Benadryl what is it

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. Overdose symptoms may include vomiting, confusion, severe drowsiness, ringing in your ears, no urination, very dry eyes and mouth, dilated pupils, fast heartbeats, tremor, agitation, hallucinations, or seizure. Benadryl is absorbed quickly in the body.

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.

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Learn about cost and promethazine, financial and insurance assistance, ways to lower long-term costs, and more. Benadryl diphenhydramine. Overdose warning Although online challenges may encourage it, it is not safe to take more than the recommended dosage of Benadryl. What is Benadryl? Benadryl uses. Benadryl generic. Benadryl active ingredient. Benadryl dosage.

Benadryl side effects. Benadryl for babies. Benadryl overdose. Benadryl forms. Benadryl and pregnancy. Follow the directions on the package or on your prescription label carefully, and ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any part you do not understand.

Take diphenhydramine exactly as directed. Do not take more or less of it or take it more often than prescribed by your doctor or directed on the label. Diphenhydramine comes alone and in combination with pain relievers, fever reducers, and decongestants.

Ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice on which product is best for your symptoms. Check nonprescription cough and cold product labels carefully before using two or more products at the same time. These products may contain the same active ingredient s and taking them together could cause you to receive an overdose.

This is especially important if you will be giving cough and cold medications to a child. Nonprescription cough and cold combination products, including products that contain diphenhydramine, can cause serious side effects or death in young children.

Do not give these products to children younger than 4 years of age. If you give these products to children 4 to 11 years of age, use caution and follow the package directions carefully. If you are giving diphenhydramine or a combination product that contains diphenhydramine to a child, read the package label carefully to be sure that it is the right product for a child of that age. 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. Benadryl can impair your ability to function and should never be used if you are planning to drive. Many state laws will charge you with a DUI driving under the influence if you are deemed to have been impaired by Benadryl.

You should never drink alcohol when taking Benadryl, as this can worsen side effects like drowsiness and decreased alertness, and become dangerous or life-threatening.

The same applies to any other central nervous system CNS depressants, such as tranquilizers, hypnotics sleeping pills , pain medications , or sedatives. Always consult your healthcare provider before taking Benadryl along with other medications due the risk of interactions. You should not use any topical cream containing diphenhydramine if you have chickenpox, measles, broken skin, or large areas of skin that need to be treated. Do not use two diphenhydramine medications at the same time, even if one is oral and the other topical due to an increased risk of side effects.

Sign up for our Health Tip of the Day newsletter, and receive daily tips that will help you live your healthiest life. Church MK. Allergy, histamine and antihistamines. Handb Exp Pharmacol. Sicari V, Zabbo CP. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Cumulative use of strong anticholinergics and incident dementia: a prospective cohort study. Antihistamines and birth defects: a systematic review of the literature. Expert Opin Drug Saf. Benadryl dosing guide.

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