Identifying Pink-and-White Benadryl Capsules

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Identifying Pink-and-White Benadryl Capsules

By Your Health Magazine Health Information Team

A pink-and-white capsule may be a generic form of Benadryl containing diphenhydramine hydrochloride 25 mg, but color alone cannot identify it safely. Check the letters and numbers printed on both halves of the capsule. Several pink-and-white diphenhydramine capsules exist, but other medications can have similar colors.

Common Pink-and-White Diphenhydramine Capsules

Benadryl is a brand name for diphenhydramine, a sedating antihistamine. Store-brand and generic versions may use different colors, shapes, and imprints while containing the same active ingredient.

Current U.S. drug labels include the following examples:

This is not a complete identification list, and product appearance can change. For example, the DailyMed label for the capsule marked 44 107 identifies it as an over-the-counter allergy-relief product containing 25 mg of diphenhydramine hydrochloride.

A capsule without a readable imprint should not be assumed to be Benadryl. Do not take a loose or unidentified capsule simply because its color resembles a medication you have used before.

How to Confirm the Capsule’s Identity

1. Read the complete imprint. Examine both sides and both colored sections under good lighting. Distinguish similar characters, such as 0 and O or 1 and I.
2. Check the original packaging. Confirm the product name, active ingredient, strength, expiration date, and tamper-evident seal.
3. Ask a pharmacist. Bring the capsule and its container to a pharmacy when possible. A pharmacist can compare the imprint, size, manufacturer, and label.
4. Do not rely on color or an image alone. Multiple manufacturers may use similar capsule shells, while generic versions of the same medicine may look different.
5. Do not take it if identification remains uncertain. Keep unknown pills away from children and pets while seeking professional help.

The National Library of Medicine also provides general MedlinePlus drug information for learning about medication uses, precautions, and side effects.

What Diphenhydramine Is Used For

Diphenhydramine temporarily relieves certain symptoms associated with allergies, hay fever, and the common cold, including sneezing, runny nose, itchy or watery eyes, and itching of the nose or throat. It blocks the effects of histamine, a substance involved in allergic symptoms.

Not every product sold under the Benadryl name has the same formulation or route of use. Oral tablets, capsules, liquids, and topical products may have different ingredients and instructions. Combination cold, nighttime, and pain-relief medicines may also contain diphenhydramine. Always read the active-ingredient panel so that you do not unknowingly take it from more than one product.

Important Safety Warnings

Diphenhydramine commonly causes drowsiness, dizziness, dry mouth, and reduced alertness. Some children may experience excitability instead of sleepiness.

• Do not drive or operate machinery until you know how the medicine affects you.
• Avoid alcohol because it can increase drowsiness.
• Do not combine oral diphenhydramine with another diphenhydramine-containing product, including certain topical products, unless a healthcare professional has advised it.
• Ask a doctor or pharmacist before use if you take sedatives or tranquilizers or have glaucoma, chronic breathing problems, or difficulty urinating due to an enlarged prostate.
• Adults age 65 and older should discuss the risks and alternatives with a healthcare professional because diphenhydramine can cause problematic sedation and other side effects.
• Do not use diphenhydramine to make a child sleepy. Follow the age restrictions and directions on the specific product label.

If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, consult a healthcare professional before use. Additional considerations are discussed in guidance about taking Benadryl during pregnancy.

Never take more than the amount stated on the Drug Facts label. The FDA warns that excessive diphenhydramine doses can cause serious heart problems, seizures, coma, and death.

When to Seek Care

Call 911 immediately if someone has trouble breathing, collapses, has a seizure, cannot be awakened, or develops swelling of the tongue or throat. A severe allergic reaction requires emergency care; an oral antihistamine should not delay appropriate emergency treatment.

If an unknown capsule has been swallowed, someone may have taken too much diphenhydramine, or a child accessed the medication, contact Poison Control for immediate guidance or call 1-800-222-1222 in the United States. Do not wait for symptoms to appear.

For nonemergency concerns—such as persistent drowsiness, confusion, vision changes, painful or difficult urination, or questions about drug interactions—contact a pharmacist, primary care clinician, or other qualified healthcare professional.