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7 Interactions found for:

Benadryl and Zyrtec
Interactions Summary
  • 2 Major
  • 3 Moderate
  • 2 Minor
  • Benadryl
  • Zyrtec

Drug Interactions

Moderate
Benadryl + Zyrtec

The following applies to the ingredients: Diphenhydramine (found in Benadryl) and Cetirizine (found in Zyrtec)

Using cetirizine together with diphenhydrAMINE may increase side effects such as dizziness, drowsiness, and difficulty concentrating. Some people, especially the elderly, may also experience impairment in thinking, judgment, and motor coordination. You should avoid or limit the use of alcohol while being treated with these medications. Also avoid driving, operating machinery, or engaging in potentially hazardous activities requiring mental alertness and motor coordination until you know how the medications affect you. Talk to your doctor if you have any questions or concerns. It is important to tell your doctor about all other medications you use, including vitamins and herbs. Do not stop using any medications without first talking to your doctor.

Drug and Food Interactions

Moderate
Zyrtec + Food

The following applies to the ingredients: Cetirizine (found in Zyrtec)

Alcohol can increase the nervous system side effects of cetirizine such as dizziness, drowsiness, and difficulty concentrating. Some people may also experience impairment in thinking and judgment. You should avoid or limit the use of alcohol while being treated with cetirizine. Do not use more than the recommended dose of cetirizine, and avoid activities requiring mental alertness such as driving or operating hazardous machinery until you know how the medication affects you. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions or concerns.

Moderate
Benadryl + Food

The following applies to the ingredients: Diphenhydramine (found in Benadryl)

Ask your doctor before using diphenhydrAMINE together with ethanol. Use alcohol cautiously. Alcohol may increase drowsiness and dizziness while you are taking diphenhydrAMINE. You should be warned not to exceed recommended dosages and to avoid activities requiring mental alertness. If your doctor prescribes these medications together, you may need a dose adjustment to safely take this combination. It is important to tell your doctor about all other medications you use, including vitamins and herbs. Do not stop using any medications without first talking to your doctor.

Drug and Pregnancy Interactions

The following applies to the ingredients: Diphenhydramine (found in Benadryl)

Professional Content

Use is recommended only if clearly needed and the benefit outweighs the risk.

AU TGA pregnancy category: A
US FDA pregnancy category: B

Comment:
-Exposure during the third trimester may result in adverse reactions in premature infants and neonates.

Animal models have failed to reveal evidence of impaired fertility or fetal harm at doses up to 5 times the human dose. There are no controlled data in human pregnancy.

AU TGA pregnancy category A: Drugs which have been taken by a large number of pregnant women and women of childbearing age without any proven increase in the frequency of malformations or other direct or indirect harmful effects on the fetus having been observed.

US FDA pregnancy category B: Animal reproduction studies have failed to demonstrate a risk to the fetus and there are no adequate and well-controlled studies in pregnant women.

References

  1. "Product Information. Benadryl (diphenhydramine)." Parke-Davis PROD (2002):
  2. "Product Information. Benadryl Children's Allergy Fastmelt (diphenhydrAMINE)." Pfizer U.S. Pharmaceuticals Group (2022):
  3. Cerner Multum, Inc. "UK Summary of Product Characteristics." O 0
  4. Cerner Multum, Inc. "Australian Product Information." O 0
  5. "Product Information. DiphenhydrAMINE Hydrochloride (diphenhydramine)." West-Ward Pharmaceuticals Corporation (previously Roxane Laboratories Inc) (2019):

The following applies to the ingredients: Cetirizine (found in Zyrtec)

Professional Content

This drug should not be used during pregnancy unless the benefit outweighs the risk to the fetus.

AU TGA pregnancy category: B2
US FDA pregnancy category: Not formally assigned to a pregnancy category.

Animal models have failed to reveal evidence of teratogenicity and harmful effects on pregnancy, embryofetal development, parturition, and/or postnatal development. There are no controlled data in human pregnancy.

AU TGA pregnancy category B2: Drugs which have been taken by only a limited number of pregnant women and women of childbearing age, without an increase in the frequency of malformation or other direct or indirect harmful effects on the human fetus having been observed. Studies in animals are inadequate or may be lacking, but available data show no evidence of an increased occurrence of fetal damage.

US FDA pregnancy category Not Assigned: The US FDA has amended the pregnancy labeling rule for prescription drug products to require labeling that includes a summary of risk, a discussion of the data supporting that summary, and relevant information to help health care providers make prescribing decisions and counsel women about the use of drugs during pregnancy. Pregnancy categories A, B, C, D, and X are being phased out.

References

  1. "Product Information. Zyrtec (cetirizine)." Pfizer U.S. Pharmaceuticals PROD (2001):
  2. Cerner Multum, Inc. "UK Summary of Product Characteristics." O 0
  3. Cerner Multum, Inc. "Australian Product Information." O 0

Drug and Breastfeeding Interactions

The following applies to the ingredients: Diphenhydramine (found in Benadryl)

Professional Content

Use is not recommended.
-According to some authorities: Use is contraindicated.

Excreted into human milk: Yes

Comments:
-The effects in the nursing infant are unknown.
-This drug may affect milk production, especially at high doses given early in the postpartum period and/or when used concomitantly with a sympathomimetic drug.

References

  1. "Product Information. Benadryl (diphenhydramine)." Parke-Davis PROD (2002):
  2. "Product Information. Benadryl Children's Allergy Fastmelt (diphenhydrAMINE)." Pfizer U.S. Pharmaceuticals Group (2022):
  3. Cerner Multum, Inc. "UK Summary of Product Characteristics." O 0
  4. Cerner Multum, Inc. "Australian Product Information." O 0
  5. United States National Library of Medicine "Toxnet. Toxicology Data Network. http://toxnet.nlm.nih.gov/cgi-bin/sis/htmlgen?LACT" (2013):

The following applies to the ingredients: Cetirizine (found in Zyrtec)

Professional Content

Use with caution.
-Some experts recommend: Use is not recommended.

Excreted into human milk: Yes

Drug concentrations in breastmilk were approximately 25% to 90% of drug concentrations in plasma.

References

  1. "Product Information. Zyrtec (cetirizine)." Pfizer U.S. Pharmaceuticals PROD (2001):
  2. Cerner Multum, Inc. "UK Summary of Product Characteristics." O 0
  3. Cerner Multum, Inc. "Australian Product Information." O 0
  4. United States National Library of Medicine "Toxnet. Toxicology Data Network. http://toxnet.nlm.nih.gov/cgi-bin/sis/htmlgen?LACT" (2013):
  5. Department of Adolescent and Child Health and Development. UNICEF. World Health Organization "Breastfeeding and maternal medication: recommendations for drugs in the eleventh Who model list of essential drugs. http://whqlibdoc.who.int/hq/2002/55732.pdf?ua=1" (2014):

Therapeutic Duplication Warnings

The following applies to: Benadryl (diphenhydramine), Zyrtec (cetirizine)

Professional Content

The recommended maximum number of medicines in the 'antihistamines' category to be taken concurrently is usually one. Your list includes two medicines.

Therapeutic duplication is the use of more than one medicine from the same drug category or therapeutic class to treat the same condition. This can be intentional in cases where drugs with similar actions are used together for demonstrated therapeutic benefit. It can also be unintentional in cases where a patient has been treated by more than one doctor, or had prescriptions filled at more than one pharmacy, and can have potentially adverse consequences.

Switch to: Professional Interactions

Drug Interaction Classification

These classifications are only a guideline. The relevance of a particular drug interaction to a specific individual is difficult to determine. Always consult your healthcare provider before starting or stopping any medication.
Major Highly clinically significant. Avoid combinations; the risk of the interaction outweighs the benefit.
Moderate Moderately clinically significant. Usually avoid combinations; use it only under special circumstances.
Minor Minimally clinically significant. Minimize risk; assess risk and consider an alternative drug, take steps to circumvent the interaction risk and/or institute a monitoring plan.
Unknown No interaction information available.

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