Benadryl vs. Sudafed

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

 

Benadryl (diphenhydramine) and Sudafed (pseudoephedrine HCI) are used to treat nasal congestion due to allergies.

Benadryl is also an antihistamine used to treat other allergy symptoms (including hives, itching, watery eyes), insomnia, motion sickness, and mild cases of Parkinsonism.

Sudafed is also used to relieve nasal congestion due to the common cold.

Benadryl and Sudafed belong to different drug classes. Benadryl is an antihistamine and Sudafed is a decongestant.

Benadryl and Sudafed 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 Sudafed include:

• nervousness,
• restlessness or excitability (especially in children),
• dizziness,
• headache,
• fear,
• anxiety,
• loss of appetite,
• sleep problems (insomnia),
• skin rash,
• itching,
• tremors,
• hallucinations,
• convulsions (seizures),
• nausea,
• vomiting, and
• flushing (warmth, tingling, or redness under your skin).

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

What is Sudafed?

Sudafed (pseudoephedrine HCI) is a decongestant prescribed for the temporary relief of nasal congestion due to the common cold, hay fever, and sinus congestion. Sudafed 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).

Sudafed may interact with monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) and antidepressants.

Sudafed may also interact with bronchodilators, blood pressure medications, and calcium channel blockers.

 

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.

Sudafed usual dose is one tablet every 12 hours.