Diphenhydramine Hcl Coupons & Prices

Diphenhydramine HCl (diphenhydramine hydrochloride) is a widely used first-generation antihistamine sold over the counter under brands like Benadryl, Banophen, Diphenhist, and as a nighttime sleep aid in Nytol, Sominex, Unisom SleepGels, and ZzzQuil. Because it is available without a prescription, most shoppers simply pay the shelf price, but a diphenhydramine-hcl coupon from Rx.com can help you compare pharmacy pricing on larger or prescribed quantities. Enter your ZIP above to see today's price at pharmacies near you.

What is diphenhydramine HCl and how does it work?

Diphenhydramine hydrochloride is a first-generation (sedating) antihistamine in the ethanolamine class. It blocks H1 histamine receptors, which reduces the allergy symptoms histamine causes, and it also has strong anticholinergic and sedative effects. Over the counter, it is used for the temporary relief of hay fever and upper-respiratory allergy and common-cold symptoms (sneezing, runny nose, itchy or watery eyes, itchy throat or nose), for the itching of hives and minor skin irritations, as a nighttime sleep aid for occasional sleeplessness, and to prevent or treat motion sickness.

A prescription injectable form is also used in medical settings to treat allergic reactions (including as an adjunct in anaphylaxis) and to control certain drug-induced abnormal movements. This page focuses on the common OTC oral and topical products. Generic diphenhydramine HCl is FDA-approved and widely available, which is why store-brand versions cost less than the Benadryl brand while containing the same active ingredient.

How to save on diphenhydramine HCl with an Rx.com coupon

Diphenhydramine HCl is an inexpensive over-the-counter medicine, and generic store brands are already cheaper than the name-brand Benadryl. Even so, prices vary from pharmacy to pharmacy, and some OTC products can be cheaper with a coupon or when a prescriber writes it for you to fill at the pharmacy counter, especially for larger quantities or the injectable form. Enter your ZIP above to see today's price at pharmacies near you and compare before you buy.

There is no manufacturer copay or savings card for diphenhydramine HCl, since it is an inexpensive generic OTC product. The free Rx.com coupon requires no insurance and no membership. Because pricing changes, always check the current pharmacy price shown above rather than assuming any single store is cheapest.

Diphenhydramine HCl vs. other antihistamines and sleep aids

Diphenhydramine is effective but very sedating. For daytime allergy relief, many people prefer a second-generation antihistamine that is far less likely to cause drowsiness, such as cetirizine, loratadine, or fexofenadine. If you specifically want the Benadryl brand of this same ingredient, see Benadryl. The prescription antihistamine hydroxyzine is sometimes used for itching and anxiety.

For sleep, doxylamine is the other common OTC antihistamine sleep aid (found in some Unisom products). For motion sickness and nausea, meclizine and dimenhydrinate are related options. Which choice is right depends on your symptoms, age, and other health conditions, so ask your pharmacist or provider if you are unsure.

Safety and side effects to know

Diphenhydramine HCl has no FDA boxed warning, but it deserves respect. Its most notable effect is marked drowsiness: do not drive or operate machinery until you know how it affects you, and avoid alcohol and other sedating medicines, which worsen the sedation. Its anticholinergic effects can cause dry mouth, blurred vision, constipation, and urinary retention, so use caution if you have glaucoma, an enlarged prostate (BPH) with urinary difficulty, asthma or COPD, or thyroid disease.

Older adults should be especially careful: diphenhydramine appears on the Beers Criteria as potentially inappropriate in older adults because it can cause confusion, falls, and delirium. In children it can cause paradoxical excitation; it should not be used as a sleep aid in children under 12 and should be avoided in children under 2 because of the risk of serious or fatal effects. Do not combine multiple diphenhydramine-containing products (for example oral plus a topical cream), because overdose is dangerous and potentially fatal, causing seizures, delirium, and heart-rhythm problems. The FDA has warned about the dangers of intentional overdose (the viral "Benadryl Challenge"). This information is not medical advice; talk with your provider or pharmacist about what is right for you.