What is diphenhydramine and pseudoephedrine?
Diphenhydramine is an antihistamine that reduces the natural chemical histamine in the body.
Histamine can produce symptoms of sneezing, itching, watery eyes, and runny nose.
Pseudoephedrine is a decongestant that shrinks blood vessels in the nasal passages. Dilated
blood vessels can cause nasal congestion (stuffy nose).
The combination of diphenhydramine and pseudoephedrine is used to treat sneezing, cough,
runny or stuffy nose, itchy or watery eyes, hives, skin rash, itching, and other symptoms of allergies and
the common cold.
Diphenhydramine and pseudoephedrine may also be used for other purposes not listed in this
medication guide.
What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking diphenhydramine and pseudoephedrine?
Do not use a cough or cold medicine if you have used an MAO inhibitor such as
isocarboxazid (Marplan), phenelzine (Nardil), rasagiline (Azilect), selegiline (Eldepryl, Emsam), or
tranylcypromine (Parnate) within the past 14 days. Serious, life-threatening side effects can occur if
you take cough or cold medicine before the MAO inhibitor has cleared from your body.
Before taking this medication, tell your doctor if you are allergic to diphenhydramine, or
pseudoephedrine, or if you have:
If you have any of these conditions, you may need a dose adjustment or
special tests to safely take diphenhydramine and pseudoephedrine.
This medication may be harmful to an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or
plan to become pregnant during treatment.
Diphenhydramine and pseudoephedrine can pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing
baby. Do not use this medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.
Artificially-sweetened liquid forms of cold medicine may contain phenylalanine. This would be
important to know if you have phenylketonuria (PKU). Check the ingredients and warnings on the
medication label if you are concerned about phenylalanine.
How should I take diphenhydramine and pseudoephedrine?
Use this medication exactly as directed on the label, or as it has been prescribed by your
doctor. Do not use the medication in larger amounts, or use it for longer than recommended. Cold
medicine is usually taken only for a short time until your symptoms clear up.
Always ask a doctor before giving a cough or cold medicine to a child.
Death can occur from the misuse of cough and cold medicines in very young children.
Take this medicine with a full glass of water.
Measure the liquid form of this medicine with a special dose-measuring spoon or cup, not a
regular table spoon. If you do not have a dose-measuring device, ask your pharmacist for one.
The orally disintegrating tablets (such as Benadryl Childrens Allergy & Cold) should be placed
in the mouth and allowed to dissolve. Do not swallow the disintegrating tablet whole. Allow it to
dissolve in your mouth without chewing.
Talk with your doctor if your symptoms do not improve after 7 days of treatment, or if you
have a fever with a headache, cough, or skin rash.
If you need to have any type of surgery, tell the surgeon ahead of time if you have taken a cold
medicine within the past few days.
This medication can cause you to have unusual results with allergy skin tests. Tell any doctor
who treats you that you are taking an antihistamine.
Store the medication at room temperature away from moisture and heat.
What happens if I miss a dose of diphenhydramine and pseudoephedrine?
Since cold or allergy medicine is usually taken only as needed, you may not be on a dosing
schedule. If you are taking the medication regularly, take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If
it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take the medicine at your next regularly
scheduled time.
Do not
take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.
Where can I get more information about diphenhydramine and pseudoephedrine?
Your pharmacist has information about diphenhydramine and pseudoephedrine written for health professionals that you may read.
What are the possible side effects of diphenhydramine and pseudoephedrine?
Get emergency medical help if you have any of these
signs of an allergic
reaction:
hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
Stop using this medication and call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side
effects:
-
fast, pounding, or uneven heartbeat;
-
confusion, hallucinations, unusual thoughts or behavior;
-
severe dizziness, anxiety, restless feeling, or nervousness;
-
increased blood pressure (severe headache, blurred vision,
trouble concentrating, chest pain, numbness, seizure);
-
confusion, hallucinations, unusual thoughts or behavior;
-
easy bruising or bleeding, unusual weakness, fever, chills,
body aches, flu symptoms; or
-
urinating less than usual or not at all.
Less serious side effects may include:
-
blurred vision;
-
dry mouth;
-
nausea, stomach pain, constipation;
-
mild loss of appetite, stomach upset;
-
warmth, tingling, or redness under your skin;
-
sleep problems (insomnia);
-
restless or excitability (especially in children);
-
skin rash or itching;
-
dizziness, drowsiness;
-
problems with memory or concentration; or
-
ringing in your ears.
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.
What is the most important information I should know about diphenhydramine and pseudoephedrine?
Always ask a doctor before giving a cold or allergy medicine to a child.
Death can occur from the misuse of cough and cold medicines in very young children.
Do not use any other over-the-counter cold, allergy, or sleep medication without first asking
your doctor or pharmacist. If you take certain products together you may accidentally take too much
of a certain drug. Read the label of any other medicine you are using to see if it contains an
antihistamine or decongestant.
Do not use a cough or cold medicine if you have used an MAO inhibitor such as
isocarboxazid (Marplan), phenelzine (Nardil), rasagiline (Azilect), selegiline (Eldepryl, Emsam), or
tranylcypromine (Parnate) within the past 14 days. Serious, life-threatening side effects can occur if
you take cough or cold medicine before the MAO inhibitor has cleared from your body.
Diphenhydramine and pseudoephedrine can cause side effects that may impair your thinking
or reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be awake and alert.
Avoid drinking alcohol. It can increase some of the side effects of this medication.
What should I avoid while taking diphenhydramine and pseudoephedrine?
This medication can cause side effects that may impair your thinking or reactions. Be
careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be awake and alert.
Avoid drinking alcohol. It can increase some of the side effects of this medication.
Avoid using other medicines that make you sleepy (such as sleeping pills, pain medication,
muscle relaxers, and medicine for seizures, depression or anxiety). They can add to sleepiness caused
by diphenhydramine and pseudoephedrine.
Avoid taking diet pills, caffeine pills, or other stimulants (such as ADHD medications) without
your doctor's advice. Taking a stimulant together with a decongestant can increase your risk of
unpleasant side effects.
Do not use any other over-the-counter cold, allergy, or sleep medication without first asking
your doctor or pharmacist. If you take certain products together you may accidentally take too much
of a certain drug. Read the label of any other medicine you are using to see if it contains an
antihistamine or decongestant.
What other drugs will affect diphenhydramine and pseudoephedrine?
Before taking this medication, tell your doctor if you are using any of the following drugs:
-
medicines to treat high blood pressure;
-
a diuretic (water pill);
-
medication to treat irritable bowel syndrome;
-
bladder or urinary medications such as oxybutynin
(Ditropan, Oxytrol) or tolterodine (Detrol);
-
aspirin or salicylates (such as Disalcid, Doan's Pills,
Dolobid, Salflex, Tricosal, and others);
-
a beta-blocker such as atenolol (Tenormin), carteolol
(Cartrol), metoprolol (Lopressor, Toprol), nadolol (Corgard), propranolol (Inderal), sotalol
(Betapace), timolol (Blocadren), and others; or
-
antidepressants such as amitriptyline (Elavil), clomipramine
(Anafranil), imipramine (Janimine, Tofranil), and others.
This list is not complete and there may be other drugs that can interact with
diphenhydramine and pseudoephedrine. Tell your doctor about all the prescription and
over-the-counter medications you use. This includes vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs
prescribed by other doctors. Do not start using a new medication without telling your doctor.
What happens if I have an overdose of diphenhydramine and pseudoephedrine?
