Diphenhydramine Hydrochloride (Side Effects and Precautions)

Here are some important things to know about diphenhydramine hydrochloride before taking it.

DIPHENHYDRAMINE HYDROCHLORIDE – These are the possible side effects and precautions of diphenhydramine hydrochloride

The Drugbank Online says diphenhydramine is an “H1 receptor antihistamine used in the treatment of seasonal allergies, and various allergic reactions including sneezing, runny nose, itchy/watery eyes, itching of nose or throat, pruritus, urticaria, insect bites/stings, and allergic rashes”.

Diphenhydramine Hydrochloride
Photo lifted from Walrus Health

These are the other brand names of this:

  • Acetadryl
  • Advil PM
  • Aleve PM
  • Allegra Cooling Relief Anti-itch
  • Banophen
  • Benadryl
  • Benadryl Itch Stopping
  • Benadryl-D Allergy and Sinus
  • Calagel
  • Damylin With Codeine
  • Dimetapp Nighttime Cold & Congestion
  • Diphen, Diphenhist, Diphenist
  • Excedrin PM Triple Action
  • Goody’s PM, Legatrin PM
  • Motrin PM
  • Nytol
  • Nytol Quickgels
  • Percogesic Reformulated Jan 2011
  • Siladryl
  • Simply Sleep
  • Sleepinal
  • Sominex
  • Triaminic Night Time Cold & Cough
  • Tylenol PM
  • Unisom
  • Unisom Sleep
  • Vanamine
  • Wal-dryl
  • Wal-som (doxylamine)
  • Z-sleep
  • Zzzquil

This is also known as Benadryl and apart from the said conditions said above, this also treats and prevents conditions like dystonias, insomnia, pruritis, urticaria, vertigo, and motion sickness.

Before taking this, one must know that the side effects include drowsiness, dizziness, constipation, stomach upset, blurred vision, dry mouth, nose, or throat, loss of coordination, or constipation.

Among the serious side effects are:

  • pounding heartbeats
  • painful or there’s difficulty in urination
  • little or no urine
  • confusion
  • lightheadedness
  • tightness in the neck or jaw
  • uncontrollable movements of the tongue

Before taking this, one must also take precautionary measures. You have to tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to diphenhydramine, other medications, or some ingredients in diphenhydramine.

You must also let these professionals know about the other medications you are taking or plan to take. They should also be aware if you have conditions like asthma, emphysema, chronic bronchitis, types of lung disease, glaucoma, ulcer, difficulty urinating,  heart disease, high blood pressure, seizures, overactive thyroid gland, or others.

The patient must also discuss taking this to a doctor if she is pregnant or becomes pregnant while taking this according to a post from WebMD.

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