Acetaminophen is a pain reliever and a fever reducer.
Diphenhydramine is an antihistamine. It blocks the effects of the naturally occurring chemical
histamine in the body. Diphenhydramine prevents sneezing; itchy, watery eyes and nose; and other
symptoms of allergies and hay fever.
The combination of acetaminophen and diphenhydramine is used to treat runny nose, sneezing,
watery eyes, and pain or fever caused by allergies, the common cold, or the flu. This medication is also
used to treat night time pain and help you sleep.
Acetaminophen and diphenhydramine may also be used for other purposes not listed in this
medication guide.
What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking acetaminophen and diphenhydramine?
Do not take this medication if you are allergic to acetaminophen, diphenhydramine, or any
antihistamine.
Before using acetaminophen and diphenhydramine, tell your doctor if you are allergic to any
drugs, or if you have:
liver disease;
glaucoma;
kidney disease;
an enlarged prostate; or
problems with urination.
Do not take this medication without first talking to your doctor if you drink
more than three alcoholic beverages per day or if you have had alcoholic liver disease (cirrhosis). You
may not be able to take medication that contains acetaminophen.
It is not known whether acetaminophen and diphenhydramine will harm an unborn baby.
Before using acetaminophen, tell your doctor if you are pregnant.
This medication may 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.
How should I take acetaminophen and diphenhydramine?
Use this medication exactly as directed on the label, or as prescribed by your doctor. Do not
use it in larger amounts or for longer than recommended.
Always ask a doctor before giving cough or cold medicine to a child.
Death can occur from the misuse of cough or cold medicine in very young children.
An overdose of acetaminophen can cause serious harm. The maximum amount of
acetaminophen for adults is 1 gram (1000 mg) per dose and 4 grams (4000 mg) per day. Taking more
acetaminophen could cause damage to your liver. One dose of this medication may contain up to 1000
mg of acetaminophen. Know the amount of acetaminophen in the specific product you are taking.
If you drink more than three alcoholic beverages per day, do not take
acetaminophen without your doctor's advice, and never take more than 2 grams (2000 mg) of
acetaminophen per day.
Take this medicine with food or milk if it upsets your stomach.
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 acetaminophen and diphenhydramine at room temperature away from moisture and
heat.
What happens if I miss a dose of acetaminophen and diphenhydramine?
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.
Where can I get more information about acetaminophen and diphenhydramine?
Your pharmacist has information about acetaminophen and diphenhydramine written for health professionals that you may read.
What are the possible side effects of acetaminophen and diphenhydramine?
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 heartbeats;
confusion, hallucinations, unusual thoughts or behavior;
severe dizziness, anxiety, restless feeling, or nervousness;
urinating less than usual or not at all;
easy bruising or bleeding, unusual weakness, fever, chills,
body aches, flu symptoms; or
nausea, stomach pain, low fever, loss of appetite, dark
urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes).
Less serious side effects may include:
dryness of the eyes, nose, and mouth;
blurred vision;
difficulty urinating;
dizziness, drowsiness;
problems with memory or concentration;
ringing in your ears;
feeling restless or excited (especially in children); or
mild nausea, stomach pain, constipation.
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.
What is the most important information I should know about acetaminophen and diphenhydramine?
There are many brands and forms of this medication available and not all brands are listed on
this leaflet.
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.
Do not take more of this medication than is recommended. An overdose of acetaminophen
can cause damage to your liver.
Do not use any other cough, cold, allergy, pain, or sleep medication without first asking
your doctor or pharmacist. If you take certain products together you may accidentally take too much of
one or more types of medicine. Read the label of any other medicine you are using to see if it contains
acetaminophen (sometimes abbreviated as "APAP") or diphenhydramine.
Avoid drinking alcohol. It can increase the risk of liver damage while you are taking
acetaminophen, and can add to drowsiness caused by an antihistamine. If you drink more than three
alcoholic beverages per day, do not take acetaminophen without your doctor's advice, and never take
more than 2 grams (2000 mg) per day.
What should I avoid while taking acetaminophen and diphenhydramine?
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.
Do not use any other cough, cold, allergy, pain, or sleep medication without first asking
your doctor or pharmacist. Acetaminophen (sometimes abbreviated as "APAP") and diphenhydramine
are contained in many combination medicines. If you take certain products together you may
accidentally take too much of one or more types of medicine. Read the label of any other medicine you
are using to see if it contains acetaminophen, APAP or diphenhydramine.
Avoid drinking alcohol. It can increase the risk of liver damage while you are taking
acetaminophen, and can add to drowsiness caused by diphenhydramine.
What other drugs will affect acetaminophen and diphenhydramine?
Cold or allergy medicine, narcotic pain medicine, sleeping pills, muscle relaxers, and
medicine for seizures, depression or anxiety can add to sleepiness caused by acetaminophen and
diphenhydramine. Tell your doctor if you regularly use any of these other medicines.
The following drugs can interact with acetaminophen and diphenhydramine. Tell your doctor if
you are using any of these:
isoniazid;
zidovudine (Retrovir, AZT);
an antidepressant;
a diuretic (water pill);
gout medications such as probenecid (Benemid);
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); or
seizure medication such as phenytoin (Dilantin) or
phenobarbital (Luminal, Solfoton).
This list is not complete and there may be other drugs that can interact with
acetaminophen and diphenhydramine. Tell your doctor about all your prescription and
over-the-counter medications, vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other
doctors. Do not start a new medication without telling your doctor.
What happens if I have an overdose of acetaminophen and diphenhydramine?
Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share
your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed.
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.
Content provided by Multum - Last Updated 11/10/2009