Continued from exactly where I left off with Part I and Part II (definitely click the links to start reading from the beginning!)…

Side Effects

Aside from the sedation factor, Benadryl, Claritin, and Zyrtec all may have similar side effects: dizziness, dry mouth, dry nose, dry eyes (these medication are all very drying agents), and constipation.
Benadryl is a bit different from Claritin and Zyrtec. It can easily cross a structure called the blood-brain barrier (the BBB) and enter the central nervous system (CNS), which is made up of the brain and spinal cord (BASC. Okay…kidding on that last one). This is what causes Benadryl’s well-known sedating effect. Since Claritin and Zyrtec do not cross into the brain nearly as well, they are known as non-sedating antihistamines (although some sedation can occur).

Excited (if not frazzled) parents may think, “Great! I’ll give my child Benadryl to help with their allergy symptoms and help them rest too.” Don’t prepare that cup of hot tea and reach for your favorite book too soon. Benadryl has been known to cause paradoxical hyperactivity in children: an unexplainable ability to cause inconsolable irritation and agitation.

And the Pharmacist Recommends…

While Benadryl’s quick 15 to 30 minute onset of action is tempting, it doesn’t reach its peak performance for about 2 to 4 hours. Also, it must be ingested multiple times per day. Plus, there’s Benadryl’s unpredictable ability to cause either marked drowsiness or off-the-wall excitability.

While Zyrtec and Claritin both have the convenience of once-daily dosing and seem to be equally effective, Zyrtec is my professional (and personal) recommendation. It’s been proven to work faster and reach its peak effects much sooner than Claritin. It’s a bit more sedative than Claritin, so if you notice your child’s sleepy time coming on a little too quick, Claritin is still an excellent alternative. If your child’s allergy symptoms are persistent even after taking the OTC antihistamines, a visit to the physician may be necessary. In fact, if your little one is less than 2 years old, it’s probably best to take your infant to a physician before treating him or her on your own.  He or she may be suffering from a non-allergic condition, as toddlers haven’t developed enough verbal cues quite yet to clue you in on what may be wrong. Plus, OTC antihistamines may be too strong for their little bodies to handle.

THE END!

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