Some medications, like cough syrups or laxatives, contain alcohol themselves and should not be taken simultaneously with Benadryl. This specific combination is unlikely to cause an overdose, but the combination can still be tremendously unpleasant, and can feel like intoxication.
As such, operating machinery or vehicles while taking Benadryl and another drug or alcohol can be very dangerous, and lead to serious injury or even death. Sometimes, individuals may take Benadryl exclusively for its side effect of drowsiness, to help them sleep.
However, doctors do not typically recommend this. Always consult a doctor or medical professional before using Benadryl as a sleep aid. Since Benadryl can react dangerously with other substances, using other medications for sleep aid is usually the best route.
The combination of Benadryl and alcohol can lead to a heavily sedated state and result in trouble with thinking. However, the combination is unlikely to cause a fatal overdose. Most of the danger arises when an individual who has taken both attempts to drive or operate machinery.
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. The half-life of a substance is the length of time it takes before half of it is gone. Individuals with kidney or liver problems may need to wait even longer, as their bodies cannot eliminate the substance as quickly. Mixing them can increase the risk of dehydration.
This can cause discomfort at the time and may worsen a hangover. This slowdown increases the time a person will be at risk of a harmful interaction between Benadryl and alcohol. Benadryl blocks the action of a neurotransmitter called acetylcholine. Acetylcholine is necessary for learning and memory, so blocking its action may temporarily impair these processes. Alcohol is also known to inhibit learning and memory temporarily.
So, combining alcohol and Benadryl may again have a more noticeable effect on learning and memory. Taking these other types of medications with alcohol could also increase the risk of side effects. Some types of medication, including cough syrup and laxatives, also contain alcohol. They can include up to 10 percent alcohol, which may interact with Benadryl. As a consequence, taking Benadryl with these medications when consuming very small amounts of alcohol may still increase the risk of adverse side effects.
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. Mixing Benadryl with alcohol may be particularly hazardous for females, as consuming smaller amounts of alcohol could trigger adverse interaction effects. 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. One study found that people who take one anticholinergic drug per day for at least 3 years have a raised risk of dementia. This can ease your allergy symptoms. But Benadryl is a strong drug, and it comes with risks. One risk is the severe effects it can cause if you take it with alcohol. But both drugs work on your central nervous system CNS , which is made up of your brain and spinal cord.
Benadryl and alcohol are both CNS depressants. These are drugs that slow down your CNS. 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. Benadryl is approved to treat allergy symptoms only.
This is because Benadryl causes drowsiness. In fact, the generic form of Benadryl, diphenhydramine, is approved as a sleep aid. Some people may think alcohol can serve the same role, since it can also make you sleepy. This misuse of Benadryl and alcohol may actually make you dizzy and prevent you from sleeping through the night. Benadryl may also interact negatively with sleep aids and other medications.
So, to be safe, you should only use Benadryl to treat your allergy symptoms. This warning is because of the risks of CNS depression from the drug. The administration also agrees that alcohol can enhance the effects of Benadryl. Get the SingleCare prescription discount card. The only exception to this hard-and-fast rule is if someone has a severe allergic reaction to something, like food or an insect bite, in the midst of alcohol consumption.
She adds that in this scenario the patient needs professional medical care so call or get them to a doctor immediately. Corry agrees. Fortunately, Benadryl clears from your system in four to six hours, says Dr. If you have chronic seasonal allergies it is unlikely your doctor will recommend a first-generation antihistamine, says Dr.
Mantione, because these are normally used for acute reactions. Loratadine Claritin , fexofenadine Allegra , or cetirizine Zyrtec and alcohol are generally considered a slightly safer combination. These medications do not typically cause drowsiness or other side effects that are intensified by alcohol consumption.
Corry says.
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