It’s allergy season, which means you’re probably grabbing for the Benadryl more often than you typically do. You may have even done this before grabbing a beer or glass of wine to close out the evening. Since you can get Benadryl over the counter, it doesn’t cross your mind that it might be dangerous to mix it with alcohol.
No one likes having to deal with allergies. And while Benadryl has made you a little drowsy in the past, it’s hard to believe that the drug can become a real threat to your health. However, mixing over the counter or prescription drugs with alcohol is often a recipe for disaster.
An Inside Look at Benadryl
Benadryl is a form of antihistamine called diphenhydramine that helps your body manage allergy symptoms. Unfortunately, the drug is also commonly used as a sleep aid. This is where the misuse of Benadryl usually begins.
Since the drug can make you drowsy, you might think it’s a good idea to mix it with alcohol to increase its effects and make sleep easier to come by. However, benadryl should only be used to help treat your allergy symptoms.
Why Mixing Benadryl with Alcohol is Dangerous
One trait that Benadryl and alcohol have in common is that they both depress your central nervous system (CNS). The depression of your CNS can cause decreased heart rate, slow your rate of breathing, loss of consciousness and can lead to a coma in rare cases.
The risk of falling unconscious is one of the main reasons why combining alcohol and Benadryl often leads to personal injury. Unfortunately, that isn’t the only health risk that you can experience.
5 Health Risks of Mixing Benadryl and Alcohol
1. Dehydration
When you mix Benadryl with alcohol, dehydration caused by both substances hit you at the same time. If you’re not careful, you can become severely dehydrated, which will require a trip to the hospital.
2. Memory Impairments
Benadryl has been shown to block the neurotransmitter in your brain called acetylcholine. This neurotransmitter is essential to your learning and memory. If you get into the habit of taking Benadryl daily alongside alcohol, you could suffer from lapses in memory.
3. Interactions with Other Medications
Unfortunately, it’s common for Benadryl to have interactions with other medications. If you take prescription medication, mixed with Benadryl and alcohol, you may experience extreme side effects that can put your health at risk.
4. Increased Risk of Overdose
Since both alcohol and Benadryl are depressants, it’s possible that mixing these substances can increase your risk of alcohol-related overdose.
5. Risk for Dementia
It’s possible that frequently taking antihistamines daily over a long period of time can increase your risk for dementia. The same is true for excessive alcohol consumption. So, regularly combining these substances can increase your risk for dementia even more.
What is Polydrug Abuse?
Polydrug abuse is when you combine and misuse multiple substances like Benadryl and alcohol. It can be tempting to regularly mix these substances because of how the effects are amplified. However, using Benadryl and alcohol will not help relieve any underlying conditions you might be facing.
If you’re mixing Benadryl and alcohol as a way to cope with any mental health challenges, Silver Maple Recovery’s dual diagnosis treatment can help. This form of treatment can help you understand your unique condition and build a foundation for recovery.
Break Free from Alcohol Abuse at Silver Maple Recovery
If you’re suffering from an alcohol addiction, we know how hard it can be to manage it on your own. But at Silver Maple Recovery, we’re here to help you reach lasting recovery. Our premier addiction treatment center in Lorain, OH is ready to walk alongside you on your journey to lasting sobriety.
Our expert team is dedicated to helping you overcome the hold that alcohol has over you. No matter where your alcohol abuse has taken you, there’s hope for recovery. Contact us today to speak with a professional caregiver ready to hear your story.
