Is Mixing Benadryl And Alcohol Safe?

Is mixing Benadryl and alcohol safe? No, it is not safe to take these together. Benadryl and alcohol are both depressants and can lead to serious consequences such as respiratory issues,  drowsiness, loss of consciousness, impaired memory, and overdose. Read on to learn more about the dangers of mixing Benadryl and alcohol.

ChoicePoint’s alcohol MAT program and online alcohol counseling can help flush alcohol out of your system safely. Call 844.445.2565 to schedule an appointment. 

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Highlights

• Benadryl (diphenhydramine) is an antihistamine that is known for causing drowsiness, impaired memory, confusion, and lack of coordination. 
• Benadryl and alcohol are central nervous system depressants. 
• When you mix Benadryl and alcohol, they amplify these effects, causing serious issues such as vomiting in a state of unconsciousness, prolonged drowsiness, respiratory depression, and memory loss. 
• These conditions may become serious in older individuals.

What Happens If You Mix Benadryl And Alcohol?

Mixing Benadryl and alcohol poses serious health risks. Benadryl (diphenhydramine) is an antihistamine that causes drowsiness, lack of coordination, and impaired memory. Alcohol also causes these effects. Both these substances act as depressants for the central nervous system, causing health concerns. In simpler words, when your central nervous system is depressed, you may experience respiratory issues. That’s because Benadryl and alcohol interact, causing sedation, leading to drowsiness.  A combination of these two substances amplifies these effects.

Free Addiction Assessment

Please note this assessment is an initial self-screening, and it is not meant to be a medical assessment or clinical diagnosis of addiction. For proper diagnosis and treatment, schedule an appointment with ChoicePoint.

7 Dangers Of Mixing Benadryl And Alcohol

Combining alcohol and Benadryl may lead to health complications and sometimes serious side effects. These are:  

1. Prolonged Drowsiness

Benadryl is an antihistamine that can cause side effects such as sedation and sleepiness, which can also cause impairment of the coordination system. Benadryl and alcohol interaction can exacerbate these side effects. As a result, a person feels drowsy and unable to function properly. This situation can become life-threatening if a person is involved in activities like driving or operating heavy machinery. 

2. Unconsciousness

When sedation hits, some people lose consciousness quickly compared to others. In such people, mixing Benadryl and alcohol carries an increased risk of causing unconsciousness. This can result in unfortunate events such as accidents and falls. 

3. Dehydration

Alcohol acts as a diuretic, which means it removes water and other fluids from your body via the kidneys and bladder. If your water intake is low, you might become dehydrated instantly.1 So is the case with Benadryl. Being an antihistamine, it also increases the risk of dehydration. When taken together, they can cause severe dehydration, leading to a worse hangover the next day.

4. Harmful Interactions in Adults

It is quite obvious that as a person gets older, their metabolism slows down. It becomes difficult for them to metabolize alcohol, and it stays in their body for a longer duration than it does in someone younger. This longer duration increases the interaction time of Benadryl and alcohol, making older people more susceptible to the side effects of Benadryl and alcohol interactions.

5. Memory Loss

Benadryl blocks the activity of acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter that plays a crucial role in learning and memory. Its blockage results in memory impairment.2 Too much alcohol consumption also affects brain activity and memory. So, mixing Benadryl and alcohol can have long-lasting impacts on learning and memory.

6. Misuse

A combination of Benadryl and alcohol causes feelings of sleepiness and sedation.3 People may become addicted to this combination to induce sleep. This is not it; it may lead to dizziness and nausea. 

7. Respiratory Depression

Alcohol and Benadryl interaction can suppress your respiratory system, leading to a very low breathing rate.  

If you are having any of these symptoms, opt for our outpatient alcohol rehab in NJ for timely support. 

When Can You Drink After Taking Benadryl? 

Mixing alcohol and Benadryl causes potential health risks. It is best to avoid drinking alcohol until Benadryl is flushed out of your system. Usually, Benadryl leaves your system 2 days after you take your last dose.

5 Ways To Prevent Benadryl And Alcohol Interactions?

Here are the 5 best possible ways in which you can prevent mixing Benadryl and alcohol:

1. Avoid alcohol consumption.
2. Inform your doctor about your alcohol addiction history.
3. Consume antihistamines prescribed by your doctor.
4. If you intend to take Benadryl and alcohol, wait fr a two-day window.
5. Seek medical help if Benadryl and alcohol mix happens. 

If you are consuming Benadryl and alcohol, ChoicePoint can help you with dual diagnosis treatment near you. They can help you prevent serious consequences. 

Overcoming Dangers Of Mixing Benadryl And Alcohol: Get Help From ChoicePoint

If you are unable to avoid alcohol, this means it is a deep-rooted problem. You just can’t quit alcohol cold turkey because it acts as a central nervous system depressant, and quitting without medical help can lead to fatal alcohol withdrawal symptoms such as hallucinations, tremors, seizures, and delirium. These alcohol withdrawal symptoms last for weeks, if not treated. ChoicePoint offers various treatment programs that may help you recover. These programs include:

1. PHP Alcohol Rehab

Partial hospitalization alcohol rehab provides alcohol addiction treatment who do not require inpatient treatment or are unable to stay at the rehab center.

2. Outpatient Alcohol Detox

ChoicePoint’s alcohol detox program helps to quit alcohol. They provide personalized programs in outpatient settings. They offer treatments through MAT, dual diagnosis, and intensive outpatient.

3. Online Medication-assisted Treatment Program

MAT for alcohol treatment includes:

Naltrexone

Disulfiram

Acamprostate

4. IOP Alcohol Treatment

Our intensive outpatient alcohol treatment provides a cure for alcoholism and alcohol abuse via therapies, detox, and MAT.

5. Behavioral Therapy Treatment

Through therapies, we help you heal emotionally and mentally. Our professional therapists will help you get rid of your addiction.

Verify your insurance and get your recovery started.

Final Thoughts: Is Mixing Benadryl and Alcohol Safe?

You should not take Benadryl and alcohol together, as it can amplify drowsiness, unconsciousness, and memory loss. If you or a loved one is experiencing substance abuse, seek medical help for a life of sobriety. Feel comfortable calling 844.445.2565  and scheduling an appointment.

Answering FAQs About Mixing Benadryl And Alcohol

Our clients at ChoicePoint also ask questions about Benadryl and alcohol. They ask these questions:

1. Does Benadryl help with alcohol withdrawal?

Usually, Benadryl is not recommended for alcohol withdrawal. During alcohol withdrawal, people experience sleeping issues. Benadryl is prescribed to treat sleeping difficulties.

2. Does Benadryl have alcohol?

Antihistamines have high alcohol content, and Benadryl has 14% alcohol.

3. Can I take Benadryl 4 hours after drinking?

Mixing antihistamines with alcohol is dangerous. Alcohol makes you drowsy and lethargic. So does Benadryl. Alcohol and benzyl interactions intensify these effects. That’s why their combination is not recommended.

4. What medications should be avoided with Benadryl?

Antidepressants, other antihistamines, cough medicines, Valium, and sedatives interact with Benadryl and cause side effects.

5. Can you take a small amount of alcohol with Benadryl?

Even a small amount of alcohol can react with Benadryl and cause sedative effects. A small amount of alcohol can reduce side effects when taken with Benadryl, especially when you have sensitivity to the medicines, you have consumed food, you are on other sedatives, or your drinking frequency is very high.

Sources

1. D’Angelo A, Petrella C, Greco A, Ralli M, Vitali M, Giovagnoli R, De Persis S, Fiore M, Ceccanti M, Messina MP. Acute alcohol intoxication: a clinical overview. La Clinica Terapeutica. 2022 May 26;173(3).
2. Nerush MO, Shevyrin VA, Golushko NI, Moskalenko AM, Rosemberg DB, De Abreu MS, Yang LE, Galstyan DS, Lim LW, Demin KA, Kalueff AV. Classics in chemical neuroscience: deliriant antihistaminic drugs. ACS Chemical Neuroscience. 2024 Oct 15;15(21):3848-62.
3. Wolfson AR, Wong D, Abrams EM, Waserman S, Sussman GL. Diphenhydramine: time to move on?. The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology: In Practice. 2022 Dec 1;10(12):3124-30.