Patient leaflet - Benadryl Allergy Relief
1 What the medicine is for
Benadryl Allergy Relief is a medicine which is used to relieve the symptoms of hay fever and other allergic conditions such as pet or dust allergies. The capsules contain acrivastine which is an antihistamine that helps relieve allergy symptoms such as sneezing, runny nose and watery eyes.
It can also be used to treat the symptoms of urticaria, also known as hives, where the skin looks blotchy with white raised wheals (bumps) surrounded by redness. This medicine is for use in adults under 65 years old and children aged 12 years and over.
2 What you need to know before you take this medicine
This medicine is suitable for most adults under 65 years old and children aged 12 years and over but a few people should not use it. If you are in any doubt, talk to your doctor or pharmacist.
Do not take this medicine…
- If you have ever had a bad reaction to any of the ingredients, or to the antihistamine triprolidine.
- If you have severe kidney disease.
If any of these apply to you, get advice from a doctor or pharmacist without taking Benadryl Allergy Relief.
Talk to your doctor or pharmacist…
- If you have kidney problems.
If you are taking any other medicines, including:
- Sedatives or tranquillisers (used to treat anxiety or sleep disorders).
- Ketoconazole (an antifungal used to treat fungal infections).
- Erythromycin (an antibiotic used to treat bacterial infections).
If you are not sure about any of the medicines you are taking, show the bottle or pack to your pharmacist. If any of these bullet points apply to you now or in the past, talk to a doctor or pharmacist.
turn over If you are pregnant or breast-feeding
- Ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice before taking this medicine if you are pregnant or breast-feeding.
Special warnings about this medicine
Do not drink grapefruit juice while taking Benadryl Allergy Relief.
Benadryl Allergy Relief may cause drowsiness and dizziness. Caution should be used when driving or operating machinery. If this product makes you feel drowsy or dizzy, do not drive or operate machinery. This product should not be taken whilst under the influence of alcohol.
- As with all antihistamines, it is advisable to avoid excessive alcohol consumption when taking this medicine.
Some of the ingredients can cause problems
- This product contains lactose. If you have been told by your doctor that you have an intolerance to some sugars, contact your doctor before taking this medicine.
- This medicine contains less than 1 mmol sodium (23 mg) per capsule, that is to say essentially ‘sodium-free’.
3 How to take this medicine Check the table over the page to see how much medicine to take.
- For oral use only.
Do not take more than the stated dose shown in the table.
Children under 12 years old
This medicine is not recommended for children aged under 12 years.
Adults and Children 12 – 65 years old
Dose
Adults and children
12-65 years
1 capsule up to 3 times a day.
Do not take more than 3 doses in 24 hours. ■ If symptoms persist or worsen talk to your doctor.
Adults over 65 years
This medicine is not recommended for adults aged over 65 years old.
If anyone has too much
If anyone has too much contact a doctor or your nearest Accident and Emergency Department (Casualty) taking this leaflet and pack with you.
If you forget to take the medicine
If you forget to take a dose, take the next dose when needed provided that you only take a maximum of 3 capsules in 24 hours. Do not take a double dose.
4 Possible side effects
Like all medicines, Benadryl Allergy Relief can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.
If you experience any of the following, stop using the medicine and seek immediate medical help:
Swelling of the face, lips, mouth, tongue or throat which may cause difficulty in swallowing or breathing.
If you experience any of the following, stop taking this medicine and talk to your doctor:
- Allergic reactions including rash
Other effects which may occur:
Very common (may affect more than 1 in 10 people)
- Drowsiness
Common (may affect up to 1 in 10 people)
- Dry mouth
- Dizziness
Reporting of side effects
If you get any side-effects talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse. This includes any possible side-effects not listed in this leaflet. You can also report side-effects directly via the Yellow Card Scheme at www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard or search for MHRA Yellow Card in the Google Play or Apple App Store. By reporting side-effects, you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.
5 How to store this medicine
Store below 30°C.
Keep this medicine dry and store in the original packaging. Keep this medicine out of the sight and reach of children. Do not use this medicine after the expiry date which is stated on the pack. The expiry date refers to the last day of that month.
Do not throw away any medicines via wastewater or household waste. Ask your pharmacist how to throw away medicines you no longer use. These measures will help protect the environment.
6 Contents of the pack and other information
What’s in this medicine?
The active ingredients in Benadryl Allergy Relief are:
8 mg Acrivastine in each capsule.
Other ingredients are: Lactose, sodium starch glycollate, magnesium stearate, gelatin, colouring (E171) and purified water.
What the medicine looks like
Benadryl Allergy Relief are white capsules available in packs of 12, 24 or 48 capsules. Not all pack sizes may be marketed.
Marketing Authorisation holder:
McNeil Products Limited, 1 Station Hill Square, Station Hill, Reading, RG1 1LN, UK.
Manufacturer:
JNTL Consumer Health (France) SAS, Domaine de Maigremont, 27100 Val de Reuil, France.
This leaflet was revised August 2026
Benadryl is a registered trade mark.
360169D