Harmful Interactions National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism NIAAA

Trazodone is a type of antidepressant that’s sometime prescribed for insomnia. Here are some frequently asked questions about Benadryl and possible interactions. If you’d like additional information about having lab tests while taking Benadryl, talk with your doctor. It’s possible for drugs to interact with supplements such as vitamins and herbs.

As you already know, aging slackens the body’s capacity to process and break down alcohol, meaning, it will stay in the person’s body a bit longer than a younger person. As a result, older people are more susceptible to the effects of the harmful interaction between alcohol and Benadryl. When sedated, some people are more likely to lose consciousness. For these people, mixing alcohol with Benadryl is the perfect recipe to become unconscious. This situation can also be dangerous due to the possibility of falling from higher places and other dangerous accidents. Benadryl is a well-known medicine used for curing symptoms of allergy, however, if you mix Benadryl and alcohol, the effects could be lethal.

How long should I wait to drink alcohol after taking diphenhydramine?

Among the side effects of Benadryl are drowsiness, lethargy, and sedation. All these conditions adversely affect our reaction speed and body coordination. This is not a complete list of side effects and eco sober house ma others may occur. When taking diphenhydramine, use caution driving, operating machinery, or performing other hazardous activities. If you experience dizziness or drowsiness, avoid these activities.

Taking Benadryl with blood pressure medication could cause your blood pressure to decrease to a level that’s too low. There’s not a known interaction between Benadryl and blood pressure medications. There were no specific reports of herbs interacting with Benadryl. However, it’s still important to check with your doctor or pharmacist before taking any of these products during Benadryl treatment. The manufacturer of Benadryl has not reported any interactions with other medications. However, it’s possible that new interactions may be recognized in the future.

If you overdose on alcohol and diphenhydramine and lose consciousness, death is one of the risks. Despite the fact that it’s commonly used and easily available over the counter, Benadryl can cause dangerous side effects. By enrolling in a professional recovery program, you can access comprehensive, specialized, and evidence-based treatment. This process starts with acute treatment, where the alcohol and diphenhydramine are removed from your body. You will also be administered medications during this phase to help alleviate the withdrawal symptoms and any health issues that could arise.

Brand names of combination products

A person may use medications to relieve seasonal allergy symptoms. In fact, Benadryl is often available in combination products that contain Tylenol or Advil. These products are used to treat symptoms of allergies and colds. Examples of these symptoms include body aches, sneezing, and a runny nose.

The effects and risks of dehydration are thus doubled when you mix these two substances. Dehydration can be a major discomfort and, at times, may make a hangover worse than it already is. As mentioned both Diphenhydramine and alcohol are addictive due to their sedative and hypnotic properties. Patients taking these substances together may be at an increased risk of developing dependency and addiction. Furthermore, as Ethanol can cause impairment and disinhibition of thought, judgment, and restraint it can increase the risk of Benadryl overdose when concomitantly used with DPH.

We publish material that is researched, cited, edited and reviewed by licensed medical professionals. The information we provide is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. It should not be used in place of the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare providers. Are you at imminent risk of a life-threatening drug-drug interaction?

First-generation allergy medicines, like Benadryl, and alcohol

When diphenhydramine is used for the relief of allergies, cold, and cough symptoms, it is usually taken every 4 to 6 hours. When diphenhydramine is used to treat motion sickness, it is usually taken 30 minutes before departure and, if needed, before meals and at bedtime. When diphenhydramine is used to treat insomnia it is taken at bedtime . When diphenhydramine is used to treat abnormal movements, it is usually taken three times a day at first and then taken 4 times a day.

• If someone else has either intentionally or unintentionally mixed Benadryl with alcohol, it is important to ensure they are in a safe environment, where they can rest, if need be.
• If you have an enlarged prostate, you should talk with your doctor before taking Benadryl.
• That said, many still ingest the combination intentionally for intoxication, self-experimentation, and/or as a suicide attempt.
• An antihistamine works by blocking your body’s response to these allergens.
• 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.

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. Benadryl is the brand name for an antihistamine known as diphenhydramine. The drug helps to reduce allergy symptoms, including rashes and coughs and irritated eyes, throat, and nose. Benadryl, also known as diphenhydramine, is a medicine available over-the-counter that’s frequently used to treat various symptoms related to allergies.

Ask a doctor before using this medicine if you are breast-feeding. Diphenhydramine may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide. In general, females are more susceptible to alcohol-related harm. This is because their bodies typically contain less water for alcohol to mix with, meaning that the same amount of alcohol would be more concentrated in a female than in a male. Benadryl blocks the action of a neurotransmitter called acetylcholine.

Can Alcohol and Benadryl Kill You?

Addiction Resource is not a healthcare provider, nor does it claim to offer sound medical advice to anyone. Addiction Resource does not favor or support any specific recovery center, nor do we claim to ensure the quality, validity, or effectiveness of any particular treatment center. No one should assume the information provided on Addiction Resource as authoritative and should always defer to the advice and care provided by a medical doctor. The active ingredient in ZzzQuil is diphenhydramine, which is also the active ingredient in the allergy medication Benadryl.

FAQs about Benadryl and interactions

Do not give these products to children younger than 4 years of age. If you give these products to children 4 to 11 years of age, use caution and follow the package directions carefully. 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. The Verified badge on our articles is a trusted sign of the most comprehensive scientifically-based medical content. If you’re taking more than one OTC or prescription drug or supplement, talk to your doctor or pharmacist.

Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances. The answer is that they’re quite some complications when you take ZzzQuil and alcohol together. They can both cause drowsiness and if you take them in large quantities they can cause their side effects.

Users take it recreationally because it reportedly induces calm, mild euphoria, and hallucinations. Diphenhydramine, the active ingredient found in common over-the-counter medications such as Benadryl, can be deadly when taken in high enough doses. Drinking alcohol and taking Benadryl makes it harder to control body movement well for people of all https://rehabliving.net/ ages. But if you really want to get a good night’s sleep, don’t make the mistake of thinking a glass of wine and a dose of Benadryl will do the trick. This misuse of Benadryl and alcohol may actually make you dizzy and prevent you from sleeping through the night. Benadryl is the brand-name version of an antihistamine called diphenhydramine.

If you have glaucoma, talk with your doctor before starting Benadryl treatment. Your doctor can advise you on whether Benadryl is right for you. If you’d like to learn more about eating certain foods while you take Benadryl, talk with your doctor. Call your doctor if you experience any unusual problems while you are taking this medication. If your doctor has told you to take diphenhydramine regularly, take the missed dose as soon as you remember it. However, if it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and continue your regular dosing schedule.

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. Taking these other types of medications with alcohol could also increase the risk of side effects. Aging slows the body’s ability to break down alcohol so that it may stay in the system of an older adult for longer than someone younger. This slowdown increases the time a person will be at risk of a harmful interaction between Benadryl and alcohol. In some people, an overdose is possible with alcohol and diphenhydramine.

According to a 2010 review, diphenhydramine is among the list of medications misused by people presenting to the emergency department for drug treatment. The active ingredient of ZzzQuil can pass into breastmilk, so people who are breastfeeding early signs of liver damage from alcohol should consult a doctor before taking it. Pregnant women should also seek medical advice before using this medication.

Addiction Resource does not offer medical diagnosis, treatment, or advice. Only trained and licensed medical professionals can provide such services. If you or anyone you know is undergoing a severe health crisis, call a doctor or 911 immediately.