Smith asked
I use Tums on a daily basis and I have heard that it can interact with a lot of medications. Can you take it with Benadryl?
Answer
Tums does not have a drug interaction with Benadryl and it is safe to take them at the same time.
It is always a good idea to check into potential drug interactions with products that contain calcium, such as Tums. Calcium can bind, or "chelate", to many different medications, interfering with their absorption. Notable examples of drugs that Tums interact with are ciprofloxacin and levothyroxine.
Fortunately, the calcium in Tums will not bind with Benadryl or affect absorption. They can be taken at the same time.
Tums Information
Tums are calcium carbonate antacid tablets, available over-the-counter to treat heartburn and upset stomach. For adults, 1 to 4 tablets can be taken at the first sign of heartburn to relieve the symptoms. Because Tums contains calcium, they can be used to treat or prevent low calcium levels as well, but you should not use this product if you know you have high calcium levels.
As mentioned above, calcium containing products can interact with many drugs by binding to them in the intestines and not allowing them or the calcium to be absorbed into the body. Always check to see if it is safe to take your medication with Tums.
Benadryl Information
Benadryl is an antihistamine commonly used to treat allergy symptoms and insomnia, due to its sedating effects. In fact, it is a common ingredient in over the counter sleep aids such as ZzzQuil.
Each dose of Benadryl begins to work in about 30 minutes, with maximum effects seen 60 to 90 minutes after dosing. The duration of Benadryl is around 4 to 6 hours, although this can be prolonged in the elderly.
