James asked
How often can you take Benadryl? I am wondering as I want to be safe taking it multiple times per day.
Answer
Benadryl most commonly comes in 25 mg tablets and you can take 1 or 2 tablets (25 mg or 50 mg) every 4 to 6 hours. This translates to you being able to take Benadryl 4 to 6 times a day.
The maximum daily dose of Benadryl is 300 mg or 12 tablets. Daily dosing is based on a 24-hour period.
- Benadryl liquid 12.5mg/5ml
- Benadryl chewable 12.5mg per tablet
Like the Benadryl 25 mg tablet, you can dose the liquid or the chewable tablet every 4 to 6 hours (i.e. 4 to 6 times per day).
Benadryl Information
Benadryl, or diphenhydramine (its generic name), is available over-the-counter in most pharmacies. It is classified as a "first-generation" antihistamine and can be used for a variety of reasons.
Most commonly, it is used for seasonal allergies or allergic reactions, but it can also be used for sleep, motion sickness, or cold symptoms.
Benadryl works to block histamine binding to receptors in your body. Histamine is produced by immune cells in response to a foreign particle, like pollen or dust, and causes different effects like increasing mucous production and inflammation. Blocking histamine can reduce these effects.
In addition, after taking by mouth, Benadryl can travel to the central nervous system (or your brain) and cause drowsiness, one of its main side effects. If you take Benadryl to help you sleep, it is important to know that you should not rely on the medication for too long or you might disrupt how your body naturally sleeps.
If you are taking Benadryl to help you sleep, don’t use it for more than 3 weeks. If
you are taking Benadryl for seasonal allergies or a cold, consider using a second-generation antihistamine like Zyrtec, Claritin, or Allegra to avoid the
drowsiness that Benadryl can cause.
