What are the ingredients in BENADRYL®? What is the active ingredient in BENADRYL®? Find out all the details about the ingredients in BENADRYL® and how they work.

The Active Ingredient in BENADRYL®

The active ingredient in BENADRYL® is an antihistamine called diphenhydramine HCl. Antihistamines are used to provide relief from symptoms related to hay fever, upper respiratory allergies, or the common cold.

Other Ingredients in BENADRYL®

In addition to the active ingredient, BENADRYL® contains several other ingredients that serve various purposes:

• Carnauba Wax: Gives the tablets their shiny appearance.
• Croscarmellose Sodium NF: Helps break down the tablet in your stomach.
• D&C Red No. 27 Aluminum Lake: Provides the nice color.
• Dibasic Calcium Phosphate: Helps hold the tablet together.
• Hypromellose: Helps mask the bitter taste.
• Magnesium Stearate: Coats the ingredients and prevents them from sticking to each other and to other things.
• Microcrystalline Cellulose NF (Avicel PH-102): Helps hold the tablet together.
• Polyethylene Glycol: Helps maintain the flexibility and structure of the tablet coating.
• Polysorbate 80: Helps incorporate the coating ingredients to make them uniform.
• Titanium dioxide: Creates a bright white coating.

Ingredients in Children’s BENADRYL®

The children’s formulation of BENADRYL® contains some additional ingredients to improve the taste and consistency of the product:

• Anhydrous citric acid: Helps keep the product stable and improves flavor.
• Carboxymethylcellulose Sodium: Thickens to improve the consistency of the product.
• Edetate disodium: Helps keep the product stable.
• D&C red no. 33, FD&C Blue no. 1, FD&C Red no. 40: Provide kid-friendly color.
• Flavors (Bubble Gum, Cherry): Improve the flavor of the product.
• Glycerin: Used to sweeten and help dissolve the active ingredient in the medicine.
• Monoammonium Glycyrrhizinate MM 100P: Used to improve flavor by blocking bitterness.
• Poloxamer 407 NF: Thickens to improve the consistency of the product.
• Saccharin Sodium: Provides sweetness to improve taste and flavor.
• Sodium Chloride USP: Helps keep the product stable and improves flavor.
• Sodium Citrate, Sodium Citrate Dihydrate: Help keep the product stable.
• Sodium Benzoate: Helps keep the product stable.
• Sorbitol Solution: Provides hydration and sweetness to improve the flavor.
• Sucralose: Provides sweetness and blocks bitterness of the active ingredient to improve the flavor.
• Sucrose: Provides sweetness to improve the flavor.

Topical BENADRYL® Ingredients

The topical formulation of BENADRYL® contains a different set of ingredients to provide skin relief:

• Alcohol
• Camphor
• Cetyl alcohol
• Citric acid
• Diazolidinyl urea
• Glycerin
• Methylparaben
• Polyethylene glycol monostearate 1000
• Povidone
• Propylene glycol
• Propylparaben
• SD alcohol 38-B
• Sodium citrate
• Tromethamines

Related BENADRYL® Products

In addition to the standard BENADRYL® formulation, there are also some related BENADRYL® products available:

• BENADRYL® Extra Strength Allergy Relief Antihistamine Tablets: Contains 50 mg of diphenhydramine HCl.
• BENADRYL® Allergy ULTRATABS® Tablets: Contains 25 mg of diphenhydramine HCl.
• BENADRYL® Itch Stopping Cream: A topical analgesic for skin relief.

How BENADRYL® Works

Diphenhydramine, the active ingredient in BENADRYL®, works by blocking a certain natural substance (histamine) that your body makes during an allergic reaction. Its drying effects on symptoms like watery eyes and runny nose are caused by blocking another natural substance made by your body (acetylcholine).

BENADRYL® can be used to relieve symptoms of allergy, hay fever, and the common cold, including rash, itching, watery eyes, itchy eyes/nose/throat, cough, runny nose, and sneezing. It can also be used to prevent and treat nausea, vomiting, and dizziness caused by motion sickness. Diphenhydramine can also help you relax and fall asleep.

It’s important to follow all dosage directions carefully, as cough-and-cold products have not been shown to be safe or effective in children younger than 6 years. These products do not cure or shorten the length of the common cold and may cause serious side effects.

Conclusion

BENADRYL® contains a variety of ingredients, both active and inactive, that work together to provide relief from allergy, cold, and other symptoms. Understanding the different components and how they function can help you use BENADRYL® products effectively and safely.