Iheartdogs: How Much Benadryl Should I Give My Dog
Dr. Selmer: Your veterinarian will advise you on the dose of Benadryl if he/she believes your dog needs it.
However, for a general idea, WebMD advises:
The standard dosage for oral Benadryl is 1 mg per pound of body weight, given 2-3 times a day. Most drug store diphenhydramine tablets are 25 mg, which is the size used for a 25 pound dog. Always double check the dosage before giving an over the counter medication.
Who Might Consider Taking Benadryl For Sleep And How Often
Overall, using Benadryl as a sleep aid really isn’t something sleep medicine experts recommend. But if you’re an otherwise healthy person, you can’t sleep one random time, and you happen to have Benadryl handy, Dr. Katznelson says taking the recommended dose should be fine. Still, he emphasizes, “it should not be used on a routine basis and rarely, if at all.”
“Clear guidelines are lacking,” notes Dr. Katznelson. “But in my opinion, the ideal candidate for rare use of Benadryl for insomnia would be under the age of 50 with no other medical comorbidities or problems,” such as pulmonary troubles or glaucoma. %2520%25E2%2580%2594,urinary%2520tract%2520or%2520kidney%2520problems.” rel=”nofollow”> benign prostatic hyperplasia or prostate gland enlargement.
“I really don’t recommend using these types of drug more than a couple of times per month,” adds Dr. Winter. “There are better solutions to having trouble sleeping. I mean why not just read a book? The fear of ‘not sleeping’ in the moment is really the problem for most.”
What Is Benadryl Again
Benadryl is a brand name for diphenhydramine, an antihistamine. Antihistamines work by blocking histamine a chemical in the body that causes symptoms of allergies in the body, according to the U.S. National Library of Medicine. But histamines do more than instigate the scratchy throat and runny nose that plagues many people come spring. Research suggests certain histamines also play a role in regulating your sleep-wake cycle, with these histamines being more active when you’re awake.
But back to Benadryl: The OTC drug is designed to relieve symptoms of hay fever as well as those brought on by an allergic reaction and the common cold. Diphenhydramine can also work against histamines to combat issues such as a cough from minor throat irritation as well as to treat or prevent motion sickness and insomnia, according to the NLM. And on that note…
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What Should I Do If I Forget A Dose
Diphenhydramine is usually taken as needed. If your doctor has told you to take diphenhydramine regularly, take the missed dose as soon as you remember it. However, if it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and continue your regular dosing schedule. Do not take a double dose to make up for a missed one.
Factors Affecting Benadryl Clearance
Now that we have an idea of how long diphenhydramine stays in our system, which we can use to estimate how long does drowsiness from Benadryl lasts, lets now look into some factors that may prolong or shorten Benadryls elimination time.
1. Age
A study has shown that the clearance rate of Benadyls active ingredient or its metabolites is inversely proportional to the individuals age. Meaning, the older you are, the slower it is for your body to eliminate the drugs ingredients.
Specifically, its elimination half-life in a childs body is around 5.4 hours, while in an adults body, it is about 9.2 hours. For elderly or individuals aged 65 years and above, the half-life is approximately 13.5 hours. With those numbers in mind, complete elimination is estimated at 1.24 days, 2.11 days, and 3.1 days, respectively.
2. Body Type
Similar to any other medications, the medicines elimination rate will depend on a persons body type. With Benadryl, those with a higher fat percentage will usually retain the metabolites longer than those with a lower fat percentage. That is because the active component of Benadryl is fat-loving, which means the metabolites attach to the fat cells before complete metabolism and elimination.
In terms of body mass, the rate of elimination will usually depend on the dose given. That is, if bigger individuals consume a small dose of the drug, youll expect it to be eliminated faster than normal.
3. Dosage and Frequency
4. Water Intake
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What Medications Cannot Be Taken With Melatonin
In this category, drugs such as acetaminophen, amitriptyline, clopidogrel, clozapine, diazepam, estradiol, olanzapine, ondansetron, propranolol, ropinirole, tacrine, theophylline, verapamil, and warfarin are available In addition to increasing melatonin levels, both contraceptives and fluvoxamine have drowsiness-inducing effects.
How To Cope With Side Effects Of Diphenhydramine
What to do about:
- feeling sleepy, or drowsy, during the daytime â drowsiness usually wears off 8 hours after a dose. Do not drive, ride a bike or use tools or machinery if you’re feeling this way.
- dry mouth â chew sugar-free gum or suck sugar-free sweets.
- feeling dizzy or unsteady on your feet, or difficulty concentrating â if diphenhydramine makes you feel this way, stop what you’re doing and sit or lie down until you feel better. If the feeling does not go away or is worrying you, do not take any more medicine and speak to a pharmacist or your doctor.
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Benadryl For Hives Itching And Rash
Some topical, over-the-counter Benadryl products are approved for treating hives, itchy skin, and rash. These products include:
- Benadryl Itch Stopping Cream
- Benadryl Itch Stopping Gel
- Benadryl Itch Relief Stick
Oral over-the-counter Benadryl products arent approved to treat hives, itchy skin, and rash. However, these products are sometimes used for these purposes. Theyre effective for this use, but theyre not usually a first-choice treatment because of side effects such as sleepiness.
Newer, second-generation antihistamines are usually preferred over oral Benadryl for treating these symptoms. These newer medications include:
- cetirizine
- Benadryl Itch Relief Stick
What Is The Most Important Information I Should Know About Benadryl
You should not use diphenhydramine if you are allergic to it.
Ask a doctor or pharmacist if this medicine is safe to use if you have ever had:
- an enlarged prostate or urination problems
- asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease , or other breathing disorder
- glaucoma or
- a thyroid disorder.
Ask a doctor before using this medicine if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. Diphenhydramine may slow breast milk production.
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Be Smart Be Aware Of Allergy Medication Side Effects
Smart use of allergy medications knowing how they treat symptoms, being aware of potential unwanted side effects and, most important, monitoring their effect on you and your health is just one step toward controlling allergy and cold symptoms. Even more important: knowing what you are allergic to and taking steps to prevent or reduce exposure.
If your allergy symptoms tend to last longer than two weeks or are not adequately controlled with over-the-counter medications, schedule an appointment with a board-certified allergist for a full diagnosis.
Antihistamines and intranasal corticosteroids are intended for symptom relief. If antihistamines or intranasal corticosteroids are causing side effects such as drowsiness or other problems, there are other treatment options your doctor can offer you, such as allergen immunotherapy.
Reviewed by Dennis Williams, PharmD
8229 Boone Blvd, Suite 260, Vienna, VA 22182
Why Its Time To Rethink Our Use Of Benadryl
Did you know that pilots are not allowed to fly for 30 hours after taking even one dose of Benadryl? This is due to the potential for sedation and profound impairment that can slow reflexes and interfere with motor skills. Yet parents and pediatricians routinely give this medication to infants and children of all ages for a myriad of reasons. Diphenhydramine, brand name Benadryl®, is one of the oldest and most frequently used over-the-counter medications for children. However, many better options are now widely available, all of which are faster acting, longer lasting, with less side effects.
Antihistamines counteract the effect of histamine throughout the body, and treat a range of symptoms including itching, hives, sneezing, and runny nose. Older 1st generation antihistamines such as Benadryl® are not very selective and interfere with many other pathways in the body, causing side effects. Newer 2nd generation antihistamines offer the same benefit in counteracting histamine but are much more selective in their mechanism of action.
Its challenging to try and undo 60 years of routine use of Benadryl®. Change can be hard to understand or accept. Its important to remain current to provide the best care we can to children. Misconceptions surrounding Benadryl® are common here are some of the common questions I receive from parents and medical professionals.
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Giving Diphenhydramine To Children
For cough and cold symptoms, you can give diphenhydramine tablets and liquid to children over the age of 6. For allergy symptoms, you can give it to children over 12. Check with your pharmacist or doctor to make sure a product is suitable for your child.
You can also use diphenhydramine cream on children for:
Important: Warning for children
Do not give your child diphenhydramine to help them get to sleep. Diphenhydramine is only suitable for sleep problems in people aged 16 years and above.
How Long Does Benadryl Drowsiness Last
Benadryl is among the most popular over-the-counter antihistamine brands used to manage skin itchiness, runny nose or common colds, itchy and watery eyes, sneezing, rashes, cough, and allergies. One of its side effects, though, is drowsiness or sleepiness. Hence, knowing how long does drowsiness from Benadryl lasts is important to ensure your safety when you start performing routine tasks after taking it.
So, how long does Benadryl drowsiness last? When you take Benadryl orally, its drowsiness effect will usually wear off after four to six hours. If you take it daily, though, youll still feel some side effects until the metabolites get cleared from the body completely, usually from two to four days.
The time range signifies that the effect is not the same for every person. Thus, understanding how long Bendaryl stays in our system is essential because it has a direct relationship as to how long youll experience drowsiness. Also, since it has been a common practice, for your safety, we must determine whether or not you can use the drug for the sole purpose of helping you sleep at night.
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Benadryl And Central Nervous System Depression
Taking Benadryl can slow, or depress, the functions of your central nervous system .
This is what can lead to some common side effects of Benadryl, such as drowsiness or dizziness. Its also why some people may use Benadryl to help them to sleep or to feel less anxious.
Now that weve discussed how Benadryl may be connected to feelings of excitability or anxiousness, you may be wondering if Benadryl has any other similar side effects. Lets look into this now.
What If I Take Or Use Too Much
Too much diphenhydramine can be dangerous.
If you’ve taken more than the usual dose you may:
- feel very sleepy
- feel your heart beating very fast
In serious cases you can become unconscious and may need emergency treatment in hospital.
Do not use diphenhydramine cream at the same time as other products containing diphenhydramine. This can lead to overdose.
Urgent advice: Contact 111 for advice if:
- you take more than your prescribed dose of diphenhydramine
Go to 111.nhs.uk or call
If you need to go to A& E, do not drive yourself. Get someone else to drive you or call for an ambulance.
Take the diphenhydramine packet or leaflet inside it plus any remaining medicine with you.
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What Can You Do About Drowsiness From Allergy Medicines
Some antihistamines are less likely to cause drowsiness than others. Reactions vary considerably from one person to another. What relieves your symptoms without making you sleepy may be different from what works for someone else.
When you find one that works for you, stick with it check chemical ingredients and dosages before changing brands or generics. On the other hand, if one doesnt work for you, try another type.
First-generation antihistamines such as diphenhydramine usually cause drowsiness because they are less likely to affect the histamine produced in the brain or have other unwanted effects in the brain.
Newer, second-generation antihistamines such as cetirizine , fexofenadine and loratadine marketed as nonsedating usually cause less drowsiness. An added benefit is that second-generation antihistamines last longer than Benadryl. Allegra is generally the least sedating.
Nasal spray antihistamines are also somewhat less likely to make you sleepy, since they target nasal passages directly rather than sending medicine throughout your body in the bloodstream. These are available only by prescription.
Regular use of an intranasal corticosteroid is not only safe but also an effective way to reduce use of antihistamines. They take a few days to start working, so you need to be patient. Ask your doctor or pharmacist about using an antihistamine with an intranasal corticosteroid the first few days. Some intranasal corticosteroids are available over-the-counter.
Heres Something You May Not Know: Dph Is The Sole Active Ingredient In Both Benadryl And Zzzquil But Only One Is Indicated For Helping You Fall Asleep
Although Benadryl lists marked drowsiness as a potential side effect, it is not indicated for sleep on its packaging. In fact, Johnson & Johnson, the makers of Benadryl, declined to comment on this subject as it discusses an off-label use.
ZzzQuil products, on the other hand, have the exact same active ingredient. Therefore, these ZzzQuil products essentially work in the same way as Benadryl, but theyre marketed specifically to help you get sleepin the short-term, that is. ZzzQuil is indicated for the relief of occasional sleeplessness, and the warning label advises consumers to stop use and consult a doctor if theyre still having trouble sleeping after two weeks. When reached for comment, Procter & Gamble, the makers of ZzzQuil, emphasized these instructions. Benadryl doesnt contain any such warning, even though experts agree that its not good to take it over the long term.
But taking ZzzQuil to help you sleep could, theoretically, come with the same potential side effects of taking Benadryl, like next-day sleepiness. On the ZzzQuil site, the manufacturers note that there are many factors that could influence how well rested you feel the next morning, including the time you take ZzzQuil. They recommend you only take ZzzQuil if you know youll have enough time to get a full nights rest, however much that usually is for you.
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Why Do Allergies Make You Tired Its About Inflammation
Allergic reactions cause inflammation in your body, and when your immune system is inflamed, it takes extra energy to respond. Say you are allergic to pollen or dust mites your immune system views these allergens as invaders and springs into action whenever you are exposed to them.
How does your immune system fight allergens? By releasing chemicals called histamines, which not only make you feel tired but can cause symptoms like swelling, itching and trouble breathing.
What Questions Should I Ask My Healthcare Provider
- What type of antihistamine would work best for me?
- How do I proper take the prescribed antihistamine?
- What side effects might occur with the recommended medication?
- What antihistamine wont interfere with the current medications I am taking?
- When, or for what conditions, does taking an antihistamine that would make me drowsy make sense?
- Can I live my life normally while using this medication? Can I drive? Can I operate heavy machinery?
- Can I take antihistamines if I am pregnant, planning to become pregnancy or am breastfeeding?
- Can antihistamines be safely given to my child?
- What are the consequences if I dont take an antihistamine to help with my allergies?
A note from Cleveland Clinic
Histamine is on your side. The chemical does its best to regulate help your heart and lungs and protect your body from foreign allergens, among other roles. But it can be oversensitive, and it can overreact, and thats where antihistamines can help. If youre have allergies, stomach symptoms or any of the other conditions and symptoms mentioned in this article, talk to your healthcare provider about your options. Your symptoms may be able to be treated.
Always check with your healthcare provider and your pharmacist if you have concerns about antihistamines, and always follow the directions on the labels!
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What Are Antihistamines
Allergies happen when allergenssuch as pollen, pet dander, peanuts, mosquito bites, or ragweedtrigger chemicals in the body called histamines. When produced, histamines cause an allergic reaction with symptoms including stuffy nose hives and skin rashes or itchiness of the throat, eyes, or nose.
Antihistamines are medicines that are typically cheap and available over the counter. They reduce or block the histamines, preventing allergic reaction symptoms. Antihistamines help reduce allergy symptoms caused by environmental, seasonal, or food allergies.
Can Benadryl Be Crushed
Benadryl tablets can be crushed. If you have trouble swallowing whole tablets, Benadryl liquid solution and chewable tablets are available.
Benadryl is an antihistamine. If you have allergies or have a cold, your body releases a chemical messenger called histamine. This messenger causes symptoms such as inflammation, edema , itchiness, and runny nose.
Benadryl blocks some of the effects of histamine and decreases some of the symptoms caused by it.
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Benadryl And Other Medications
Below is a list of medications that can interact with Benadryl. This list doesnt contain all drugs that may interact with Benadryl.
Different drug interactions can cause different effects. For instance, some can interfere with how well a drug works, while others can cause increased side effects.
If you take other medications, talk with your pharmacist before taking Benadryl. Your pharmacist can help you avoid potential interactions.
Anticholinergic drugs
Anticholinergic drugs block the action of acetylcholine, a chemical that relays messages between cells in your body. Benadryl also blocks acetylcholine. Because anticholinergic drugs and Benadryl work in the same way, taking them together can increase the risk of side effects. Examples of these drugs include:
- fesoterodine
- zolpidem
Benadryl and Xanax
Xanax is a type of drug called a benzodiazepine, which can cause sleepiness. Taking Xanax with Benadryl can increase your risk of excessive sleepiness. This can make you too sleepy to drive or prevent you from doing other potentially dangerous activities safely.
If you take Xanax, talk with your doctor before taking Benadryl. They may recommend other treatment options.
Benadryl and Zoloft
Zoloft is an antidepressant that can cause sleepiness in some people who take it. Taking Zoloft with Benadryl may increase the risk of excessive sleepiness. This can make you too sleepy to drive or prevent you from doing other potentially dangerous activities safely.
Benadryl and Zyrtec
