Benadryl can you get high

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Share on LinkedIn. Most Read. Smith County constable, 2 deputies arrested on various charges. Missing 3-year-old girl in Texas found safe; Amber Alert canceled. An analysis of clinical research found that antihistamines such as Benadryl can slightly decrease these symptoms in adults.

The American Academy of Dermatology recommends not using Benadryl products to treat eczema. This includes Benadryl products that are oral taken by mouth and topical applied to the skin. Heat rash usually goes away on its own without treatment. They may recommend treatments such as calamine lotion. However, some oral Benadryl products contain diphenhydramine, an antihistamine, and a decongestant called phenylephrine. These products can help reduce nasal congestion and stuffiness and may also help reduce sinus pressure or pain.

The swelling that often occurs along with hives is called angioedema. It usually occurs on the hands or feet, or around the lips and face.

Diphenhydramine the drug contained in Benadryl may be used for more severe cases of swelling. As an example, painful swelling could be considered severe.

Note: In rare cases, swelling from hives may cause a swollen tongue or throat and cause trouble breathing. If you have these symptoms, call or go to an emergency room for treatment.

Some topical over-the-counter Benadryl products are approved for treating pain and itchy skin caused by sunburn. Benadryl is available in generic forms, which are often store-brand products. The generic name of Benadryl is diphenhydramine. There are many different Benadryl-branded products. Some of these products contain just one ingredient, while others contain two ingredients. Because ingredients vary from one Benadryl product another, be sure to read the label closely before buying or using a Benadryl product.

The following information describes dosages that are commonly used or recommended. Before giving Benadryl to a baby, talk with your doctor.

Your doctor can also recommend the most appropriate dosage of Benadryl if treatment with the drug is needed. For adults and children over 12 years of age, the maximum is mg each day. For children ages 6 to 12 years, the maximum is mg each day. Your body can develop a tolerance to some of the effects of Benadryl.

For instance, one study found that Benadryl caused sleepiness on the first day it was taken. But after the person took Benadryl for four days, this side effect no longer occurred.

This was due to tolerance. When used over time, Benadryl continues to work to relieve symptoms of hay fever or allergies, runny nose, hives, and other conditions. They may suggest other treatment options that may be more effective for you. Benadryl can cause mild or serious side effects. The following list contains some of the key side effects that may occur while taking Benadryl. For more information on the possible side effects of Benadryl or tips on how to deal with a troubling side effect, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Some of these side effects may go away within a few days or a couple of weeks. Call your doctor right away if you have serious side effects. Serious side effects and their symptoms can include the following:. There is very little scientific research about the long-term effects of Benadryl.

Talk to your doctor about how often you have allergy symptoms. If you have symptoms frequently more often than about four days per week , there may be a safer, more effective medication for you than Benadryl. Benadryl and some other antihistamine drugs can sometimes cause decreased memory, confusion, and trouble thinking.

These side effects are more common in seniors. To prevent this possible side effect, Benadryl should be used in the lowest effective dose for the shortest time possible. If you need to take an antihistamine long term, talk with your doctor or pharmacist about other options. However, they can occur in people who take very high doses of Benadryl. If you think you need medical treatment, call your doctor or Some antihistamines, including Benadryl, can worsen symptoms of restless legs syndrome.

If you have restless legs syndrome, talk with your doctor or pharmacist about other medication options. If you have symptoms of depression while taking Benadryl, talk with your doctor. Your doctor may want to evaluate your symptoms.

They may also recommend different medication options. Weight gain can happen in some people who take diphenhydramine. If you have weight gain while taking Benadryl, talk with your doctor or pharmacist about other medication options. Benadryl can cause constipation, especially when used regularly. If you have constipation, talk with your doctor or pharmacist about other medication options instead of Benadryl.

Because it can make you very sleepy, Benadryl can impair your ability to drive. Because of the risk of dangerous side effects in children, over-the-counter oral Benadryl products are only approved for use in children 6 years of age and older. The Food and Drug Administration FDA recommends that cough and cold products not be used in children under 2 years of age due to the risk of dangerous side effects, including sudden infant death.

These products often contain diphenhydramine generic Benadryl or other antihistamines, combined with other ingredients. Before giving oral Benadryl to children under 6 years, or cough and cold products to children under 2 years, talk with your doctor.

They can also recommend the most appropriate medication and dosage if treatment is needed. Over-the-counter oral Benadryl products are only approved for use in children ages 6 years and older. Benadryl products that are applied to the skin such as the cream, gel, or spray are only approved for use in children 2 years of age and older.

Before giving Benadryl to your baby, talk with your doctor. If they decide that treatment with Benadryl is needed, your doctor can also recommend the most appropriate dosage of the drug. But if your symptoms are severe, call or go to the nearest emergency room right away.

Over-the-counter Benadryl is available in many different forms. Some are oral taken by mouth , and others are topical applied to the skin. Forms include:. Store brands that contain diphenhydramine, the same ingredient in Benadryl, are available in other forms.

These forms include:. No Benadryl or diphenhydramine product is available as a topical lotion or as eye drops. Benadryl may be safe for short-term use during pregnancy in some situations. For treatment of severe allergic reactions during pregnancy, injected diphenhydramine is often considered the first-choice treatment. Diphenhydramine is the ingredient contained in Benadryl. This is due to a risk of eye disease in the newborn.

Your doctor may want to evaluate your symptoms to determine the safest treatment. Taking Benadryl occasionally during breastfeeding is likely safe. However, taking Benadryl regularly or in large doses may cause side effects in a child who is breastfed.

It may also reduce your milk supply. Antihistamines that cause less sleepiness are usually preferred over oral Benadryl while breastfeeding. Benadryl is an antihistamine. There are several other antihistamines that can be used as alternatives. The first-generation antihistamines usually cause more sleepiness and other side effects than the second-generation antihistamines.

Benadryl contains diphenhydramine, a first-generation antihistamine. Examples of the other medications in these groups are listed below. You may wonder how Benadryl compares to other medications that are prescribed for similar uses. Below are comparisons between Benadryl and several medications. Benadryl is a first-generation antihistamine. Claritin loratadine is a newer, second-generation antihistamine. Oral Benadryl products are approved for decreasing symptoms of hay fever and other respiratory allergies, and symptoms of the common cold such as sneezing and runny nose.

Benadryl products that are topical applied to the skin are approved for decreasing pain and itchy skin caused by things such as hives and insect bites. Oral Benadryl products are usually taken every 4 to 6 hours. Topical products are typically used up to 4 times daily.

Claritin tablets, liquid-filled capsules, and syrup are taken once daily. The signs of substance abuse of any kind are not always obvious. Here is what to look out for if you suspect someone in your life may be abusing diphenhydramine.

Signs that are more difficult to notice include physical weakness, chest tightness, headache, or gastrointestinal distress. Even if this is the case, it can quickly turn into an addiction. Diphenhydramine addiction comes with many adverse health effects.

Here are some short-term consequences:. If treatment is not sought or accepted, side effects may worsen. These are some potential long-term consequences of Benadryl addiction:. If you know or are worried someone in your life abuses or is dependant on diphenhydramine, you should know what an overdose looks like. Recognize these signs:. The reasons why someone may begin using harmful substances, to begin with, are numerous. With the help of a doctor, licensed counselor, or other professional, you can plan an intervention.

Abuse of and addiction to diphenhydramine often happens in teens.