Can you take Benadryl and Adderall together?
By
Dr Milena Locci de Oliveira (PhD)
Author bio
Dr Milena Locci de Oliveira is a Pharmacist and Doctor of Philosophy in Sciences from the University of São Paulo (USP). She has experience in microbiology, analytical toxicology, and clinical pharmacokinetics. She writes and reviews content on these topics.
Dr Milena’s Highlights:
-PhD in Sciences, University of São Paulo, Brazil, 2019.
-University College London (UCL) – Semester of remote collaboration in the areas of Pharmacometrics and Population Pharmacokinetics, 2018.
-Bachelor in Biochemical Pharmacy, University of São Paulo, Brazil, 2013.
“Science can be translated, and it is essential that everyone has access to quality information to make informed decisions” – Dr Milena Oliveira, PhD.
Professional Experience:
With a decade-long career as a researcher, Dr Milena has amassed extensive experience in conducting research projects in microbiology, analytical toxicology, and clinical pharmacokinetics.
Her expertise also extends to the preparation of technical and scientific reports, literature reviews, data analysis, and scientific communication, both oral and written.
Dr Milena has served as a Clinical Pharmacist, providing expert supervision and guidance to teams during the challenging times of the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly in the ICUs of two reference hospitals for patient hospitalization.
In her most recent role, Dr Milena worked on the implementation of the deliberatives of the São Paulo State Government Pharmaceutical Assistance Coordination. These decisions were aimed at ensuring medication access within the Unified Health System.
A widely multidisciplinary background enabled Dr Milena to become a professional capable of integrating scientific knowledge into private initiatives, education, and healthcare, delivering consistent services in patient safety and population health.
Professional Memberships & Affiliations:
Dr Milena Oliveira is a member of the Regional Council of Pharmacy of the State of São Paulo, Brazil.
Education:
-PhD in Sciences, University of São Paulo, Brazil, 2019.
-University College London (UCL) – Semester of remote collaboration, 2018.
-Bachelor in Biochemical Pharmacy, University of São Paulo, Brazil, 2013.
Relevant Published Work & Citations:
Oliveira ML de, Rocha A, Nardotto GHB, Pippa LF, Simões BP, Lanchote VL. Analysis of daunorubicin and its metabolite daunorubicinol in plasma and urine with application in the evaluation of total, renal and metabolic formation clearances in patients with acute myeloid leukemia. Journal of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Analysis. Nov 2020. 191:113-124.
Abstracts. CPT: Pharmacometrics & Systems Pharmacology. 2020 Nov; 9 (S1).
Pippa LF, Oliveira ML de, Rocha A, de Andrade JM, Lanchote VL. Total, renal and hepatic clearances of doxorubicin and formation clearance of doxorubicinol in patients with breast cancer: Estimation of doxorubicin hepatic extraction ratio. Journal of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Analysis. 2020 Jun 5; 185:113-231.
Godoy ALPC, De Jesus C, De Oliveira ML, Rocha A, Pereira MPM, Larangeira DF, Lanchote VL, Barrouin-Melo SM. Determination of Allopurinol and Oxypurinol in Dogs Plasma by High-Performance Liquid Chromatography with an Ultraviolet Detector: Application for Pharmacokinetic Studies. J Chromatogr Sep Tech. 2017; 8 (4).
Clímaco EC, Oliveira ML de, Pitondo-Silva A, Oliveira MG, Medeiros M, Lincopan N, et al. Clonal complexes 104, 109 and 113 playing a major role in the dissemination of OXA-carbapenemase-producing Acinetobacter baumannii in Southeast Brazil. Infection, Genetics and Evolution. 2013 Oct;19:127–33.
Conference Papers:
Oliveira, M. L.; NARDOTTO, G. H. B.; PIPPA, L. F.; ROCHA, A.; SIMOES, B. P.; LANCHOTE, V. L. . Daunorubicin metabolism and urinary excretion in patients with acute myeloid leukemia. In: 84th Annual Meeting of the German Society for Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology (DGPT) and the 20th Annual Meeting of the Association of the Clinical Pharmacology Germany (VKliPha), 2018, Göttingen. Naunyn-Schmiedeberg’s Arch Pharmacol, 2018. v. 391. p. S76-S76.
Oliveira, M. L.; NARDOTTO, G. H. B. ; ROCHA, A. ; SIMOES, B. P. ; LANCHOTE, V. L. . The low contribution of urinary excretion in the elimination of daunorubicin and its metabolite daunorubicinol in patients with acute myeloid leukemia. In: 49th Brazilian Congress of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics., 2017, Ribeirão Preto. Livro de Resumos, 2017. p. 64-64.
Oliveira, M. L.; PIPPA, L. F. ; ROCHA, A. ; SIMOES, B. P. ; LANCHOTE, V. L. . Quantification of daunorubicin and its metabolite daunorubicinol in human plasma by LC-MS/MS. In: I International Meeting of Environmental Health and Toxicology (IMEHTOX), 2016, Ribeirão Preto. Livro de Resumos, 2016.
Oliveira, M. L.; Clímaco, E.C. ; OLIVEIRA, M. G. ; Lincopan, N. ; Darini A.L.C. . PFGE typing of Carbapenem-Resistant Acinetobacter baumannii isolated from different University Hospitals. In: V International Postgraduate and Research Symposium, 2012.
Clímaco, E.C. ; SILVA, A. P. ; Oliveira, M. L. ; OLIVEIRA, M. G. ; Lincopan, N. ; Darini A.L.C. Relação clonal entre linhagens de Acinetobacter baumannii produtoras de carbapenemases da família OXA em quatro hospitais no Brasil. In: XXI Latin American Congress of Microbiology, 2012, Santos. XXI Latin American Congress of Microbiology, 2012.
Oliveira, M. L.; Clímaco, E.C. ; OLIVEIRA, M. G. ; Darini A.L.C. . Dissemintion of OXA carbapenemases genes in carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii in University Hospital of Juiz de Fora, MG. In: 8th CIFARP – International Congress of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2011, Ribeirão Preto.
Clímaco, E.C. ; Oliveira, M. L. ; OLIVEIRA, M. G. ; Darini A.L.C. . Avaliação do sequenciamento parcial do gene rpoB e de seus flanqueadores para identificação de espécies de Acinetobacter na rotina laroratorial. In: 2° International Symposium on Clinical Microbiology, 2010, Florianópolis.
You can view some of Dr Milena’s work below and links to her professional profile.
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dra-milena-locci-de-oliveira-28986042/?locale=en_US
ResearchGate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Milena-Oliveira-6
Escavador: https://www.escavador.com/sobre/5394254/milena-locci-de-oliveira
Lattes: https://buscatextual.cnpq.br/buscatextual/busca.do
Scopus: https://www.scopus.com/authid/detail.uri?authorId=57199779361
Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?view_op=list_works&hl=pt-BR&user=1YUBDIQAAAAJ
Can you take Benadryl and Adderall together?
It is generally not recommended to take Benadryl and Adderall together, as this combination is not an ideal one and it really doesn’t make much sense. Benadryl is a sedative antihistamine which slows down the brain and prepares it for sleep while fighting against common allergy symptoms (1).
Adderall, on the other hand, is a stimulant and a controlled substance – which should be taken cautiously and should never be paired with any other medication without a doctor’s approval (2).
If you feel the need to take an antihistamine while you’re being treated with Adderall, it’s best to go for an antihistamine that does not cause sedation, like second-generation antihistamines. It’s still best to talk to your doctor or pharmacist before you take any medication along with Adderall.
Potential risks of taking Benadryl and Adderall together
Taking Benadryl and Adderall together can have potential risks due to their different mechanisms of action and side effects. Benadryl and Adderall work in opposite ways and may cancel out the effects of one another. Adderall being an Amphetamine is a central nervous system (CNS) stimulant (2).
However, it won’t be able to reach its maximum stimulatory effects while Benadryl is in your body at the same time, which depresses your CNS and induces sleep (1).
Benadryl, being a sedative first-generation antihistamine, is used as a sleep aid. If we look at the other side, Benadryl won’t be able to induce sleep properly because of CNS stimulation caused by Adderall (1,2).
This indicates that both of these meds will not be able to work in the way you want them to, and you will not achieve your desired therapeutic response.
Additionally, both medications can affect the cardiovascular system. Adderall can increase heart rate and blood pressure, while Benadryl can have anticholinergic effects, which means it can interfere with the nervous system that controls the heart rate and blood vessels (3,4).
Combining these medications may lead to an increased risk of heart-related issues, especially in individuals with pre-existing heart conditions.
Moreover, taking Benadryl and Adderall together can also lead to other side effects like dry mouth, blurred vision, and difficulty urinating. This combination may also affect cognitive function and memory.
Individual responses to these medications can vary, and certain factors such as age, weight, and medical history can influence how the body processes the drugs.
Therefore, it’s best to ask your doctor or pharmacist for an alternative and you may also need to change the time of taking Adderall and an antihistamine.
What to do if you’re experiencing allergy symptoms while taking Adderall?
If you’re experiencing allergy symptoms while taking Adderall, it’s important to talk to your healthcare provider about possible alternative non-sedative antihistamines that can be safely used with Adderall.
Some non-sedating antihistamines, like Loratadine (Claritin) or Cetirizine (Zyrtec), are less likely to cause drowsiness or interact with Adderall compared to sedating antihistamines like Benadryl (5) and are considered safe to take with Adderall.
Your doctor can help determine the best option for you based on your specific allergy symptoms, medical history, and other medications you may be taking.
Remember, it’s essential to avoid self-medicating or making any changes to your medication regimen without consulting a healthcare professional. Proper medical supervision ensures your safety and well-being while managing both your ADHD symptoms with Adderall and any allergy symptoms you may experience.
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References
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Sicari V, Zabbo CP. Diphenhydramine. 2022 Jul 11. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2023 Jan–. PMID: 30252266. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK526010
2.-
Sharbaf Shoar N, Marwaha R, Molla M. Dextroamphetamine-Amphetamine. 2023 May 23. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2023 Jan–. PMID: 29939585. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK507808
3.-
Sichilima T, Rieder MJ. Adderall and cardiovascular risk: A therapeutic dilemma. Paediatr Child Health. 2009 Mar;14(3):193-5. doi: 10.1093/pch/14.3.193. PMID: 20190905; PMCID: PMC2690554. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2690554/
4.-
Orzechowski RF, Currie DS, Valancius CA. Comparative anticholinergic activities of 10 histamine H1 receptor antagonists in two functional models. Eur J Pharmacol. 2005 Jan 4;506(3):257-64. doi: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2004.11.006. Epub 2004 Nov 30. PMID: 15627436. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15627436/
5.-
Kaliner MA, Check WA. Non-sedating antihistamines. Allergy Proc. 1988 Nov-Dec;9(6):649-63. doi: 10.2500/108854188778965528. PMID: 3147222. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/3147222/
