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.
Can you take diphenhydramine (Benadryl, Sominex) while taking prednisone?
Aug 18, 2021- It is safe to take Benadryl with prednisone as there is no interaction between these two medications.
- Benadryl is commonly used to help with sleep problems that can occur as a side effect of prednisone.
- You may find Benadryl less effective at helping you sleep when taking prednisone because prednisone can cause excitement and insomnia that work against the sedating effects of Benadryl.
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 aids.
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 & sources
- Prednisone Monograph — PubChem
- Benadryl Monograph — PubChem
- Prednisone Monograph — ClinicalKey (subscription required)
Glossary — Terms in This Answer
- Diphenhydramine
- An active ingredient in over-the-counter medications that reduces allergy symptoms and causes drowsiness.
- Prednisone
- An oral corticosteroid medication used to reduce inflammation and treat various medical conditions.
- Corticosteroid
- A type of medication that reduces inflammation and suppresses immune system activity in the body.
- Antihistamine
- A medication that blocks histamine to relieve allergy symptoms and allergic reactions.
- First-generation antihistamine
- An older type of antihistamine that is effective at treating allergies but commonly causes drowsiness as a side effect.
- Anti-inflammatory
- A property of a medication that reduces swelling, redness, and irritation in the body.
- Insomnia
- Difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep.
- Sedation
- A state of reduced alertness or drowsiness caused by medication.
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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