Maty's Children's Nighttime Cough Syrup With Genexa Kids Allergy

In our latest question and answer, our pharmacist discusses whether or not combining Maty's Children's Nighttime Cough Syrup With Genexa Kids Allergy is safe.

Question

Is there an interaction between Matys Nighttime Cough Syrup for kids and Genexa Kids Allergy medicine?

Asked by Brit On Dec 28, 2022

Answered by
Medical Content Reviewed By HelloPharmacist Staff

Published Dec 29, 2022
Last updated Apr 29, 2024

Key points

  • Maty's Nighttime Cough Syrup contains several herbal ingredients while Genexa Kids' Allergy contains diphenhydramine (commonly known as the active ingredient in Benadryl).
  • There is no data to suggest any clinically significant interaction between Maty's Nighttime Cough Syrup and Genexa Kids' Allergy but both are likely to cause sedation or drowsiness. Using them together could enhance this effect.

Answer

Thanks for reaching out! Although it can be a challenge to definitively determine whether or not herbal/natural ingredients interact with over-the-counter or prescription drugs due to the lack of available data, there is nothing to suggest that Maty's Nighttime Cough Syrup interacts with Genexa Kids Allergy.

Combining both will likely cough more sedation than either used alone since they both contain sedating ingredients, but aside from that, they are most likely safe to use together.

In the next sections, I go into the ingredients of each of these products.

What Is In Maty's Nighttime Cough Syrup?

Matys Nighttime Cough Syrup

Maty's Nighttime Cough Syrup contains the following ingredients:

  • Honey Blend (Clover, Buckwheat)
  • Elderberry Fruit Extract
  • Aronia Berry
  • Acerola Cherry Extract
  • Chamomile Leaves
  • Apple Cider Vinegar
  • Water
  • Sea Salt
  • Lemon Balm Leaf Extract
  • Nutmeg Seed
  • Zinc Gluconate
  • Citric Acid
  • Apricot Pit Extract

There is certainly some evidence that some of these ingredients (such as elderberry and nutmeg) may interact with traditional drugs, but they are used in this product in low amounts and, overall, they are all generally considered safe to take.

What Is In Genexa Kids Allergy?

Genexa Kids Allergy

Genexa, as a brand, markets 'clean' products as they strive to avoid containing artificial ingredients, dyes, or other 'fillers'. Most Genexa products, do, however, use common drugs, such as acetaminophen (generic of Tylenol) and calcium carbonate (generic of Tums).

Genexa Kids' Allergy is a product that contains diphenhydramine, which is the active ingredient in Benadryl. In addition to the active ingredient of diphenhydramine, this product contains:

  • Organic agave syrup
  • Natural citrus extract
  • Purified water

Diphenhydramine is a sedating antihistamine and a very common ingredient in nighttime cough/cold and allergy medications. There is plenty of data available regarding what drugs it interacts with.

While there is no specific interaction between the diphenhydramine contained in Genexa Kids' Allergy and the herbal ingredients in Maty's Nighttime Cough Syrup, both will cause sedation.

Diphenhydramine is well known to be quite sedating, which is why it is often used as a sleep aid. Maty's Nighttime Cough Syrup contains several ingredients intended to cause sedation, such as lemon balm extract and chamomile.

So, if you combine Genexa Kids Allergy with Maty's Nighttime Cough Syrup, expect your child to experience drowsiness and sedation. Aside from that, there is no data to suggest any drug interactions.

Final Words

Thanks for reaching out and I hope your child starts to feel better soon.

References

  • Diphenhydramine Monograph, PubChem
  • Genexa Kids Allergy Product Page, Genexa
  • Maty's Nighttime Cough Syrup Product Page, Maty's Health

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.

Recent Questions