What Is Doxylamine?
Doxylamine is used to treat sneezing, runny nose, watery eyes, hives, skin rash, itching, and other cold or allergy symptoms.
Doxylamine is also used as a short-term treatment for sleep problems (insomnia).
Doxylamine may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.
Follow all directions on your medicine label and package. Tell each of your healthcare providers about all your medical conditions, allergies, and all medicines you use.
You should not use doxylamine if you are allergic to it.
Ask a doctor or pharmacist if it is safe for you to take this medicine if you have other medical conditions, especially:
- glaucoma;
- an enlarged prostate;
- problems with urination; or
- asthma, bronchitis, emphysema, or other chronic lung disease.
Doxylamine may pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing baby. Antihistamines may also slow breast milk production. Do not use this medicine without a doctor's advice if you are breast-feeding a baby.
Doxylamine Side Effects
Call your doctor at once if you have:
- confusion, hallucinations;
- severe dizziness or drowsiness; or
- little or no urinating.
- blurred vision;
- dry mouth, nose, or throat;
- constipation; or
- mild dizziness or drowsiness.
Doxylamine Interactions
Ask a doctor or pharmacist before using any other cold, cough, allergy, or sleep medicine. Antihistamines are contained in many combination medicines. Taking certain products together can cause you to get too much of a certain drug. Check the label to see if a medicine contains an antihistamine.
Drinking alcohol can increase certain side effects of doxylamine.
Avoid becoming overheated or dehydrated during exercise and in hot weather. Doxylamine can decrease sweating and you may be more prone to heat stroke.
Ask a doctor or pharmacist before using this medicine if you are also using any other drugs, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Some medicines can cause unwanted or dangerous effects when used together. Not all possible interactions are listed in this medication guide.
Taking this medicine with other drugs that make you sleepy or slow your breathing can worsen these effects. Ask your doctor before taking doxylamine with a sleeping pill, narcotic pain medicine, muscle relaxer, or medicine for anxiety, depression, or seizures.
Doxylamine Dosage
Do not use doxylamine to treat insomnia in a child younger than 12 years old. Ask a doctor before using this medicine to treat cold or allergy symptoms in a child younger than 6 years old. Always ask a doctor before giving a cold or allergy medicine to a child. Death can occur from the misuse of these medicines in very young children.
Take this medicine with food or milk if it upsets your stomach.
The chewable tablet must be chewed before you swallow it.
To treat insomnia, it is best to take doxylamine only when you can devote several hours to sleep. Follow your doctor's instructions.
Call your doctor if your cold or allergy symptoms do not improve after 7 days of treatment, or if your sleep problems do not improve after 2 weeks of treatment.
This medication can cause you to have unusual results with allergy skin tests. Tell any doctor who treats you that you are taking an antihistamine.
Store at room temperature away from moisture and heat.
Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.
Overdose symptoms may include severe forms of some of the side effects listed in this medication guide.
Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. Skip the missed dose if it is almost time for your next scheduled dose. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.
When treating insomnia, if it is almost your normal waking hour, skip the missed dose and wait until you are ready for bed again.