Live in the UK... Benadryl and nausea?

[RachelPedli]

So after reading a few topics on here, I learned that Benadryl is quite the miracle drug! It can help with nausea and anxiety as far as I understand it? So my question is, do all types of Benadryl work to relieve nausea and anxiety? I ask this because when I went to Tesco to buy some, there were some that lasted for 24 hours and some that didn't. Is there a certain ingredient that I need to look out for? I'd really like to try them out. Thanks.

[cinque]

What's branded as Benadryl in the US and the UK is different! In the US, Benadryl is diphenhydramine, which is sold as Nytol in the UK (and also under some own-brands, like Sleepeaze in Boots, and Dreemon in some pharmacies, which is cheaper). You won't find it on the shelves; you'd have to buy it over the counter at a pharmacist's discretion. UK Benadryl is acrivastine, and the one-a-day is cetirizine. They're also anti-histamines but I don't think they have any particular anti-nausea or anti-anxiety effects.

I don't know how good it is for anxiety, but it is very sedating. I would advise caution when using it because I have become psychologically dependent on it for sleeping - nothing to do with emetophobia in my case; just always had trouble sleeping. It's not addictive, but it is habit-forming. You'd also not be able to drive or anything whilst under the influence of it; it's likely to knock you out!

You can get other anti-emetic remedies over the counter, usually under the labelling of travel-sickness medications. Stugeron is pretty good, as is Sea Legs or Traveleeze. Avomine, Phenergan and Sominex are all the same stuff - promethazine, which is an anti-emetic and sedative, with the same problems as Nytol (habit-forming, very drowsy).

If you do buy an anti-emetic, do be careful not to get too psychologically dependent on taking it. And if you want something to help with anxiety, I think it's generally best to talk to your doctor rather than self-medicating. Your GP should be understanding and willing to help. If they aren't, then they're not doing their job!

You could also try ginger as a natural anti-nausea remedy - either in crystallised form, or as a tea or something!

Hope that helps and doesn't sound preachy! xxx

[RachelPedli]

What's branded as Benadryl in the US and the UK is different! In the US, Benadryl is diphenhydramine, which is sold as Nytol in the UK (and also under some own-brands, like Sleepeaze in Boots, and Dreemon in some pharmacies, which is cheaper). You won't find it on the shelves; you'd have to buy it over the counter at a pharmacist's discretion. UK Benadryl is acrivastine, and the one-a-day is cetirizine. They're also anti-histamines but I don't think they have any particular anti-nausea or anti-anxiety effects.

I don't know how good it is for anxiety, but it is very sedating. I would advise caution when using it because I have become psychologically dependent on it for sleeping - nothing to do with emetophobia in my case; just always had trouble sleeping. It's not addictive, but it is habit-forming. You'd also not be able to drive or anything whilst under the influence of it; it's likely to knock you out!

You can get other anti-emetic remedies over the counter, usually under the labelling of travel-sickness medications. Stugeron is pretty good, as is Sea Legs or Traveleeze. Avomine, Phenergan and Sominex are all the same stuff - promethazine, which is an anti-emetic and sedative, with the same problems as Nytol (habit-forming, very drowsy).

If you do buy an anti-emetic, do be careful not to get too psychologically dependent on taking it. And if you want something to help with anxiety, I think it's generally best to talk to your doctor rather than self-medicating. Your GP should be understanding and willing to help. If they aren't, then they're not doing their job!

You could also try ginger as a natural anti-nausea remedy - either in crystallised form, or as a tea or something!

Hope that helps and doesn't sound preachy! xxx

Really useful post, thank you!