What is Banophen? Uses, warnings & side effects

Your doctor will tell you how much medication to take. Take the drug exactly as prescribed. Do not use more than directed. Doing so can increase your risk of side effects. 

Take Banophen with or without food. 

Banophen is available over the counter (OTC). If you are taking this medication without a prescription, be sure to read the product packaging for instructions on how to take it and important safety information. Ask your health care provider if you have any questions. 

Swallow Banophen tablets and capsules whole. Do not crush, break, or chew them. Doing so can increase your risk of serious side effects. 

Only use Banophen liquid with the dosing cup that comes with your medicine. Do not use household spoons or kitchen measuring devices because they aren’t as accurate. 

Store Banophen at room temperature and keep it away from moisture.

Talk to a healthcare provider if you realize you missed a dose of Banophen. Depending on what you’re taking the medication for and the timing of the missed dose, they may recommend that you take the missed dose. Or they may recommend that you skip the dose. 

This medication is not right for everyone. Do not take Banophen if you’ve had an allergic reaction to its active ingredient, diphenhydramine, or any of its inactive ingredients.

Banophen can cause severe drowsiness. Do not drive or do anything that requires concentration until you know how this medication affects you. 

Drinking alcohol while taking Banophen can worsen side effects such as drowsiness. Due to this risk, it’s recommended to avoid alcohol while taking Banophen. 

Taking Banophen with certain other medications, including sedatives and tranquilizers, can also worsen drowsiness. 

The active ingredient in Banophen is diphenhydramine. Diphenhydramine is a common ingredient in many over-the-counter medications. You should not use Banophen with any other product that contains diphenhydramine, even diphenhydramine products that are used on the skin. Be sure to check the package labels of any medications you plan to take to ensure they don’t contain diphenhydramine. If you’re unsure, check with your pharmacist. 

Banophen should not be used to make a child sleepy. While drowsiness is a common side effect of the drug, Banophen may actually cause excitability in children. 

In general, Banophen is not recommended for older adults because they are at higher risk of adverse reactions from the drug. These include drowsiness, dry mouth, constipation, and confusion. 

Banophen can worsen certain health conditions. Be sure to talk to a healthcare professional before you use Banophen if you have glaucoma, breathing problems, such as emphysema or chronic bronchitis, or bladder or prostate problems. 

Banophen liquid contains sodium. Ask your healthcare provider if it’s safe to take Banophen if you’re on a low-sodium diet.

Banophen has several drug interactions. Banophen causes drowsiness. Many other medications also cause drowsiness, such as sedatives, benzodiazepines, and opioids. When taken together, drowsiness can become worse, sometimes to the point where it can be dangerous. 

Taking Banophen with other antihistamine medications can increase the risk of side effects, such as sedation and confusion. 

Certain antidepressants may interact with Banophen. This includes tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs), selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), and monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs). Depending on the type of antidepressant taken with Banophen, side effects such as drowsiness, dizziness, blurred vision, and dry mouth may become worse.