Dextromethorphan hydrobromide, Diphenhydramine hydrochloride
Consumer Medicine Information
NOTICE: This Consumer Medicine Information (CMI) is intended for persons living in Australia. This page contains answers to some common questions about . It does not contain all the information that is known about . It does not take the place of talking to your doctor or pharmacist. All medicines have risks and benefits. Your doctor has weighed the risk of you using this medicine against the benefits he/she expects it will have for you. If you have any concerns about using this medicine, ask your doctor or pharmacist. Bookmark or print this page, you may need to read it again.
What Benadryl Nightime is used for
Benadryl Nightime is used to relieve the symptoms of a cold and dry raspy coughs.
Dextromethorphan is a cough suppressant that acts on the cough centre in the brain to suppress a dry, irritating cough.
Diphenhydramine belongs to a group of medicines called 'antihistamines'. Histamine is produced by the body in response to foreign substances that the body is allergic to.
Antihistamines help reduce allergic symptoms, such as sneezing, runny nose and watery eyes, by preventing the effects of histamine.
Diphenhydramine also acts on the cough centre to help suppress dry, raspy coughs.
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 Nightime
When you must not take it
Do not take Benadryl Nightime if you have an allergy to:
any medicine containing dextromethorphan
any medicine containing diphenhydramine or other antihistamines
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 have or have had any of the following medical conditions:
narrow-angle glaucoma
duodenal or stomach ulcers or other stomach problems
prostate problems
bladder problems.
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 are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed.
It passes into the breast milk and there is a possibility that the baby may be affected.
Do not give this medicine to babies or children under two 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 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.
Do not take this medicine if you are having an asthma attack.
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.
If you have not told your pharmacist or doctor about any of the above, tell him/her before you start taking Benadryl Nightime.
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 Nightime 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 tranquillisers, sedatives and hypnotics
medicines with strong anticholinergic effects
quinidine and amiodarone, medicines used to treat abnormal or irregular heart beat
opioid analgesics, medicines used to treat pain
alcohol.
These medicines may be affected by Benadryl Nightime 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 Nightime
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 Nightime are:
2 to 6 years: 2.5 mL
6 to 12 years: 5 mL
Over 12 years: 10 mL
Do not use Benadryl Nightime for children under 2 years.
Do not take more than the recommended dose.
If you are over 65 years of age, talk to you 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 4 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 the Poisons Information Centre (in Australia, call 13 11 26; in New Zealand, call 0800 764 766) for advice or go to Accident and Emergency at the nearest hospital, if you think that you or anyone else may have taken too much Benadryl Nightime. Do this even if there are no signs of discomfort or poisoning.
While you are using Benadryl Nightime
Things you must do
Talk to your pharmacist or doctor if your symptoms do not improve.
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 Nightime.
The sedative effects of alcohol may be increased.
Do not take Benadryl Nightime 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 Nightime.
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
dizziness
nausea, vomiting or stomach discomfort
constipation
diarrhoea
increased appetite
thicker phlegm
dry mouth, nose or throat.
The above list includes the more common or less severe 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).
The above list includes more 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 Nightime
Storage
Keep your medicine in the original pack until it is time to take it.
Keep your medicine in a cool dry place where the temperature stays below 30 degrees C.
Do not store Benadryl Nightime 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 Nightime is a red-brown, viscous liquid with raspberry flavour. It is available in bottles of 100 mL and 200 mL.
Ingredients
Each 5 mL of Benadryl Nightime oral liquid contains 10 mg of dextromethorphan hydrobromide and 12.5 mg of diphenhydramine hydrochloride as the active ingredients.
It also contains the following inactive ingredients:
ammonium glycyrrhizinate
anhydrous citric acid
liquid glucose
glycerol
menthol
saccharin sodium
sodium benzoate
sodium citrate
purified water
brilliant scarlet 4R
Caramel HGP
Nature Identical Raspberry Flavour 08-3326
Premium Liquid Sugar.
This medicine does not contain lactose, gluten, tartrazine or any other azo dyes.
Manufacturer
Benadryl Nightime is made in Australia by:
Johnson & Johnson Pacific
45 Jones Street
Ultimo NSW 2007
Australia
BENADRYL is a registered trademark.
AUST R 81664
This leaflet was prepared in January 2007.
