Seasonal allergies are the worst. At first, you're overjoyed to see all the greenery popping up after a long winter. Then the next thing you know, your eyes are red, your nose is runny, and—worst of all—you're sneezing 24/7. So, you grab your go-to antihistamine to help relieve those symptoms. But what is the best time to take allergy meds for maximum effectiveness? Show
Most people don't pop that pill until they're already dragging through their morning. That's why experts say you should actually be taking your antihistamines before you go to bed at night. "Antihistamines take at least 30 minutes to work, and the newer, long-acting ones will last you 24 hours, so you'll be covered until the next day. They work best when they're already in your system, so the night before is most efficacious," says Purvi Parikh, MD, an allergist/immunologist with the Allergy & Asthma Network. "Since some antihistamines make you drowsy, it's actually best to take them before bedtime." Bonus: Taking them ahead of time means you'll rise just in time for them to reach the prime allergy-fighting zone. "Once-daily antihistamines reach their peak efficacy 8 to 12 hours after you take them, so using them at dinnertime or before bed means better control of your daytime symptoms," says Yoon Mi Kim, DO, an allergy and immunology specialist for Geisinger. As long as you're consistent and try to take your meds prior to exposure, Dr. Parikh says any time will work. But for anyone who dreams of waking up without the sniffles, you can't beat swallowing the pill before you get ready for some shut-eye. Oh hi! You look like someone who loves free workouts, discounts for cult-fave wellness brands, and exclusive Well+Good content. Sign up for Well+, our online community of wellness insiders, and unlock your rewards instantly. Loading More Posts... A 31-year-old member asked: Is is safe to take benadryl (diphenhydramine) 12 hours after taking claritin d 24 hour?A Verified Doctoranswered Rheumatology 53 years experience Possibly not: I would avoid taking multiple antihistamines in the same day. Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone. Learn how we can help 4.8k viewsAnswered >2 years ago Thank 1 thank A 26-year-old female asked: I have a sinus headache due to a cold. i took a 24 hour claritin pill this morning, but it didnt help. can i take benadryl (diphenhydramine) now? its only been 12 hrs.Dr. Sewa Leghaanswered Medical Oncology 51 years experience Yes you can: it might make you a bit more sleepy. But that should not be a problem now that it is time to sleep. Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone. Learn how we can help 1.4k viewsAnswered >2 years ago Thank 11 thanks A female asked: I took loratadine (24 hour) at 830 this morning it's now 155pm and i'm having a sneezing fit, is it safe to take diphenhydramine now or should i wait?Dr. Marvin Ottanswered Emergency Medicine 21 years experience Yes: The medications you suggest in the doses you suggest are safe to take. Hope this helps. Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone. Learn how we can help 332 viewsAnswered >2 years ago Thank 1 thank A female asked: I gave my 5 year old 1 teaspoon of loratadine at 12:30pm. it is a 24 hour dose. she is now (9:30pm) having sneezing, slightly running nose. can i give her 1 tablet of diphenhydramine (4 hour dose) to get over the night?Dr. Shannon Stinsonanswered Emergency Medicine 17 years experience Lower the dose: You can give the diphenhydramine if the symptoms warrant it. To be on the conservative side, if your daughter is an average sized 5 year old, you can ... Read More Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone. Learn how we can help 2.4k viewsReviewed >2 years ago Thank Dr. Hirenkumar Italia and another doctor agree2 doctors agree 3 thanks View 1 more answer A 33-year-old member asked: Took claritin-d over 12 hours ago can i take one benadryl (diphenhydramine)?Dr. Arthur Torreanswered Pediatric Allergy and Asthma 52 years experience yes: Benadryl (diphenhydramine) can make you drowsy, but i would not expect any untoward effects from a "non-sedating" antihistamine like Claritin in combi... Read More Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone. Learn how we can help 4.8k viewsReviewed >2 years ago Thank Dr. Michael Zacharisen and another doctor agree2 doctors agree 9 thanks A 34-year-old member asked: After how many hours of taking claritin, can i take benadryl (diphenhydramine)?Dr. Arthur Torreanswered Pediatric Allergy and Asthma 52 years experience No wait necessary: While both are antihistamines, only Benadryl (diphenhydramine) will make you drowsy. So as a "one-time" dose, there should not be any significant prob... Read More Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone. Learn how we can help 4.8k viewsReviewed >2 years ago Thank Dr. Michael Zacharisen agrees1 doctor agrees 6 thanks A 39-year-old member asked: Is it safe to take benadryl (diphenhydramine) if i took two 10mg loratadine tablets a few hours ago?Dr. James Fergusonanswered Pediatrics 47 years experience Yes: The two are compatible in the short term. Benadryl (diphenhydramine) is potentially sedating, so caution is advised.By the way, studies show the regul... Read More Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone. Learn how we can help 5.6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago Thank Dr. Luis Matos agrees1 doctor agrees 9 thanks View 1 more answer A 34-year-old female asked: I think something bit me and i need to take a benadryl (diphenhydramine) but i took a claritin around 5 hours ago. is this safe to do?Dr. Al Hegabanswered Allergy and Immunology 41 years experience Yes it is: But be careful if you're driving or using machinery, and don't exceed recommended dosage, that's exceptional though, you don't want to repeat unless r... Read More Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
Learn how we can help 3k viewsReviewed >2 years ago Thank Dr. Alan Ali and another doctor agree2 doctors agree 2 thanks A 80-year-old female asked: I took an expired claritin 5 hours ago still sneezing can i take benadryl before bedtime?Dr. James Fergusonanswered Pediatrics 47 years experience Yes. The Claritin and Benadryl can be taken in that sequence with no problems. They have different metabolic patterns that do not interfere with one a... Read More Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone. Learn how we can help Reviewed Sep 14, 2021 Thank Dr. Deborah Ungerleider and another doctor agree2 doctors agree A 27-year-old female asked: I took claritin 24 hours, 12 hours ago but my allergies are out of control again. can i take half a benadryl (diphenhydramine) to help with my itchiness?A Verified Doctoranswered Allergy and Immunology 13 years experience Yes: Adding Benadryl (diphenhydramine) is fine. If your allergies are out of control you might want to consider adding medicated nasal sprays to your treat... Read More Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone. Learn how we can help 2.8k viewsReviewed >2 years ago Thank Dr. Corey Clay and another doctor agree2 doctors agree 2 thanks How long after loratadine can I take Benadryl?“It may not be safe to take Benadryl until 12 hours after taking Claritin,” Dr. Glatter says. (Dr. Raimo takes that a step further, advising patients to avoid taking these two medications within 24 hours of each other.)
Can you take loratadine and Benadryl in the same day?Different oral antihistamines such as diphenhydramine, cetirizine, loratadine, levocetirizine, desloratadine, and fexofenadine should never be taken together. Taking different oral antihistamines together can lead to an antihistamine overdose.
What happens if you take Benadryl and Claritin?No interactions were found between Benadryl and Claritin. However, this does not necessarily mean no interactions exist. Always consult your healthcare provider.
Can I take an allergy pill and Benadryl in the same day?Two common over-the-counter medications, Benadryl (diphenhydramine) and Claritin (loratadine), can make short work of your symptoms. So it's natural to wonder: Could you get extra relief if you take them together? The short answer is no. In fact, you'll likely do more harm than good.
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