Can You Use Afrin And Benadryl Together?
In our latest question and answer, our pharmacist discusses whether or not Afrin is safe to use with Benadryl.
Can I use oxymetazoline nasal spray with a diphenhydramine tablet?
Aug 23, 2022- Afrin and Benadryl are safe to use together with no interaction between them.
- Afrin should be used cautiously in people with high blood pressure or heart conditions since some of the medication is absorbed into the bloodstream.
- If you take blood pressure medication, talk to your doctor before using Afrin regularly.
Answer
Hi Kara and thanks for reaching out to us!
There is no interaction between Afrin nasal spray (which contains the active ingredient oxymetazoline) and Benadryl (diphenhydramine). They are safe to use together.
Does Afrin Interact With Anything?
Afrin works as a 'vasoconstrictor', narrowing blood vessels, which improves drainage, reduces inflammation, and improves ventilation in the nasal cavity.
Now, even though Afrin is applied topically in the nose and is intended to have only local effects (i.e. work only where applied in the nose, and not be systemically absorbed), it does appear that some of the drug is absorbed into the bloodstream. This is why you'll see the packaging of Afrin products state that it should be used cautiously in certain people, like those with high blood pressure, as shown in the product packaging image below:
To zero in on blood pressure, studies show the amount of drug absorbed is fairly negligible with intermittent use and doesn't seem to raise blood pressure to any significant degree. It, nevertheless, should be used cautiously in those with certain cardiac conditions and individuals that fall under the other warnings.
As it concerns drug interactions, Afrin should be used cautiously with a few drug classes, namely blood pressure medications and some drugs that are used to treat an enlarged prostate.
Some drugs for blood pressure, such as doxazosin, work on the same receptors as oxymetazoline does, and may counteract one another to some degree. Again, most studies show that if you use Afrin only once in a while, there isn't much concern, but be sure to talk to your doctor first if you take blood pressure medication or have a heart condition.
Similarly, many drugs used to treat an enlarged prostate may be counteracted if you use Afrin consistently.
A full list of potential drug interactions can be found on the drug section of our website.
Afrin is safe to use with antihistamines, which include Benadryl, as well as the other ones available over the counter (e.g. Allegra, Zyrtec, Claritin), etc...
Final Words
Thanks for your question and feel free to reach back out!
References & sources
- Hemodynamic and pharmacokinetic analysis of oxymetazoline use during nasal surgery in children — PubMed
- Afrin Manufacturer Website — Afrin
- Population Pharmacokinetics of an Intranasally Administered Combination of Oxymetazoline and Tetracaine in Healthy Volunteers — PubMed
- Systemic side effects of locally used oxymetazoline — PubMed
- Diphenhydramine Monograph — PubChem
Glossary — Terms in This Answer
- Oxymetazoline
- The active ingredient in Afrin nasal spray that narrows blood vessels to relieve nasal congestion.
- Diphenhydramine
- The active ingredient in Benadryl, an antihistamine used to treat allergy symptoms.
- Vasoconstrictor
- A medication that works by narrowing blood vessels to reduce swelling and improve drainage.
- Topically
- Applied directly to the skin or surface of the body rather than taken by mouth or injection.
- Systemically absorbed
- When a drug enters the bloodstream and travels throughout the body rather than staying in one local area.
- Antihistamines
- Medications that block the effects of histamine to relieve allergy symptoms like sneezing and itching.
- Receptors
- Specific binding sites on cells where drugs attach to produce their effects in the body.
- Counteract
- To act against or reduce the effectiveness of something else.
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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