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They may recommend a different treatment option for your condition. Certain medical conditions and other factors may increase the risk of interactions with Benadryl. Before you take Benadryl, be sure to talk with your doctor about your health history. Benadryl may not be the right treatment option for you if you have certain medical conditions or other factors affecting your health. Our writers and reviewers are experienced professionals in medicine, addiction treatment, and healthcare. AddictionResource fact-checks all the information before publishing and uses only credible and trusted sources when citing any medical data.
Licensed medical professionals review material we publish on our site. The material is not a substitute for qualified medical diagnoses, eco sober house price treatment, or advice. It should not be used to replace the suggestions of your personal physician or other health care professionals.
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Side effects that may arise from the combination of the two may include increased drowsiness and sedation, respiratory depression, confusion, and decreased mental awareness. Using them together should be approached with caution, especially for patients with health conditions or who are over 65 years of age. The risks and side effects of alcohol and diphenhydramine can be even more intense for seniors. It can cause problems with their motor skills because of sedation and dizziness, and it can lead to increased risk of falls.
This can be dangerous due to the risk of falls and other related injuries. This medication can affect the results of allergy skin tests. Call your doctor if your symptoms do not improve after 7 days of treatment, or if you have a fever with a headache, cough, or skin rash.
As this WebMD article states, histamines act like bouncers at a club where they help you get rid of things that are bothering your body, such as an allergy. As an antihistamine, diphenhydramine blocks those responses, which alleviates allergy symptoms. A Connecticut mother was accused of killing her two children by administering diphenhydramine in one and diphenhydramine and alcohol in the other. A toxicologist later revealed that the child who was fed both substances had a blood-alcohol content of .09, which surpasses the legal threshold of drunkenness in most states.
Benadryl and Alcohol: Side Effects and Dangers of Mixing the Two
This warning is because of the risks of CNS depression from the drug. But both drugs work on your central nervous system , which is made up of your brain and spinal cord. Benadryl is the brand-name version of an antihistamine called diphenhydramine. An antihistamine is a drug that interferes with the action of the compound histamine in your body. This is not to say, however, that it is okay to go on a bender while taking Claritin, Zyrtec, Xyzal, or Allegra—Dr.
All told, Benadryl sales rose to $6 million a year, and the Ohio-born chemist benefited handsomely. Diphenhydramine, a substance that depresses the central nervous system, can be deadly enough on its own. When it is consumed with alcohol, another CNS depressant, the risk of death is exacerbated. In 2013, a 22-year-old Georgia woman who was found dead in a creek. Authorities determined that she intentionally took too much Benadryl and fell into a cold stream. She died from severe diphenhydramine intoxication and hypothermia.
As previously mentioned Diphenhydramine, and DPH-containing brand medications such as Benadryl, have potent Central Nervous System depressing effects. These effects stem from their ability to enter the CNS and bind to neuronal receptors causing sedation and drowsiness. Therefore, combining Benadryl and Alcohol will produce an additive effect, with each drug amplifying the sedative effects of the other. Thus, combining Alcohol and Benadryl will produce extreme drowsiness, sedation, as well as impairment of orientation and motor skills. Alcohol Alcohol use disorder affects millions of people in the United States.
The easiest way to lookup drug information, identify pills, check interactions and set up your own personal medication records. Therefore, mixing Benadryl and alcohol is more hazardous to females since taking even smaller quantities can lead to negative interaction effects. Both medicines may contain 10 percent alcohol and may interact with Benadryl. Though this drug doesn’t have any adverse impact on our livers, Benadryl is similar to alcohol in being a central nervous system depressant.
- You can learn more about allergies in our asthma and allergies hub and from this list of allergy articles.
- Keep in mind that you should still talk with your doctor or pharmacist before taking any vitamins during your Benadryl treatment.
- This impact is doubled, when you take them at the same time.
- Since then, Sharon devoted herself entirely to the medical niche.
If you’re interested in taking Benadryl with Tylenol or Advil, first talk with your doctor or pharmacist. They can advise you on whether these medications are right for relieving your symptoms. If you’re taking melatonin, L-theanine, or trazodone, talk with your doctor or pharmacist before taking Benadryl.
Benadryl interactions: Alcohol, medications, and other factors
If you’d like to take Benadryl with Flonase, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. They can instruct you on how to take these medications together safely. It’s also important to note that Benadryl is available in combination cold products that can increase blood pressure. These combination products may contain decongestants such as phenylephrine.
Even in OTC formulations, diphenhydramine can produce a multitude of concerning side effects. Diphenhydramine is available as a capsule, liquid-filled capsule, tablet, dissolving tablet, powder, oral liquid, and dissolving strip. The substance can come alone or in combination with other fever reducers, decongestants, or pain relievers.
Other possible side effects include drowsiness, impaired mental function, and motor coordination, and prolonged or excessive respiratory and CNS depression. A rather small percentage of the drugs currently known to have Benadryl interactions cause major ones. Ask a doctor or pharmacist before using this medicine if you are also using any other drugs, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Some medicines can cause unwanted or dangerous effects when used together. Not all possible interactions are listed in this medication guide. Benadryl is one of the antihistamine drugs that included an active ingredient called diphenhydramine.
The drug may cause you to produce less urine or urinate less often than usual. This decreased urination could lower your sodium levels even further. Your doctor can advise you on whether Benadryl is safe for you. If you have an enlarged prostate, you should talk with your doctor before taking Benadryl.
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You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy. As Benadryl and alcohol both cause drowsiness and sedation, it may seem tempting to exploit this combination as a sleeping aid. However, this can also heighten other adverse side effects that will interfere with sleep, such as nausea and dizziness.
Ask your pharmacist if you have any questions about how alcohol might interact with a drug you are taking. Medications typically are safe and effective when used appropriately. Your pharmacist or other health care provider can help you determine which medications interact harmfully with alcohol.
In addition, we strongly recommend that you read the prospectus of all the medicines you use. After treatment, a caseworker can connect you to a supportive recovery community to help you sustain your sobriety. They begin their day drinking, drink alone, or staying drunk for long periods. They drink even though it harms family, friendships, career, or education.
Before taking Benadryl, tell your doctor if you have breathing problems such as emphysema or chronic bronchitis. Your doctor can advise you on whether Benadryl is safe for you to take. If you’d like to learn more about eating certain foods while you take Benadryl, talk with your doctor. The side effects of combining Benadryl and alcohol can be severe.
Additionally, taking Melatonin and Benadryl together can cause additive CNS depression. These two belong to the same class of medications and work similarly. Like the other Benadryl interactions discussed above, taking Dextromethorphan with Diphenhydramine may lead to increased CNS depression. Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information https://sober-house.net/ displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances. As a result, if Benadryl is taken with any of these medications, even if taken in small quantities, may still show an increased risk of side effects. Therefore, mixing Benadryl with alcohol will most likely double these effects and lead to a more visible impact on learning and memory processes.
As an anti-nausea drug, Benadryl is often used to keep motion sickness at bay. It’s also used as a sleep aid and reduces irritation caused by bug bites and rashes. Zyrtec and Claritin are similar over-the-counter allergy medicines. If you drink a lot and find it difficult to hold off on drinking for a few days, consider reading up on resources and support.