How many benadryl is too many

Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; chap Editorial team. Diphenhydramine overdose Benadryl overdose; Sominex overdose; Nytol overdose. Poisonous Ingredient Diphenhydramine can be harmful in large amounts. Symptoms Below are symptoms of a diphenhydramine overdose in different parts of the body. Before Calling Emergency Have this information ready: Person's age, weight, and condition for example, is the person awake or alert?

Name of the product ingredients and strength, if known Time it was swallowed Amount swallowed Call for help even if you don't have this information. Poison Control Your local poison control center can be reached directly by calling the national toll-free Poison Help hotline from anywhere in the United States.

What to Expect at the Emergency Room Take the container to the hospital with you, if possible. Tests that may done include: Blood and urine tests Chest x-ray ECG electrocardiogram or heart tracing Treatment may include:. Outlook Prognosis Recovery is likely if the person survives the first 24 hours. Keep all medicines in child-proof bottles and out of reach of children. References Aronson JK. Taking Xanax with Benadryl can increase your risk of excessive sleepiness. This can make you too sleepy to drive or prevent you from doing other potentially dangerous activities safely.

If you take Xanax, talk with your doctor before taking Benadryl. They may recommend other treatment options. Zoloft sertraline is an antidepressant that can cause sleepiness in some people who take it. Taking Zoloft with Benadryl may increase the risk of excessive sleepiness.

If you take Zoloft, talk with your doctor before taking Benadryl. Zyrtec cetirizine is an antihistamine. Benadryl is also an antihistamine. Taking Benadryl with Zyrtec may increase the risk of certain side effects such as sleepiness, dry mouth, fatigue, and headache.

If you take Zyrtec, talk with your doctor before taking Benadryl. Some herbs and supplements can cause sleepiness. Taking these with Benadryl can increase the risk of excessive sleepiness. Examples of these supplements include:. For hay fever or other respiratory allergies, oral Benadryl is typically taken every 4 to 6 hours. If topical Benadryl is used to treat itchy skin, it should be applied up to 4 times daily.

Each application should be separated by 4 to 6 hours. Benadryl tablets can be crushed. If you have trouble swallowing whole tablets, Benadryl liquid solution and chewable tablets are available. If you have allergies or have a cold, your body releases a chemical messenger called histamine. This messenger causes symptoms such as inflammation, edema swelling , itchiness, and runny nose.

Benadryl blocks some of the effects of histamine and decreases some of the symptoms caused by it. When taken by mouth, Benadryl begins to work within 15 to 30 minutes. When applied to the skin, it works right away.

Yes, Benadryl causes most people who take it to feel sleepy. This side effect may go away after three to four days of daily use. Since Benadryl can make you feel sleepy, some people may feel that it causes them to relax. However, this effect often goes away after using the product for a few days.

An expectorant is a product that loosens mucus in your respiratory tract so you can cough it up. Before taking Benadryl, talk with your doctor about any medical conditions you have. Benadryl may not be a good choice for you if you have certain medical conditions.

Examples of these conditions include:. Each Benadryl package is given an expiration date by the manufacturer of the product. This date is printed on the package.

The purpose of the expiration date is to guarantee the effectiveness of the medication during this time. However, an FDA study showed that many medications may still be good beyond the expiration date listed on the bottle. How long a medication remains good can depend on many factors, including how and where the medication is stored. Benadryl should be stored at room temperature in its original container. Excessive humidity should be avoided. If you have unused medication that has gone past the expiration date, talk to your pharmacist about whether you might still be able to use it.

Benadryl is an H1-receptor antagonist. It competes with free histamine at the H1-receptor binding sites. Benadryl antiemetic effects are likely due to central anticholinergic effects.

Benadryl also has central nervous system depressant effects and has a direct suppressive effect on the cough center. After oral administration, the onset of action is approximately 15 to 30 minutes.

Peak concentrations occur in 2 to 4 hours. Benadryl is metabolized hepatically. The plasma half-life is 2 to 8 hours with a duration of action of about 4 to 6 hours. Benadryl is contraindicated in patients with a known hypersensitivity to Benadryl or any of its components.

Disclaimer : MedicalNewsToday has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up-to-date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or other healthcare professional before taking any medication.

The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.

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Benadryl diphenhydramine. Overdose warning Although online challenges may encourage it, it is not safe to take more than the recommended dosage of Benadryl. What is Benadryl?

Benadryl uses. Benadryl generic. Benadryl active ingredient. Benadryl dosage. Benadryl side effects. Benadryl for babies. Benadryl overdose. Benadryl forms. Benadryl and pregnancy. Benadryl and breastfeeding. Alternatives to Benadryl. Benadryl vs. Benadryl and alcohol. Benadryl interactions. Benadryl price. How to take Benadryl. How Benadryl works. Common questions about Benadryl. Benadryl warnings.

Benadryl expiration. Professional information for Benadryl. Latest news Scientists identify new cause of vascular injury in type 2 diabetes. Adolescent depression: Could school screening help? Related Coverage. Can you drink alcohol while taking antihistamines? Medically reviewed by Alan Carter, PharmD. How to treat hives. Medically reviewed by Deborah Weatherspoon, Ph. Medically reviewed by Debra Rose Wilson, Ph. Food and Drug Administration FDA is warning that taking higher than recommended doses of the common over-the-counter OTC allergy medicine diphenhydramine Benadryl can lead to serious heart problems, seizures, coma, or even death.

We are investigating these reports and conducting a review to determine if additional cases have been reported. We will update the public once we have completed our review or have more information to share. We also contacted TikTok and strongly urged them to remove the videos from their platform and to be vigilant to remove additional videos that may be posted. FDA recommends you lock up medicines to prevent accidental poisonings by children and misuse by teens, especially when they are home more often due to the COVID pandemic and may be more likely to experiment.

Always read the Drug Facts label included on all OTC medicines to find out if they contain diphenhydramine, how much and how often you should take them, and important safety information.