Cetirizine vs Diphenhydramine
 | Cetirizine |  | Diphenhydramine |  |
| Cetirizine is an antihistamine used to relieve allergy symptoms such as watery eyes, runny nose, itching eyes/nose, sneezing, hives, and itching. It works by blocking a certain natural substance (histamine) that your body makes during an allergic reaction. Cetirizine does not prevent hives or prevent/treat a serious allergic reaction (such as anaphylaxis). Therefore, if your doctor has prescribed epinephrine to treat allergic reactions, always carry your epinephrine injector with you. Do not use cetirizine in place of your epinephrine. | Diphenhydramine is an antihistamine used to relieve symptoms of allergy, hay fever, and the common cold. These symptoms include rash, itching, watery eyes, itchy eyes/nose/throat, cough, runny nose, and sneezing. It is also used to prevent and treat nausea, vomiting and dizziness caused by motion sickness. Diphenhydramine can also be used to help you relax and fall asleep. This medication works by blocking a certain natural substance (histamine) that your body makes during an allergic reaction. Its drying effects on such symptoms as watery eyes and runny nose are caused by blocking another natural substance made by your body (acetylcholine). Cough-and-cold products have not been shown to be safe or effective in children younger than 6 years. Therefore, do not use this product to treat cold symptoms in children younger than 6 years unless specifically directed by the doctor. Some products (such as long-acting tablets/capsules) are not recommended for use in children younger than 12 years. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more details about using your product safely. These products do not cure or shorten the length of the common cold and may cause serious side effects. To decrease the risk for serious side effects, carefully follow all dosage directions. Do not use this product to make a child sleepy. Do not give other cough-and-cold medication that might contain the same or similar ingredients (see also Drug Interactions section). Ask the doctor or pharmacist about other ways to relieve cough and cold symptoms (such as drinking enough fluids, using a humidifier or saline nose drops/spray). | |||
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Reviews
| Add Cetirizine review Made me extremely tired. It has been twelve hours and I'm still groggy after sleeping all night. Slower than usual with my movements and thinking. I like to go, and this really has slowed me down. I used a Neti pot last night and it helped tremendously opening up my nasal passages. Think I will discontinue this medicine, because I don't like the way it makes me feel. I'm active and vibrant, and this has me slow and sluggish. The itching has me worried mention by others, because I've had hives in the past and hate itching of any kind. I am older. I moved to an area with trees everywhere, city nicknamed "Arbor City." Suddenly nose went wild, sneezing terribly. Realized it was allergy to tree pollen. Started to take loratadine, after a while I had to double the dose to even make it work. Ceritizine went to over the counter drug status. Started using it. Find it better then previous med, still having occasional sneezing breakthrough. | Add Diphenhydramine review I have chronic insomnia. I have tried taking 25mg to 50 mg. I can get generic Benedril without a prescription. The medicine makes me want to get up every hour and urinate. At times I get extremely nervous on it and feel like I want to climb the walls. By morning I am utterly exhausted from getting up & down & watching the clock but must make it thru the day. I have found that doxylamine made by Unisom generally will put me asleep and I can get results from it for 3 days in a row and then no more. These drugs are both antihistamines so I don't know why benedryl makes me so high. This treatment consistently provides a full nights sleep for me. I use about 1/3 the suggested dosage and at times still awake with a groggy hangover. | |||
