Mighty asked
Is it safe to use Midol and Benadryl at the same time?
Answer
There is a mild interaction between Midol and Benadryl. Midol, a combination product, contains an antihistamine. The active ingredient in Benadryl is diphenhydramine, an antihistamine.
Taking more than one antihistamine at the same time can increase the risk of additive side effects, such as:
- Sedation
- Blurred vision
- Dry mouth
- Constipation
- Confusion
As both Midol and Benadryl contain an antihistamine, they generally should not be used together. However, both medications have a relatively short duration of action, around 4-6 hours. If you wish to take Midol and Benadryl in the same day, be sure to separate them by at least 4 to 6 hours.
Midol
Midol is a combination product that contains:
- Acetaminophen
- Caffeine
- Pyrilamine
The acetaminophen contained within is used for pain relief, the caffeine causes the vessels in the brain to constrict, generally resulting in headache relief and the pyrilamine works to block histamine and as a diuretic, which typically treats the bloating associated with menstruation.
Midol is generally well tolerated but may cause sedation and drowsiness due to the antihistamine contained in the product. Midol does contain caffeine too however, which may lessen the sedative effects.
Benadryl
Benadryl (diphenhydramine) is classified as a first-generation antihistamine. First generation antihistamines are generally noted for relatively short duration of action (~4 to 8 hours) and their sedative effects.
In addition to its use for treating seasonal allergy symptoms, Benadryl is also effective for treating symptoms of nausea, vomiting, and motion sickness. As Benadryl has fairly significant sedating effects, it is often used as a night time sleep aide and is common component of over the counter sleep products such as ZzzQuil.
Summary
- Midol and Benadryl generally should not be taken together as they both contain sedating antihistamines.
