WHAT EXACTLY IS DIPHENHYDRAMIN?
Diphenhydramine is an antihistamine that lowers the effects of the body's endogenous chemical histamine. Sneezing, itching, watery eyes, and a runny nose can all be caused by histamine.
Sneezing, runny nose, watery eyes, hives, skin rash, itching, and other cold or allergy symptoms are treated with diphenhydramine.
Diphenhydramine is also used to cure motion sickness, induce sleep, and treat specific Parkinson's disease symptoms.
Diphenhydramine can also be used for things that aren't included in this medication guide.
WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO TAKE DIPHENHYDRAMIN?
Diphenhydramine is available for oral administration as a tablet, rapidly disintegrating (dissolving) tablet, capsule, liquid-filled capsule, dissolving strip, powder, and liquid. Diphenhydramine is commonly used every 4 to 6 hours to treat allergies, colds, and coughs. To fight motion sickness, diphenhydramine is commonly used 30 minutes before departure and, if necessary, before meals and at bedtime. When diphenhydramine is used to treat insomnia, it is administered before to going to bed (30 minutes before planned sleep). When diphenhydramine is used to treat abnormal movements, it is often administered three times per day at first, then four times per day. Follow the instructions on the packaging or on your prescription label exactly, and ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any part you don't understand. Diphenhydramine should be taken exactly as prescribed. Do not take more or less of it, or take it more frequently than your doctor has prescribed or as directed on the label.
Diphenhydramine is available as a standalone medication as well as in combination with pain medications, fever reducers, and decongestants. Inquire with your doctor or pharmacist about which product is best for your symptoms. Before using two or more nonprescription cough and cold medications at the same time, carefully read the labels. These products may contain the same active ingredient(s), and combining them could result in an overdose. This is especially crucial if you are administering cough and cold drugs to a child.
Nonprescription cough and cold combo medications, notably diphenhydramine-containing drugs, can result in significant side effects including death in young children. These products should not be given to children under the age of four. If you provide these goods to children aged 4 to 11, use caution and carefully follow the packaging guidelines.
If you are administering diphenhydramine or a combination product containing diphenhydramine to a kid, carefully read the package label to ensure that the medication is appropriate for a child of that age. Children should not be given diphenhydramine products intended for adults.
Check the package label before giving a diphenhydramine product to a child to determine how much medication the child should get. Give the dose that corresponds to the child's age on the chart. If you are unsure how much medication to give the child, consult with his or her doctor.
If you're taking the liquid, don't use a regular spoon to measure your dose. Use the measuring spoon or cup that came with the drug, or a spoon specifically designed for measuring medication.
If you're using dissolving strips, lay one strip on your tongue at a time and swallow when it melts.
Place a tablet on your tongue and close your mouth if you're using the rapidly dissolving tablets. The pill dissolves fast and can be taken with or without water.
If you're going to take the capsules, make sure you swallow them whole. Try not to break the capsules.
WHAT IF I FORGET TO TAKE A DOSE?
You may not be on a dose schedule because diphenhydramine is taken as needed. If you're on a regimen, take the missed dosage as soon as you remember. If your next scheduled dose is approaching, skip the missing dose. Do not take extra medication to make up for a missing dosage.
WHAT PRECAUTIONS SHOULD I TAKE BEFORE USING DIPHENHYDRAMIN?
1. If you are allergic to diphenhydramine, any other drugs, or any of the chemicals in diphenhydramine preparations, notify your doctor and pharmacist. A list of the ingredients can be obtained from your doctor or pharmacist, or it can be found on the package label.
2. Tell your doctor if you have or have ever had asthma, emphysema, chronic bronchitis, or other types of lung disease; glaucoma (a condition in which increased eye pressure can lead to gradual loss of vision); ulcers; difficulty urinating (due to an enlarged prostate gland); heart disease; high blood pressure; seizures; or an overactive thyroid gland. If you want to use the drink, inform your doctor if you have been advised to follow a low-sodium diet.
3. Inform your doctor and pharmacist about any prescription and over-the-counter medications, vitamins, nutritional supplements, and herbal products you are taking or plan to use. Other diphenhydramine products (including those used topically); other medications for colds, hay fever, or allergies; medications for anxiety, depression, or seizures; muscle relaxants; narcotic pain medications; sedatives; sleeping pills; and tranquilizers.
4. Inform your doctor if you are pregnant, intend to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding a child. Call your doctor if you become pregnant while taking diphenhydramine.
5. You should be aware that diphenhydramine should not be used in older individuals in general, except to treat severe allergic responses, because it is not as safe or effective as alternative medication(s) to treat your illness. Talk to your doctor about the risks and advantages of taking this drug if you are 65 or older.
6. Keep in mind that drinking can exacerbate the drowsiness caused by this drug. While taking this medication, you should abstain from alcoholic beverages.
7. Tell your doctor or dentist if you are going to have surgery, including dental surgery, that you are taking diphenhydramine.
8. If you have phenylketonuria (PKU, an inherited condition that necessitates a special diet to prevent brain damage that can result in severe intellectual disability), you should be aware that some brands of chewable tablets and rapidly disintegrating tablets containing diphenhydramine may be sweetened with aspartame, a source of phenylalanine.
SIDE EFFECTS OF DIPHENHYDRAMIN
If you have any of the following symptoms of an allergic response to diphenhydramine: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or neck, get emergency medical attention.
If you suffer any of the following symptoms, stop using diphenhydramine and contact your doctor right away:
- Tightness in your neck or jaw, uncontrollable tongue motions
- hammering heartbeats or chest fluttering
- Urination that is unpleasant or difficult
- Feeling disoriented, as if you're about to pass out
- Urinating infrequently or not at all
The following are some of the most common diphenhydramine adverse effects:
- Daytime sleepiness or a "hangover" feeling following nighttime use
- Dizziness, sleepiness, and clumsiness
- Vision blurred due to dry eyes
- Mouth, nose, or throat dryness
- Constipation, stomach upset
This is not a full list of potential side effects; others may emerge. For medical advice on side effects, consult your doctor. To report negative effects, call the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
WHAT TO DO IN CASE OF OVERDOSE
In the event of an overdose, seek emergency medical treatment or dial 1-800-222-1222 for Poison Help.
WHAT ADDITIONAL MEDICATIONS WILL HAVE AN EFFECT ON DIPHENHYDRAMINE?
Before using this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking any other medications, including prescription and over-the-counter medications, vitamins, and herbal supplements. When certain medications are combined, they can have unfavorable or hazardous side effects. This drug guide does not cover all possible interactions.
Combining this medication with other medicines that cause drowsiness or sluggish breathing can exacerbate these effects. Before taking diphenhydramine with a sleeping pill, narcotic pain reliever, muscle relaxer, or medication for anxiety, depression, or seizures, consult your doctor.
WARNINGS
When taking diphenhydramine, exercise caution when driving, operating machinery, or engaging in other potentially hazardous activities. Diphenhydramine can make you feel dizzy or drowsy. Avoid these activities if you have dizziness or drowsiness.
Use alcohol with caution. While taking diphenhydramine, alcohol may cause drowsiness and dizziness.
Do not administer this medication to a child under the age of two. Before providing a cough or cold medicine to a child, always consult a doctor. Overuse of cough and cold medications may result in death in very young children.
Diphenhydramine should not be used to put a child to sleep.
Tags
Treatment