Drug interactions
Benperidol + Diphenhydramine
Severity: Moderate
Benperidol and Diphenhydramine: moderate interaction.
Last updated
For healthcare professionals — reference only. This page is a brief summary, not medical advice and not a substitute for official labeling or clinical judgement. Always verify before prescribing or dispensing.
Summary
Benperidol is a potent butyrophenone antipsychotic, and diphenhydramine adds sedation and anticholinergic effects. Together they may cause excessive drowsiness, confusion and anticholinergic toxicity. Diphenhydramine is sometimes used to treat antipsychotic extrapyramidal effects, so the combination may be deliberate.
What this interaction means in plain words
Benperidol and Diphenhydramine can affect each other. The combination is often manageable, but it may need a change of dose, a change of timing, or extra checks while both are taken.
Why it happens
Additive CNS depression and antimuscarinic effects.
What to do
Monitor for oversedation and anticholinergic effects, and use the lowest effective diphenhydramine dose. Reassess whether an antiparkinsonian drug is still needed.
What to ask your pharmacist
- Should I take them at different times of day?
- Does the dose of either medicine need to change?
- Is there anything I should avoid, such as alcohol or certain foods, while on both?
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Other interactions of Diphenhydramine
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Benperidol with Diphenhydramine?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Benperidol and Diphenhydramine can affect each other. The combination is often manageable, but it may need a change of dose, a change of timing, or extra checks while both are taken. Benperidol is a potent butyrophenone antipsychotic, and diphenhydramine adds sedation and anticholinergic effects. Together they may cause excessive drowsiness, confusion and anticholinergic toxicity. Diphenhydramine is sometimes used to treat antipsychotic extrapyramidal effects, so the combination may be deliberate.
How serious is the interaction between Benperidol and Diphenhydramine?
MediHelp rates it moderate, on a four-level scale (minor, moderate, major, contraindicated) based on published labels and references. What to do, in brief: Monitor for oversedation and anticholinergic effects, and use the lowest effective diphenhydramine dose. Reassess whether an antiparkinsonian drug is still needed.
What other medicines interact with Diphenhydramine?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Diphenhydramine with, for example, Alfentanil, Belladonna and opium, Benzhydrocodone / acetaminophen. The full list is on the Diphenhydramine page.
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