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 28 November 2023
38 Answers Page 2
I took it in the form of Nytol for 5 years and i slept better than I had i several years. When I read about the long term effects of it , I stoped. Not having any side effects for the first three days, I didn’t connect chronic headaches and sniffles right away as withdrawal symptoms. They continued for 2 weeks and gradually lessened. Drank lots of skin milk. Avoided coffee tea or caffeine. I’m fine now.. BUT THE SIDE EFFECTS ARE MOST DEFINITELY PHYSICAL. Headaches for me were the worst
I take 100mg 3-4+ times a day. Been doing it for a few years. My drs. know and are not concerned. When I forget to bring it with me when I'm out and about, nothing happens. My only concern with it is my leg muscles. No one seems to know if diphenhydramine is causing my leg muscles to weaken to the point I can no longer walk for more than 20 feet.and why I have Morton's neuroma now..
Hello. I know this question is from years ago, but I'm replying to it in hopes someone can gives me some answers.
So, I know this is very stupid and unhealthy of me... But, I started taking zquil about a month ago now. I really enjoyed the effects and received a high tolerance quickly. I know it's unsafe, but once I figured nothing would happen, I started to take 6 to 8 at a time and then 4 later on in the day. So, I am taking about 10 daily when it says not to exceed the dose of 2. Whenever I stopped taking zquil, my stomach was sick for 4 days and I was puking hardcore at some points, along with having a fever. My boyfriend told me that it was probably zquil withdraw because I didn't feel like I normally would if I was sick, it was different, in a way. Mostly just horrible stomach upset that didn't go away no matter what. But of course, once I took some zquil I was fine again.
This surprised me because I didn't think that withdrawing from zquil would effect my stomach so abruptly. Yesterday, I had taken about 6 to 8 and then didn't take anymore for the rest of the day. Today, I hadn't taken any all day and was fine until about 2:30pm. I started to get a stomach ache and figured that my body was withdrawing from zquil because that's what it did whenever it had been awhile since I had taken any. I took 4, but I think it was definitely too late, because I ended up puking really bad but then I felt better. I decided to eat a little and then I took 1 more because I thought maybe I had puked up some of the 4. I'm supposed to be trying to taper off of the zquil but every day I just end up taking the same amount. I know I sound really ignorant and I'm assuming this is very dangerous to do to my body. I really need to stop and I plan too.
I'm just wondering why the "zquil withdrawal" effects my stomach so atrociously. Whenever I puke when I'm in this stage it hurts so bad and takes awhile to calm down.
Someone please give me your opinions and facts! Thanks.
Nausea and vomiting is the most common withdrawal symptom. You pretty much just need to fight through it. You can try tapering down to lessen the effects, but it will also drag it out. It took me 4 days of vomiting before that passed.
Yes I have, I have fibromyalgia and I found by accident benadryl worked the opposite on me I got energy I could sleep the nerve pain was numbed but the same thing I grew dependent on it the withdrawal can be brutal not phychological but physical headaches (most likely sinus pressure) bowel issues (mucus glands dried up probably) and of course all the fibromyalgia symptoms returned no energy painful to sleep all nerves hurting etc . It's not worth the worry of being on it though as the anxiety increases and so does the dose required to keep the benefits. For me it was not a pleasure thing but an attempt to have a better quality of life.
A friend of mine is a Chemical Dependence doctor. She told me that Diphenhydramine is a very dangerous drug and can cause long time protracted withdrawal symptoms lasting many months. She warns all of her patients about it no matter what they are trying to withdraw from, because many start using it to help with withdrawal symptoms from other substances.
I’ve been talking a sleeping aid for 25 years plus. Usually from Costco, brands like Tylenol pm to the CVS brands. I’m 49 years old now. Just read a report that it could be linked to Alzheimer’s. So needless to say I’ve stopped taking them. It’s day 3 now! My body is not taking it well. I’m shaky, fluish, very low energy.. I can go on and on with symptoms. I know I just need to push through but no one can tell me it’s just psychological.
You should really taper down..I don't know how many you were taking a day, but do it little by little..ya know, if you were taking 5 a day do 4, and then 3 the next day, 2 the next day, another 2..and then just 1 for a couple days. Then that way I highly doubt your withdrawal will be very bad at all.
Should I go to er
I have been taking diphenhydramine sleeping pills the kroger brand gel tabs for about 2 years every night and sometimes early afternoon as well. I was taking 2-3 pills each time they were 25mgs each. I started to feel very weird pains in my stomach area and started having a very delayed response when urinating. My stomach pains were similar to cramps and was also having nausea at the same time. I defenitely did not have any of these types of symptoms before taking these sleeping pills, I am 36 years old and very rarely have had stomach related issues until now. I cut the dose down significantly to 1 pill 2 times a day for a few weeks, then I went down to 1 pill only once a day at night time before im ready to go to sleep. Currently I have stopped taking them completely its been 3 days so far and the symptoms although not gone are getting better. I also started hydrating myself properly and when I get nausea issues I drink hot tea and a little bit of pepto bismol and it helps alot.
I have definely noticed a mental and physical pull towards diphenhydramine sleeping pills especially when I get anxiety but remember the physical pain it puts me in and have been able to resist the urges so far. I am going to explore some other alternatives to sleeping that are not destructive to the body and will post my results after. I hope you all get relief and resolve your issues with this as well. Please keep sharing positive results so we can all help each other.
I was only on it for a couple months, taking 100 mgs a day, and have been off it 1 day. I felt awful, headache, nausea, vomiting. I was just wondering if anyone knows how long ill feel this way. Im trying not to take off work today but if i throw up there, i wont really have a choice.
I took benadryl for about 3 year,I stop it 3 days ago,I only took 25mg at night.but I begin lost appetite, diarrhea,rapid heart beat,cough, nausea, insomnia heart burn,chill and hot, I did not know allthese are withdraw symptoms. I thought I have cold and flu.so I took some cold and flu medication,but it didn't help.until Iook up this websites.i guess I have to tapping it off slowly,may be take 1 pill every other day.
I lose my appetite also. it is helped me lose a lot of weight. without it, I get cravings all day. long
I went to the emergency room for my back and got oxycodone. I noticed how well I slept when taking it so I decided to try and stop the benadryl. I have tried to stop in the past and no way. Yes real withdrawal systems. Anyways I don't recommend getting hooked on opioids but it had 100 percent help me get off benadryl. I'm on day 4 without benadryl and have had very very mild withdrawal symptoms.
so you replaced benadryl and with oxycodone? that's dumb. sorry
I thought I was the only one who discovered the magic in D. I take 200mg 5 or 6 times a day. When I run out for a few days I don't have withdrawal...
I have been abusing diphenhydramine for about two years now. Sometimes taking as much as 30 pills in a day. High doses will get you high. And yes, I have experienced physical withdrawal. This is the main reason I have not been able to stop for good. I am thinking that I am going to take a couple zyrtec or allegra when I start feeling sick. These ones are second generation anti-histamines and don't cause any psychoactive effects.
I am struggling with trying to stop taking benadryl. I know I am only hurting myself. I usually take 30 or more a day. And my concern is the long term effects of this drug. I have a 14 year old son who needs his Mom around for a very long time. I feel very selfish and guilty. I'm going to start tomorrow to try to stop the Insanity. I will appreciate any kind of pep talk. Wish me luck. Thanks.
I had gotten up to 150 milligrams a day when I realized I had to quit. I was taking it for sleep. I'm not sure how to advise you on that high of a dosage. I think you should have a doctor monitor you while you're getting off of it because it sounds dangerous. I tapered down as quickly as my withdrawals allowed which ended up being many months. I don't know how long you have been taking Benadryl but I took it for several years. I supplement with tryptophan (as a source of Serotonin) to help with the mood swings caused by what I'm assuming is a drop in serotonin. Benadryl causes us to produce serotonin so when we stop taking it I'm guessing it causes a serotonin deficiency. Anyway, tryptophan works for me. So I take those during the day as needed and 3 before I go to bed to help me sleep. I'm also high dosing on magnesium, vitamin C, and turmeric. Hope this helps you or anyone else who might be reading this.
I took increasing doses of diphenhydramine for sleep over the course of several years. I was taking upwards of 300 mg per night, and definitely had withdrawal sickness when I tried to quit. It took a while to realize the discontinuation of the drug was what was causing my sickness (terrible nausea, headache, just felt horrible). It was a long weening off process for me, decreasing by 25 mg. at a time over the course of many, many months. A year or so later, I began taking it again, and went through the same thing. I avoid taking it at all, now. I've never found any medical literature about this, but after going through it twice, I am convinced that there are physical withdrawals after discontinuing this drug, at least after long term, high dosage use.
This is similar to my experience. I've been taking it every night for many years and it is taking me months to taper from 150 milligrams. Right now I'm down to 12 milligrams. I have a long list of withdrawal symptoms which are way too extreme for me to function if I taper any faster than I am. Lightheaded, dizzy, nauseous, weak, numbness and lack of coordination in my arms, itchy burning eyes, itching everywhere, constant nasal drip, difficulty urinating, constipation, this weird thing that causes the base of a finger to turn black every now and then, scary mood issues, dry mouth, and inflammation.
What were your withdrawal symptoms?
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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