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.
Does Benadryl help with congestion?
Benadryl (diphenhydramine) and Sudafed (pseudoephedrine HCI) are used to treat nasal congestion due to allergies. Benadryl is also an antihistamine used to treat other allergy symptoms (including hives, itching, watery eyes), insomnia, motion sickness, and mild cases of Parkinsonism.
Do antihistamines help with a cold?
To help relieve a runny nose, itchy and watery eyes, and sneezing associated with the common cold, antihistamines may be considered. First-generation antihistamines including brompheniramine, chlorpheniramine, and clemastine, are preferred over the second-generation antihistamines in the management of these symptoms.
What is the best decongestant for a cold?
Nasal decongestants
- oxymetazoline nasal (Afrin, Dristan 12-Hour Nasal Spray)
- phenylephrine nasal (Neo-Synephrine)
- phenylephrine oral (Sudafed PE, Triaminic Multi-Symptom Fever and Cold)
- pseudoephedrine (Sudafed)
How do you get rid of cold congestion fast?
These remedies might help you feel better:
- Stay hydrated. Water, juice, clear broth or warm lemon water with honey helps loosen congestion and prevents dehydration. …
- Rest. Your body needs rest to heal.
- Soothe a sore throat. …
- Combat stuffiness. …
- Relieve pain. …
- Sip warm liquids. …
- Try honey. …
- Add moisture to the air.
Does Benadryl dry up mucus?
The older, over-the-counter antihistamines, including diphenhydramine (Benadryl) and chlorpheniramine (Chlor-Trimeton), might not be the best choices for postnasal drip. When they dry out mucus, they can actually thicken it.
Is Benadryl good for sinus drainage?
Along the same lines as OTC options, antihistamine medications, such as Sudafed, Claritin, Zyrtec or Benadryl, can also offer sinus infection symptom relief. While these medications specifically target allergy symptoms, sinus infection symptoms can be similar, making antihistamines worth a try.
Which medicine is best for cold?
- Best Overall: Mucinex Maximum Strength. …
- Best Natural: Sambucol Black Elderberry Cold & Flu Relief Tablets. …
- Best for Kids: Mucinex Junior. …
- Best for Stuffy Noses: Vicks Sinex Severe. …
- Best for Daytime: Vicks DayQuil Cold and Flu Multi-Symptom Relief. …
- Best for Nighttime: Vicks Nyquil Severe Cold and Flu.
Can Zyrtec help a cold?
Newer antihistamines, such as Claritin (generic: loratadine) and Zyrtec (generic: cetirizine), work better for allergies but not as well for colds.
Do Antihistamines help viral infections?
All antihistamines are best used for allergy, but they can be helpful for suppressing some viral URI symptoms.
Where can I get help for a common cold?
Try these home remedies to help ease your cold symptoms:
- Drink plenty of fluids. Stay hydrated by drinking lots of water, juice, tea, or clear broth. …
- Choose warm liquids. …
- Rest. …
- Gargle salt water. …
- Use a humidifier. …
- Take an over-the-counter (OTC) cold medication.
How long does congestion last with a cold?
As your cold runs its course, you’ll likely still have some nasal congestion for another 3 to 5 days. During this time, you may notice that your nasal discharge has turned to a yellow or green color. This is a sign that your body has been actively fighting the infection.
What is the most effective decongestant?
- Best Overall: GoodSense Nasal Decongestant. …
- Best Natural: Vicks Cool Mist Humidifier. …
- Best Spray: Flonase Allergy Relief Nasal Spray. …
- Best for Colds: Mucinex Sinus-Max Liquid. …
- Best for Sinus Infections: Sudafed PE Pressure + Pain + Relief. …
- Best Neti Pot: ComfyPot Ergonomic Ceramic Neti Pot.
How can I unblock my nose naturally?
Here are eight things you can do now to feel and breathe better.
- Use a humidifier. A humidifier provides a quick, easy way to reduce sinus pain and relieve a stuffy nose. …
- Take a shower. …
- Stay hydrated. …
- Use a saline spray. …
- Drain your sinuses. …
- Use a warm compress. …
- Try decongestants. …
- Take antihistamines or allergy medicine.
How long should a cold last?
Cold symptoms usually start 2 or 3 days after a person has been exposed to the virus. People with colds are most contagious for the first 3 or 4 days after the symptoms begin and can be contagious for up to 3 weeks. Although some colds can linger for as long as 2 weeks, most clear up within a week.
Can you sweat out a cold?
You may have heard that it’s beneficial to “sweat out a cold.” While exposure to heated air or exercise may help temporarily relieve symptoms, there’s little evidence to suggest that they can help treat a cold.