Taking Benadryl With Dayquil
The pharmacist answers a reader's question regarding whether or not it is safe to take Benadryl (Diphenhydramine) with Dayquil.
Can I take Benadryl and Dayquil together?
May 12, 2022- Benadryl and Dayquil do not interact with each other, so it is safe to take them together.
- Taking Benadryl with Dayquil may cause drowsiness, which defeats the purpose of using Dayquil during the day when you need to stay alert.
- If you need allergy relief during the day with Dayquil, non-drowsy options like Claritin, Allegra, or Xyzal are better choices.
Hello and thank you for your question! Yes, you can take Benadryl (diphenhydramine) and Dayquil together as they do not interact.
However, most people take Dayquil to alleviate cough/cold symptoms without sedation, and taking Benadryl would defeat that purpose (since Benadryl tends to cause drowsiness).
What Is In Dayquil?
DayQuil contains:
- Acetaminophen - Pain reliever/fever reducer
- Dextromethorphan - Cough suppressant
- Phenylephrine - Nasal decongestant
None of the above ingredients cause sedation and provide effective relief of many cough/cold symptoms.
Dayquil is a good option for those who need a cold/flu medication and need to be active after administration or operate heavy machinery.
What Is Benadryl?
Benadryl (diphenhydramine) is a sedating antihistamine that is used for a variety of purposes.
Although it works well as an antihistamine, it has a short duration of action (4 to 8 hours) and tends to cause pronounced sedation, which means other antihistamine options are generally better for treating allergies on a daily basis.
Benadryl is more commonly used as a sleep aid and to help stem mild allergic reactions.
While you can take Benadryl with DayQuil, the reason why people take DayQuil is to be alert during the day. Again, Benadryl may cause problems here.
Alternatives To Benadryl
If you are looking for the benefits of an antihistamine in addition to taking Dayquil, we recommend trying the following antihistamines as they will not cause sedation:
- Claritin
- Allegra
- Xyzal
If you are looking for help sleeping while taking Dayquil, try 'Nyquil Severe' instead, as it combines all of the ingredients of Dayquil with the sedating antihistamine doxylamine.
Final Words
Thanks again for reaching out and contact us if you need anything else!
References & sources
Glossary — Terms in This Answer
- Diphenhydramine
- The active ingredient in Benadryl, a type of antihistamine medication.
- Antihistamine
- A medication that blocks the effects of histamine in the body to relieve allergy symptoms.
- Dextromethorphan
- An ingredient in Dayquil that suppresses coughing.
- Phenylephrine
- An ingredient in Dayquil that reduces nasal congestion.
- Acetaminophen
- An ingredient in Dayquil that relieves pain and reduces fever.
- Sedation
- A state of reduced alertness or drowsiness caused by certain medications.
- Duration of action
- The length of time a medication remains effective in the body.
- Doxylamine
- A sedating antihistamine ingredient found in Nyquil Severe that promotes sleep.
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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