Benadryl withdrawal symptoms

[Chicafromchitown]

Has anyone experienced withdrawal symptoms from stopping Benadryl? If so what are they? I was taking it as a sleeping aid, but a few days ago I stop then my hell started so please if anyone has gone or is going through share your experience. Thanks 🙏🏽

[rhyspeace12]

It never bothered my husband when he stopped it to sleep.

[Chicafromchitown in reply to rhyspeace12]

Thank you 😊

[MarionP]

What do you mean by "hell" started? Can you be specific? Also, how long were you using it and how much were you using?

[Chicafromchitown in reply to MarionP]

I was taken 1 20mg every night for almost a year. I stop last week, the first night without it was horrible, I was crawling in my bedroom floor drenched in sweat 😓 I was pulling my hair, anxiety was at its worst, I started loosing mobility on my right side and now I am left with very painful legs that’ wasn’t there before I stop. If anyone is thinking of taking Benadryl as a sleeping aid, please think it twice you get hooked on it very fast.

[MarionP in reply to Chicafromchitown]

I have a pretty good idea you should talk to a doctor.

Just some casual ideas here, but a doctor should be seen I think.

Benadryl is diphenhydramine...Your reaction is very unusual for benadryl...and 20 mg is a mild dose. It is referred to as a "sedating anti-histamine." It's on the WHO list of essential medicines because it is considered so safe and benign, used for itching skin and for it's known side effect of making one drowsy...actually I wouldn't stop it if you had no actual complaints. Waking up may be a bit difficult.

But it was not intended to be used every night for a year. Maybe two weeks tops. The idea was for temporary help, and not chronic insomnia. After that you are being your own doctor.

You may be unique in your makeup, or else I would guess that there might be more complications to your situation not yet talked about, unless you say you have no particular conditions and no particular treatments beyond wanting something to help with sleep.

So if this is your reaction and it is isolated to be from abruptly stopping the benadryl, you are fairly unique or else have some interesting co-occurring conditions or history of some neurological issues at least. Are you on this group because of Parkinson's? Other chronic diseases or illnesses that could influence the nervous system?

Benadryl is among the very weakest of the anti-histamines, and the second oldest, next to its similar cousin chlorpheniramine, which is only available now as a very weak generic that really doesn't do anything. Yours is the first I've heard of such a strong withdrawal reaction, especially with the mild dose.

There is also a possible interaction with neurotoxic drugs or psychoactive substances, which can make you very sensitive to other things changing now or later...either ones you take now or have in the past, mainly the amphetamine or amphetamine-like stimulants, "party drugs" and the anti-histamine-related antipsychotics, so if you have any of that in your history, or use of opiates, I'd suggest a specialist in neuropsychiatry or neurology (or both actually, the disciplines are different...if you can find a psychiatric nurse practitioner, those nurses know a lot, a great deal...sometimes you are better off with them, they get into the experience very widely, they have seen a lot and know a lot of practical applicaitons). But because you are having these extreme symptoms, you do need to see a pro.

But if you believe it is the sole cause of your symptoms, then for now you may do well to go back to the dose you had no symptoms with, and reduce VERY gradually...like about 1 mg per week or two weeks, until you are down to zero.

If you need to induce sleep, melatonin will get you in, but won't keep you in. Clonazepam is often used for sleep, it's a prescription anxiety medication. If you're not diabetic, eating a good load of starchy carbs, say spaghetti, just before bed will do it. Doxylamine succinate ("Unisom Sleep Tabs"), it is also a sedating anti-histamine, and Valerian is also known for making you drowsy or helping induce sleep.

Longer term, you might take one that works and use it for say a week and then switch off to something else. Maybe if you find two to three other things to use, use each for a week and then cycle through them. That way you avoid the potential toleration and dependency issues.

BUT if you choose Doxylamine, it has more potential side effects than Benadryl. If you suffer from conditions that increase your eye pressure, such as glaucoma, you may need to be cautious. Other conditions that may be problematic include

hyperthyroidism, heart disease high blood pressure, liver disease, and COPD or other things to do with lungs.

Just ideas, not medical advice. You really need to check with a doctor.

[Juliegrace in reply to MarionP]

Benadryl is not innocuous. It can be very harmful, especially in older populations. It should only be used occasionally.

bcm.edu/news/sleep-disorder...

health.harvard.edu/blog/com...

[Hikoi in reply to MarionP]

Chica,

I think Marion is right about talking to your neuro. You are on three mood altering meds which are very powerful, plus Benadryl plus L/C plus HDT, plus Mirapex which you stopped and now wanting to use or using Amantadine and mucuna and probably there are more meds you havent mentioned. Whether your problems are benadryl withdrawal who would know. You need a proper review by a doctor.

[Chicafromchitown in reply to Hikoi]

Thank you!!