benadryl is very effective for hives because of the fast onset of the medication but only lasts about four hours. zyrtec tends to be slower in onset but lasts longer (24 hours). both are antihistamines of course and most of the time you only need one of the other. on some occasions however when you have taken zyrtec in the 24 hours you can still get hives so it is safe to take a dose of benadryl. benadryl does cause sedation so please be careful if you need to drive. if the hives don't clear up fairly quickly or if they're accompanied by difficulty breathing your wife should seek immediate medical attention. these can be the signs of a severe allergic reaction to something -- food medication etc. if your wife gets hives occasionally (as some people do) and they are not accompanied by other symptoms then i'd suggest she speak to her doctor about getting a prescription specifically for the hives. there are medications other than benadryl that are used to treat hives. in terms of combining antihistamines i'd suggest you speak to a pharmacist. while benadryl (diphenhydramine) has a different chemical composition than zyrtec (cetirizine) they still are both the same class of medication. generally we try not to combine medications of the same class unless specifically directed to do so by a physician. i hope that gives you some clarity. why would you want to take two antihistamines. you may want to talk to a doctor and get a stronger prescription antihistamine if either of these are not very effective for you.
can i take benadryl with zyrtec. my wife has hives on her chest and arms that just poped up last night.