Can I Give My Child Benadryl and Zyrtec in the Same Day

Sep 28, 2017

Jolene asked

Tin can I have Benadryl and Zyrtec together?​​ I find that only taking Zyrtec hasn't been helpful plenty and desire to add something else on to make my allergy symptoms go away.

At a glance

• Although Benadryl is a first-generation antihistamine and Zyrtec is a 2d-generation antihistamine, they both work the same way (by blocking histamine receptors).
• Taking Benadryl and Zyrtec together likely will increase the hazard of side effects (eastward.chiliad. tiredness, dry rima oris etc...) just there are situations where both can be used the same day.
• Examples of these situations include when Benadryl is being used every bit a short-term sleep aid or used to help stem the furnishings of an allergic reaction.

Reply

Benadryl (diphenhydramine) and Zyrtec (cetirizine) are both antihistamines and it by and large isn't recommended to take drugs together that are in the same grade and piece of work the same fashion. Having said that, at that place certainly are occasions where both can be used together safely and may exist fifty-fifty recommended by your doctor.

There are two chief concerns with taking multiple drugs that piece of work the same mode (Zyrtec and Benadryl in this case):

• In that location is the gamble of additive side furnishings. Both Zyrtec and Benadryl will crusade you to be tired for example. The use of both together will only increment the chance of this happening, and to a more severe degree.
• Y'all probable won't experience much added do good. Taking 2 antihistamines won't make them work twice equally well. I discuss this in more than detail in the following paragraph.

As mentioned, both Benadryl and Zyrtec are antihistamines, and they both work the aforementioned way mechanistically. Specifically, they both block what is known every bit the 'histamine-one receptor'. This prevents histamine from binding to these receptors and producing the symptoms we are all very familiar with (runny nose, sneezing, itching etc...).

At present, both do a pretty good job of blocking histamine receptors on their own. Taking both Benadryl and Zyrtec volition simply crusade them to compete for the same receptors. Once a receptor is blocked, it's blocked. In other words, if Benadryl is already bound to a histamine receptor, Zyrtec won't be able to act on it. This is why there isn't much of a cumulative effect in using ii antihistamines at the same time.

So, the overall point here is that taking Benadryl and Zyrtec together doesn't increase the antihistamine effect of both, only volition likely only increment the risk of side effects. These side effects include:

• Sedation (i.e. tiredness)
• Dry mouth
• Dry eyes
• Constipation

I said at the beginning of this answer that in that location are occasions where these drugs could be used together. These situations include:

• If you are experiencing an allergic reaction.
• You are using Benadryl as a slumber assistance.
• You lot take Benadryl and Zyrtec the same day, but separated by appropriate amount of time.

Situations Where You May Use Benadryl And Zyrtec Together

In many cases, Benadryl and Zyrtec shouldn't be taken together, and certainly not every day. However, the post-obit sections detail situations where it may be beneficial to exercise so.

Allergic Reaction

Although studies are conflicting, some show that Benadryl is slightly more than effective than Zyrtec at stemming an allergic reaction, such as the reaction some people have to bee stings. This may be because Benadryl has stronger 'anticholinergic' effects than Zyrtec.

The anticholinergic actions of Benadryl are responsible for many of the side furnishings, like sedation, but they also aid to reduce itching and swelling. Zyrtec has been shown in studies to assist reduce itching, just again, Benadryl may have the upper hand hither. In fact, it is Benadryl, non Zyrtec, that is recommended in the guidelines for managing vaccine reactions for reducing hives and itching due to an adverse immunization reactions.

Let'southward say y'all have Zyrtec on a daily basis for your seasonal allergies and you constitute yourself in a situation where y'all were having a allergic reaction. Benadryl may be an appropriate selection to add together-on since it may aid provide you with some additional Relief.

Slumber Assistance

Another situation where the combination may be okay is if your medico recommends taking Benadryl as a brusque-term handling for insomnia. The active ingredient in Benadryl is diphenhydramine, which is used in many over the counter sleep aids. Information technology is the active ingredient in ZzzQuil and likewise the sleep assist used in Tylenol PM for example.

Your md may recommend taking Zyrtec in the morning, every day, to manage your allergy symptoms and Benadryl in the evening equally needed. While this may make you lot slightly more tired than using Benadryl lone to sleep, this shouldn't exist much of an upshot because, after all, you are trying to go to bed.

Separate Administration Time

Benadryl is a curt-acting, first-generation antihistamine. Each dose just lasts around iv to six hours. Therefore, if you took Benadryl offset, and and then Zyrtec four to half-dozen hours later, Benadryl will have worn off by that point and then there is no interaction to exist concerned about.

Zyrtec on the other hand, is a long-acting, second-generation antihistamine. Each dose last around 24 hours (the adult dose at least, which is 10mg) and then you really can't avoid having both in your organisation on the same twenty-four hour period if you took Zyrtec start, and Benadryl second. Nevertheless, every bit I only wrote almost above, in that location are times where this is okay.

Final Words

You mentioned that in your question that Zyrtec wasn't helping enough for yous. Adding on Benadryl, in my stance, is not the best option for optimal allergy relief.

If Zyrtec isn't working, yous may desire to try a unlike over the counter antihistamine, like Allegra (fexofenadine) and Xyzal (levocetirizine). Additionally, you lot could add on a nasal steroid, similar Flonase (fluticasone) or Nasonex (mometasone). Nasal steroids are very constructive at treating too as preventing allergy symptoms and you use them at the aforementioned fourth dimension every bit antihistamines.

At the very to the lowest degree, be sure to discuss your concerns with your doctor. They can help you find the best therapy for your situation.

References

1. Elsevier ClinicalKey: Drug Interaction Study. ClinicalKey (Subscription Required)
2. Pharmacology of Antihistamines. PubMed
3. Guideline for astute therapy and management of anaphylaxis. PubMed
4. Oral antihistamines for insect bites. PubMed
5. Elsevier ClinicalKey: Benadryl Monograph. ClinicalKey (Subscription Required)
6. Elsevier ClinicalKey: Zyrtec Monograph. ClinicalKey (Subscription Required)

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