{"id":59586,"date":"2023-08-04T10:33:46","date_gmt":"2023-08-04T14:33:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/?p=59586"},"modified":"2025-04-27T19:19:02","modified_gmt":"2025-04-27T23:19:02","slug":"diphenhydramine-interactions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/diphenhydramine-interactions\/","title":{"rendered":"Don\u2019t take these medicines with Benadryl"},"content":{"rendered":"

When you experience symptoms of allergies, hay fever, or the common cold, all you want is a solution\u2014fast. <\/span>Benadryl<\/span><\/a> quickly relieves symptoms of red, itchy, watery eyes, sneezing, runny nose, cough, and an itchy throat. For some people, it can help manage symptoms of insomnia, Parkinson\u2019s disease, or motion sickness. But before seeking relief from Benadryl, you should know it does have certain drug interactions.<\/span><\/p>\n

Benadryl is a valuable solution to many ailments, and it\u2019s available by prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) as oral or chewable tablets, liquid gels, liquid medicine, and topical creams. To ensure you use it properly, learn how Benadryl interacts with medications and health conditions\u2014and when you should stop using it.<\/span><\/p>\n

How Benadryl works<\/span><\/h2>\n

Benadryl is a brand name for diphenhydramine, which belongs to the class of first-generation antihistamines. These drugs cross the blood-brain barrier to act in the central nervous system (CNS). Diphenhydramine can also be found in certain combination medications like <\/span>Advil PM<\/span><\/a> (ibuprofen\/diphenhydramine) and <\/span>Tylenol PM<\/span><\/a> (acetaminophen\/diphenhydramine).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

When histamine binds to receptors, the process signals the reactions that cause allergy symptoms like itchy eyes or coughing. Benadryl\u2019s main ingredient, <\/span>diphenhydramine<\/span><\/a>, blocks histamine receptors, thereby blocking the effects of histamines and reducing your allergy symptoms.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Because it crosses the blood-brain barrier, diphenhydramine also blocks some brain receptors, resulting in side effects such as drowsiness, dizziness, sleepiness, impaired coordination, and decreased activity in the part of your brain that controls coughing.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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What not to take with Benadryl<\/span><\/h2>\n

To prevent drug interactions, tell your healthcare provider about any prescription drugs or OTC medications and vitamins or supplements you\u2019re taking before taking Benadryl. Some drugs shouldn\u2019t be taken together because of adverse drug interactions that can cause side effects or affect the efficacy of either drug.<\/span><\/p>\n

If you take any of the following 8 drugs, you should talk with your healthcare provider before taking Benadryl.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

1. Blood pressure medications<\/span><\/h3>\n

\u201cBenadryl does not directly interact with blood pressure medications,\u201d says William A. McCann, MD, the <\/span>chief medical officer of Allergy Partners<\/span><\/a>. \u201cHowever, antihistamines such as Benadryl are often combined with decongestant medications such as pseudoephedrine, which can cause increased blood pressure.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Benadryl may cause side effects with <\/span>nebivolol<\/span><\/a>\u2014an FDA-approved medication for treating high blood pressure. \u201cNebivolol stays longer in the body because Benadryl slows the liver\u2019s filtration,\u201d says <\/span>Benjamin Gibson<\/span><\/a>, Pharm.D., an adjunct professor at the University of Texas at Austin. \u201cThis may cause lowering of blood pressure and side effects such as headache, dizziness, and changes in heart rate. Other <\/span>blood pressure medications<\/span><\/a> like lisinopril, losartan, verapamil, diltiazem, telmisartan, and candesartan do not have that interaction.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

According to the <\/span>Centers for Disease Control and Prevention<\/span><\/a>, 48% of Americans have high blood pressure. If you have high blood pressure, talk with your healthcare provider before taking Benadryl.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

2. Anticholinergic drugs<\/span><\/h3>\n

\u201cAcetylcholine is a chemical messenger that allows our nerve cells to communicate with one another and carry out essential functions within our bodies,\u201d says <\/span>Whitney Prude, Pharm.D.<\/span><\/a>, founder of <\/span>Whole & Happy Living<\/span><\/a>. \u201cWhen acetylcholine is blocked, it interferes with signals in your body and results in common anticholinergic side effects like dry mouth, blurry vision, constipation, drowsiness, sedation, hallucinations, memory problems, and trouble urinating.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Benadryl has some anticholinergic effects, and you will notice more side effects if you combine Benadryl and an anticholinergic such as <\/span>atropine, benztropine, glycopyrrolate, or flavoxate, she says.<\/span><\/p>\n

3. Benzodiazepines<\/span><\/h3>\n

Benzodiazepines\u2014like <\/span>diazepam<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>alprazolam<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>clonazepam<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>lorazepam<\/span><\/a>, and o<\/span>xazepam<\/span><\/a>\u2014are prescribed for insomnia, anxiety, muscle relaxation, or seizures.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Benadryl and benzodiazepines don\u2019t interact directly with each other, but both can cause sedation in the CNS and combining the medications can amplify these effects, says Dr. Prude. \u201cBenzodiazepines work by interacting with a receptor in the brain called the GABA type A receptor, which causes sedation\u2014and, at higher doses, amnesia and unconsciousness,\u201d she says. Benadryl causes sedation with its effect on the histamine receptor, she adds.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Benzodiazepines and Benadryl should not be taken together, says Dr. Prude. She recommends second-generation antihistamines to treat allergies while taking a benzodiazepine. <\/span>Claritin<\/span><\/a> (<\/span>loratadine<\/span><\/a>), <\/span>Zyrtec<\/span><\/a> (<\/span>cetirizine<\/span><\/a>), and <\/span>Xyzal<\/span><\/a> (<\/span>levocetirizine dihydrochloride<\/span><\/a>) are second-generation antihistamines that cross the blood-brain barrier to a much lesser extent and have significantly fewer side effects like drowsiness and impairment.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

4. Antidepressants<\/span><\/h3>\n

Antidepressants treat clinical depression, anxiety, chronic pain, and addictions. \u201cCertain antidepressants can interact with diphenhydramine,\u201d Dr. McCann says. \u201cThese include tricyclic antidepressants (<\/span>TCAs<\/span><\/a>), selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (<\/span>SSRIs<\/span><\/a>), serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (<\/span>SNRIs<\/span><\/a>), and monoamine oxidase inhibitors (<\/span>MAOIs<\/span><\/a>).\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Dr. McCann lays out how each of these classes of antidepressants interacts with Benadryl:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n