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.
can i take benadryl with zyrtec. my wife has hives on her chest and arms that just poped up last night.