- 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?
Are Benadryl and Sudafed the Same Thing?
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).
What Are Possible Side Effects of Benadryl?
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 Are Possible Side Effects of Sudafed?
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).
What is Benadryl?
Benadryl (diphenhydramine) is an antihistamine used to treat allergies, hives, insomnia, motion sickness, and mild cases of Parkinsonism.
What is Sudafed?
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.
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).
What Drugs Interact With Sudafed?
Sudafed may interact with monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) and antidepressants.
Sudafed may also interact with bronchodilators, blood pressure medications, and calcium channel blockers.
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.
How Should Sudafed Be Taken?
Sudafed usual dose is one tablet every 12 hours.
From 
Disclaimer
All drug information provided on RxList.com is sourced directly from drug monographs published by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Any drug information published on RxList.com regarding general drug information, drug side effects, drug usage, dosage, and more are sourced from the original drug documentation found in its FDA drug monograph.
Drug information found in the drug comparisons published on RxList.com is primarily sourced from the FDA drug information. The drug comparison information found in this article does not contain any data from clinical trials with human participants or animals performed by any of the drug manufacturers comparing the drugs.
The drug comparisons information provided does not cover every potential use, warning, drug interaction, side effect, or adverse or allergic reaction. RxList.com assumes no responsibility for any healthcare administered to a person based on the information found on this site.
As drug information can and will change at any time, RxList.com makes every effort to update its drug information. Due to the time-sensitive nature of drug information, RxList.com makes no guarantees that the information provided is the most current.
Any missing drug warnings or information does not in any way guarantee the safety, effectiveness, or the lack of adverse effects of any drug. The drug information provided is intended for reference only and should not be used as a substitute for medical advice.
If you have specific questions regarding a drug’s safety, side effects, usage, warnings, etc., you should contact your doctor or pharmacist, or refer to the individual drug monograph details found on the FDA.gov or RxList.com websites for more information.
You may also report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA by visiting the FDA MedWatch website or calling 1-800-FDA-1088.
References
Medical Editor: John P. Cunha, DO, FACOEP
SOURCE:
RxList. Benadryl Medication Guide.
https://www.rxlist.com/benadryl-drug.htm#medguide
RxList. Sudafed Side Effects Drug Center.
https://www.rxlist.com/sudafed-side-effects-drug-center.htm
