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Diphenhydramine Alternatives Compared

View side-by-side comparisons of medication uses, ratings, cost, side effects and interactions.
Diphenhydramine Remove Diphenhydramine from your drug comparison Trazodone Remove Trazodone from your drug comparison Ambien Remove Ambien from your drug comparison
View side-by-side comparisons of medication uses, ratings, cost, side effects and interactions.
Diphenhydramine Remove Diphenhydramine from your drug comparison Trazodone Remove Trazodone from your drug comparison Ambien zolpidem Remove Ambien from your drug comparison

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... View more

Trazodone is mostly used for its sleep-inducing effects (an off-label indication) rather than as an antidepressant. Only generic forms are available which makes it a lot cheaper than some other... View more

Ambien induces sleep; however, Ambien CR in particular may impair physical and mental capabilities the next day. Ambien has also been associated with complex or dangerous sleep-related behaviors,... View more

Prescription and OTC

Prescription only

Prescription only

Ratings & Reviews

View all 355 reviews

View all 1208 reviews

View all 514 reviews

Drug Class

Side Effects

See the full diphenhydramine side effects document.

Commonly reported side effects include: blurred vision, dizziness, drowsiness, headache, nausea, vomiting, xerostomia.

See the full trazodone side effects document.

Common side effects include: dizziness.

See the full Ambien side effects document.

Pricing and Coupons

* Prices are without insurance
Quantity 4 capsule
Dosage 25 mg
Per Unit* $1.09
Cost* $4.37

View all diphenhydramine prices

Quantity 7 tablet
Dosage 50 mg
Per Unit* $1.68
Cost* $11.75

View all trazodone prices

Quantity 4 tablet
Dosage 10 mg
Per Unit* $5.02
Cost* $20.08

View all Ambien prices and generic prices

Get free Discount Card

Get free Discount Card

Get free Discount Card

Generic Availability

Yes (this medicine)

Yes (this medicine)

Yes

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

Brand Names
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, Nytol, Nytol Caplet, Nytol QuickCaps, Pharbedryl, Scot-Tussin Allergy, Siladryl Allergy, Silphen Cough, Simply Sleep, Sleep Tab II, Sleep-ettes D, Sleepinal, Sleepwell 2-nite, Snooze Fast, Sominex, Sominex Maximum Strength Caplet, Trux-adryl, Twilite, Unisom Liquid, Unisom SleepGels, Unisom SleepMelts, Unisom SleepMinis, Valu-Dryl, Vanamine PD, Vicks QlearQuil Nighttime Allergy Relief, Z-Sleep, ZzzQuil View more Desyrel, Desyrel Dividose Other zolpidem brands include: Ambien CR, Edluar, Zolpimist

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

7.5 hours

2.6 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.
4
Some potential for abuse

Has a low potential for abuse relative to those in schedule 3. It has a currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States. Abuse may lead to limited physical dependence or psychological dependence relative to those in schedule 3.

Pregnancy Category
B
Category B No proven risk in humans

See the full Pregnancy Warnings document.
C
Category C Risk cannot be ruled out

See the full Pregnancy Warnings document.
C
Category C Risk cannot be ruled out

See the full Pregnancy Warnings document.

FDA Alerts

FDA Alerts (1)

FDA Alerts (2)

FDA Alerts (5)

Drug Interactions

A total of 404 drugs are known to interact with diphenhydramine:

  • 12 major drug interactions (82 brand and generic names)
  • 390 moderate drug interactions (1491 brand and generic names)
  • 2 minor drug interactions (8 brand and generic names)

A total of 586 drugs are known to interact with trazodone:

  • 123 major drug interactions (462 brand and generic names)
  • 448 moderate drug interactions (1709 brand and generic names)
  • 15 minor drug interactions (73 brand and generic names)

A total of 402 drugs are known to interact with Ambien:

  • 27 major drug interactions (148 brand and generic names)
  • 372 moderate drug interactions (1421 brand and generic names)
  • 3 minor drug interactions (10 brand and generic names)

Alcohol/Food/Lifestyle Interactions
  • Ask your doctor before using diphenhydrAMINE together with alcohol. Use alcohol cautiously.... View more
  • Alcohol can increase the nervous system side effects of traZODone such as dizziness, drowsiness,... View more
  • You should avoid the use of alcohol while being treated with zolpidem. Alcohol can increase the... View more

Disease Interactions

First Approval Date

March 04, 1946

December 24, 1981

December 16, 1992

WADA Class

View World Anti-Doping Agency classifications.

N/A

N/A

N/A

More Information

Consumer Resources

N/A

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