Benadryl Syrup: Uses, Dosage, Side Effects, Precautions and Alternates

Quick overview

Benadryl Syrup contains diphenhydramine hydrochloride, an antihistamine. It is used to relieve sneezing, runny nose, watery eyes, hives, skin rash, and itching caused by colds or allergies, as well as motion sickness, trouble sleeping, certain Parkinson's disease symptoms, dry raspy coughs from a cold, and nasal congestion due to the common cold. It works by blocking histamine and acetylcholine in the body and by acting in the brain to help suppress coughing. As with any medicine, it carries possible side effects and precautions that should be reviewed before use.

What is Benadryl Syrup

Benadryl is an antihistamine that reduces the effects of a natural chemical called histamine in the body. Histamine can cause sneezing, itching, watery eyes, and runny nose.

Benadryl Syrup uses

• Sneezing, runny nose, watery eyes, hives, skin rash, itching, and other cold or allergy symptoms
• Motion sickness
• Helping you fall asleep
• Certain symptoms of Parkinson's disease
• Relief of dry, raspy coughs due to a cold
• Nasal congestion due to the common cold

Benefits of Benadryl Syrup

• Reduces sneezing, itching, watery eyes, and runny nose caused by allergies or colds
• Helps prevent and treat nausea, vomiting, and dizziness from motion sickness
• Can help you relax and fall asleep

How Benadryl Syrup works

Benadryl works by blocking a natural substance in your body called histamine, which is involved in allergy symptoms. It also blocks another natural substance called acetylcholine, which causes its drying effects on watery eyes and runny nose, and it acts in the brain to help suppress coughing.

Benadryl Syrup dosage

Take the medicine exactly as directed on the label or by your doctor; do not use more or less than recommended or for longer than needed. Cold or allergy medicine is usually taken only for a short time until symptoms clear up.

Do not give this medicine to a child younger than 2 years old; always ask a doctor before giving a cough or cold medicine to a child. Do not use this medicine to make a child sleepy. Measure the liquid with the dosing syringe, dose-measuring spoon, or medicine cup provided; do not use a regular household spoon.

For motion sickness, take the dose before you will be in a situation that causes motion sickness, such as a car ride, plane, boat trip, or amusement park ride, and continue taking it with meals and at bedtime during the trip. To help with sleep, take the dose shortly before bedtime.

Call your doctor if your symptoms do not improve after about a week of treatment, or if you have a fever along with a headache, cough, or skin rash. This medicine can affect the results of allergy skin tests, so tell any doctor who treats you that you are using it.

If you miss a dose and you are on a regular schedule, take it as soon as you remember, unless it is almost time for your next dose — in that case, skip the missed dose; do not take extra medicine to make up for it. If you are over 65 years of age, talk to your pharmacist or doctor about how much to take. Do not use this product with any other product containing diphenhydramine, even one used on the skin.

Available forms and strengths

• Syrup/Oral liquid
• Tablets
• Capsules
• Elixir
• Injection
• Chewable tablets
• Rapidly-dissolving tablets/strips

Side effects of Benadryl Syrup

Common

• Dizziness, drowsiness, loss of coordination
• Dry mouth, nose, or throat
• Constipation, upset stomach
• Dry eyes, blurred vision
• Day-time drowsiness or "hangover" feeling after night-time use
• Excitability, especially in children
• Fatigue, weakness
• Nausea, vomiting, or stomach discomfort
• Diarrhoea
• Increased appetite
• Thicker phlegm/mucus

Serious

• Signs of an allergic reaction: hives, difficult breathing, swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat
• Pounding heartbeats or fluttering in the chest
• Painful or difficult urination
• Little or no urinating
• Confusion, feeling like you might pass out
• Tightness in the neck or jaw, uncontrollable movements of the tongue
• Blurred vision
• Sensitivity to light
• Ringing in the ears
• Headache
• Fast heartbeat, palpitations
• Low blood pressure
• Tightness of chest or throat
• Tingling or numbness of the hands and feet
• Difficulty passing urine
• Confusion, excitation, insomnia
• Nervousness, anxiety, or irritability
• Impaired performance such as with work or driving
• Psychosis (a mental disorder)
• Hallucinations
• Muscle spasms, movement disorders, lack of coordination
• Tremor
• Seizures (fits)
• Hives

Warnings and precautions

• Do not use Benadryl to make a child sleepy.
• Do not give this medication to a child younger than 2 years old. Always ask a doctor before giving a cough or cold medicine to a child, since death can occur from misuse of these medicines in very young children.
• Do not use this product with any other product that contains diphenhydramine, even one used on the skin, and ask a doctor or pharmacist before using any other cold, cough, allergy, or sleep medicine, since antihistamines are found in many combination medicines.
• This medicine should not be used in children younger than 6 years for cold symptoms unless a doctor specifically directs it, and it should not be used to treat cold symptoms since it does not cure or shorten the common cold and may cause serious side effects.
• Do not use this medicine if you are allergic to diphenhydramine, other antihistamines, ammonium chloride, or any of its ingredients; if you are younger than 6 years; if you are having an asthma attack; or if you have narrow-angle glaucoma, stomach ulcers, prostate or bladder problems, severe liver failure, or severe kidney impairment.
• Older adults may be more likely to have side effects from this medicine.
• It is not known whether Benadryl will harm an unborn baby. Ask a doctor before using this medicine if you are pregnant. Another source lists it as Pregnancy Category A but notes there are no adequate, well-controlled studies for this combination product, and it should not be used during pregnancy unless the benefit outweighs the risk.
• Diphenhydramine can pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing baby. It may also slow breast milk production. Ask a doctor before using this medicine if you are breast-feeding.
• Ask a doctor or pharmacist if it is safe for you to take this medicine if you have liver or kidney disease. This product should not be used if you have severe renal impairment or severe liver failure.
• Use alcohol cautiously. Alcohol may increase drowsiness and dizziness while taking Benadryl. Do not take alcohol while using this medicine, as the sedative effects of alcohol may be increased.
• Use caution driving, operating machinery, or performing other hazardous activities, since this medicine may cause dizziness or drowsiness. If you experience dizziness or drowsiness, avoid these activities.

Storage

• Store at room temperature away from moisture and heat.
• Store at room temperature away from moisture and light. Do not store in the bathroom. Do not freeze liquid forms of this medication. Keep all medications away from children and pets. Do not flush medications down the toilet or pour them into a drain unless instructed to do so. Properly discard this product when it is expired or no longer needed. Consult your pharmacist or local waste disposal company.
• Keep your medicine in the original pack until it is time to take. Keep your medicine in a cool dry place where the temperature stays below 30°C. Store it in a cool dry place away from moisture, heat or sunlight; for example, do not store it in the bathroom or near a sink, or in the car or on window sills. Keep it where young children cannot reach it.
• If you no longer need to use this medicine or it is out of date, take it to any pharmacy for safe disposal. Do not use this medicine after the expiry date.

When to see a doctor

• Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction: hives, difficulty breathing, or swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
• Stop using this medicine and call your doctor right away if you have pounding heartbeats or fluttering in your chest, painful or difficult urination, little or no urinating, confusion or feeling like you might pass out, or tightness in your neck or jaw with uncontrollable tongue movements.
• If you think you have taken too much of this medicine, seek emergency medical attention or contact your local poison control center right away, even if you feel fine.
• Call your doctor if your symptoms do not improve after about a week of treatment, or if you have a fever with a headache, cough, or skin rash.
• Call your doctor right away, or go straight to the Emergency Department at your nearest hospital, if you notice serious side effects such as blurred vision, sensitivity to light, ringing in the ears, fast heartbeat, difficulty passing urine, confusion, hallucinations, movement disorders, tremor, or seizures.
• Stop use and talk to your doctor or pharmacist if your symptoms persist, worsen, or if new symptoms occur.

Alternatives

• Claritin
• Phenergan (promethazine)
• Cyproheptadine
• Chlorpheniramine
• Promethazine
• Nytol
• Triaminic Thin Strips Cough & Runny Nose
• Diphen
• Dicopanol
• Genahist
• Naramin
• Sominex
• Unisom