What's the difference between these antihistamines?

Question

I was looking for some medicine to reduce the symptoms of the flu. Vicks NyQuil and Vicks Formula 44 use a different antihistamine:

NyQuil:

Acetaminophen 500 mg (Pain reliever/fever reducer)

Dextromethorphan HBr 15 mg (Cough suppressant)

Doxylamine succinate 6.25 mg (Antihistamine)

Formula 44:

Acetaminophen 162.5 mg (Pain reliever/fever reducer)

Dextromethorphan HBr 7.5 mg (Cough suppressant)

Chlorpheniramine maleate 1 mg (Antihistamine)

What is the difference between these two antihistamines, and what is the performance difference between these two medicines? (both are for multisympton cold+flu).

Thanks for your insights!

Answer 1

Nyquil has more of antipyretic(fever reducing),antitussive(cough suppressing) and antihistamine (anti allergic) effects .So it is for adults.

Formula 44 (what is meant by 44?) has a less of all these .So it is for kids.

Numbers like 44 in drugs   mean that the company tried 44 combinations to arrive at this formula . Very impressive and unethical canvassing.

Answer 2

Doxylamine has more sedative affect than the other, but both do about the same thing.  In this case I'd take the Nyquil over the other due to the increase amount of cough suppressant and acetaminophen.  If your ONLY symptom is running nose, itchy eyes etc, then Benedryl is fine without all the other stuff.