Doctors are now speaking out against over-the-counter allergy medications, claiming their risks outweigh their benefits.
Millions of adults and children use OTC diphenhydramine, the active ingredient in Benadryl, for allergies or for its drowsiness effect to aid in sleep.
It is one of the most recognizable allergy medicines on pharmacy shelves because it is known for soothing symptoms such as allergy-related runny nose, sneezing, itching and watery eyes.
But internal medicine doctors argue that the FDA should remove the over-the-counter drug from the U.S. market, based on concerns about potentially serious side effects, including “substantial” brain damage.
What is diphenhydramine?
Diphenhydramine is a first-generation antihistamine (anti-allergy) that easily penetrates the brain, where it causes strong drowsiness and impairs alertness and coordination.
This sedation can reduce work productivity, impair school performance, and significantly increase the risk of car accidents. In some tests, the effects on driving behavior were more serious than exceeding the legal alcohol limit.
In addition to drowsiness, diphenhydramine also causes a range of uncomfortable and sometimes dangerous side effects, including dry mouth, constipation, blurred vision, confusion and urinary tract problems, which are especially risky for older adults. Young people have also overdosed on this drug.
What do we use instead of Benadryl?
Newer antihistamines, such as fexofenadine, used in Allegra, and loratadine, used in Claritin, developed in the late 20th century, provide equal allergy relief with fewer side effects and a longer-lasting effect.
