Skip to Content
Print Share

Comparing Benadryl vs Diphenhydramine

Benadryl

diphenhydramine

Diphenhydramine

Benadryl is an antihistamine that can be used to treat allergic reactions, relieve motion sickness, and as a sleep aid, and to relieve some symptoms of Parkinson's disease. Sedation is a common side... more

Diphenhydramine is an antihistamine that can be used to treat allergic reactions, relieve motion sickness, as a sleep aid, and to relieve some symptoms of Parkinson's disease. Sedation is a common... more

Choose a suggestion below

Cough
Allergic Rhinitis
Nausea/Vomiting
Urticaria
Motion Sickness
Allergic Reactions
Cold Symptoms
Pruritus
Extrapyramidal Reaction
Eustachian Tube Dysfunction
Show more conditions...

Prescription and OTC

Prescription and OTC

Ratings & Reviews

Recent helpful reviews
7.6
46 Reviews

For Allergic Reactions I was given Benadryl at the hospital for an allergic reaction. It instantly shot my heart rate up to 217 bpm and instantly my mouth got dry I couldn't swallow my chest felt hot like an elephant was sitting on it and I got really cold. It put me into shock my body wouldn't stop shaking, I could breath. It was so scary I thought I was dead thanks to the doctors quick response he saved me but it almost killed me.

8
use caution when taking

For Allergic Reactions I use this medicine for weather allergies and allergies to medications when I need it. It does help greatly but does not last long and my burning sensation comes back into my body and the hives start to show. However a lot of people say that this medicine makes them feel sedated. I have the complete opposite I take 1 before bed and I will not sleep.

8
Jen234
7.0
207 Reviews

For Insomnia Works quite well on insomnia but careful when combining with other meds that also work on your sympathetic/parasympathetic nervous system. I took it with lexapro and got significant problems with too low heart rate, respiratory issues and hypnic jerks.

7
avalokiteshwara

For Insomnia I take this to help me sleep every now and then, however the last 2 times I've been having weird and slightly creepy visual and auditory hallucinations, it's almost like I'm having an incredibly realistic dream while I'm completely conscious and full functionable! But other than that it knocks me right out

7
Bethanyb123

View all 46 reviews

View all 207 reviews

Drug Class

Side Effects

See the full Benadryl side effects document.

See the full diphenhydramine side effects document.

Pricing and Coupons

* Prices are without insurance
Quantity 24 tablet
Dosage 25 mg
Per Unit* $0.36
Cost* $8.52
View all Benadryl prices
View generic prices
Quantity 4 capsule
Dosage 25 mg
Per Unit* $1.09
Cost* $4.37
View all diphenhydramine prices

Get free Discount Card

Get free Discount Card

Generic Availability

Yes

Yes (this medicine)

Dosage Form(s) Available
  • Oral capsule
  • Oral tablet
  • Injectable solution
  • Oral capsule
  • Oral liquid
  • Oral tablet

Brand Names
Other diphenhydramine brands include: Aler-Dryl, Aler-Tab, Aller-G-Time, Allergia-C, Allermax, Altaryl, Banaril, Banophen, Beldin, Belix, Ben-Tann, Benadryl Allergy, Benadryl Children's Allergy, Benahist-10, Benahist-50, Benoject-50, Buckley's Bedtime, Bydramine, Calm-Aid, Complete Allergy Relief, Compoz Nighttime Sleep Aid, ConRx Allergy, Dicopanol, Diphedryl, Diphen, Diphen AF, Diphen Cough, Diphenadryl, Diphendryl, Diphenhist, Diphenmax, Diphenydramine Quick Melt, Diphenyl, Diphenylin, Dormin, DPH, Dytan, Dytuss, Genahist, Help I Can't Sleep, Histaprin, Hydramine, Hydramine Compound, Hydramine Cough Syrup, Hyrexin, Miles Nervine, Nervine, Nightime Sleepaid, Nu-Med, Nytol, Nytol Caplet, Nytol QuickCaps, Pardryl, PediaCare Children's Allergy, Pharbedryl, Q-Dryl, Q-Dryl A/F, Quenalin, Scot-Tussin Allergy, Siladryl, Siladryl Allergy, Siladryl DAS, Siladyl SA, Silphen Cough, Simply Sleep, Sleep, Sleep Tab II, Sleep Tabs, Sleep-ettes, Sleep-ettes D, Sleep-Eze-3, Sleepinal, Sleepwell 2-nite, Snooze Fast, Sominex, Sominex Maximum Strength Caplet, Somnicaps, Total Allergy, Tranquil Nighttime Sleep Aid, Trux-adryl, Truxadryl, Tusstat, Twilite, Uni-Tann, Unisom Liquid, Unisom SleepGels, Unisom SleepMelts, Unisom SleepMinis, Valu-Dryl, Vanamine PD, Vicks QlearQuil Nighttime Allergy Relief, Z-Sleep, ZzzQuil more... Aler-Dryl, Aler-Tab, Aller-G-Time, Allergia-C, Allermax, Altaryl, Banaril, Banophen, Beldin, Belix, Ben-Tann, Benadryl, Benadryl Allergy, Benadryl Children's Allergy, Benahist-10, Benahist-50, Benoject-50, Buckley's Bedtime, Bydramine, Calm-Aid, Complete Allergy Relief, Compoz Nighttime Sleep Aid, ConRx Allergy, Dicopanol, Diphedryl, Diphen, Diphen AF, Diphen Cough, Diphenadryl, Diphendryl, Diphenhist, Diphenmax, Diphenydramine Quick Melt, Diphenyl, Diphenylin, Dormin, DPH, Dytan, Dytuss, Genahist, Help I Can't Sleep, Histaprin, Hydramine, Hydramine Compound, Hydramine Cough Syrup, Hyrexin, Miles Nervine, Nervine, Nightime Sleepaid, Nu-Med, Nytol, Nytol Caplet, Nytol QuickCaps, Pardryl, PediaCare Children's Allergy, Pharbedryl, Q-Dryl, Q-Dryl A/F, Quenalin, Scot-Tussin Allergy, Siladryl, Siladryl Allergy, Siladryl DAS, Siladyl SA, Silphen Cough, Simply Sleep, Sleep, Sleep Tab II, Sleep Tabs, Sleep-ettes, Sleep-ettes D, Sleep-Eze-3, Sleepinal, Sleepwell 2-nite, Snooze Fast, Sominex, Sominex Maximum Strength Caplet, Somnicaps, Total Allergy, Tranquil Nighttime Sleep Aid, Trux-adryl, Truxadryl, Tusstat, Twilite, Uni-Tann, Unisom Liquid, Unisom SleepGels, Unisom SleepMelts, Unisom SleepMinis, Valu-Dryl, Vanamine PD, Vicks QlearQuil Nighttime Allergy Relief, Z-Sleep, ZzzQuil more...

Half Life

The half-life of a drug is the time taken for the plasma concentration of a drug to reduce to half its original value.

9.3 hours

9.3 hours

CSA Schedule**

View glossary of terms.
N
Not a controlled drug

Is not subject to the Controlled Substances Act.
N
Not a controlled drug

Is not subject to the Controlled Substances Act.

Pregnancy Category
B
Category B No proven risk in humans

See the full Pregnancy Warnings document.
B
Category B No proven risk in humans

See the full Pregnancy Warnings document.

FDA Alerts

FDA Alerts (1)

N/A

Drug Interactions

A total of 826 drugs are known to interact with Benadryl:

  • 33 major drug interactions (160 brand and generic names)
  • 789 moderate drug interactions (4698 brand and generic names)
  • 4 minor drug interactions (12 brand and generic names)

A total of 826 drugs are known to interact with diphenhydramine:

  • 33 major drug interactions (160 brand and generic names)
  • 789 moderate drug interactions (4698 brand and generic names)
  • 4 minor drug interactions (12 brand and generic names)

Alcohol/Food/Lifestyle Interactions
  • Ask your doctor before using diphenhydrAMINE together with alcohol. Use alcohol cautiously. ... more
  • Ask your doctor before using diphenhydrAMINE together with alcohol. Use alcohol cautiously. ... more

Disease Interactions

First Approval Date

March 04, 1946

March 04, 1946

WADA Class

View World Anti-Doping Agency classifications.

N/A

N/A

More Information

Consumer Resources

Professional Resources

Related Treatment Guide

** The Controlled Substances Act (CSA) schedule information displayed applies to substances regulated under federal law. There may be variations in CSA schedules between individual states.

Further information

Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.

Medical Disclaimer

Drugs.com Mobile Apps

The easiest way to lookup drug information, identify pills, check interactions and set up your own personal medication records. Available for Android and iOS devices.

Explore Apps