydramine. It will make you very tired and sleepy. Other drowsy antihistamines include chlorphenamine Piriton , promethazine Phenergan and hydroxyzine Atarax or Ucerax. Do not take 2 antihistamines together unless you've been advised to by your doctor.
Diphenhydramine is known as a drowsy, or sedating, antihistamine as it makes you sleepy. Non-drowsy antihistamines are less likely to have this effect. These include cetirizine , fexofenadine and loratadine. Most people prefer to take a non-drowsy antihistamine as it's less likely to interfere with their everyday routine. You might choose to take a drowsy antihistamine, however, if you're having problems falling asleep, or if symptoms like itching or coughing are keeping you awake.
There is not enough information to say whether one antihistamine is better than another for treating allergies. You may need to try a few different medicines to find what works best for you. Ask your pharmacist or doctor for advice if you're unsure. Diphenhydramine blocks the effects of a natural chemical called acetylcholine. This can help dry up a cough or runny nose but can also cause side effects such as a dry mouth and dry nose. Some cough and cold remedies claim to suppress your cough or stop you bringing up phlegm.
Although some people find them helpful, they're not usually recommended. This is because there's little evidence that they're any more effective than simple home remedies, and they're not suitable for everyone. Yes, you can take diphenhydramine together with painkillers such as paracetamol or ibuprofen. If you take diphenhydramine with painkillers that contain codeine such as co-codamol or other prescription painkillers, you may feel very tired and sleepy.
Do not drive, ride a bike or operate machinery or tools if this happens to you. It's important to check the packaging or label of your medicine carefully. This is because some diphenhydramine products already contain a painkiller.
Do not take extra painkillers if this is the case, as there's a risk of overdose. Speak to your pharmacist if you're not sure whether a medicine already contains a painkiller.
Do not drive a car or ride a bike if diphenhydramine makes you sleepy during the day, gives you blurred vision or makes you feel dizzy, clumsy or unable to concentrate or make decisions. This may be more likely when you first start taking diphenhydramine but could happen at any time, for example when starting another medicine. It's an offence to drive a car if your ability to drive safely is affected. It's your responsibility to decide if it's safe to drive.
If you're in any doubt, do not drive. Select basic ads. Create a personalised ads profile. Select personalised ads. Apply market research to generate audience insights. Measure content performance. Develop and improve products. List of Partners vendors. The over-the-counter medication diphenhydramine is found in many sleeping pills intended for insomnia treatment.
It is the sleep-inducing element in many medications used as sleep aids. Its use does not require a prescription, so it is sometimes used as the initial option for the treatment of acute insomnia to help initiate and maintain sleep.
Due to the potential for side effects, especially among older people, alternatives may be sought if chronic insomnia persists. Diphenhydramine has many potential uses. As it does cause sleepiness, it is only recommended for short-term treatment of insomnia or acute insomnia. By definition, this is insomnia that occurs for less than three months. It is one of the ingredients found in multiple sleep aids:.
It may help you get to sleep or stay asleep. However, there is little evidence that diphenhydramine actually improves insomnia, and it may cause sleepiness the day after taking it. Healthcare provider do not recommend the routine or chronic use of diphenhydramine to treat insomnia.
In addition to its use as a sleep aid, diphenhydramine is often administered to relieve allergies or treat allergic reactions, and it can be helpful in preventing motion sickness.
It is also used to alleviate extrapyramidal symptoms, which may occur as a side effect of other medications. Diphenhydramine is part of a class of medications called antihistamines.
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