Benadryl vs. Allegra

• Are Benadryl and Allegra the Same Thing?
• What Are Possible Side Effects of Benadryl?
• What Are Possible Side Effects of Allegra?
• What is Benadryl?
• What is Allegra?
• What drugs interact with Benadryl?
• What drugs interact with Allegra?
• How Should Benadryl Be Taken?
• How Should Allegra Be Taken?

 

Benadryl (diphenhydramine) and Allegra (fexofenadine hydrochloride) are antihistamines used to treat allergic symptoms of seasonal allergic rhinitis (sneezing, runny nose, itchy or watery eyes), and hives.

Benadryl is also used to treat insomnia, motion sickness, and mild cases of Parkinsonism.

A main difference between Benadryl and Allegra is that Allegra tends to cause less drowsiness and sedation than Benadryl.

Benadryl and Allegra are available in generic form and over-the-counter (OTC).

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.

Common side effects of Allegra include:

• nausea,
• diarrhea,
• upset stomach,
• muscle or back discomfort or pain,
• sleepiness,
• drowsiness,
• tiredness,
• headache, and
• menstrual cramps.

Contact your doctor if you have serious but less common side effects of Allegra including

• allergic reactions,
• fever,
• chills,
• body aches,
• cough, or
• other flu symptoms.

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

What is Allegra?

Allegra (fexofenadine hydrochloride) is an antihistamine used to treat allergic symptoms of seasonal allergic rhinitis (sneezing, runny nose, itchy or watery eyes), and urticaria (hives). Allegra is available as a generic drug.

 

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).

Allegra 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).

Allegra may also interact with ketoconazole or erythromycin.

 

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.

Allegra is available in several strengths and forms; as tablets in strengths of 30, 60 and 180 mg, as 30 mg fast orally disintegrating tablets (available in foil blister packs and labeled "ODT"; the drug should not be touched by skin as it may begin to dissolve and reduce the oral dose) and as an oral suspension of 30mg per 5 ml. The dosage is dependent on the age, weight and effectiveness of the drug; special care should be taken when prescribing this drug to infants and children to make sure the recommended dosage is given.

Tell your doctor all medications and supplements you use. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant while using Allegra; it is unknown if it will harm a fetus. It is unknown if Allegra passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. Consult your doctor before breastfeeding. Note that the Allegra ODT tablets (orally disintegrating tablets) contain 5.3 mg of phenylalanine and should not be used by individuals with phenylketonuria.