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Drug Details

Benadryl Plus Capsules

• Drug Class Description
  second-generation H1-receptor antagonist antihistamine
• Generic Name
  pseudoephedrine hydrochloride, acrivastine
• Presentation
  Capsules.
• Description
  BENADRYL Plus Capsules contain 8 mg acrivastine and 60 mg pseudoephedrine hydrochloride.
• Indications
  

  This product is indicated for the symptomatic relief of allergic rhinitis.

• Adult Dosage
  

  Adults and children 12 years and over:

  Oral. One capsule as necessary, up to three times a day. 

• Child Dosage
  

  Children under 12 years:

  BENADRYL Plus Capsules are not currently recommended for use in children under 12 years of age.

• Elderly Dosage
  

  The Elderly:

  BENADRYL Plus Capsules are not currently recommended for use in the elderly.

• Contra Indications
  

  This product is contra-indicated in individuals with known hypersensitivity to the product, any of its components or triprolidine.

  This product iscontra-indicated in individuals with known intolerance to the product, any of its components or triprolidine.

  This product is contra-indicated in patients with severe hypertension or severe coronary artery disease.

  The concomitant use of a pseudoephedrine-containing product and monoamine oxidase inhibitors can occasionally cause a rise in blood pressure. This product is therefore contra-indicated in patients who are taking, or have taken, monoamine oxidase within the preceding two weeks.

  The antibacterial agent furazolidone is known to cause a dose-related inhibition of monoamine oxidase. Although there are no reports of hypertensive crises having occurred, it should not be administered concurrently with this product.

  Renal excretion is the principal route of elimination of acrivastine. Until specific studies have been carried out, this product should not be given to patients with significant renal impairment.

• Special Precautions
  

  It is usual to advise patients not to undertake tasks requiring mental alertness whilst under the influence of alcohol or other CNS depressants. Concomitant administration of this product may, in some individuals, produce additional impairment.

  Although pseudoephedrine has virtually no pressor effects in patients with normal blood pressure, this product should be used with caution in patients taking antihypertensive agents, tricyclic antidepressants or other sympathomimetic agents such as decongestants, appetite suppressants and amfetamine-like psychostimulants. The effects of a single dose on the blood pressure of these patients should be observed before recommending repeated or unsupervised treatment.

  As with other sympathomimetic agents, this product should be used with caution in patients with hypertension, heart disease, diabetes, hyperthyroidism, elevated intra-ocular pressure or prostatic enlargement.

• Interactions
  

  Concomitant use of pseudoephedrine with tricyclic antidepressants, other sympathomimetic agents (such as decongestants, appetite suppressants and amfetamine-like psychostimulants) or with monoamine oxidase inhibitors (including furazolidone), which interfere with the catabolism of sympathomimetic amines, may occasionally cause a rise in blood pressure.

  The effect of antihypertensive agents, which interfere with sympathetic activity, may be partially reversed by this product, e.g. bretylium, betanidine, guanethidine, debrisoquine, methyldopa, alpha- and beta-adrenergic blocking agents.

• Adverse Drug Reactions
  

  In clinical trials with this product, the incidence of somnolence and dizziness was no greater than that from placebo. Reports of drowsiness directly attributable to this product are extremely rare. For the great majority of patients, treatment with this product is not associated with clinically significant anticholinergic or sedative side effects.

  Serious adverse effects associated with the use of pseudoephedrine are extremely rare. Symptoms of central nervous system excitation may occur including sleep disturbance, and, rarely, hallucinations.

  Skin rashes, with or without irritation, have occasionally been reported with pseudoephedrine. Urinary retention has been reported occasionally in men receiving pseudoephedrine; prostatic enlargement could have been an important predisposing factor.