Kyrie asked
I have using Cepacol drops for a bad sore throat. Is Benadryl safe to use with it?
Answer
Cepacol and Benadryl are safe to take together. Cepacol is a topical analgesic medication that does not undergo much to any systemic absorption. As such, there is no drug interaction with Benadryl. These medications further will not cause an increase in side effects if they are taken together.
Benadryl
Benadryl is a "first-generation" antihistamine which is used to treat a number of allergic reactions. The most common side effect of sedation makes this product a common sleep aid medication as well. While generally well tolerated, long term use can cause constipation, urinary retention as well as dry eyes and dry mouth.
Each dose of Benadryl will last around 4 to 6 hours and takes around 30 minutes to begin working after taking by mouth.
Cepacol
Cepacol is a topical pain reliever and contains both a topical anesthetic (benzocaine) and menthol. It is commonly used for throat pain caused by the common cold as well as in patients who have been intubated in the hospital (which can result in lasting soreness). Since this medication is applied topically to the throat, there is not much, if any, systemic absorption, so there is little need to worry about this medication interacting with other medications.
Summary
- Cepacol and Benadryl are safe to take together. There is no interaction between them.
