Also known as diphenhydramine, Benadryl used to be the first line of treatment for hives or allergy. Over time we have developed new medications that have the same benefits with fewer side effects. These include cetirizine (Zyrtec) and loratadine (Claritin). They work faster and last longer in the body with dosing once per day and are now considered the first line and preferred over Benadryl.
