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Does Long Term Use Of Diphenhydramine Cause Dry Mouth?
Question: I take diphenhydramine for my allergies. I take one 25mg tablet about an hour before bedtime since most of my problem is loss of sleep due to congestion. But I recently heard that long term use of diphenhydramine can cause dry mouth which I do experience once or twice a week. Is this true? Is there an alternative that is as effective without the dry mouth side effect?
Brief Answer:
Information
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
All of the antihistamines have the potential to cause dry mouth. You can experiment with other antihistamines to see if they cause less dryness.
You might consider cetirizine (brand name is Zyrtec). This works over 24 hours, and may be less drying. It can be somewhat sedating but may not be as sedating as diphenhydramine. If it helps with your allergies all day and night, it may take care of the problem that is keeping you awake without needing to be as sedating.
Others that you can consider are Allegra and Claritin. These are even less sedating.
If the dry mouth from the diphenhydramine doesn't bother you too much, it is reasonable to just continue with it.
I hope this information helps. Please let me know if I can provide further information.
Information
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
All of the antihistamines have the potential to cause dry mouth. You can experiment with other antihistamines to see if they cause less dryness.
You might consider cetirizine (brand name is Zyrtec). This works over 24 hours, and may be less drying. It can be somewhat sedating but may not be as sedating as diphenhydramine. If it helps with your allergies all day and night, it may take care of the problem that is keeping you awake without needing to be as sedating.
Others that you can consider are Allegra and Claritin. These are even less sedating.
If the dry mouth from the diphenhydramine doesn't bother you too much, it is reasonable to just continue with it.
I hope this information helps. Please let me know if I can provide further information.
Note: Consult an experienced Otolaryngologist / ENT Specialist online for further follow up on ear, nose, and throat issues - Book a Call now.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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