I enjoyed the sedation and excitability that occurred. .. So I started to take it a lot. Basically abusing it. And now I cant get off of it because I do experience withdrawal when I don't take it. What should I do?? And is is common?
Has anyone had any dependance issue 's with diphenhydramine use?
Question posted by whitneylove92 on 11 Oct 2013
Last updated on 8 May 2025 (2 weeks ago) by Equino99
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40 Answers
Equino99
8 May 2025
Just stop taking it and never take it again. It will badly damage you nervous system.
Cherie1987
8 May 2025
I have been abusing benadryl for over a year now... I have taken up to 12 at a time at times. I have experienced extreme panic and heart palpations when I've taken too much. I've been off of them for about 6 days now. I've had strange heart palpation that have waken me in my sleep and caused me to wake up in panic. Also, yesterday I was driving somewhere and I sort of lost my mind d and couldn't think very well and this lasted quite a while... has any one had any si.ilar experiences they can share?
Mine2x
28 Nov 2023
I was talking 10 to 20 25mg tablets daily. A lot. For three years. Detox took more than three weeks. Sick the whole time.
Diphenhydramine is no joke. Long-term use can lead to dementia. Must research says taper off, but I did it cold turkey. Wow. That was really painful
Myra1957
2 April 2021
You will have to wean yourself off the Benadryl slowly which could take a very, very, long time. If you don't mind me asking, what kind of withdrawal symptoms did you have?
Sophster
12 Feb 2021
I started taking Benadryl 4 years ago when my doctor recommended I take it after surgery to aid in sleep. Since then, I began taking it nightly - and have continued since then. I regularly take less than a full dosage at bedtime (usually about 3/4 of a 25mg pill) -- and now I've recently been advised by a friend of the potential adverse effects of long-term use. I'm concerned about my sleep, but know I have to explore other approaches to insomnia.
Given the relatively low daily dosage, am I at risk if I don't reduce the amount gradually over a few days?
sbicca12
9 Sep 2020
Diphenhydramine... most certainly can cause withdrawal symptoms. I know, that is not revealed and I have heard many Dr's tell patients to just take it, instead of a prescription sleeping medication. The dosing is 25-50mg at bedtime, that can cause withdrawal symptoms if used for a extended period of time and the detrimental effects on the brain and weight gain, is real!!
I see by these comments, that it's being used by some in very high doses!
I suggest Googling "Diphenhydramine abuse/withdrawal. Educating oneself is extremely important and so is seeking medical help, if needed, instead of relying on what others say, one situation can be every different from anothers. Yes, I understand this is for "sharing experiences!
Best of health to all!!
Ruth2020
16 Oct 2020
I gained almost 25lbs by taking ZzzQuil for over 5 years high dosages... I had no idea diphenhydramine was the problem here. If I didn’t have a few episodes of heart racing I would have never stop taking this OTC medication.
lpb783
6 Feb 2020
I was on diphenhydramine (10-20mL) for about 2 years due to my working on night shift. I recently decided to quit since I was no longer working at night, and could go to sleep like everyone else. There are defintely physical withdrawal symptoms. My symptoms are similar to having a cold or allergies; constant nasal drip, constant repetitive sneezing, hard to fall asleep, water eyes sometimes, mild headache, some days it seems as if my mind is foggy. I didn't taper down I just quit it all at once. I think my body is so used to the diphenhydramine that it's trying to "trick" me into having similar symptoms in order for me to take it... nope I'm not doing it. I want to rid myself of unnecessary drugs. I wish you all luck. I will come back soon for an update.
black-shores
1 Feb 2020
if you use it to sleep everyday for a few years then stop using abruptly... you will get withdrawals and be very sick. *headache, runny nose, sleep deprivation... normal withdrawal symptoms...
MsDthPnch2
25 Oct 2019
I've been dependent on Benadryl since 2003..and cannot get off of them... been looking for a lawyer to take my case
ShannonU
20 Oct 2019
I know this is an old question, but this thread has been most helpful. I’ve taken various forms of Benadryl, diphenhydramine (generic sleep aids, allergy meds) for 5 years every single night for insomnia and sometimes during the day if my allergies are real bad. I have since developed histamine intolerance and am allergic to all foods that cause a histamine response. I can literally only eat like 8 things and it is hell. If I eat a high histamine food (like bananas, cheese, lunchmeat) I will be sick for 24 hours with headaches and flu like symptoms. It has taken me a long time to figure out what the heck was going on with me getting sick all the time. So, I didn’t put it together that the Benadryl for years could’ve caused this until researching histamine intolerance and they said diphenhydramine overuse could cause this. So I decided to go cold turkey 4 days ago and I am hella sick.
Bad headache, nausea, itching all over in weird places (scalp, armpits, palms) and overall feeling like I’ve been hit by a Mack truck.
Everything I read online always said “Benadryl is fine! Safe! Non addictive! Even pregnant women can take it!” I even told my doctor I took it for insomnia and she thought it was fine. IT IS NOT FINE. I’m going to power thru this, and CBD oil is helping somewhat with sleep and nausea, but it’s still misery. I wish I knew how long it will last or if I can eat normal food ever again. Best of luck to anyone dealing with this.
I’m
dams969
11 Dec 2019
This has been the most helpful comment I have found almost 7 years after it was first posted
Jgintner
25 June 2019
I experienced withdrawal symptoms as well but they went away by the third day. My symptoms were nausea, slight dizziness (overall car sick feeling) tiredness and minor flu like symptoms.
I had been taking these as post surgery sleep aid (four ankle surgeries in 6 months) and had been taking them for over a year. I ran out one night and didn’t make the correlation between the withdrawal symptoms until I recently decided to stop taking them all together and the symptoms were the same as the last time I got sick.
I recommend starting to go off of the medication on Friday night and take Monday off if needed. Tough it out through the weekend and by the third or fourth day you should be feeling much better. Drink lots of water during this time to help flush out your body.
Good luck, I hope this helps.
tammyann3231
25 May 2019
I am right now trying to to detox off of benadryl. I feel as if im crawling out of my skin.
Ruth2020
8 June 2020
Hi what were your symptoms?
kanswr321
25 Feb 2019
It's more common than you think. Diphenhydramine (Benadryl) is abused all the time, especially in teens because of it's easy access. Go to any high school and there are kids bragging about the "high".
There are high risks associated with high dose and/or long term diphenhydramine abuse including high heart rate, cardiac arrest, seizures, memory loss, dementia (plenty of studies on the connection causing irreversible dementia out there now), urinary retention, etc.
There IS a withdrawal period. And depending on your level of abuse, it can get pretty bad. Expect nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, jitters, insomnia, etc for the first few days. Then for the next couple weeks you'll likely experience allergy symptoms (stuffy nose, sore throat, cough, etc) and feeling like crap. Not to mention the psychological withdrawals, which might never fully go away, but the first month or two is the worse.
Just like kicking any other habit.
You WILL get through it, you just need to push through. The worst will be over within the first 3 days.
If you need help, ask for it! Believe it or not, this is a relatively common addiction in treatment programs. If you don't want to get professional treatment, tell someone you trust so that they can help keep you accountable.
jenmb2679
19 Feb 2019
What are your withdrawal symptoms?
Equino99
20 Feb 2019
I have burning skin with pins and needles on my feet, shins, hands and face. I have nausea and dizziness. I have insomnia where when I wake every 1-2 hours I have night sweats, heart palpitations and vibrations throughout my body. I also have tachycardia, but after 3 months it is starting to slow down somewhat.
Cherie1987
8 May 2025
Hi there, I was wondering if your heart palpitations ever stopped. I'm currently coming off benadryl as well and the heart palpitations are scary and wake me up in panic at night. I was taking up to 11 12 a day at some times. Thanks
Equino99
14 Dec 2018
In my previous post I put 60 - 7 days. It should read 6 - 7 days.
Related topics
drug dependence, sedation, diphenhydramine, withdrawal
Further information
- Diphenhydramine uses and safety info
- Diphenhydramine prescribing info & package insert (for Health Professionals)
- Side effects of Diphenhydramine (detailed)
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