Mixing Benadryl & Alcohol: The Dangers

When you’re prescribed medication, it’s common to be warned against mixing it with alcohol or other substances. But does thesame caution apply to over-the-counter drugs? For instance, is it dangerous to combine Benadryl and alcohol, and what risks should you be aware of?

If you or a loved one are struggling with substance use or have concerns about the risks of mixing medications and alcohol, help is available. Call us today or visit our admissions page now to take the first step towards healing.

What Is Benadryl?

To fully grasp the risks of mixing Benadryl and alcohol, it can be helpful to first review some fundamentals about what Benadryl is and how it works.

Benadryl is the brand name of an over-the-counter medication that contains an antihistamine called diphenhydramine.It can be taken orally in liquid, tablet, and liqui-gel forms. It is also sold in various topical forms, including creams, sticks, and sprays.

Benadryl is typically used to treat symptoms related to colds, hay fever, and allergies, such as:

Nasal congestion
Sinus pressure
Sneezing
Watery eyes
Runny nose
Itchy throat

Topical forms of the medication can be applied directly to the skin to ease itching or irritation due to insect bites, poison oak, poison sumac, sunburn, and minor scrapes or burns.

How Does Benadryl Affect the Body?

As an antihistamine, diphenhydramine blocks H1 receptors in the brain, air passages, and blood vessels. H1 receptors are associated with histamine, which is a chemical that is naturally produced by the human body.

Your immune system releases histamine when it detects the presence of foreign proteins (allergens). If you have an allergy, that means that your immune system releases excessive histamine in response to the protein you’re allergic to.

In severe cases, excess histamine can trigger anaphylaxis, a potentially life-threatening response that can include:

Dizziness and lightheadedness
Nausea and vomiting
Various skin reactions, including hives and itchiness
Hypotension (dangerously low blood pressure)
Faint but rapid pulse
Swelling of the tongue and throat
Constriction of the airway
Loss of consciousness

Benadryl isn’t strong enough to counter the effects of anaphylaxis, which usually requires a timely injection of epinephrine to be reversed.

However, Benadryl’s ability to block H1 receptors can reverse common histamine-related allergy symptoms, such as the ones listed in the previous section.

In addition to easing these symptoms, Benadryl’s interactions with H1 receptors can also cause a range of unpleasant side effects.

Other Side Effects:

Drowsiness
Headache
Impaired coordination
Constipation
Blurred vision
Racing heart rate
Gastrointestinal distress

What Are the Dangers of Mixing Benadryl and Aclohol?

Many of the Benadryl side effects in the previous section can also be caused by alcohol use. One of the dangers of mixing Benadryl and alcohol is that the combined impact of these two substances can magnify these effects to potentially harmful levels.

Five possible negative outcomes of mixing alcohol and Benadryl include:

Drowsiness: Extreme drowsiness can be quite dangerous, especially if a person misjudges the combined effect of drinking alcohol while using Benadryl. For example, someone who believes they can safely drive after having one or two drinks, but who doesn’t consider the added impact of the Benadryl they had earlier, could be a danger to themselves and others.
Impaired motor skills: As with drowsiness, this intensified effect can also put people in danger of physical harm via automobile accidents as well as slips, falls, and other coordination-related problems.
Dehydration: Alcohol and Benadryl can have a dehydrating effect on the body. Using both substances at the same time can exacerbate this effect, which in turn can cause problems such as headaches, dizziness, lethargy, and confusion.
Memory impairments: This refers to the short-term amnesia that a person can experience when they drink excessively. Having Benadryl in your system while you are drinking alcohol can increase the likelihood that you won’t be able to recall what you did while you were intoxicated.
Dementia: Researchers have found that the long-term use of drugs in the same class as Benadryl can raise a person’s risk of dementia. Drinking excessively over an extended period can have a similar effect.

Am I Addicted to Alcohol?

If you’re unable or unwilling to avoid alcohol while you are taking Benadryl or various other medications, that could be sign that you have developed alcohol use disorder (which is the clinical term for alcoholism).

The ideal first step if you are concerned about your alcohol use is to consult with your primary healthcare provider or an addiction expert. These professionals can conduct a thorough assessment and recommend appropriate treatment options if necessary.

If you’re not sure that you need to schedule a consultation or assessment, ask yourself the following 10 questions:

Do you frequently drink more, or for a longer period of time, than you intended to?
Do you experience strong cravings for alcohol?
Do you find it difficult to go a day or two without drinking?
Have you failed to meet personal, academic, or work-related responsibilities due to your alcohol use?
Have you continued to drink even after incurring harm (such as legal problems, difficulties at work, strained relationships, or health concerns) as a result of prior alcohol use?
Do you use alcohol in ways that you know can be particularly dangerous, as by drinking while also using other mind-altering substances, or drinking and driving?
Have you developed tolerance to alcohol, which means that you need to drink more than you used to in order to feel buzzed or drunk?
Do you become angry or agitated when you’re not able to drink?
Has anyone ever suggested to you that you might have a problem with alcohol?
Have you ever tried to end or curtail your alcohol use, but discovered that you were unable to do so?

If you answered “yes” to any or all of the questions above, it may be time to talk to a professional. Failing to get proper care for an addiction can expose you to significant, potentially irreversible, harm. But when you get the right type of care, you can regain control of your behaviors and end your compulsive alcohol use.

Find Treatment for Alcohol Addiction in the San Francisco Bay Area

Live Oaks Wellness is a trusted provider of life-affirming care for adults who have become addicted to alcohol and other drugs. We also offer dual diagnosis services for patients whose struggles with addiction are accompanied by anxiety, depression, and other co-occurring mental health concerns.

Treatment options at our alcohol addiction rehab in the San Franciso Bay area include detox and residential care. Our team will work closely with you to develop a customized plan that addresses your unique needs and prepares you for a healthier life in recovery.

To learn more or to schedule a free consultation, please visit our Admissions page or call us today.

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