The Real Deal? It's Benadryl!

What little pill is pink and powerful for allergies? Benadryl, of course! It is classified as an antihistamine, and each pill contains 25 mg of Diphenhydramine HCl. Benadryl is typically used for allergy symptoms such as watery eyes, sneezing, stuffy nose, itchy throat, irritating cough, etc.I love the tablets best of all. They are easy to swallow, and they are not as easily tampered with as capsules.

While I do use Benadryl for allergies, I also use it occasionally as a sleep aid. A doctor told me awhile back, that it was much safer than typical sleeping medications, and if it helped me to relax and become drowsy, then it was okay to use it now and then. With my husband, just one pill (25 mg) will knock him out, but when I really want a long sleep, I'll take 2 tablets.I do not feel drowsy the next day, provided I have given myself enough time to sleep, until I awaken naturally. (That is not a luxury I too often have.)

Since I have high blood pressure, my physician does not like for me to take decongestants. So when I have to rely solely on antihistamines, I have found Benadryl to work the best for me.

Side effects to be aware of are drowsiness, diminished mental alertness, dizziness (particularly in elders.) Another symptom to watch for is excitability in children. It may also cause dryness of mouth, nausea, nervousness, palpitations, blurring of vision, and headache. As with all medications, Benadryl is not without its side effects, and should be used with wisdom.It seems to be a good medication for me.