Benadryl: functions, dosage, side effects, how to use it

Use

What does benadryl (diphenhydramine) do?

Benadryl is a medicine that contains diphenhydramine. This medication is primarily used to treat sneezing, runny nose, itchy and watery eyes, rash, rashes, hives, and other allergy and flu symptoms.

However, benadryl is also useful for reducing coughs, treating motion sickness, being used as a sleeping pill, and treating mild symptoms of Parkinson's disease.

Benadryl is included in the type of over-the-counter drugs. This means that you may buy it on a doctor's prescription, but you can also buy it at a pharmacy without a prescription.

However, you should always be careful when using this drug and do not hesitate to consult a doctor or pharmacist about the use of this drug.

How is benadryl (diphenhydramine) used?

You must use this drug in accordance with the instructions or drug rules that have been listed on the drug packaging, or as prescribed by a doctor.

There are several rules that you should know and follow when using this drug, namely:

• Do not use this medication in doses that are smaller or larger than that prescribed.
• Do not use benadryl for the longer period prescribed by your doctor or printed on the packaging.
• If you feel better or the flu and cough symptoms have disappeared, stop using this medicine immediately.
• This medicine should not be given to children who are younger than two years of age.
• Do not use this medicine as a sleeping pill for children.
• Use this medication using the measuring spoon that is usually provided with the medicine bottle.
• If you are taking this medication to prevent motion sickness, take benadryl 30 minutes before traveling.
• If you are going on a long trip of up to days, take this medicine at meals and at bedtime during the trip.
• If you are going to use this medication as a sleeping pill, take this medication 30 minutes before your bedtime.
• Tell your doctor right away if your symptoms do not improve after using this drug for seven days.
• Tell your doctor right away if after using the drug, you have a high fever accompanied by headache, cough and skin rash.
• If you are having laboratory tests for skin allergies, tell your doctor about using this medication. Because, this drug can affect the results of these tests.
• Benadryl can make your eyesight blurry and you feel brain weak. Avoid activities that require you to be highly concentrated.

How to store benadryl (diphenhydramine)?

Store this medication at room temperature. We recommend that you keep this drug away from direct light exposure and do not put it in a damp place. Do not store benadryl in the bathroom and do not freeze it in the refrigerator.

Other brands of this drug may have different storage rules. Always pay attention to all storage instructions on the product packaging or if you are not sure about the information on the packaging, you can ask your doctor or pharmacist.

Keep benadryl out of reach of children and pets. If the drug has expired, stop using this drug and dispose of it immediately according to the method of disposing of the medicine that has been instructed. Also discard this medicine that is no longer needed or when your condition has improved.

Do not flush medications down the toilet or drain unless instructed otherwise. Consult your pharmacist or local waste disposal agency about how to safely dispose of this medicinal product if you do not find the information on the medicine package.

Dose

The information provided is not a substitute for medical advice. ALWAYS consult your doctor or pharmacist before starting treatment.

What is the dose of benadryl (diphenhydramine) for adults?

Adult dosage for allergic reactions

25-50 milligrams (mg) orally, 3-4 times a day; does not exceed 300 mg / day

10-50 mg (not more than 100 mg) by injection into a muscle or intravenously, 4-6 times a day; not to exceed 400 mg / day

Adult dosage for cough

25 mg orally every 4-6 hours as needed

Adult dosage for insomnia

50 mg orally 30 minutes before bedtime

Adult dose for motion sickness

Treatment or prevention: 25-50 mg orally 3-4 times a day. Another option, 10-50 mg / dose for treatment, may be up to 100 mg if necessary; does not exceed 400 mg

Adult dosage for Parkinson's disease

25 mg orally 3 times a day initially, then 50 mg orally 4 times a day. However, it should not exceed 300 mg / day.

Alternatively, 10-50 mg by intravenous injection, not to exceed 25 mg / minute; not to exceed 400 mg / day; it may also be 100 mg injected into the muscle if necessary.

What is the dose of benadryl (diphenhydramine) for children?

Children's dosage for allergic reactions

For children 2-6 years of age: 6.25 mg orally, 6-4 times daily; not to exceed 37.5 mg / day

For children 6-12 years: 12.5-25 mg orally, 6-4 times daily; not to exceed 150 mg / day

For children 12 years and over: 25-50 mg orally, 6-4 times a day; does not exceed 300 mg / day

Children's dosage for insomnia

For children younger than 12 years (off-label): 1 mg / kg; does not exceed 50 mg; 30 minutes before bedtime

For children 12 years and over: 50 mg orally 30 minutes before bedtime

Children's dosage for cough

For children less than 12 years of age: Safety and efficacy have not been established

For children 12 years and over: 25-50 mg orally, 6-4 times a day; does not exceed 300 mg / day

Child dosage for motion sickness

Give 30 minutes before boarding 12.5-25 mg orally, 3-4 times a day, or 150 mg / m2; does not exceed 300 mg / day

In what dosage is Benadryl (Diphenhydramine) available?

Benadryl (Diphenhydramine) is available in the following dosage forms and strengths:

• 25 mg tablet
• Liquid gel 25 mg
• Liquid 12.5 mg
• Chewable tablet 12.5 mg
• Oral solution (Phenylephrine HCl 5 mg / Diphenhydramine HCl 12.5 mg)

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Side effects

What side effects can be experienced due to benadryl (diphenhydramine)?

Various types of drugs certainly have symptoms of side effects that may arise. For the use of benadryl, here are some types of side effects that may arise, including:

• Sedation
• Sleepy
• Dizzy
• Coordination disorders
• Epigastric pressure
• Thickening of bronchial secretions

Stop using benadryl if you experience any of the following conditions:

• Heartbeat feels fast or erratic
• Difficulty urinating or painful urine
• Limp, it felt like he was about to pass out
• The chest and jaw ache and the tongue feels difficult to move.

Common side effects experienced by users of this drug also include:

• Loss of coordination, dizziness, and drowsiness easily
• Mouth, throat and nose feel dry
• Dry eyes, blurred vision
• Dizziness and drowsiness in the morning after using the drug at night

However, not everyone experiences the side effects mentioned above. There may be some side effects not listed above. If you have concerns about certain side effects, consult your doctor or pharmacist.

Precautions & Warnings

What should be known before using benadryl (diphenhydramine)?

There are a number of things you should know and do before you decide to use benadryl, especially because this drug is an over the counter medicine that you can get at a pharmacy without a doctor's prescription. These things are:

• Make sure that you are not allergic to benadryl drugs or any of the chemicals in them. If you are unsure or do not know, contact your doctor immediately to be sure.
• Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you have health problems such as glaucoma or raised pressure inside the eyes, stomach ulcers, enlarged prostate, bladder disease or difficulty urinating, thyroid overactivity (hyperthyroidism), hypertension or any kind of heart problem, and asthma.
• Elderly have a greater risk of side effects than people of reproductive age. Therefore, the use of this drug in the elderly must be monitored.

Is benadryl (diphenhydramine) safe for pregnant and lactating women?

There are not sufficient studies in women to determine risk when using Benadryl (Diphenhydramine) during pregnancy or while breastfeeding.

Always consult a doctor to weigh the potential benefits and risks before taking this medication. Benadryl (Diphenhydramine) is included in pregnancy risk category B according to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

The FDA pregnancy risk category references are below:

• A = No risk
• B = No risk in a number of studies
• C = There may be some risks
• D = Positive evidence of risk
• X = Contraindicated
• N = Unknown

Interaction

What other medicines may interact with benadryl (diphenhydramine)?

Benadryl (Diphenhydramine) might interact with other medicines that you are currently taking, which could change how the drug works or increase the risk of serious side effects.

To avoid any possible drug interactions, you should keep a list of all the drugs you are currently using (including prescription drugs, over-the-counter drugs and herbal products) and give them to your doctor and pharmacist.

For your safety, do not start, stop, or change the dose of any medication without your doctor's approval.

Certain medications can interact with Benadryl and possibly cause problems, including:

• Other medicines that contain diphenhydramine, including creams and gels
• Medicines to treat anxiety, seizures, and other conditions such as: diazepam (Valium), benzodiazepines, alprazolam (Xanax), lorazepam (Ativan), and temazepam (Restoril)
• Sedatives, sleeping pills, muscle relaxants, sedatives, and other drugs that are central nervous system depressants.
• Allergy medicine
• Monoamine oxidase (MAOI) inhibitors for treating depression
• Prescription pain medication
• Advil (ibuprofen)
• albuterol (Ventolin, Ventolin HFA)
• Aleve (naproxen)
• Allegra (fexofenadine)
• aspirin
• Claritin (loratadine)
• clonazepam (Klonopin, Klonopin Wafer)
• Cymbalta (duloxetine)
• gabapentin (Neurontin, Gralise, Gabarone, Fanatrex)
• hydrocodone (Hysingla ER, Zohydro ER, Vantrela ER)
• levothyroxine (Synthroid, Levoxyl, Tyrosint, Eltroxin, Levothroid, Levothyrox, Euthyrox, Unithroid, Levo-T, Oroxine, L Thyroxine Roche, Eutroxsig, Novothyrox, Tyrosint-Sol, Levotabs, Levotec, Evotrox)
• lisinopril (Zestril, Prinivil, Qbrelis)
• melatonin (Melatonin Time Release, SGard, Bio-Melatonin, Health Aid Melatonin, VesPro Melatonin)
• metformin (Glucophage, Glumetza, Fortamet, Glucophage XR, Riomet)
• Motrin (ibuprofen)
• Mucinex (guaifenesin)
• Mucinex DM (dextromethorphan / guaifenesin)
• omeprazole (Prilosec, Prilosec OTC, Zegerid (Original Formulation), Omesec)
• prednisone (Deltasone, Rayos, Sterapred, Prednicot, Sterapred DS, Liquid Pred, Meticorten, Orasone, Prednicen-M)
• Singulair (montelukast)
• tramadol (Ultram, Tramadol Hydrochloride ER, Tramal, Ultram ER, Tramahexal, ConZip, Larapam SR, Ryzolt, Tramal SR, GenRx Tramadol, Tramahexal SR, Tramedo, Zydol, Zamadol, Zydol XL, Rybix ODT, Ultram ODT)

Not all drug interactions are listed in this article. You may be able to consult with your doctor about any drugs that can interact and match all types of drugs that you usually use.

Can food or alcohol interact with benadryl (diphenhydramine)?

Benadryl (Diphenhydramine) might interact with food or alcohol by changing how the drug works or increasing the risk of serious side effects. Discuss with your doctor or pharmacist any possible food or alcohol interactions before using this medication.

What health conditions may interact with benadryl (diphenhydramine)?

Benadryl (Diphenhydramine) might interact with other health conditions you have. These interactions may worsen your health condition or change how the medication works. Always let the doctor and pharmacist know of all the health conditions you are currently experiencing:

• Depression
• Asthma
• Cardiovascular disease
• Kidney illness
• Glaucoma
• Liver disorders
• Respiratory problems

Overdose

What should I do in an emergency or overdose?

In case of an emergency or overdose, call your local emergency services provider (119) or go to the emergency room at the nearest hospital immediately if you have overdosed on benadryl.

What should I do if I miss a dose?

If you forget a dose of this medicine, take the missed dose as soon as possible. However, if you find that the time you are about to take the forgotten drug is nearing the time of the next dose, skip the missed dose and return to your usual dosing schedule. Do not double your dose because a higher dose does not always coincide with how the drug works.

Avoid using excessive doses so there are no more serious health problems. Always consult a doctor or pharmacist about drug use. Do not make your own decisions about the use of drugs if you are in doubt or don't really know.

Hello Health Group does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.