Can You Take Benadryl (Diphenhydramine) With Tylenol?
In our latest question and answer, we discuss whether or not it is safe to take Benadryl (diphenhydramine) and Tylenol (acetaminophen) together.
Can you take Benadryl With Tylenol? Thanks for your help!
Mar 12, 2022- Benadryl and Tylenol can be safely taken together as there is no drug interaction between them. These two medications are actually combined together in products like Tylenol PM. You should avoid taking acetaminophen daily on a regular basis because it can cause liver toxicity, especially when combined with alcohol or illicit drugs.
Answer
Hi there and thanks for reaching out! Yes, Benadryl (diphenhydramine) may be safely taken with Tylenol (acetaminophen) as there is no drug interaction between the two. In fact, these two drugs can often be found together in the same product.
For one example, both of the active ingredients are in the product Tylenol PM, which is used to relieve pain while helping to fall asleep faster.
The product image below is the packaging for Tylenol PM, which shows it contains both acetaminophen and diphenhydramine:
One dose (two caplets) of Tylenol PM, contains:
- 1000 mg of acetaminophen
- 50 mg of diphenhydramine
So, whether or not you take Tylenol and Benadryl together as separate drugs, or in a product that already contains them both, they are considered safe together. They also don't share many similar side effects, so the combination is generally safe in that regard as well.
About Tylenol
Tylenol (acetaminophen) is an analgesic over-the-counter medication used to treat fever and pain related to headaches, backaches, toothaches, wounds, or arthritis.
Tylenol is in many over-the-counter pain, migraine, and cold/cough medications. Regular strength Tylenol is sold as 325 mg of acetaminophen, extra strength has 500 mg of acetaminophen, and Tylenol Arthritis has 650mg.
The active ingredient in Tylenol, acetaminophen, is also sold in some prescription pain medications like Tylenol with Codeine, Vicodin, and Percocet.
In general, it is not recommended for someone to take acetaminophen on a daily basis because it can cause liver toxicity when taken in a consistent manner, especially if taken with alcohol or illicit drugs.
Final Words
Thanks so much for reaching out to us!
References & sources
- Elsevier ClinicalKey: Acetaminophen Monograph — ClinicalKey (Subscription Required)
- Tylenol PM Manufacturer Website — Tylenol.com
Glossary — Terms in This Answer
- Drug interaction
- A change in how a medication works when taken together with another drug, which can make either drug more or less effective or cause harmful effects.
- Diphenhydramine
- The active ingredient in Benadryl, an antihistamine used to relieve allergy symptoms and help with sleep.
- Acetaminophen
- The active ingredient in Tylenol, a pain reliever and fever reducer available without a prescription.
- Analgesic
- A type of medication that reduces or relieves pain.
- Side effects
- Unwanted or unintended reactions that occur when taking a medication in addition to the desired effect.
- Liver toxicity
- Damage to the liver caused by exposure to harmful substances, in this case from taking too much acetaminophen.
- Active ingredient
- The substance in a medication that produces the therapeutic effect or healing benefit.
- Over-the-counter
- Medications that can be purchased without a prescription from a doctor or pharmacist.
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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