What are the negative effects of Benadryl?

Drowsiness, dizziness, constipation, stomach upset, blurred vision, or dry mouth/nose/throat may occur. If any of these effects persist or worsen, tell your doctor or pharmacist promptly.

What are the side effects of long term use of Benadryl?

What are the dangers of taking Benadryl?

09-24-2020 FDA Drug Safety Communication

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is warning that taking higher than recommended doses of the common over-the-counter (OTC) allergy medicine diphenhydramine (Benadryl) can lead to serious heart problems, seizures, coma, or even death.

Is it OK to take Benadryl every night?

Is it safe to take diphenhydramine every night? You should not take diphenhydramine every night. While it may be helpful during limited periods of insomnia, your body will build up a tolerance for the medication over time, and it will no longer have the desired effect.

Who shouldnt take Benadryl?

high blood pressure. stenosing peptic ulcer. blockage of the urinary bladder. enlarged prostate.

Does Benadryl raise your blood pressure?

Official Answer. Increased blood pressure is not a typical side effect of diphenhydramine, a first-generation antihistamine that lowers the effects of histamines in your body. However, in rare cases, the drug may cause hypotension, or decreased blood pressure.

Does Benadryl affect blood pressure?

Benadryl may cause a drop in blood pressure which may cause symptoms such as dizziness and increase your risk of falls.

How many days in a row can you take Benadryl?

Call your doctor if the condition you are treating with diphenhydramine does not improve, or if you have a fever with a headache, cough, or skin rash. Do not use diphenhydramine for longer than 2 weeks to treat sleep problems, or longer than 7 days to treat cold or allergy symptoms.

Is Benadryl habit forming?

Diphenhydramine, a major ingredient used to make Benadryl, is highly addictive. Although the drug is used to treat conditions like insomnia, nausea, the common cold, and tremors for Parkinson's patients, if regularly ingested in liquid, tablet, or capsule form, it can become addictive.

How long is Benadryl in your system?

For the average healthy adult, elimination half-life ranges from 6.7 to 11.7 hours. So between 6 to 12 hours after taking Benadryl, half the drug will be eliminated from the body. Within two days, the drug will be completely gone from the body.

Is Benadryl good for anxiety?

Advantages. One of the biggest advantages of using an OTC medication such as Benadryl to treat anxiety is that it is fast-acting and convenient. These qualities can be helpful if you need to reduce symptoms of mild anxiety quickly. Because Benadryl causes many people to feel drowsy, it can also help with sleep.

How do you get Benadryl out of your system fast?

Age: Adults over the age of 65 and children who are 12 and younger tend to metabolize diphenhydramine more slowly, meaning the drug can last longer in their systems. Hydration: The more water you drink, the quicker diphenhydramine is flushed from the system.

How many Benadryl can I take to sleep?

Dosage for short-term insomnia

Diphenhydramine comes as 25mg and 50mg tablets. You'll usually take 50mg, 20 minutes before you go to bed.

Can Benadryl cause brain damage?

Long-term use of anticholinergic drugs is associated with increased dementia risk. Potential harm to the brain: Long-term anticholinergic use has been associated with increased dementia risk; diphenhydramine can impair many cognitive functions including memory.

Why does Benadryl cause dementia?

First-generation antihistamines like Benadryl not only block the effect of histamine, but as anticholinergics, they also block the effect of acetylcholine, a chemical in your brain that helps send messages between cells. Blocking acetylcholine can cause temporary drowsiness, confusion, and memory loss.

Can you stop Benadryl cold turkey?

Diphenhydramine withdrawal is intense. You should never stop taking it cold turkey once you have developed a dependence on the drug. Like benzodiazepines and prescription opioids, the user must be slowly weaned off of the drug by consistently reducing the dose he or she takes each day.

Can Benadryl cause anxiety?

Takeaway. One of the most common side effects of Benadryl is drowsiness. However, some people may find that taking Benadryl causes them to feel: anxious.

What is best sleeping pill for elderly?

In the elderly, nonbenzodiazepines such as zolpidem, eszopiclone, zaleplon, and ramelteon are safer and better tolerated than tricyclic antidepressants, antihistamines, and benzodiazepines. Pharmacotherapy should be recommended only after sleep hygiene is addressed, however.

What is a natural alternative to Benadryl?

Quercetin is an antihistamine present in foods like onions, garlic, broccoli, apples, berries, and leafy greens (2). These healthy foods are probably already included in your diet, but you might want to increase your intake when you're suffering from seasonal allergies. You can also try a concentrated supplement.

What can I take instead of Benadryl for sleep?

Over-the-Counter Alternatives to Benadryl

One over-the-counter sleep aid that can be a helpful alternative to Benadryl is melatonin. It's a hormone produced by your body to regulate the sleep-wake cycle. Like diphenhydramine, it's helpful as a short-term treatment if you find it difficult to fall or stay asleep.

Can Benadryl cause kidney problems?

Acute kidney injury (AKI) can be caused by a commonly used over-the-counter and prescription medication, diphenhydramine (Benadryl, McNeil). We do not usually think of this drug as a major source of renal impairment, but it can cause problems in some predisposed patients, including elderly populations.

Does Benadryl interact with other medications?

Benadryl has the potential to interact with a variety of medications. It may interact with medications that are used to treat dementia and Alzheimer's disease, such as Aricept, Razadyne and Exelon. These medications and Benadryl can lessen the effects of each other.

What is the best sleep aid?

Will taking 2 Benadryl help me sleep?

Benadryl will not increase your quality of sleep either. In fact, studies have shown that Benadryl is no more effective at helping you sleep than placebo and can cause many side effects. Side effects include dizziness, confusion, and decreased coordination.

Does Benadryl affect sleep quality?

“Use of antihistamines can lead to sleep walking and other parasomnias. That can definitely occur with Benadryl just as with other hypnotic agents like Ambien,” Alapat said. While antihistamines may help you to fall asleep, overall sleep quality is usually not very good, he said.