Can I take Benadryl with Xanax?
Mixing Benadryl (diphenhydramine) with Xanax (alprazolam) can be unsafe because both can slow your brain and breathing. Using them together increases the chance of serious side effects like heavy drowsiness, confusion, dizziness, falls, and impaired coordination. It can also depress breathing, which is especially dangerous if you have sleep apnea or lung disease, or if you take other sedating medications or alcohol.
What could happen if you take them together?
People may experience stronger-than-expected sedation, including:
- Extreme sleepiness or inability to stay awake
- Confusion or delirium (more likely in older adults)
- Trouble walking/poor balance, leading to falls
- Slower reaction time and impaired driving
- Breathing problems (a key risk when sedatives are combined)
Is there a safer way to manage allergy or itching?
If you’re taking Benadryl for allergies, a clinician or pharmacist may suggest a non-sedating antihistamine instead (commonly cetirizine, loratadine, or fexofenadine), because they generally cause less drowsiness than diphenhydramine. Ask your pharmacist what option fits your situation and whether it affects Xanax.
If I already took both, what should I do?
If you already took them and feel unusually sleepy, confused, or have slow or difficult breathing, seek urgent help. Go to the ER or call emergency services right away if you have:
- Trouble staying awake
- Fainting
- Slow, shallow, or labored breathing
- Severe confusion
If symptoms are mild, it’s still safest to contact a pharmacist or your prescribing clinician for guidance on timing and whether to avoid further doses.
Who should avoid this combination or use extra caution?
Extra caution (or avoidance) is especially important if you:
- Are older (higher risk of confusion and falls)
- Have sleep apnea or chronic lung problems (higher breathing risk)
- Drink alcohol or use opioids or other sedatives (compounding risk)
- Have liver disease (can increase drug effects)
If you tell me why you’re taking Benadryl (allergies, sleep, itching, cold symptoms) and your Xanax dose and timing, I can help you think through the safest next step to ask your pharmacist about.