When should I take Benadryl before a flight?

If you're taking antihistamines, decongestants, or over-the-counter pain medicine like ibuprofen or acetaminophen, it's important to take your medication at least an hour before your flight so it has time to work before your plane takes off.



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Diphenhydramine, the same antihistamine found in Benadryl, will likely put you to sleep, though you may pay the price once you land. “It makes us feel really groggy when we wake up, and it can make us feel really hungover,” Das says.

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Q: Are there allergy medications that I can take and still fly? Yes, there are a number of non-sedating antihistamines available. These include loratadine (Claritin®), desloratadine (Clarinex®), and fexofenadine (Allegra®).

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If you start to notice this pressure building, you can try some of these strategies:
  1. Take an antihistamine if needed before your flight. ...
  2. Yawn or swallow during takeoff.
  3. Try chewing a piece of gum or candy during takeoff, if yawning and swallowing don't work for you.


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These drugs are usually taken shortly before a flight. They include: Anti-anxiety medication, such as diazepam (Valium) or alprazolam (Xanax). Motion sickness medication, such as dimenhydrinate (Dramamine).

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What Are the Best—And Safest—Sleeping Pills for Flights?
  • Ambien. Ambien—the most powerful option on this list and the only one that requires a prescription—works as a sedative-hypnotic medication that slows your brain activity to make you feel very sleepy. ...
  • Tylenol PM. ...
  • Melatonin.


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It usually takes Benadryl about 15 to 30 minutes to start working. The effects of Benadryl tend to last for 4 to 6 hours, but the medication can stick around in the body for much longer. Since Benadryl can make you sleepy, it can be best to take it in the evening.

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Medication is sometimes prescribed on a temporary basis to treat the symptoms of a flying phobia, such as anxiety and nausea. These drugs are usually taken shortly before a flight. They include: Anti-anxiety medication, such as diazepam (Valium) or alprazolam (Xanax).

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Yes, Benadryl is an antihistamine that causes drowsiness in most people. Some people use Benadryl for this side effect if they have trouble sleeping (insomnia), but this is not recommended long-term. The drowsy or sedation effect typically lasts about 8 hours, but may persist into the next day if taken at night.

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As a general precaution, however, Dr. Varga does not recommend taking either melatonin or a sleeping pill for the first time on a plane, given that both may occasionally cause adverse effects in some people. (And it's best not to find out that you're one of those people while you're trapped at 30,000 feet.)

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As a general precaution, however, Dr. Varga does not recommend taking either melatonin or a sleeping pill for the first time on a plane, given that both may occasionally cause adverse effects in some people. (And it's best not to find out that you're one of those people while you're trapped at 30,000 feet.)

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  1. 10 Foolproof Tricks to Beat Flight Anxiety. By Kaeli Conforti. ...
  2. Name your phobia. ...
  3. Familiarize yourself with airplane noises. ...
  4. Check the turbulence forecast. ...
  5. Bring a photo of your destination. ...
  6. Skip coffee and wine. ...
  7. Distract yourself. ...
  8. Tell the flight attendants.


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Plus, these days, technology is used to predict areas of turbulence so that pilots can avoid them and provide the smoothest ride possible.
  1. Learn about built-in safety features. ...
  2. Talk to your flight attendants. ...
  3. Take a flying lesson. ...
  4. Pick a seat that helps you avoid your trigger. ...
  5. See a therapist.


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If you have any allergy or cold-related symptoms, make sure you take an antihistamine or decongestant spray at least 30-45 minutes before your flight. Following this method can help alleviate any additional sinus pressure.

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Some studies suggest that the cabin pressure changes in the airplane, which are more pronounced during takeoff and landing, affects the head and sinuses in a way that triggers a headache. Another possible explanation for AHs is a fear of flying, which can cause stress and anxiety and subsequently trigger a headache.

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A strategy that travelers have been trying for years to varying degrees of success is the middle seat trick — when checking in online, two people traveling together will each select the aisle and window seats in a three-seat row and hope that the middle seat remains open.

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Taking a melatonin supplement when you first get on a flight— if traveling overnight—is a great way to ease yourself to sleep, so you wake up refreshed and rested when you land. However, this should only be done for flights longer than 6 hours, as this is how long it takes melatonin to leave your system.

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