What is diphenhydrAMINE?
Diphenhydramine is an antihistamine. Diphenhydramine blocks the effects of the naturally occurring chemical histamine in the body.
Diphenhydramine is used to treat sneezing; runny nose; itching, watery eyes; hives; rashes; itching; and other symptoms of allergies and the common cold.
Diphenhydramine is also used to suppress coughs, to treat motion sickness, to induce sleep, and to treat mild forms of Parkinson’s disease.
Diphenhydramine may also be used for purposes other than those listed in this medication guide.
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Precautions
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Instructions
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Side Effects
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Interactions
Precautions
Do not take diphenhydramine if you have taken a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) such as isocarboxazid (Marplan), phenelzine (Nardil), or tranylcypromine (Parnate) in the last 14 days. A very dangerous drug interaction could occur, leading to serious side effects.
Before taking this medication, tell your doctor if you have
- glaucoma or increased pressure in the eye;
- a stomach ulcer;
- an enlarged prostate, bladder problems or difficulty urinating;
- an overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism);
- hypertension or any type of heart problems; or
- asthma.
You may not be able to take diphenhydramine, or you may require a lower dose or special monitoring during treatment if you have any of the conditions listed above.
Diphenhydramine is in the FDA pregnancy category B. This means that it is not expected to be harmful to an unborn baby. Do not take diphenhydramine without first talking to your doctor if you are pregnant.
Infants are especially sensitive to the effects of antihistamines, and side effects could occur in a breast-feeding baby. Do not take diphenhydramine without first talking to your doctor if you are nursing a baby.
If you are over 60 years of age, you may be more likely to experience side effects from diphenhydramine. You may require a lower dose of this medication.
Use caution when driving, operating machinery, or performing other hazardous activities. Diphenhydramine may cause dizziness or drowsiness. If you experience dizziness or drowsiness, avoid these activities.
Use alcohol cautiously. Alcohol may increase drowsiness and dizziness while taking diphenhydramine.
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Instructions
Seek emergency medical attention if an overdose is suspected.
Symptoms of a diphenhydramine overdose include extreme sleepiness, confusion, weakness, ringing in the ears, blurred vision, large pupils, dry mouth, flushing, fever, shaking, insomnia, hallucinations, and possibly seizures.
Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. However, if it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and take only the next regularly scheduled dose. Do not take a double dose of this medication unless otherwise directed by your doctor.
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Side Effects
Stop taking diphenhydramine and seek emergency medical attention if you experience an allergic reaction (difficulty breathing; closing of your throat; swelling of your lips, tongue, or face; or hives).
Other, less serious side effects may be more likely to occur. Continue to take diphenhydramine and talk to your doctor if you experience
- sleepiness, fatigue, or dizziness;
- headache;
- dry mouth; or
- difficulty urinating or an enlarged prostate.
This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
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Interactions
Do not take diphenhydramine if you have taken a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) such as isocarboxazid (Marplan), phenelzine (Nardil), or tranylcypromine (Parnate) in the last 14 days. A very dangerous drug interaction could occur, leading to serious side effects.
Talk to your pharmacist before taking other over-the-counter cough, cold, allergy, or insomnia medications. These products may contain medicines similar to diphenhydramine, which could lead to an antihistamine overdose.
Before taking this medication, tell your doctor if you are taking any of the following medicines:
- anxiety or sleep medicines such as alprazolam (Xanax), diazepam (Valium), chlordiazepoxide (Librium), temazepam (Restoril), or triazolam (Halcion);
- medications for depression such as amitriptyline (Elavil), doxepin (Sinequan), nortriptyline (Pamelor), fluoxetine (Prozac), sertraline (Zoloft), or paroxetine (Paxil); or
- any other medications that make you feel drowsy, sleepy, or relaxed.
Drugs other than those listed here may also interact with diphenhydramine. Talk to your doctor and pharmacist before taking any prescription or over-the-counter medicines, including vitamins, minerals, and herbal products.
Other Names
40 Winks, Aler-Dryl, Aler-Tab, Allergia-C, Allermax, Altaryl, Banaril, Banophen, Beldin, Belix, Benadryl, Benadryl Allergy, Benadryl DF, Benadryl Dye Free Allergy, Benadryl Ultratab, Benahist-10, Benahist-50, Benoject-50, Calm-Aid, Compoz Nighttime Sleep Aid, Diphedryl, Diphen Cough, Diphenadryl, Diphendryl, Diphenhist, Diphenmax, Diphenydramine Quick Melt, Diphenyl, Diphenylin, Dytan, Dytuss, Genahist, Hydramine, Hydramine Compound, Hydramine Cough Syrup, Hyrexin, Nervine, Nu-Med, Nytol Caplet, Pardryl, Q-Dryl, Q-Dryl A/F, Quenalin, Scot-Tussin Allergy Relief Formula, Siladryl, Siladryl DAS, Silphen Cough, Simply Sleep, Sleep Tab II, Sleep Tabs, Sleep-Eze-3, Sleep-ettes, Sominex, Somnicaps, Theraflu Thin Strips Multi Symptom, Total Allergy, Triaminic Thin Strips Cough & Runny Nose, Trux-adryl, Twilite, Uni-Tann, Unisom Sleepgels Maximum Strength, Valu-Dryl, diphenhydrAMINE, Allergy, Benadryl Child Dye Free, Benadryl Childrens Allergy Fastmelt, Ben-Tann, Bydramine, Children's Allergy, Diphen, Diphen AF, DiphenydrAMINE Quick Melt, DPH, Nightime Sleepaid, PediaCare Children's Allergy, Siladryl Allergy, Siladyl SA, Sleep-ettes D, Sleepinal, Sominex Maximum Strength Caplet, Truxadryl, Tusstat, and Unisom SleepMelts
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Disclaimer
Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.
Copyright 1996-2004 Cerner Multum, Inc. Version 2.05. Revision date 8/23/04
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