Taking Benadryl With Tylenol PM

Answer

It is not recommended to take Tylenol PM at the same time as Benadryl. Taking these medications together results in duplicate drug therapy of the medication diphenhydramine as both Tylenol PM and Benadryl contain it as an active ingredient. Doses of each should be separated by at least four to six hours.

Tylenol PM

Tylenol PM is a medication that contains:

• acetaminophen
• diphenhydramine

The pain reliever component of this medication (acetaminophen) is useful for the treatment of mild to moderate pain. The mechanism of acetaminophen is not fully understood but is believed to inhibit prostaglandins which serve a role in inflammation and pain.

The antihistamine component (diphenhydramine) is useful for aiding in sleep or allergic rhinitis symptoms due to the anticholinergic effect that antihistamines exert on the body. This medication, if used as a sleep aid, is recommended to be taken about one hour before the desired hour of sleep.

Each dose (e.g. tablet, capsule) of Tylenol PM contains 500 mg of acetaminophen and 25 mg of diphenhydramine.

Benadryl

Unlike Tylenol PM, Benadryl only contains diphenhydramine which is a 1st generation antihistamine. First-generation antihistamines are known for their sedative effects and relatively short duration of action. The common uses of this medication are for allergy relief, insomnia, and the prevention or treatment of motion sickness. The same anticholinergic, sedating and drowsy side effects are expected with this medication as with Tylenol PM.

Each dose of Benadryl (e.g. tablet, capsule) contains 25 mg of diphenhydramine.

Taking Benadryl With Tylenol PM

The use of these medications together will result in an additive effect of toxicities and not in therapeutic benefit as both medications contain diphenhydramine in the active ingredients. Effects which may be intensified include:

• Sedation
• Drowsiness
• Dry mouth
• Dry eyes
• Constipation

When taking either of these medications, it is recommended to take them at night time due to the potential to induce sleep. The use of heavy machinery or operating vehicles is also not recommended while using either of these medications.

Lastly, it is important to note that some sources indicate the dosage of Benadryl for the treatment of insomnia to be 50 mg, or two tablets. Therefore, if necessary, you can safely take one Benadryl tablet with Tylenol PM to equal a dose of 50 mg of diphenhydramine, but this would be the maximum dose. This also isn't generally recommended due to the risk of overdosing using multiple medications.

Final Words

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