How Long To Separate Benadryl And Dramamine
In our latest question and answer, the pharmacist discusses how long you should separate doses of Benadryl and Dramamine.
Can you take Benadryl and Dramamine in one day at separate times? About 4-6 hours apart? Thank you!
Mar 15, 2024- Both Benadryl and Dramamine contain the same active ingredient and last about 4 to 6 hours in your body. You should separate doses of these medications by at least 4 to 6 hours to avoid taking them at the same time and reduce the risk of side effects like dizziness and sedation.
Answer
Thank you for reaching out, and I appreciate your question.
Benadryl (diphenhydramine) and Dramamine (dimenhydrinate) are very similar drugs based on the fact that Dramamine (dimenhydrinate) is the chlorotheophylline salt of Benadryl (diphenhydramine).
The active moiety in Dramamine (dimenhydrinate) is Benadryl (diphenhydramine). In fact, Dramamine (dimenhydrinate) contains about 55% Benadryl (diphenhydramine), and about 45% 8-chlorotheophylline. 8-chlorotheophylline has mild stimulating properties, which is why Dramamine tends to cause a little less drowsiness compared to Benadryl.
I answered a similar question to yours about two years ago and dove deep into how the two drugs compare. You can find more information here.
How Long To Separate The Drugs
I want to point out a couple of assumptions I'm making here. Firstly, that you are an adult, and secondly, that you are referring to the original Dramamine, not Dramamine Less Drowsy, which contains a different active ingredient (meclizine).
The duration of action of both Benadryl and Dramamine is essentially the same, about 4-6 hours per dose.
Therefore, yes, you can take both Benadryl and Dramamine the same day, and you should separate doses of each by at least 4 to 6 hours. Doing so will be your best bet to avoid having both drugs affect you at the same time and increase the risk of side effects (like dizziness, sedation, etc.).
Final Words
I hope this answer provided the information you were looking for! Feel free to reach out if there is anything else I can help with.
Glossary — Terms in This Answer
- Diphenhydramine
- An antihistamine medication commonly used to treat allergies, itching, and motion sickness that is the active ingredient in Benadryl.
- Dimenhydrinate
- A medication used to treat motion sickness and nausea that is made by combining diphenhydramine with another chemical compound.
- Active moiety
- The part of a medication that is responsible for its therapeutic effect in the body.
- Chlorotheophylline salt
- A chemical combination created by bonding diphenhydramine with a stimulating compound to create a new medication formulation.
- 8-chlorotheophylline
- A mild stimulant chemical that is combined with diphenhydramine to reduce drowsiness in Dramamine.
- Meclizine
- A different antihistamine medication used to prevent motion sickness that is found in Dramamine Less Drowsy instead of dimenhydrinate.
- Duration of action
- The length of time a medication continues to work in your body after you take it.
- Sedation
- A state of drowsiness or reduced alertness 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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