Many Canadians unaware that Benadryl isn’t recommended as first choice for allergy medication: experts
CTV
Two years after the Canadian Society of Allergy and Clinical Immunology put out a position statement specifying that newer antihistamines should be recommended over first generation antihistamines such as Benadryl, many Canadians and doctors are still reaching for the common allergy medication, with experts saying brand recognition makes it hard to break habits.
In October 2019, the Canadian Society of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (CSASI) put out a position statement regarding oral allergy medication, stating that newer antihistamines were safer than first-generation ones, and that they should be recommended over older staples like Benadryl due to a higher rate of potential side effects. The position statement referred specifically to medications that treat non-life-threatening allergic reactions such as hay fever and hives.
If it’s news to you that Benadryl is no longer recommended as a first-line treatment for common allergies, you’re not the only one. In 2022, it’s not only adult patients and parents who are still influenced by brand familiarity and haven’t made the switch — some doctors are as well, experts say.
“I think there are a fair number of pediatricians who still recommend Benadryl for allergies,” Daniel Flanders, owner and executive director of Kindercare Pediatrics in Toronto, Ontario, told CTVNews.ca in a phone interview.
“And if you speak to an allergist, they would simply say that that's outdated advice.”