When it comes to treating an illness, there are many over-the-counter options that are available. Claritin and Benadryl are two drugs that are common remedies. Benadryl is designed to treat allergies, common cold symptoms, coughing and sneezing. Claritin is designed to treat similar symptoms, so many drug users may wonder if it is possible to use both drugs at the same time. Although they are quite similar to each other, there are some differences between the drugs. To establish whether they are safe to use at the same time, we must first consider how they are typically used.

How do These Drugs Work in the Human Body?

Benadryl and Claritin use similar chemicals to carry out extremely similar results. Both drugs are designed to stop the body from producing histamine. Due to this, they are classified as antihistamine drugs. When your body reacts to an allergy or an outside invader, your immune system produces histamine to trigger an allergic response. This can cause your eyes to water, mucus or a runny nose. In addition to being produced when you have an allergy, histamine is also created when you have a cold.

Claritin is known by the name of Loratadine, and it is an antihistamine drug. It is considered a second generation drug because it was made after Benadryl and contains slight differences. Normally, Claritin is recommended for treating allergies. When you use Claritin, it works to control symptoms like itchiness, sneezing and coughing.

Benadryl is designed to treat many of the same symptoms. It can be effective against symptoms of an allergy like coughing, sneezing and rashes. In addition, Benadryl can be effective in treating vomiting, motion sickness, dizziness, nausea and light-headedness. It also contains a tranquilizer, so Benadryl can be used to induce sleep while soothing the mind.

Is It Possible to Use Benadryl and Claritin Together?

Since both drugs are antihistamines, they are basically designed to treat the same symptoms. Due to this, you do not want to use both drugs at the same time because you will end up overdosing on the chemicals included in the drugs. Although it is unlikely to cause serious, lasting harm, it can lead to a number of unenjoyable side effects.

What If I Have to Use Claritin and Benadryl Together?

Ideally, you never want to use these drugs at the same time. When you take Claritin, the drug stays in the body for about 24 hours, so you need to wait at least 24 hours until you try taking Benadryl. If your doctor tells you to use both drugs, they may recommend that you use Claritin in the morning and Benadryl before you go to sleep. Since Benadryl can induce sleepiness, it is best used before bed instead of during the time of day when you need to be awake. Since both of these drugs dry up the mucus produced by histamine, you need to make sure to drink plenty of water so that you do not become dehydrated.

If you have been taking Benadryl or Claritin and it has not been working, then you should talk to your doctor about what to do. You may be told to use both drugs in limited doses or your doctor may recommend that you switch to an entirely different drug. Since both of these drugs contain many of the same chemicals, you want to avoid taking them together unless told to by a doctor. If you do take them together, you will need to monitor your intake carefully to make sure that you do not overdose unintentionally.

Is It Possible to Take Benadryl With Other Drugs?

Although it is not recommended to take Claritin and Benadryl together, it is possible to take Benadryl with other drugs. Like always, you should discuss your treatment with a doctor before you mix your current prescription medicines with Benadryl.

Adderal: You can take this with Benadryl, but take Adderal in the morning time.

Ambien: Ambien should be taken at bed, and you should be careful about the timing.

Amoxicillin: Yes, but you should make sure to drink plenty of fluids.

Afrin: You can take this with Benadryl, but only if you do not have high blood pressure.

Aleve: Yes, but you need to take Aleve with food or milk.

Allegra: You do not want to take this with Benadryl. Instead, take Benadryl at night and Allegra in the morning.

Augmentin: Yes, this drug should not be a problem.

Benzonatate: It may cause drowsiness and you need to drink water, but it should be safe.

Blood Thinner: Yes.

Cephalexin: Yes, but it may cause you to feel sleepy.

Clonazepam: Yes, but make sure that you avoid drinking alcohol.

Diclofenac: Yes, but make sure to take food or milk at the same time.

Dimetapp: Never take this with Benadryl because it can cause severe side effects.

Flexeril: Yes, but you may feel drowsy.

Fluoxetine: Do not take this with Benadryl unless your doctor has told you to explicitly.

Gravol: No, this should never be taken with Benadryl unless your doctor has told you to. If your doctor told you to take both drugs, then you should be extremely careful about the dosage and the timing.

Hydroxyzine: Never. If you take this with Benadryl, it can cause complications like sleepiness, nausea and vertigo.

Ibuprofen: Yes, but only if you do not have allergies and consume it with food or milk.

Levothyroxine: Yes, but you will have to be careful about the timing.

Lipitor: Yes, this drug should not be a problem.

Tylenol: Yes

Xanax: Yes, but do not drink alcohol and only use it in limited amounts.