(New Formula)
Diphenhydramine hydrochloride, Ammonium chloride
Consumer Medicine Information
What is in this leaflet
This leaflet answers some common questions about BENADRYL Original Oral Liquid. It does not contain all the available information. It does not take the place of talking to your pharmacist or doctor.
All medicines have risks and benefits. Your pharmacist or doctor has weighed the risks of you taking BENADRYL Original against the benefits they expect it will have for you.
If you have any concerns about taking this medicine, ask your pharmacist or doctor.
Keep this leaflet with the medicine.
You may need to read it again.
What BENADRYL Original is used for
BENADRYL Original is used to relieve the symptoms of dry raspy coughs due to a cold.
BENADRYL Original contains medicines called diphenhydramine and ammonium chloride.
Diphenhydramine belongs to a group of medicines called 'antihistamines'. Diphenhydramine helps to reduce common cold symptoms, such as runny nose, sneezing and watery eyes. Diphenhydramine also helps suppress dry, raspy coughs by its action in the brain. Ammonium chloride is an expectorant.
Ask your pharmacist or doctor if you have any questions about this medicine.
Your pharmacist or doctor may have given it for another reason.
Before you take BENADRYL Original
When you must not take it
Do not take BENADRYL Original if you have an allergy to:
any medicine containing diphenhydramine or other antihistamines
any medicine containing ammonium chloride
any of the ingredients listed at the end of this leaflet.
Some of the symptoms of an allergic reaction may include:
shortness of breath
wheezing or difficulty breathing
swelling of the face, lips, tongue or other parts of the body
rash, itching or hives on the skin.
Do not take this medicine if you are also taking monoamine oxidase inhibitors, a type of medicine used to treat depression.
Do not take this medicine if you have had any of the following medical conditions:
narrow-angle glaucoma
duodenal or stomach ulcers or other stomach problems
prostate problems
bladder problems
severe liver failure
severe renal impairment
Do not give this medicine to babies or children under six years of age.
Do not take this medicine after the expiry date (EXP) printed on the pack or if the packaging is torn or shows signs of tampering.
If it has expired or is damaged, return it to your pharmacist for disposal.
If you are not sure whether you should start taking this medicine, talk to your pharmacist or doctor.
Before you start to take it
Tell your pharmacist or doctor if you have allergies to any other medicines, foods, preservatives or dyes.
Tell your pharmacist or doctor if you have or have had any of the following medical conditions:
breathing problems such as emphysema or chronic bronchitis
chronic obstructive airways disease
pneumonia
asthma
persistent or chronic coughs or coughs that produce a lot of mucus
kidney or liver disease
epilepsy
glaucoma.
Ask your pharmacist or doctor before using in children 6 years and over.
Do not use this medicine if you are having an asthma attack.
Do not take with other sedating antihistamines.
Tell your pharmacist or doctor if you take sedatives.
Tell your pharmacist or doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.
Your pharmacist or doctor will discuss the benefits and possible risks of taking the medicine during pregnancy.
Ask your pharmacist or doctor about taking this medicine if you are breastfeeding.
Your pharmacist or doctor will discuss the benefits and possible risks of taking the medicine if you are breastfeeding.
If you have not told your pharmacist or doctor about any of the above, tell him/her before you start taking BENADRYL Original.
Taking other medicines
Tell your pharmacist or doctor if you are taking any other medicines, including any that you get without a prescription from your pharmacy, supermarket or health food shop.
Some medicines and BENADRYL Original may interfere with each other.
These include:
medicines used to treat depression such as monoamine oxidase inhibitors (especially if taken within the last 14 days) and tricyclic antidepressants
medicines used to help you relax, sleep or relieve anxiety, such as tranquillizers, sedatives and hypnotics
medicines with strong anticholinergic effects such as some travel sickness medicines, medicines to relieve stomach cramps or spasms, and medicines used in Parkinson's disease
opioid analgesics used to treat pain
alcohol
betablockers (metoprolol), medicines used to treat high blood pressure, heart conditions and prevent migraines.
These medicines may be affected by BENADRYL Original or may affect how well it works. You may need different amounts of your medicines, or you may need to take different medicines.
Your pharmacist and doctor will have more information on medicines to be careful with or avoid while taking this medicine.
How to take BENADRYL Original
Follow all directions given to you by your pharmacist or doctor carefully.
They may differ from the information contained in this leaflet.
If you do not understand the instructions on the box/bottle, ask your pharmacist or doctor for help.
How much to take
The recommended doses of BENADRYL Original are:
6 to 12 years: 5 mL
Over 12 years: 10 mL
Do not use BENADRYL Original for children under 6 years.
Ask your pharmacist or doctor before using in children 6 years and over.
Do not take more than the recommended dose.
If you are over 65 years of age, talk to your pharmacist or doctor about how much to take.
Elderly patients are more likely to have side effects from taking these medicines.
How to take it
Measure the recommended dose in a medicine measure and swallow.
When to take it
Take the recommended dose every 4 hours, as required.
Do not exceed 6 doses in 24 hours.
If you forget to take it
If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the dose you missed and take your next dose when you are meant to.
Otherwise, you may take a dose as soon as you remember if you think you need it.
Do not take a double dose to make up for the dose that you missed.
This may increase the chance of you getting an unwanted side effect.
Your next dose should be taken in 4 hours if you think you need it.
If you are not sure what to do, ask your pharmacist or doctor.
If you take too much (overdose)
Immediately telephone your doctor or go to Accident and Emergency at the nearest hospital, if you think that you or anyone else may have taken too much BENADRYL Original. Do this even if there are no signs of discomfort or poisoning.
While you are using BENADRYL Original
Things you must do
Talk to your pharmacist or doctor if your symptoms do not improve, worsen, or if new symptoms appear.
Your pharmacist or doctor will assess your condition and decide if you should continue to take the medicine.
Things you must not do
Do not drink alcohol while taking BENADRYL Original.
The sedative effects of alcohol may be increased.
Do not take BENADRYL Original to treat any other complaints unless your pharmacist or doctor tells you to.
Do not give your medicine to anyone else, even if they have the same condition as you.
Do not take more than the recommended dose unless your pharmacist or doctor tells you to.
Things to be careful of
Be careful driving or operating machinery until you know how the medicine affects you.
This medicine may cause dizziness or drowsiness in some people. Drowsiness may continue the following day. If this happens, do not drive or operate machinery.
Side effects
Tell your pharmacist or doctor as soon as possible if you do not feel well while you are taking BENADRYL Original.
This medicine helps most people with dry coughs and cold symptoms, but it may have unwanted side effects in a few people. All medicines can have side effects. Sometimes they are serious, most of the time they are not. You may need medical attention if you get some of the side effects.
Do not be alarmed by the following lists of side effects. You may not experience any of them.
Ask your pharmacist or doctor to answer any questions you may have.
Tell your pharmacist or doctor if you notice any of the following and they worry you:
drowsiness
fatigue
weakness
dizziness
nausea, vomiting or stomach discomfort
constipation
diarrhoea
increased appetite
thicker phlegm
dry mouth, nose or throat or eyes.
The above list includes the more common side effects of your medicine. They are usually mild.
Tell your doctor as soon as possible if you notice any of the following:
blurred vision
sensitivity to light
ringing in the ears
headache
fast heart beat
palpitations
low blood pressure
tightness of chest or throat
tingling or numbness of the hands and feet
difficulty in passing urine
confusion
excitation
insomnia
nervousness, anxiety or irritability
restlessness, agitation
impaired performance (such as with work or driving)
psychosis (a mental disorder)
hallucinations
muscle spasms
movement disorders, lack of coordination
tremor
seizures (fits)
hives
The above list includes serious side effects that may require medical attention. These side effects are rare.
If any of the following happen, tell your doctor immediately or go to Accident and Emergency at your nearest hospital:
severe nausea and vomiting
shortness of breath, wheezing or difficulty breathing
swelling of the face, lips, tongue or other parts of the body
skin rashes or itching.
The above list includes very serious side effects. You may need urgent medical attention or hospitalisation. These side effects are very rare.
Tell your pharmacist or doctor if you notice anything that is making you feel unwell.
Other side effects not listed above may also occur in some people.
After using BENADRYL Original
Storage
Keep your medicine in the original pack until it is time to take.
Keep your medicine in a cool dry place where the temperature stays below 30°C.
Do not store BENADRYL Original or any other medicine in the bathroom or near a sink. Do not leave it on a window sill or in the car.
Heat and dampness can destroy some medicines.
Keep your medicine where children cannot reach it.
A locked cupboard at least one-and-a-half metres above the ground is a good place to store medicines.
Disposal
Ask your pharmacist what to do with any medicine that is left over, or if the expiry date has passed.
Product description
What it looks like
BENADRYL Original is a clear or slightly opalescent dark red liquid with raspberry flavour. It is available in bottles of 100mL and 200mL.
Ingredients
Each 5 mL of BENADRYL Original contains 12.5 mg of diphenhydramine hydrochloride and 125 mg of ammonium chloride as the active ingredients.
It also contains the following inactive ingredients:
sucrose
glucose-liquid
glycerol
sodium citrate
raspberry flavour
citric acid monohydrate
saccharin sodium
menthol
Allura Red FC
Brilliant Blue FCF
sodium benzoate
This medicine contains 135.2mg/40mL (maximum daily dose) of sodium.
This medicine does not contain lactose, gluten or tartrazine.
