Can I Take Benadryl with Claritin?

Can I Take Benadryl with Claritin?

Medication is and has been the quickest and most effective means of dealing with illness, however special care should be taken when it comes to the consumption of medicines. A frequently asked question is whether Benadryl, a drug used to treat coughing, Sneezing, allergies and other symptoms of the Common Cold, can be taken with Claritin, another drug for the same purpose? We will firstly understand how both medicines work and how they are similar and different to one another so that we can establish whether this is advisable or not and the pros and cons of doing so. In this article you can also find out what drugs can be safely taken along with Benadryl.

How do Benadryl and Claritin Work?
Benadryl and Claritin serve similar purposes and work in similar ways. Benadryl and Claritin work by stopping the production of histamine in the body which causes the eyes to water and the nose to get runny. Histamine production is usually increased when a person is suffering from the cold.

Benadryl is a type of antihistamine. This drug is used in the treatment of allergies causing itchiness, cough, rashes, sneezing and all the symptoms of the common cold. It can also be used as a cure of motion sickness, nausea, light-headedness and vomiting. Besides this, Benadryl is also used as a tranquilizer to relax and soothe the mind and body by triggering sleep.

Claritin or Loratadine is also an antihistamine, like Benadryl. However, unlike the Benadryl which is first generation, Claritin is second generation drug. Claritin is used to treat allergies and control sneezing, coughing and itching.

Can I Take Benadryl with Claritin?
The answer is no. taking both drugs at the same time is in no way recommended. Although it may not be gravely dangerous if both Benadryl and Claritin are consumed together and may not cause serious harm, yet, doing this is not advised as it may lead to a number of side effects.

If you have to, do it as follows:

The effects of Claritin are supposed to stay in the body for at least twenty-four hours so if you want to take a Benadryl after already taking a Claritin, you should, at least wait until this duration has passed before doing so, to avoid any reaction.

If any of these drugs are not affective on their own and a doctor approves, you can then take both medicines together and hope it works out for you. Keep in mind, however that both drugs are pretty much the same so you have to time their intake correctly.

For example, we suggest that you take Claritin in the morning and Benadryl at night, before bed. You can then take maximum advantage out of the tranquilizing effects of the latter as it triggers sleep. Also remember to increase you water consumption as both these drugs dry up your bodily fluids.

Can I Take Benadryl with Other Drugs?
Below is a list of other commonly used medicines which can and cannot be taken with Benadryl and what side effects taking them together might have.

Drug Name	Yes/ No
Adderall	Yes. Taking Adderall in the morning.
Ambien or Zolpidem	Yes, but be careful with timing. Take Ambien at bedtime.
Amoxil or Amoxicillin	Yes, but drink plenty of water.
Afrin or Oxymetazoline	Yes, but avoid if you have high Blood Pressure. Take Benadryl only if you can sleep more than 8 hours.
Aleve or Naproxen	Yes, but take this medicine with milk or food.
Allegra	Do not take both medicines together. Take Allegra in the morning and Benadryl at bedtime.
Antibiotics	Yes.
Augmentin	Yes.
Benzonatate	Yes, but may cause drowsiness. Drink plenty of water.
Blood Thinner	Yes.
Buscopan	Yes.
Cephalexin or Keflex	Yes, but may cause drowsiness.
Clarithromycin or Biaxin	Yes.
Clonazepam or Klonopin	Yes, but alcohol should be avoided.
Diclofenac or Voltaren	Yes, but with milk or food.
Diflucan or Fluconazole	Yes, but with careful timing.
Dimetapp or Brompheniramine with Phenylpropanolamine	No. not at all. It may cause severe side effects, blood pressure or even Heart Attack.
Flexeril or Cyclobenzaprine	Yes, but may cause severe drowsiness and sedation.
Fluoxetine or Prozac	This may cause serious side effects. Consult a physician.
Gravol or Dimenhydrinate	No. they should never be taken together unless specifically suggested by a physician, in which case special care of timing and quantity consumed should be taken.
Hydroxyzine or Atarax	No. it may cause an extreme overdose and may create a duplication of medicine. Drowsiness, dizziness and nausea might occur.
Ibuprofen	Yes, but only as long as you do not suffer from allergies. Consume with milk or food and take care of the timing.
LevoThyroxine or Synthroid	Yes, but be careful with timing the consumption of both.
Lipitor	Yes.
Meclizine or Antivert	No. This may cause extreme dizziness, low blood pressure, dry mouth, nausea and even a heart attack.
Mefenamic Acid	Yes. Take with milk or food to avoid stomach upset.
Methylprednisolone	Yes.
Tylenol	Yes.
Xanax	Yes, but avoid alcohol and consume in small quantities.

This is just a mere suggestion on our behalf and should in no way be considered as expert advice. Medication is a sensitive issue and a doctor should be consulted before any two drugs are consumed simultaneously. This table is just for reference. Actual results may vary from person to person.