Wade asked
Is it okay to take Unisom and Benadryl together to sleep better?
Answer
There is a major drug interaction between Benadryl (diphenhydramine) and Unisom (doxylamine) and these medications should not be taken together. Unisom and Benadryl are both in the same class of medications and are classified as "first-generation" antihistamines. They have the same mechanism of action and similar side effects
When these two medications are used together, it is highly likely that the side effects will be more severe than when either medication is used alone. The most prominent side effect being drowsiness. Other common side effects include:
- Dry mouth
- Upset stomach
- Constipation
- Dizziness
- Headache
Unisom
Unisom is an over the counter sleep aid that contains doxylamine, the same sedating antihistamine that is used in NyQuil. Due to its strong sedating properties, it is generally not used solely for allergies, but more so for the treatment of insomnia. Each dose of Unisom lasts for about 6 to 8 hours.
Benadryl
Benadryl (diphenhydramine) is an over the counter allergy medication and a common ingredient in sleep products. Each dose of Benadryl lasts around 4 to 6 hours, slightly less than how long doxylamine lasts.
After taking by mouth, Benadryl will begin to work in 30 minutes with peak effects occurring after 60-90 minutes.
Unisom And Benadryl
As stated above, the two medications should not be taken at the same time because the side effect of drowsiness will likely be severe. In addition, the risk of the following side effects increases:
- Dry mouth
- Dry eyes
- Constipation
- Excitation (most likely in children)
If you want to take both Benadryl and Unisom the same day, they should be separated by at least 6 hours between doses.
