Can You Take Benadryl With Prednisone?

In our latest question and answer, the pharmacist discusses whether or not diphenhydramine can be taken with the steroid prednisone.

Question

Can you take diphenhydramine (Benadryl, Sominex) while taking prednisone?

Asked by Gem On Aug 18, 2021

Answered by
Medical Content Reviewed By HelloPharmacist Staff

Published Aug 18, 2021
Last updated Mar 29, 2024

Key points

  • There is no known drug interaction between diphenhydramine (the active ingredient in Benadryl and Sominex) and prednisone. They are considered safe to take together.

Hello and thank you for your question!

In your question, you mentioned both Sominex and Benadryl. As you stated, both of these brand-name products contain the same active ingredient, diphenhydramine.

Diphenhydramine is safe to take with prednisone, an oral corticosteroid. There is no listed or reported interaction between the two medications.

What Is Benadryl?

Diphenhydramine is a commonly used drug in many over-the-counter products including Sominex, ZzzQuil, and Benadryl.

It is classified as a 'first-generation' antihistamine and is very effective for the treatment of allergy symptoms and allergic reactions.

As with most first-generation antihistamines, it can cause pronounced sedation, which is why it is used in over-the-counter sleep aides. 

What Is Prednisone?

Prednisone is an oral corticosteroid and is used for several medical conditions. Most commonly, it is used for its anti-inflammatory properties.

It can help stem the effects of an allergic reaction (e.g. poison ivy), reduce inflammation in those suffering from pneumonia, and is also beneficial in those who have experienced a severe asthma attack.

Prednisone is well known to cause several side effects, including:

  • Insomnia
  • Anxiety
  • Excitation
  • Upset stomach

All of these side effects can happen as early as your first dose.

While taking prednisone with food can help with the stomach side effects, there isn't much that can be done to avoid the other ones mentioned, except for taking the lowest effective dose for the shortest amount of time to reduce their severity.

Since prednisone does tend to cause insomnia in many individuals, over-the-counter (OTC) medications, like Benadryl, are commonly used to help sleep in the evening.

Fortunately, as mentioned above, diphenhydramine is safe to use with prednisone and there are no safety issues taking both together.

Final Words

Although there is no interaction between these drugs, I will say that if you take Benadryl somewhat regularly to help you sleep, you may notice it not work as well if you combine it with prednisone, due to their counteracting effects (i.e. Benadryl will make you tired while prednisone can cause the opposite).

Thank you again for your question!

References

About the Pharmacist

Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD

Dr. Brian has been practicing pharmacy for over 13 years and has wide-ranging experiences in many different areas of the profession. From retail, clinical, program development, and administrative responsibilities, he's your knowledgeable and go-to source for all your pharmacy and medication-related questions! Dr. Brian Staiger also has herbalist training and educational certificates in the field of medical ethnobotany. Feel free to send him an email at [email protected]! You can also connect with Dr. Brian Staiger on LinkedIn.

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