Taking Benadryl With Clonazepam

Thanks so much for reaching out to us. I hope this answer helps to alleviate some of your fears.

Interaction Details

Both Benadryl (diphenhydramine) and clonazepam have CNS (central nervous system) depressant effects and are generally not recommended to be used together.

Taking both together can have additive effects which could lead to excess sedation and respiratory depression. The risk is greatly increased if you have a sleep-related breathing disorder such as sleep apnea or COPD. 

Having said that, the chance of fatal respiratory depression on the combination of Benadryl and clonazepam (at usual doses) is low in normal, healthy individuals. While the exact incidence of severe episodes of respiratory depression is unknown, the reported cases typically involved individuals who had underlying conditions, were on additional sedating medications, or were taking excessive doses.

In terms of the individual medications, collected data shows that benzodiazepines (such as clonazepam), as a class of medications, cause dose-dependent respiratory depression (i.e. high doses result in an increased risk). However, at usual, hypnotic doses, respiration is typically not affected in normal, healthy individuals.

Benadryl is not thought to cause respiratory depression in normal, healthy individuals with no conflicting factors. There does seem to be a small risk in individuals with sleep disorders and in those were take doses exceeding manufacturer recommendations. 

Taking Benadryl And Klonopin Together

It is extremely difficult to accurately anticipate how a certain combination of drugs will affect someone. What we know for sure is that there is an inherent, increased risk in combining multiple drugs that individually can cause respiratory depression. The most commonly reported interactions involve opioid (e.g. oxycodone) drugs but combining any drugs that cause CNS depression is a risk.

Overall, the combination of Benadryl and clonazepam heightens the risk of respiratory depression, but the risk remains small in healthy individuals with no underlying sleeping disorders. 

It puts health care providers in a difficult situation if you are looking for a definitive answer regarding whether or not you can take this combination of drugs together. There are many factors to consider and the exact risk is not known. Most will err on the side of caution and recommend against the combination unless you can be monitored to confirm that taking the drugs together will not significantly affect you.

Final Words

Lastly, Prozac (fluoxetine) is not typically associated with respiratory depression. 

If you are having trouble sleeping and or would like a recommendation for your specific situation, speak with your doctor. They have your full medical history and are in the best position to provide you with appropriate guidance. 

Thanks again for your question and feel free to reach back out anytime.