Alli asked
I take Estroven for menopausal symptoms every day and it works well. Is it safe to take Benadryl once in awhile with it? Are there drug interactions?
Answer
Estroven products and Benadryl are mostly safe to take at the same time, with the exception of Estroven Sleep Cool, which contains melatonin, and may increase the sedation side effect of Benadryl. The other ingredients in Estroven products do not have any significant interactions with Benadryl.
In addition, Benadryl is metabolized in your liver by an enzyme called “CYP2D6.” Black cohosh, the main ingredient in Estroven, has the ability to block the CYP2D6 enzyme and may lead to higher amounts of Benadryl in the body. This can increase the side effects of Benadryl, sedation being the main side effect of concern.
If you take Estroven and Benadryl at the same time, be cautious as you may experience more sedation than Benadryl causes when taking it alone.
Estroven Products
While Estroven markets a variety of different products that have been tailored to specific symptoms, its main use is for alleviating general menopause symptoms. While all Estroven products contain black cohosh as the main active ingredient, other formulations can include:
- Soy isoflavones
- Magnolia bark
- melatonin
- Ginkgo biloba
- Green tea leaf extract
- Yerba mate leaf extract
- Cissus quadrangularis
Benadryl
Benadryl is a “first-generation antihistamine.” It is often used for allergic reactions, seasonal allergies and for the treatment of insomnia due to its potent sedative effects. Each dose of Benadryl lasts around 4 to 6 hours. If you have not taken Benadryl before, do not take it before you need to do activities that require you to be fully awake, like driving.
Summary
- For most individuals, it is safe to take Estroven and Benadryl together.
- However, there may be a slight increase in sedation.
