Benadryl is an antihistamine called diphenhydramine. It is a sedating antihistamine, and as such, it is primarily used for allergies and hay fever, but can be secondarily used for treating things like insomnia. The sedating effect can help people with insomnia fall asleep and can help people with anxiety calm their nerves.
Can You Get Addicted to Benadryl?
There are two types of issues that can be associated with Benadryl: psychological and physical.
The psychological addiction is where you rely on Benadryl for things like insomnia, and you start to believe that you cannot sleep without using Benadryl. This means that you might become psychologically addicted to it such that you won’t go to sleep without taking it. The longer you take Benadryl without a break, the more likely you are to experience certain withdrawal symptoms and the more likely you are to experience the physical symptoms.
The physical dependence is where your body becomes dependent on Benadryl for daily function. This happens more often with people who use it long-term without any breaks. This might be usage or misuse of Benadryl against a doctor’s orders or without a doctor’s supervision, especially for things like insomnia treatment or anxiety treatment.
If you use Benadryl long-term, you might experience symptoms like anxiety, nausea, insomnia, diarrhea, or cold sweats. That is why it is best to taper off Benadryl if you are using it regularly, giving your body and brain a chance to adjust to lower and lower doses.
Treatment for Addiction
If you have noticed that you are struggling with a psychological addiction to Benadryl or have an underlying problem with addiction, physical dependence, or conditions like insomnia and anxiety disorders, we can help.
At our luxury treatment center, you can find appropriate detox and residential inpatient treatment to help with addiction and any co-occurring mental health disorders. Our facility provides a wide range of evidence-based practices and holistic therapies to give you the coping skills you need to manage things like anxiety and to reduce issues of insomnia so that you are less dependent on drugs like Benadryl.
Find Support for Addiction Recovery
With 90210 Recovery, we make it easy to treat addiction and mental health disorders with our holistic therapy and dual diagnosis programs. So if you or a loved one is struggling with questions like “Can you get addicted to Benadryl?” know that our team is here. When you reach out to our admissions team, we can go over the different programs we offer, the treatment options we have, and help you verify your insurance benefits so that help is more accessible.
If you are struggling with addiction and looking for answers, we are here. Call our team today at
(877) 839-6775.
FAQ
How Does Diphenhydramine Work?
Diphenhydramine is an antihistamine, classified as a sedating antihistamine. Under normal circumstances, if your body comes into contact with something to which you are allergic, histamine gets produced in your body, and this histamine reaction causes things like skin irritation and a runny nose. Antihistamines like Benadryl can block these symptoms, but can also cause certain side effects.
Can You Overdose on Benadryl?
The normal amount of Benadryl will change based on your age and how you are using it. Diphenhydramine for things like insomnia might come in tablets of 25 mg or 50 mg, and you might be encouraged to take 50 mg before you go to bed. The same dosage might be recommended for allergies and hay fever several times per day. You should only take diphenhydramine like Benadryl for a short amount of time unless your doctor tells you otherwise.
Can You Get Addicted to Benadryl?
If you continue to take Benadryl regularly without a break, you can become dependent on it. This physical dependence can lead to certain withdrawal symptoms when you suddenly stop taking Benadryl. These often include things like nausea, cold sweats, and diarrhea, although these withdrawal symptoms are relatively minor compared to harder drugs.
Are There Side Effects to Benadryl?
When you take diphenhydramine like Benadryl, you might experience common side effects like feeling drowsy, feeling dizzy, having trouble concentrating, or experiencing skin sensitivity to sunlight and dry mouth. More serious effects that are much less common might include restlessness, numbness, or heart palpitations.
Can You Have Withdrawals from Benadryl?
Benadryl can cause side effects like increased heart rate, anxiety, cold sweats, nausea, diarrhea, and memory loss, especially if you are abusing Benadryl or taking it regularly without any breaks.
What Happens If I Take Benadryl Every Day?
Taking Benadryl for a long time can increase your risk of specific side effects like brain fog and sedation. It can cause serious risks of memory loss and put you at risk for a psychological addiction or physical dependence.
Can I Drink Alcohol While on Benadryl?
No, you should not combine alcohol and Benadryl. The reason is that both function as a depressant, with diphenhydramine causing sedation and alcohol causing sedation, meaning it can impact your respiratory system, making it more likely that you will fall asleep and more difficult for you to wake up from that sleep.
Will Lifestyle Changes Help Me Sleep Better?
There are several things you can try to help improve your level of anxiety and sleep instead of relying on Benadryl. Having good sleep hygiene, like a routine before bed that includes listening to calming music or guided meditations, can be very useful. It is important to avoid naps during the day, to stay away from screen time about an hour before bed, avoid exercise or having meals several hours before bed, and consider a regular bedtime.
Can I Take More Than One Antihistamine at a Time?
It’s not recommended that you take any other drowsy antihistamine at the same time as Benadryl. If you are taking Benadryl and you also take something like hydrazine, it can make symptoms of drowsiness and dizziness much worse. Unless you are advised by a doctor, you should not take two antihistamines together.
