The generic name of Benadryl®, diphenhydramine, is found in a wide range of other medications, both internal and topical. The generic form of the drug is also approved as a sleep aid; the brand name Benadryl®, isn’t, however, and shouldn’t be used this way. One study found that people who take one anticholinergic drug per day for at least 3 years have a raised risk of dementia. It should be noted that this study included all anticholinergic drugs, not just Benadryl.

Mixing diphenhydramine with alcohol, particularly in large doses, is extremely dangerous. In fact, an overdose on Benadryl and alcohol is possible and may lead to death. https://sober-home.org/ Benadryl not only stops histamine production, but it can also block acetylcholine–a neurotransmitter in the brain that is essential to learning and memory.

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People also think alcohol can also be a sleep aid because it also can make you drowsy. It’s possible that frequently taking antihistamines daily over a long period of time can increase your risk for dementia. So, regularly combining these substances can increase your risk for dementia even more.

You will also discover how to connect with treatment if you develop an addiction to alcohol or prescription medications. You may have a drinking problem if your alcohol intake habits cause distress or harm in your life and that of your family and loved ones. Even without combining Benadryl with alcohol, you shouldn’t drive or operate machinery. Benadryl can depress the central nervous system, affecting a person’s ability to stay alert. Excessive alcohol use is a problem in the same way.8 Combining these drugs is much more dangerous because of this additional risk. Others with milder addictions, support at home, or family obligations to return to may choose an outpatient program instead.

Can You Mix Benadryl and Alcohol?

Drugs that slow down breathing rates, including alcohol and antihistamines, should not be taken together because it increases the risk of life-threatening respiratory depression. Mixing alcohol with antihistamines can lead to serious problems with thinking, judgement, and motor skills. If you choose to consume wine and Benadryl together, it’s essential to be aware of the risks involved and limit your intake.

Death is one of the risks of excessive alcohol and Benadryl interaction. Despite being widely utilized and conveniently accessible over the counter, Benadryl can have harmful adverse effects. Usually, Benadryl.and alcohol overdose symptoms appear within the first two hours of taking them. Toxic effects, including heart attack, kidney failure, pancreatitis, and coma, cause antihistamine and alcohol death. Benadryl and alcohol death is possible when these are not taken with caution. First-generation antihistamines will cause drowsiness in just about everybody, and alcohol does that too.

Misuse As A Sleep Aid

Mixing drugs and alcohol is common, but that many may not be familiar with. An example of this type of substance combination is Benadryl and alcohol abuse. Since both alcohol and Benadryl are depressants, it’s possible that mixing these substances can increase your risk of alcohol-related overdose. Both of the drugs (alcohol and Benadryl) increase the level of sedation and drowsiness.

• During an overdose of Benadryl and alcohol, you may have seizures or slip into a coma, and these health problems are potentially deadly.
• Recognizing that it increases drowsiness, some people use it as a sleep aid.
• Additionally, Benadryl, other drugs, and sleep aids may not work together.
• 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.
• Wine is a popular alcoholic beverage that is often enjoyed with meals or as a social drink.

When consumed, Benadryl acts as a depressant on the nervous system. Drugs classified as depressants slow down the body’s nerve and brain function. Usually, this ‘slow down’ effect is not dangerous, but it can become threatening if another depressant is taken at the same time.

Different Forms of Benadryl

Meanwhile, a study from 2015 also discovered that taking Benadryl daily also increases dementia. Instead of directly harming the brain as alcohol does, Benadryl seems to interfere with the long-term memory storage processes that usually happen during sleep. Ultimately, these two dementia-causing mechanisms combine to create drastically higher risks of dementia for people who misuse Benadryl and alcohol. When you take Benadryl, the medication blocks the brain’s ability to process acetylcholine.

Both drugs slow your central nervous system (CNS) which can be a serious risk if you depress its function too much. 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. Some medicines that you might never have suspected can react with alcohol, including many medications which can be purchased “over-the-counter”—that is, without a prescription.

Benadryl and Alcohol: Not Safe

The list gives the brand name by which each medicine is commonly known (for example, Benadryl®) and its generic name or active ingredient (in Benadryl®, this is diphenhydramine). The list presented here does not include all the medicines that may interact harmfully with alcohol. Most important, the list does not include all the ingredients in every medication. eco sober house cost Many people start wondering whether they can take alcohol with Benadryl because they are dealing with allergies but still want to enjoy the effects of alcohol. You will need to ask yourself whether you feel discomfort at the idea of not drinking while you take Benadryl. If you find yourself unable to pause your drinking, you may have a substance use disorder.