Mixing Alcohol And Benadryl Risks, Side Effects, Withdrawal

A Connecticut mother was accused of killing her two children by administering diphenhydramine in one and diphenhydramine and alcohol in the other. Our expert team is dedicated to helping you overcome the hold that alcohol has over you. No matter where your alcohol abuse has taken you, there’s hope for recovery. Contact us today to speak with a professional caregiver ready to hear your story. The risk of falling unconscious is one of the main reasons why combining alcohol and Benadryl often leads to personal injury. Unfortunately, that isn’t the only health risk that you can experience.

• However, this reason for use often leads to Benedryl addiction.
• Not only will you be able to get more information about how mixing Benadryl and alcohol can present your body with an incredibly risky and dangerous set of conditions.
• Benadryl may interact with other types of medication, which can heighten the side effects.
• If you think you may have a medical emergency, immediately call your physician or dial 911.
• Since the state induced by Benadryl and alcohol is similar to a very drunk state, attempting to drive brings all the risks of drunk driving.
• It is addictive because the effect wears off after a while, and you need more of the substance.

Taking them together is dangerous because they can slow down your CNS too much. This can cause drowsiness, sedation, and trouble doing physical and mental tasks that require alertness. She also offers an alternative for those who don’t want to give up the opportunity to have the fastest and most effective ways to curb alcohol cravings a drink—nasal corticosteroids, such as Flonase or Nasonex. These are used as needed, and are safe to use regularly throughout the allergy season. They don’t have a contraindication with alcohol, and they don’t cause drowsiness or other systemic side effects, she says.

Interactions with Other Types of Medication

Too much Benadryl can cause a wide variety of side effects, ranging from sleepiness and dry mouth to coma and possibly death. Combining them can cause your CNS to slow down, which is harmful. This might result from drowsiness, sleepiness, and difficulty performing mentally and physically demanding tasks. Alcohol is also known to inhibit memory and learning temporarily. So, mixing Benadryl and alcohol may again have a more noticeable effect on learning and memory. Benadryl and alcohol are both known to dehydrate the body.

According to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of American, allergic rhinitis affects 20 million adults in the United States each year. And millions more experience various other types of allergies—everything from insect bites and pet dander to shellfish, peanuts, and mold spores . If your allergy is severe enough, you might carry an EpiPen or receive allergy shots from your doctor. For most people, however, over-the-counter allergy medicine is the first line of defense. Alcohol and Benadryl side effects and dangers are not to be taken lightly.

If you or a loved one unintentionally mixes diphenhydramine and alcohol, rest in a safe environment should restore balance. You may sleep too much or feel lazy in the process—the drugs can aid other side effects to disrupt your sleeping, such as nausea and dizziness. Benadryl is one of the most used over-the-counter medications. Diphenhydramine is an antihistamine, and Benadryl is the brand-name version of it. Antihistamines are medications that affect the actions of the compound histamine in your body.

Can You Overdose on Benadryl and Alcohol?

Since you can get Benadryl over the counter, it doesn’t cross your mind that it might be dangerous to mix it with alcohol. However, longitudinal research would be required in people who consume high levels of Benadryl and alcohol to know whether this has any effect on the risk of dementia. Some types of medication, including cough syrup and laxatives, also contain alcohol. Some people are more prone than others to losing consciousness when sedated. In these people, combining Benadryl and alcohol is more likely to cause a loss of consciousness.

You need to consult with your doctor before taking Benadryl with alcohol. 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.

Inpatient or Residential Treatment

The depression of your CNS can cause decreased heart rate, slow your rate of breathing, loss of consciousness and can lead to a coma in rare cases. One study found that people who take one anticholinergic drug per day for at least 3 years have a raised risk of dementia. It should be noted that this study included all anticholinergic drugs, not just Benadryl. Benadryl is a widely used medication for treating allergy symptoms, but it can cause problems when mixed with alcohol. If you take Zoloft, you may wonder if you can drink alcohol.

However, this over-the-counter medication has many of the same addictive qualities as other prescription drugs and some street drugs . When combined with alcohol, abuse of Benadryl can be dangerous and potentially life-threatening. Depression of the central nervous system can cause a slow breathing rate, decreased heart rate, and loss of consciousness and can lead to a coma in rare cases. The side effects of mixing alcohol and diphenhydramine can be severe, mainly because both substances depress the functionality of your central nervous system.

Since Benadryl is used to treat various medical conditions, developing Benadryl addiction might not be intentional. Those who use the medicine to treat their insomnia risk developing Benadryl addiction. Patients with Parkinson’s disease who receive a prescription for Benadryl to treat their tremors and muscle spasms also risk becoming addicted to the medication. tips for reducing alcohol consumption Patients with schizophrenia are more likely to get addicted because Benadryl helps them cope with the negative effects of antipsychotic medication use. In all people, mixing Benadryl and alcohol can make it much harder to control their bodies. This reduction in muscular coordination can be dangerous for people of all ages, especially the aging population.

Alcohol is a known and powerful depressant of the central nervous system. It causes many side effects in those who use it, both short- and long-term. Alcohol use can result in a significant drop in blood pressure and heart rate.

Hidden sources of alcohol

All told, Benadryl sales rose to $6 million a year, and the Ohio-born chemist benefited handsomely. His daycare provider fed him Benadryl so that he could fall asleep, but the child never woke up. The provider was later charged with criminally negligent homicide. A wide range of factors determines how the body responds to chronic heavy drinking, but this activity can result in significant harm. Under no circumstances should Benadryl and alcohol be mixed before engaging in any activity that required mental alertness, such as driving. Benadryl may interact with other types of medication, which can heighten the side effects.

Take the diphenhydramine 30 minutes before you go to sleep. Do not take more than 1 capsule per dose, and never take more than 6 doses per day. Taking more than the directed dose of Benadryl makes an overdose more likely.

Usually, this ‘slow down’ effect is not dangerous, but it can become threatening if another depressant is taken at the same time. An individual may have forgotten they took benadryl, or just did not know about the potential dangers. Either way, the two combined in the body can take a serious toll. It’s best to refrain from drinking alcohol while taking Benadryl. Since you can get Benadryl without a prescription at pharmacies and grocery stores, you may assume it’s safe to use. However, Benadryl is a powerful medication with dangers.

This is not to say, however, that it is okay to go on a bender while taking Claritin, Zyrtec, Xyzal, or Allegra—Dr. Corry recommends avoiding alcohol altogether while taking any medication. “These concerns are really outside of this particular context what causes alcohol addiction of severe, life-threatening situations,” Dr. Corry agrees. Fill out our free and confidential form to see how your insurance could cover the cost of treatment. The lethal dose of diphenhydramine has been estimated to be 20 to 40 mg/kg for adults.

But both drugs work on your central nervous system , which is made up of your brain and spinal cord. Tell your doctor if you’re pregnant or breastfeeding while taking an antihistamine. Don’t drive or perform any activities that require focus until you know how the antihistamine medication affects you. Cardiac arrest can occur due to the effects of Benadryl on the central nervous system.

Variables like your age and any other medications you are taking can intensify the likelihood of adverse outcomes when mixing Benadryl with other substances. Benadryl is a form of antihistamine called diphenhydramine that helps your body manage allergy symptoms. Unfortunately, the drug is also commonly used as a sleep aid.

The most common side effects include drying of the mouth, throat, and nose, headaches, and drowsiness. In addition to regular outpatient programs offering weekly therapy, we also provide more intensive forms of treatment. Our IOP is a part-time outpatient program with up to 15 hours of weekly treatment, while our full-time PHP is the most intensive form of outpatient treatment.

The exception to this rule is if someone has a severe allergic reaction while drinking alcohol, they should certainly be given an antihistamine. In such a situation, it may be a medical emergency, and you should call 911 or take the person to see a healthcare professional who can provide medical advice. In any case, an antihistamine like Benadryl clears from the body in four to six hours, so you don’t have to avoid alcohol forever.