Can You Take Banophen (diphenhydramine) With Buspar (buspirone)?
In our latest question and answer, the pharmacist discusses whether or not it is safe to combine Banophen and Buspar.
Can you take Banophen (diphenhydramine) with Buspar (buspirone)?
Jul 22, 2021- Diphenhydramine and buspirone have no major drug interactions and are considered safe to take together.
- Both medications can cause drowsiness and dizziness, so taking them together will likely increase these side effects and you should avoid driving or operating machinery.
- Talk to your pharmacist or doctor about starting these medications to find the safest approach for your situation.
Hi Mary and thank you for reaching out to us. Diphenhydramine, or under the brand names Benadryl or Banophen is a “first-generation” antihistamine.
It was originally widely used as an effective allergy medication, but with the introduction of longer-acting, non-sedating antihistamines (like Claritin), it is less commonly being used to treat everyday allergies.
Now, it is more commonly used for allergic reactions, and as a sleep aid, due to the fact that it almost always causes drowsiness. Additionally, it can cause dizziness, dry mouth, constipation, urinary retention, and next day fatigue.
Buspirone is a unique medication that’s used to help treat and prevent anxiety. It doesn’t work right away, but after you’ve taken it routinely for a few weeks, it usually is an effective medication and often preferred over benzodiazepines (like Valium) since it does not cause physical dependence. Trials showed that about 10% of patients taking buspirone experienced drowsiness and 12% experienced dizziness.
Safe Together?
The good news is that there are no major drug interactions between these two medications. However, there is one thing to be careful of. Diphenhydramine commonly causes both dizziness and drowsiness. Buspirone causes dizziness and drowsiness in more than 10% of people.
Adding these medications together will almost certainly cause you to experience dizziness, drowsiness, or both. Please make sure that you start these medications at home, and don’t drive or operate any heavy machinery while taking these. I can’t think of a much worse place to be than drowsy and behind the wheel.
Thanks for reaching out to us and I hope this helps!
Glossary — Terms in This Answer
- Antihistamine
- A medication that blocks histamine, a chemical in your body that causes allergy symptoms like itching and swelling.
- First-generation
- An older type of antihistamine that tends to cause drowsiness as a side effect.
- Allergic reactions
- Your body's immune system response to a substance it treats as harmful, causing symptoms like hives, swelling, or difficulty breathing.
- Urinary retention
- The inability to fully empty your bladder, causing urine to remain in your body.
- Buspirone
- A medication used to treat anxiety that works differently than older anxiety drugs and doesn't create physical dependence.
- Benzodiazepines
- A class of sedative medications that calm anxiety and promote sleep but can become habit-forming with regular use.
- Physical dependence
- A condition where your body becomes reliant on a drug and experiences withdrawal symptoms when you stop taking it.
- Drug interactions
- When two medications affect each other's effectiveness or increase the risk of side effects when taken together.
Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD
Doctor of Pharmacy, board certified clinical pharmacist (BCPS), American Herbalist Guild, Medication Therapy Management certified
Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS, is a licensed pharmacist with more than 13 years of experience across retail pharmacy, clinical pharmacy, medication safety, pharmacy program development, and healthcare administration. He is the founder of HelloPharmacist.com, where he helps patients...
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