Diphenhydramine
Calmaben, Dermodrin, Dibondrin, Noctor · ATC code R06AA02
Also known as: Diphenhydramin, Difenhidramin · Brand names: Calmaben, Dermodrin, Dibondrin, Noctor, Nodisen, Betadorm-D, Diphenhydramin Hevert, Diphenhydraminhydrochlorid Stada, Dolestan Forte Zur Anwendung Bei Erwachsenen, Dormutil N, Emesan, Halbmond, Hemodorm, Schlaf Tabs, Schlaftabletten …
- Key facts
- Active substance
- Diphenhydramine
- Drug class
- Histamine antagonist
- ATC code
- R06AA02
- Authorisation
- authorised nationally; no central EU authorisation
- Information as of
- 2026-10-27
Key facts
Diphenhydramine is a sedating H1 antihistamine. Per the US prescribing information, it is used orally for allergic reactions, motion sickness, parkinsonism and as a nighttime sleep-aid.
What it is used for
- Allergic conditions: food-related conjunctivitis, mild urticaria and angioedema, dermatographism, reactions to blood or plasma
- Adjunct in anaphylaxis after epinephrine once acute manifestations are controlled
- Active and prophylactic treatment of motion sickness
- Parkinsonism (including drug-induced)
- Nighttime sleep-aid
Dosing
- Dosage individualised to need and response
- Adults: 25 to 50 mg three or four times daily; sleep-aid 50 mg at bedtime
- Children (other than neonates and premature infants): 12.5 to 25 mg three or four times daily, not exceeding 300 mg daily
- Motion sickness: first dose 30 minutes before exposure to motion
- No data on use as a sleep-aid in children under 12 years
Contraindications
- Neonates and premature infants
- Nursing mothers
- Hypersensitivity to diphenhydramine or antihistamines of similar chemical structure
Important warnings
- Caution in narrow-angle glaucoma, stenosing peptic ulcer, pyloroduodenal obstruction, symptomatic prostatic hypertrophy or bladder-neck obstruction
- Children: overdosage may cause hallucinations, convulsions or death; excitation possible
- Elderly: more likely to cause dizziness, sedation and hypotension
- May diminish mental alertness
Side effects
- Sedation, sleepiness, dizziness, disturbed coordination
- Dry mouth, thickening of bronchial secretions, epigastric distress
- Hypotension, palpitations, tachycardia
- Urinary retention, blurred vision, confusion
- Serious: anaphylactic shock, hemolytic anemia, agranulocytosis, convulsions
Pregnancy and breastfeeding
- Contraindicated in nursing mothers because of the risk to infants
Summary of the official product information, written with AI (Claude, Anthropic) on 2026-10-28. Every number was checked automatically against the original text. Not reviewed by a physician – the full official text is authoritative.
Common questions – ask Medelix
For patients
Patient information (US)
This product has no separate US patient information.
Authorisation and brand names by country
Medicines with exactly this active-substance composition, as listed in the national registers – alphabetical and without ranking. Whether a product is currently available is not shown here.
Austria
- CalmabenPharmazeutische Fabrik Montavit Ges.M.B.H. · 1 register entry
- DermodrinPharmazeutische Fabrik Montavit Ges.M.B.H. · 1 register entry
- DibondrinPharmazeutische Fabrik Montavit Ges.M.B.H. · 2 register entries
- NoctorWabosan Arzneimittelvertriebs Gmbh · 1 register entry
- NodisenPolfarmex S.A. · 1 register entry
Source: EMA – Article 57 product data (EU/EEA), as of 2026-10-28
Germany
- Betadorm-DRecordati Pharma Gmbh · 1 register entry
- Diphenhydramin HevertHevert-Arzneimittel Gmbh & Co. Kg · 1 register entry
- Diphenhydraminhydrochlorid StadaStada Consumer Health Deutschland Gmbh · 1 register entry
- Dolestan Forte Zur Anwendung Bei ErwachsenenHolsten Pharma Gmbh · 1 register entry
- Dormutil NPuren Pharma Gmbh & Co. Kg · 1 register entry
- EmesanAristo Pharma Gmbh (Art 57) · 1 register entry
- HalbmondCheplapharm Arzneimittel Gmbh · 1 register entry
- HemodormHemopharm Gmbh · 1 register entry
- Schlaf TabsHevert-Arzneimittel Gmbh & Co. Kg · 1 register entry
- SchlaftablettenHeumann Pharma Gmbh & Co. Generica Kg, Fairmed Healthcare Gmbh, Dr. Pfleger Arzneimittel Gmbh · 3 register entries
- SediatDr. Pfleger Arzneimittel Gmbh · 1 register entry
- Vivinox Sleep SchlafdrageesDr. Gerhard Mann Chem.-Pharm. Fabrik Gmbh · 1 register entry
Show all 13 brand names
- Vivinox® Sleep Schlaftabletten StarkDr. Gerhard Mann Chem.-Pharm. Fabrik Gmbh · 1 register entry
Source: EMA – Article 57 product data (EU/EEA), as of 2026-10-28
Turkey
- AllenikGALEN İLAÇ SAN.VE TİC.A.Ş · 1 register entry
- AllerjinGÜNSA GÜNEY İLAÇ VE HAMMADDELER SAN. VE TİC. A.Ş. · 1 register entry
- BenisonOSEL İLAÇ SAN. VE TİC. A.Ş. · 3 register entries
- FenotralUMUT İLAÇ TİC. VE SAN. LTD. ŞTİ., MÜNİR ŞAHİN İLAÇ SAN. VE TİC A.Ş. · 2 register entries
- HydryllinALİ RAİF İLAÇ SAN. A.Ş. · 1 register entry
- Pectal EkspektoranSANTA FARMA İLAÇ SAN. A.Ş. · 1 register entry
- Pectal PediyatrikSANTA FARMA İLAÇ SAN. A.Ş. · 1 register entry
Source: TİTCK – Ruhsatlı Beşeri Tıbbi Ürünler Listesi, as of 2026-10-16
Brand names in 17 more European countries
- Belgium
- Nustasium, R Calm
- Bulgaria
- Дермодрин, Калмабен, Псило Балсам
- Czechia
- Psilo-Balsam
- Denmark
- Benylan, Coldycof
- Hungary
- Supraderm
- Iceland
- Benylan
- Ireland
- Nytol One-A-Night
- Italy
- Allergan
- Latvia
- Pretniezes, Psilo-Balsam
- Lithuania
- Psilo-Balsam
- Luxembourg
- Nustasium
- Poland
- Luminastil, Nodisen, Senolek
- Portugal
- Benaderma, Benergina, Difenidramina Omega Pharma, Drenoflux
- Romania
- Calmaben, Dermodrin, Rival
- Slovakia
- Calmaben, Psilo-Balsam
- Spain
- Neosayomol, Soñodor
- Sweden
- Desentol
EMA – Article 57 product data (EU/EEA), 2026-10-28
Medelix receives no money from pharmaceutical companies. Brand names are listed alphabetically and without ranking.
Another question about this substance?
Medelix answers clinical questions from guidelines, studies and product information – every claim with its source.
Sources
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Diphenhydramine HCL (Redmont Pharmaceuticals, LLC) – Prescribing Information, 2026-08-03. DailyMed (NLM), 2026-10-27. https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/lookup.cfm?setid=d8944f3c-acef-4ebe-9633-7d641ae95edf
- EMA – Article 57 product data (EU/EEA), 2026-10-28. https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/human-regulatory-overview/post-authorisation/data-medicines-iso-idmp-standards-post-authorisation/public-data-article-57-database
- EMA – Article 57 product data (EU/EEA), 2026-10-28. https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/human-regulatory-overview/post-authorisation/data-medicines-iso-idmp-standards-post-authorisation/public-data-article-57-database
- TİTCK – Ruhsatlı Beşeri Tıbbi Ürünler Listesi, 2026-10-16. https://www.titck.gov.tr/dinamikmodul/85
- Wikidata (CC0): ATC R06AA.
Editorial: Medelix editorial team · last updated 2026-10-27 · How these pages are made · Report an error
Source: U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), prescribing information, via DailyMed (NLM); public domain. Not advertising, not a treatment recommendation. For questions about your own treatment, ask your doctor or pharmacist.