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Doxylamine
Related Treatments
Doxylamine has different uses in over-the-counter (OTC) medicines. Doxylamine is an antihistamine, which means it can be used to treat the symptoms of hay fever or other respiratory allergies. In a higher dose, doxylamine also can be used to help with occasional sleeplessness. It may be written as doxylamine, or doxylamine succinate, but it is the same active ingredient. Doxylamine can be found in multi-symptom relief or combination cough and cold or flu remedies. It also is available as a single ingredient in nighttime sleep-aid medicines.
Doxylamine is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and is safe and effective when used according to label directions. While doxylamine may be used in products that treat cold symptoms as well as sleeplessness, the dosing frequency and directions differ between cold medicines and sleep-aids. To ensure proper use, do not take a nighttime sleep-aid medicine to treat allergies or cold symptoms or an allergy or cold medicine to relieve sleeplessness.
*Doxylamine may not be contained in all products sold under these brands. Please read the OTC Drug Facts label carefully for active ingredient information for specific products.
Tips for Medicines with Doxylamine
When using doxylamine-containing medicines, it is important to know that:
- Significant drowsiness may occur.
- You should avoid alcoholic drinks.
- You should use care when driving a motor vehicle or operating machinery.
- Night-time sleep aids should be taken only at bedtime or when you have time for a full night’s rest.
Ask a healthcare professional before use if:
- You have asthma, emphysema, chronic bronchitis, glaucoma, or trouble urinating due to an enlarged prostate gland.
- You are currently taking any other medications.
- You are pregnant or breastfeeding.
Stop use and ask a doctor if:
- You are taking a nighttime sleep-aid and your sleeplessness persists for more than two weeks. Insomnia may be a symptom of a serious medical illness.
- You take too much. Immediately contact a doctor or the poison control national helpline at 800.222.1222.
If you have questions about any of the medicines you are taking or if you have any unexpected side effects, talk to a healthcare professional. And of course, keep all medicines out of the reach and sight of children.
Tips for Parents
- Do not give an OTC cough, cold, or flu medicine containing doxylamine to a child under the age of four.
- Never use doxylamine or any OTC medicine to sedate or make a child sleepy.
- Contact a healthcare professional before giving and OTC cough, cold, or flu medicine to a child between the ages of four and 12.
- Do not give a nighttime sleep-aid to a child under the age of 12.
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