Terry asked
I know that iron can interfere with a lot of medication. Can you take it at the same time as Benadryl (diphenhydramine)?
Answer
Iron doesn’t have a drug interaction with Benadryl and they are safe to take together. However, iron absorption can be significantly affected by food and other medications if taken at the same time. For this reason, it is generally recommended to take iron by itself, about 30 minutes before food or 2 hours after food.
Iron Supplement
Iron is a mineral that is necessary for normal red blood cells to be made in the body and for a variety of other natural chemical reactions that occur in the body. Not getting enough iron in your diet can result in iron deficiency and the most common way to treat iron deficiency is to use over-the-counter iron supplements.
There are a variety of iron supplements available over the counter (e.g. ferrous sulfate, ferrous gluconate etc...). The most common side effects of iron supplements are:
- Constipation
- Nausea
- Dark stools
- Diarrhea
- Vomiting
If your iron supplement causes nausea, it is advised to take it with a small amount of food but avoid taking it with antacids, coffee, tea, dairy products, eggs, or whole grain breads.
Benadryl
Benadryl is a "first-generation" antihistamine, commonly used for allergies and as a sleep aid due to its sedating properties. After taking by mouth, Benadryl will begin to work in 30 minutes with peak effects occurring in about 90 minutes. Each doses lasts between 4 to 6 hours.
Benadryl is generally well tolerated but can cause:
- Dizziness
- Dry mouth
- Dry eyes
- Constipation
Taking Iron With Benadryl
Benadryl can cause constipation, so there is the possibility for increased constipation when taken consistently with iron. However, as discussed above, there is no drug-drug interaction between Benadryl and iron.
