

Do not give diphenhydramine products that are made for adults to children.īefore you give a diphenhydramine product to a child, check the package label to find out how much medication the child should receive. If you are giving diphenhydramine or a combination product that contains diphenhydramine to a child, read the package label carefully to be sure that it is the right product for a child of that age.

If you give these products to children 4 to 11 years of age, use caution and follow the package directions carefully. Do not give these products to children younger than 4 years of age. Nonprescription cough and cold combination products, including products that contain diphenhydramine, can cause serious side effects or death in young children. This is especially important if you will be giving cough and cold medications to a child. These products may contain the same active ingredient(s) and taking them together could cause you to receive an overdose. Check nonprescription cough and cold product labels carefully before using two or more products at the same time. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice on which product is best for your symptoms. Do not take more or less of it or take it more often than prescribed by your doctor or directed on the label.ĭiphenhydramine comes alone and in combination with pain relievers, fever reducers, and decongestants. Take diphenhydramine exactly as directed. Follow the directions on the package or on your prescription label carefully, and ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any part you do not understand. When diphenhydramine is used to treat abnormal movements, it is usually taken three times a day at first and then taken 4 times a day. When diphenhydramine is used to treat insomnia it is taken at bedtime (30 minutes before planned sleep). When diphenhydramine is used to treat motion sickness, it is usually taken 30 minutes before departure and, if needed, before meals and at bedtime. When diphenhydramine is used for the relief of allergies, cold, and cough symptoms, it is usually taken every 4 to 6 hours. It works by blocking the action of histamine, a substance in the body that causes allergic symptoms.ĭiphenhydramine comes as a tablet, a rapidly disintegrating (dissolving) tablet, a capsule, a liquid-filled capsule, a dissolving strip, powder, and a liquid to take by mouth. Diphenhydramine is in a class of medications called antihistamines. Diphenhydramine should not be used to cause sleepiness in children. Diphenhydramine is also used to control abnormal movements in people who have early stage parkinsonian syndrome (a disorder of the nervous system that causes difficulties with movement, muscle control, and balance) or who are experiencing movement problems as a side effect of a medication.ĭiphenhydramine will relieve the symptoms of these conditions but will not treat the cause of the symptoms or speed recovery. Diphenhydramine is also used to prevent and treat motion sickness, and to treat insomnia (difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep).

Diphenhydramine is also used to relieve cough caused by minor throat or airway irritation. Diphenhydramine is used to relieve red, irritated, itchy, watery eyes sneezing and runny nose caused by hay fever, allergies, or the common cold.
