Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsAdult DosageDosage for ChildrenSkipping a DoseOverdoseFrequently Asked Questions
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Adult Dosage
Dosage for Children
Skipping a Dose
Overdose
Frequently Asked Questions
Benadryl (diphenhydramine) is an antihistamine medication that treats allergic reactions and hives.
It also treats the followingallergy symptoms:
Benadryl may also be used for the short-term treatment ofinsomniain adults.
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What’s a Normal Benadryl Dosage for Adults?
Depending on your symptoms, the recommended adult Benadryl dose is 25 to 50 milligrams (mg) every four to six hours as needed.
Please keep the following in mind if you’re an adult taking Benadryl:
Benadryl is available in several forms, including the following:
Always read the package labeling to know how much Benadryl is in your product. This will help ensure you take the correct dose.
Benadryl is also included in many combination products for cough, cold, and allergy.
Please always check the label of all your medicines.
This will help ensure you are not taking more than one medication containing diphenhydramine (Benadryl’s active ingredient).
What’s a Normal Benadryl Dosage for Children?
For children 6 to 11 years old, the recommended Benadryl dose is 12.5 to 25 milligrams (mg), taken every four to six hours as needed.
Children 12 and older may take 25 to 50 milligrams every four to six hours as needed.
Benadryl should be taken at most six times in 24 hours.
Donotgive Benadryl to children under 6 years unless a healthcare provider tells you to.
Children’s Benadryl is available as a chewable tablet that contains 12.5 milligrams per tablet and an oral liquid that contains 12.5 milligrams per 5 milliliters (mL).
Adult Benadryl formulations contain higher amounts of medication. They should be avoided in children to ensure a proper dosage.
Please check your package and the dose before giving a child any medication.
Can You Take Zyrtec and Benadryl Together?
Side Effects
Benadrylmay cause side effects, including, but not limited to, the following:
Contact a healthcare provider right away if you or your child develop signs of a severe reaction, including, but not limited to, the following:
Do not use Benadryl:
Benadryl can make you feel sleepy. Avoid driving or operating heavy machinery until you know how Benadryl will affect you.
Precautions
Talk to your healthcare provider before taking Benadryl if you have ever had the following:
Speak with your healthcare provider before taking Benadryl if you take any of the following medications:
Discuss with your healthcare provider before taking Benadryl if you:
Benadryl and Older AdultsSafer, more effective medications are available for older adults managing serious allergic reactions. Talk to a healthcare provider about your options. They may suggest a minimally sedating (second-generation) antihistamine, likeZyrtec(cetirizine) orClaritin(loratadine).
Benadryl and Older Adults
Safer, more effective medications are available for older adults managing serious allergic reactions. Talk to a healthcare provider about your options. They may suggest a minimally sedating (second-generation) antihistamine, likeZyrtec(cetirizine) orClaritin(loratadine).
What Happens When You Skip a Dose of Benadryl?
Benadryl is typically taken as needed if you skip a dose.
If a healthcare provider has told you to take Benadryl on a scheduled basis, take the missed dose as soon as you remember.
If it’s almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and resume your regular dosing schedule.
Please avoid doubling up or taking extra to make up for the missed dose.
What to Do if You Took Too Much Benadryl
Taking too much Benadryl can cause severe and even life-threatening effects.
If you or someone else has taken too much Benadryl, seek medical help immediately.
Signs of aBenadryl overdosemay include the following:
Beware the ‘Benadryl Challenge’The “Benadryl challenge” is a dangerous practice promoted on social media that encourages people to take excessive amounts of Benadryl to hallucinate.The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a warning about the “challenge” after emergency room visits and even several teenage deaths were reported.The FDA highlights that any medication, even over-the-counter (OTC) products like Benadryl, can cause severe problems if taken at a higher-than-recommended dose.Please do your best to increase your awareness about the media messages the children and teens in your lives are consuming.Keep an open line of communication about the serious risks and consequences of social media “challenges.”
Beware the ‘Benadryl Challenge’
The “Benadryl challenge” is a dangerous practice promoted on social media that encourages people to take excessive amounts of Benadryl to hallucinate.The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a warning about the “challenge” after emergency room visits and even several teenage deaths were reported.The FDA highlights that any medication, even over-the-counter (OTC) products like Benadryl, can cause severe problems if taken at a higher-than-recommended dose.Please do your best to increase your awareness about the media messages the children and teens in your lives are consuming.Keep an open line of communication about the serious risks and consequences of social media “challenges.”
The “Benadryl challenge” is a dangerous practice promoted on social media that encourages people to take excessive amounts of Benadryl to hallucinate.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a warning about the “challenge” after emergency room visits and even several teenage deaths were reported.
The FDA highlights that any medication, even over-the-counter (OTC) products like Benadryl, can cause severe problems if taken at a higher-than-recommended dose.
Please do your best to increase your awareness about the media messages the children and teens in your lives are consuming.
Keep an open line of communication about the serious risks and consequences of social media “challenges.”
Summary
Benadryl is an antihistamine medication that treats allergic reactions, hives, and allergy symptoms.
The recommended dose for adults and children 12 and over is 25 to 50 milligrams every four to six hours as needed.
Children 6 to 11 should take 12.5 to 25 milligrams every four to six hours as needed.
Do not give Benadryl to children under 6 unless a healthcare provider tells you to.
Benadryl can cause serious reactions if more than the recommended dose is taken.
Please follow the directions on the package labeling. Talk with your healthcare provider or pharmacist if you have any questions.
The adult dose of Benadryl is 25 to 50 milligrams. That may be one or two tablets, depending on your Benadryl product. Please always check the product labeling to ensure you take the correct dose.
Adults may take 25 to 50 milligrams of Benadryl every four to six hours as needed.
Yes. Children ages 6 to 11 should take 12.5 to 25 milligrams every four to six hours as needed.
Children 12 and over may take the adult dose (25 to 50 milligrams every four to six hours as needed).
10 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.James C, Bernstein JA.Current and future therapies for the treatment of histamine-induced angioedema.Expert Opin Pharmacother. 2017;18(3):253-262.DailyMed.Benadryl- diphenhydramine hydrochloride tablet, film coated.Bernstein JA, Lang DM, Khan DA, et al.The diagnosis and management of acute and chronic urticaria: 2014 update.J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2014;133(5):1270-1277.Qaseem A, Kansagara D, Forciea MA, Cooke M, Denberg TD;Clinical Guidelines Committee of the American College of Physicians. Management of chronic insomnia disorder in adults: a clinical practice guideline from the American College of Physicians.Ann Intern Med. 2016;165(2):125-133.MedlinePlus.Diphenhydramine.DailyMed.Children’s Benadryl chewables- diphenhydramine hydrochloride tablet, chewable.UpToDate.Patient education: allergic rhinitis (beyond the basics).Poison Control.Benadryl (diphenhydramine): indications, side effects, interactions, and overdose.Elkhazeen A, Poulos C, Zhang X, Cavanaugh J, Cain M.A TikTok™ “Benadryl challenge” death-a case report and review of the literature.J Forensic Sci. 2023;68(1):339-342.FDA.FDA warns about serious problems with high doses of the allergy medicine diphenhydramine (Benadryl).
10 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.James C, Bernstein JA.Current and future therapies for the treatment of histamine-induced angioedema.Expert Opin Pharmacother. 2017;18(3):253-262.DailyMed.Benadryl- diphenhydramine hydrochloride tablet, film coated.Bernstein JA, Lang DM, Khan DA, et al.The diagnosis and management of acute and chronic urticaria: 2014 update.J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2014;133(5):1270-1277.Qaseem A, Kansagara D, Forciea MA, Cooke M, Denberg TD;Clinical Guidelines Committee of the American College of Physicians. Management of chronic insomnia disorder in adults: a clinical practice guideline from the American College of Physicians.Ann Intern Med. 2016;165(2):125-133.MedlinePlus.Diphenhydramine.DailyMed.Children’s Benadryl chewables- diphenhydramine hydrochloride tablet, chewable.UpToDate.Patient education: allergic rhinitis (beyond the basics).Poison Control.Benadryl (diphenhydramine): indications, side effects, interactions, and overdose.Elkhazeen A, Poulos C, Zhang X, Cavanaugh J, Cain M.A TikTok™ “Benadryl challenge” death-a case report and review of the literature.J Forensic Sci. 2023;68(1):339-342.FDA.FDA warns about serious problems with high doses of the allergy medicine diphenhydramine (Benadryl).
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
James C, Bernstein JA.Current and future therapies for the treatment of histamine-induced angioedema.Expert Opin Pharmacother. 2017;18(3):253-262.DailyMed.Benadryl- diphenhydramine hydrochloride tablet, film coated.Bernstein JA, Lang DM, Khan DA, et al.The diagnosis and management of acute and chronic urticaria: 2014 update.J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2014;133(5):1270-1277.Qaseem A, Kansagara D, Forciea MA, Cooke M, Denberg TD;Clinical Guidelines Committee of the American College of Physicians. Management of chronic insomnia disorder in adults: a clinical practice guideline from the American College of Physicians.Ann Intern Med. 2016;165(2):125-133.MedlinePlus.Diphenhydramine.DailyMed.Children’s Benadryl chewables- diphenhydramine hydrochloride tablet, chewable.UpToDate.Patient education: allergic rhinitis (beyond the basics).Poison Control.Benadryl (diphenhydramine): indications, side effects, interactions, and overdose.Elkhazeen A, Poulos C, Zhang X, Cavanaugh J, Cain M.A TikTok™ “Benadryl challenge” death-a case report and review of the literature.J Forensic Sci. 2023;68(1):339-342.FDA.FDA warns about serious problems with high doses of the allergy medicine diphenhydramine (Benadryl).
James C, Bernstein JA.Current and future therapies for the treatment of histamine-induced angioedema.Expert Opin Pharmacother. 2017;18(3):253-262.
DailyMed.Benadryl- diphenhydramine hydrochloride tablet, film coated.
Bernstein JA, Lang DM, Khan DA, et al.The diagnosis and management of acute and chronic urticaria: 2014 update.J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2014;133(5):1270-1277.
Qaseem A, Kansagara D, Forciea MA, Cooke M, Denberg TD;Clinical Guidelines Committee of the American College of Physicians. Management of chronic insomnia disorder in adults: a clinical practice guideline from the American College of Physicians.Ann Intern Med. 2016;165(2):125-133.
MedlinePlus.Diphenhydramine.
DailyMed.Children’s Benadryl chewables- diphenhydramine hydrochloride tablet, chewable.
UpToDate.Patient education: allergic rhinitis (beyond the basics).
Poison Control.Benadryl (diphenhydramine): indications, side effects, interactions, and overdose.
Elkhazeen A, Poulos C, Zhang X, Cavanaugh J, Cain M.A TikTok™ “Benadryl challenge” death-a case report and review of the literature.J Forensic Sci. 2023;68(1):339-342.
FDA.FDA warns about serious problems with high doses of the allergy medicine diphenhydramine (Benadryl).
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