Benadryl User Reviews & Ratings

• Anonymous
• June 15, 2012

For Nausea/Vomiting "I have emetophobia, that is, a pervasive fear of vomiting. I do not know if this affects vomiting, but if I feel nauseous, Benadryl works wonders. My stomach settles right down and my anxiety lowers just enough for me to deal with it without the use of benzodiazepines."

• A b...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 20, 2015

For Nausea/Vomiting "I got a severe back injury about 2 years ago. Couldn't function, pain was so bad. So my doctor started putting me on codeine, then Vicodin, then tramadol, and then so on, but they all gave me hours of vomiting, gut-wrenching cramps, and sweating. Read about Benadryl being used to prevent this side effect. I took 3 25 mg tablets. I know that is one over recommended dose, but I was desperate. 35 minutes later, I was sitting with my kids and not by the trash can for the first time in a while. I can't believe I didn't figure this out sooner, especially with a biotech degree."

• Sha...
• December 20, 2022

For Nausea/Vomiting "Benadryl has been incredibly effective for nausea and vomiting, in my experience. There are times when I'm so sick that I literally can't eat, but give me some Benadryl and within an hour or two, I feel much better."

• Lor...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 21, 2018

For Cough "I have had a cough now for about 6 weeks. I tried all types of antihistamines, even prescribed cough syrup and expectorants. The only thing that finally stopped the cough, and even at nighttime, was Benadryl. I wish I had known this weeks ago. I can even sleep at night without the night and morning cough. Thank goodness for Benadryl!"

• Jus...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 9, 2020

For Allergic Reactions "This is an old thread but thought I would share. I was in the hospital in labor. I developed a reaction to the epidural that caused severe itchiness. They gave me something that didn't help, and after several hours of itching, a nurse gave me IV Benadryl. I immediately couldn't breathe and felt like someone kicked me in the chest. I was warm all over, nauseous, and on the edge of passing out. An EKG also showed I had a heart arrhythmia from it. I've taken oral Benadryl in the past with no problems. Now it's on my list of allergies, and I tell every doc I see. Most terrifying experience."

• Mar...
• June 5, 2016

For Nausea/Vomiting "I had a couple of surgeries on my jaw where I could not open it fully for an extended period of time. I am already semi-allergic to pain meds/anesthesia (excessive vomiting and nausea), so I was terrified to take my painkillers after surgery. The nurse/doctor recommended taking a couple of Benadryl tablets (25 mg) before the pain meds, and it worked wonders! The only side effect is drowsiness."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 10 years or more
• June 11, 2018

For Allergic Rhinitis "Benadryl really helps take the sinus pressure away, and I found out recently it even worked best for my migraine. Out of Tylenol and Motrin, Benadryl was the only one to knock it out. It does cause me dry mouth and drowsiness. It also helps to calm me when I feel a panic attack or anxiety coming on. I'd rather take Benadryl than psych meds or all kinds of prescription meds any day. I hope it stays working wonders for me because Claritin and Flonase did nothing for me, and I don't want to have to try anything else."

• Ame...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• April 28, 2016

For Allergic Reactions "I take one before bed, which keeps me breathing easily during the night despite my allergies. It also helps me get to sleep and stay asleep. The active ingredient, diphenhydramine HCl, you will find is the main ingredient in quite a few over-the-counter sleep medications, so that should tell us something. And Benadryl or a generic drugstore brand are cheaper and just as effective. Have been taking this for over 20 years and have no side effects."

• Anonymous
• August 10, 2021

For Allergic Reactions "Took Benadryl for eight months on the advice of PCP and pulmonary specialist. I quit taking it because I began having short-term memory problems. Checked it out on the internet and found it should not be given to senior citizens. A neurologist at the University of North Carolina Memory Disorders Unit said it should probably not be given to anyone as there are safer alternatives. I had a nervous breakdown and spent several days in a mental hospital. Had two MRIs of my brain. The second showed a small area that was due to the diphenhydramine use. Alienated my family because of things I said. Without Benadryl, I wouldn't be the most heartbroken 74-year-old lady around."

• Anonymous
• January 7, 2012

For Cough "Variant asthma, chronic, have been on many antihistamines and other costly asthma medicines over the years. I began taking Benadryl in late November 2011. Taking 25 mg after awakening in the morning, followed an hour or so later with 25 mg, with another 25 mg early afternoon (when symptoms occur) and 25 mg prior to bedtime in conjunction with Symbicort twice/day. I have a much improved quality of life and am beginning to have some control over the chronic cough."

• Nic...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 19, 2020

For Allergic Reactions "Received Benadryl via IV in prep for a biologic infusion. My throat started swelling and my blood pressure skyrocketed. An immunologist tested me, and I showed strongly allergic to Benadryl, so it can happen."

• rob...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 12, 2015

For Extrapyramidal Reaction "Diphenhydramine definitely calms down my muscles and helps with any antipsychotic-induced akathisia at night. Great for sleep as well and helps me stay in bed in the mornings, but I'm able to get up early if I need to."

• Anonymous
• October 23, 2010

For Allergic Reactions "I like this medicine, but unfortunately developed an allergy to it, yes contrary to anyone's belief I am allergic to Benadryl. My legs started to get really, really hot and felt like I just had to stretch them and run them under freezing cold water, then I woke up with hives all over."

• Son...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 15, 2016

For Allergic Reactions "My adult-sized teenage son was given Benadryl IV, 50 mg, along with Compazine IV as a 'headache cocktail' in an emergency room in September of 2016. While there is no way to know for certain if Compazine or Benadryl caused the severe reaction he experienced, he has tolerated oral Benadryl just fine in the past. However, it seems important to share our experience based on the severity of his reaction that day and that multiple reports of similar exist. I do not recommend the 'headache cocktail' of Benadryl and Compazine together and hope the number of similar reports is looked into."

• Ros...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• November 24, 2021

For Allergic Reactions "So I've been taking this going on 2 years now, and I regret taking it so long. I even ended up in the ER because my heart wouldn't stop racing, it was over 170. I believe it was due to the Benadryl. I ignored the side effect before I noticed that sometimes when I took it, my heart would beat funny, and it would be hard to catch my breath, but I kept taking it as it stopped my itchy throat, eyes, and mouth. Doctors at the ER found arrhythmia but said everything else looked fine. I stopped taking it, haven't taken it in a week, and I'm still having a racing heart and palpitations. Don't take this stuff long term. I'm in my early 20s and healthy if anyone reading this was curious."

• Jim...
• November 28, 2024

For Allergic Reactions "I ate a new spicy chip I had never had before (purple bag of Takis, for reference). One of the spices or something on the chip I'm allergic to and didn't realize it, and as I'm driving 45 minutes back home, my tongue began to swell up. I grabbed two Benadryl and chewed them the second I got in the door; 25 mins or so later. Literally, the worst taste I've ever experienced in my life, but I am here today to tell you about it. Within 5 minutes, the swelling started to subside, and I was no longer half-choking on my own tongue, and I made it through. I do not recommend you rely on this in the case of allergic reactions, especially if it's involving your breathing at all, but that is my experience with it. I was 45 minutes from a hospital by ambulance and had to act. And they're talking about banning it OTC... what a world."

• use...
• October 28, 2014

For Allergic Reactions "I was given Benadryl at the hospital for an allergic reaction. It instantly shot my heart rate up to 217 bpm, and instantly my mouth got dry. I couldn't swallow, my chest felt hot, like an elephant was sitting on it, and I got really cold. It put me into shock, my body wouldn't stop shaking, I could breathe. It was so scary, I thought I was dead. Thanks to the doctor's quick response, he saved me, but it almost killed me."

• Anonymous
• October 20, 2009

For Allergic Reactions "A little-known and rare side effect of this drug is a condition that would probably be called idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP). This describes a serious depletion of platelets in the blood. The blood will not clot properly, and an injury can be life-threatening due to uncontrolled bleeding. It's rare, but if it happens and the cause is not figured out by your physician(s), this is a big problem."

• DE1...
• October 16, 2009

For Insomnia "After having scripts for lots of different benzodiazepines and sleeping pills, I still rely on this a couple times a month. The only problem is, after a couple of days, it loses its effectiveness. It is perfect for sleep and not feeling drugged."

• dip...
• May 3, 2010

For Insomnia "Works excellent if you haven't built a tolerance to it. After a few days of use, you may find the medicine is less effective than it was when you first used it. Benadryl knocks me out quite quickly when I use it, the only problem I have with it is that I tend to oversleep or wake up groggy the morning after, which is generally relieved with some sort of caffeinated beverage."

• Big...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• October 31, 2017

For Allergic Rhinitis "I have allergic rhinitis. Was prescribed Zyrtec, Allegra, and Flonase, and I couldn't get relief. A pharmacist suggested Benadryl, and it's the only med that works. Took a generic brand, and all hell broke loose. Went back to the original, and I'm feeling much better."

• Abb...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 29, 2020

For Urticaria "I was admitted to the hospital with a bad case of hives. I was put on an IV. They injected Benadryl into my IV to help with the hives. Within seconds, I couldn't breathe. The nurses had just injected it and were leaving to do some other errands. I couldn't breathe, and I couldn't speak, and I knew I was gonna die. I managed to pull myself up in the bed, sitting up, and started pounding on the side of the bed rails to get attention. That's when one of the nurses turned around and saw that I could not breathe. Within seconds, I had doctors and nurses around my bed. I now have to list Benadryl as an allergy. I probably should carry a medical bracelet just in case. That was a horrifying day."

• Con...
• April 26, 2017

For Allergic Reactions "I have no rest every time I take Benadryl. I feel I have a really bad reaction as I feel restless, my body feels itchy, nauseous, and it makes me feel angry. Feeling restless really hurts my stomach. Am I allergic to it, or is it a bad reaction?"

• Sim...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 14, 2017

For Nausea/Vomiting "ER gave me 25 mg diphenhydramine IV for nausea. The only effect was delirium and a brief medication nap. I felt woozy and poisoned for at least two hours afterward. It may work for others, but it certainly didn't help me."

• Jen...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• May 12, 2012

For Allergic Reactions "I use this medicine for weather allergies and allergies to medications when I need it. It does help greatly, but does not last long, and my burning sensation comes back into my body and the hives start to show. However, a lot of people say that this medicine makes them feel sedated. I have the complete opposite, I take 1 before bed, and I will not sleep."