Ashley asked
I am using Prevacid once daily. Can I take Benadryl with it?
Answer
Benadryl (diphenhydramine) and Prevacid (lansoprazole) do not have any known drug interaction, and these medication can be taken together without a potential increase in side effects.
Benadryl (Diphenhydramine)
Benadryl is an antihistamine that is used to treat allergic reactions and it is also commonly used as a sleep aid. The most common side effects seen with this medication are:
- Sedation
- Drowsiness
- Constipation
- Urinary retention
- Blurred vision
The sedation and confusion that commonly occur when this medication is taken is why Benadryl was placed on the Beer’s list, which recommends that elderly patients not use this medication. It has been found that they are at an increased risk of falling and potentially developing delirium when they take this medication.
Prevacid (Lansoprazole)
Prevacid is a proton pump inhibitor that works on the acid pumps within the stomach to block the acid being released in the stomach that naturally occurs during digestion. This is used to treat heartburn or acid reflux.
The use of this medication is recommended to only be a temporary fix to acid reflux (max 14 days of self-treatment), because there have been a number of studies that have found that the chronic use of this medication can cause other diseases in patients. The most notable issue developing with the chronic use of a proton pump inhibitor is osteoporosis.
Summary
- Benadryl and Prevacid are safe to take together. There is no interaction between them.
