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Medically Reviewed by Dr P. E. Pancoast, MD
Benadryl is the brand name for an antihistamine called diphenhydramine. The drug is a widely used over-the-counter (OTC) medicine for treating allergy symptoms.
During an allergic reaction, your body produces histamine. This natural substance creates many reactions to allergens such as stuffed nose, itchy skin, and sneezing.
Antihistamines, such as diphenhydramine, block your body's response to the allergens and reduce allergy symptoms. These symptoms include:
Benadryl is a central nervous system (CNS) depressant, just like alcohol. Combining alcohol and Benadryl can increase adverse side effects on your CNS. This heightened risk can produce potentially dangerous consequences.
Benadryl is available in several forms, including:
Different Forms of Benadryl
When Benadryl mixes with alcohol, the combination can be dangerous.
While Benadryl doesn’t affect the liver, it is a central nervous system (CNS) depressant, like alcohol. When Benadryl combines with alcohol, the impact on the central nervous system can lead to intense and heightened side effects. In some cases, this combination can be life-threatening.
The increased risks associated with combining Benadryl with alcohol consumption may not apply to every individual or situation.
It is possible that drinking small amounts of alcohol while taking Benadryl in a safe environment will lead to no harm. However, the most responsible practice is to abstain from drinking alcohol while taking diphenhydramine.
If an individual has intentionally or unintentionally combined Benadryl with alcohol, it’s essential to ensure that they are in a comfortable space where they can rest, if necessary.
Benadryl and alcohol should never be mixed before engaging in any activity that requires mental alertness, like driving.
If you are considering drinking alcohol with Benadryl, speak to your doctor or healthcare provider first. Your doctor can determine whether it’s safe to consume alcohol after taking Benadryl. This will depend on other aspects, such as additional courses of medication and age.
Million
Estimated number of prescriptions for diphenhydramine in the United States.
Average
Total drug cost of diphenhydramine.
Average
Out-of-pocket cost of diphenhydramine.
The side effects of Benadryl and alcohol can be severe. This is mainly because both drugs affect the central nervous system and reduce its functionality.
When the central nervous system depresses, essential functions such as respiration also reduce. If you combine alcohol and diphenhydramine, it can result in extreme drowsiness, sleepiness, and even unconsciousness, among other increased risks.
Benadryl can lead to sedation and increased sleepiness. This can affect coordination and reaction speed.
Combining Benadryl with alcohol can intensify these side effects, impairing an individual’s daily functioning. These effects can be life-threatening if it includes specific activities, like driving or operating large and heavy machinery.
For some, the level of sedation when mixing alcohol and Benadryl is so high that they experience a loss of consciousness. Therefore, it’s even more essential never to mix alcohol and diphenhydramine before driving, operating machinery, or any potentially risky situations.
Some individuals are more prone than others to losing consciousness when sedated. This can be harmful due to the increased risk of falls and other accidents.
Aging slows the body’s ability to break down alcohol. That means alcohol may linger in the system of older adults for longer than in younger people. This slowdown increases the time someone is at risk of diphenhydramine and alcohol.
A dangerous combination of Benadryl and alcohol can be even more intense for seniors. It can lead to issues with their motor skills due to sedation and dizziness. It can also result in an increased risk of falls.
Diphenhydramine blocks the action of a neurotransmitter called acetylcholine. Acetylcholine is crucial for learning and memory. That means blocking its action may temporarily affect these processes.
Alcohol also reduces learning and memory. The effects of alcohol and Benadryl combined may have a significant adverse impact on learning and memory.
Benadryl may interact with other types of medicines. This can heighten the side effects of the drugs. Taking these different types of medications with alcohol could also increase the risk of side effects.
Examples of medicines that may interact with allergy medications like diphenhydramine include:
Some medications also contain alcohol, like cough syrups and laxatives. These drugs can consist of up to ten percent alcohol, which may adversely interact with Benadryl.
As a result, taking Benadryl with medications like cough syrup may increase the risk of harmful side effects, even when consuming small amounts.
Along with drinking alcohol with Benadryl, it’s essential to be aware of the alcohol content of other medicines you are taking.
Generally, women are more susceptible to alcohol-related harm. This is because female bodies usually contain less water for alcohol to mix with. That means that the same amount of alcohol would be more concentrated in a woman than in a man.
Combining Benadryl with alcohol may be particularly dangerous for women. Drinking smaller amounts of alcohol could lead to adverse interaction effects.
As Benadryl and alcohol both result in sleepiness and sedation, many people exploit the combination as a sleeping aid. However, this dangerous combination can also heighten other adverse effects that affect sleep, such as nausea and dizziness.
It is possible that combining large amounts of Benadryl and alcohol over extended periods could link to an increased risk of dementia.
One study discovered that individuals who take one anticholinergic drug a day for at least three years have an increased risk of dementia. However, it’s essential to note that this study included all anticholinergic drugs, not just Benadryl.
Another study found that alcohol use is associated with a raised risk of dementia.
However, longitudinal research is necessary for people who consume high levels of diphenhydramine and alcohol to know whether this has a significant effect on the risk of dementia.
An excessive combination of Benadryl and alcohol could lead to an overdose. However, you would likely have to ingest significant doses of both drugs. If you overdose on alcohol and Benadryl and lose consciousness, death is one of the risks.
While Benadryl is an over-the-counter medication and is commonly used, it can cause dangerous side effects. That’s why it should never mix with alcohol.
Taking more than the directed dose of Benadryl makes an overdose more likely. Side effects will be uncomfortable, rather than euphoric. Anecdotal evidence about Benadryl highs suggests that the results are more unsettling rather than enjoyable.
Symptoms and side effects of a Benadryl overdose include:
Taking Benadryl with other potent drugs can also increase the risk of overdose. These drugs include:
After taking a dose of Benadryl, it will start working within 30 minutes. The medication's peak is between 2 to 4 hours.
Taking a high dose of Benadryl and drinking alcohol can lead to extreme sedation. And, in some cases, death.
Determining when it is safe to consume alcohol after taking Benadryl (or vice versa) depends on how much Benadryl you took, your age, and other courses of medication. Speak with you doctor to determine the best option.
You should not drink alcohol while taking any type of "drowsy" antihistamine. Doing so increases sleepiness and can lead to extreme sedation when taken in high doses with alcohol.
In summary:
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