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Cogentin vs. Benadryl

 

Are Cogentin and Benadryl the Same Thing?

Cogentin (benztropine mesylate) is prescribed for treating the symptoms of Parkinson's disease.

Cogentin is also used to treat related drug-induced side effects.

Benadryl is used to treat allergies, hives, insomnia, and motion sickness.

Benadryl is available as a generic and over-the-counter (OTC).

Cogentin and Benadryl belong to different drug classes. Cogentin is an anti-Parkinson's agent and anticholinergic agent and Benadryl is an antihistamine.

Side effects of Cogentin and Benadryl that are similar include drowsiness, dizziness, headache, loss of appetite, nausea, stomach upset, vision changes/double vision/blurred vision, or dry mouth.

Side effects of Cogentin that are different from Benadryl include sleeplessness, trembling of the hands, numbness in your fingers, depression, memory problems, nervousness, excitability, or increased sensitivity to light.

Side effects of Benadryl that are different from Cogentin include fatigue, tiredness, sleepiness, disturbed coordination, constipation, dry nose/throat, difficulty urinating or an enlarged prostate, or tremor.

Both Cogentin and Benadryl may interact with alcohol and other medicines that make you sleepy (such as cold or allergy medicines, sedatives, narcotics, sleeping pills, muscle relaxers, and medicines for seizures, depression, or anxiety).

Cogentin may also interact with amantadine, glycopyrrolate, mepenzolate, diuretics (water pills), potassium supplements, antidepressants, atropine, belladonna, dimenhydrinate, meclizine, methscopolamine, scopolamine, bladder or urinary medications, bronchodilators, irritable bowel medications, medicines to treat Alzheimer's dementia, or medicines to treat psychiatric disorders.

Benadryl may also interact with monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs).

What Are Possible Side Effects of Cogentin?

Side effects of Cogentin include:

  • drowsiness,
  • dizziness,
  • headache,
  • loss of appetite,
  • nausea,
  • stomach upset,
  • vision changes,
  • sleeplessness,
  • trembling of the hands,
  • numbness in your fingers,
  • depression,
  • memory problems,
  • nervousness,
  • excitability,
  • dry mouth,
  • double vision, or
  • increased sensitivity to light.

What Are Possible Side Effects of Benadryl?

Common side effects of Benadryl include:

  • drowsiness,
  • fatigue,
  • tiredness,
  • sleepiness,
  • dizziness,
  • disturbed coordination,
  • constipation,
  • dry mouth/nose/throat,
  • difficulty urinating or an enlarged prostate,
  • upset stomach,
  • blurred vision,
  • double vision,
  • tremor,
  • loss of appetite,
  • headache, or
  • nausea.

What Is Cogentin?

Cogentin (benztropine mesylate) is an anti-Parkinson's agent and anticholinergic agent prescribed for treating the symptoms of Parkinson's disease and related drug-induced side effects.

What Is Benadryl?

Benadryl (diphenhydramine) is an antihistamine used to treat allergies, hives, insomnia, motion sickness, and mild cases of Parkinsonism.

 

What Drugs Interact With Cogentin?

Cogentin may interact with alcohol, other medicines that make you sleepy (such as cold or allergy medicine, sedatives, narcotic pain medicine, sleeping pills, muscle relaxers, and medicine for seizures, depression, or anxiety), amantadine, glycopyrrolate, mepenzolate, diuretics (water pills), potassium supplements, antidepressants, atropine, belladonna, dimenhydrinate, meclizine, methscopolamine, scopolamine, bladder or urinary medications, bronchodilators, irritable bowel medications, medicines to treat Alzheimer's dementia, or medicines to treat psychiatric disorders. Tell your doctor all medications and supplements you use. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant while using Cogentin; it is unknown if it will harm a fetus. It is unknown if Cogentin passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. Consult your doctor before breastfeeding.

What Drugs Interact With Benadryl?

Benadryl may interact with other medicines that make you sleepy (such as cold or allergy medicine, sedatives, narcotic pain medicine, sleeping pills, muscle relaxers, and medicine for seizures, depression, or anxiety).

Benadryl may also interact with monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs).

 

How Should Cogentin Be Taken?

Cogentin usual adult dose ranges from 0.5 - 6 mg/day in 1-2 divided doses.

How Should Benadryl Be Taken?

A typical dose of Benadryl is 25-50 mg every 4-6 hours. Benadryl may interact with monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), other over-the-counter cough, cold, allergy, or insomnia medications, anxiety or sleep medicines, antidepressants, or any other medications that make you feel drowsy, sleepy, or relaxed. Tell your doctor all medications and supplements you use. Benadryl has not been adequately evaluated in pregnant women. Benadryl is secreted in breast milk. Because of the risk of stimulation and seizures in infants, especially newborns and premature infants, antihistamines should not be used by nursing mothers.