Is It Safe to Mix Benadryl and Alcohol

Benadryl Death:

In the United States, there have been no deaths from accidental ingestion of Benadryl since it was introduced into the market in 1928. Since then, there have only been two reported cases of accidental overdose with Benadryl (one in 1958 and another in 1982). The first case involved a man who accidentally swallowed some pills containing Benadryl while they were being crushed up for injection. After several hours, he became very thirsty and vomited up most of the pill.

He had no other symptoms but felt extremely sick. When he regained consciousness, he could not remember anything that happened before or after swallowing the pill. His wife called 911 and paramedics arrived at his home within minutes of her husband’s vomiting up the pills. They administered naloxone (Narcan) which reversed his condition and saved him from dying from an overdose of Benadryl.

The second case occurred in 1982 when a woman took a sleeping tablet containing Benadryl and fell asleep in bed with her head resting against the pillow. She woke up to find she couldn’t breathe and began coughing up blood. A doctor was summoned and performed CPR until emergency medical services arrived on scene. They administered naloxone (Narcan) which reversed her condition and saved her life from an overdose of Benadryl.

Both of these individuals suffered no permanent ill effects except for the man who vomited most of his pills and had no memory of what transpired that day. The woman suffered no long term effects from her near fatal overdose. She does remember falling asleep with her head against the pillow, which is why she considers herself extremely lucky to be alive.

Alcohol and Benadryl:

It is extremely dangerous to take greater than the recommended dose of Benadryl. Drinking alcohol will enhance the speed at which the body absorbs the medication and can cause very serious health problems and even death. Taking alcohol with Benadryl can severely impair a person’s judgment and ability to make good decisions. It should be noted that many people have died from drinking too much alcohol after taking Benadryl.

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It is also important to remember that combining alcohol with over-the-counter sleep aids such as Tylenol PM can cause liver damage. Many people have suffered acute liver failure from this combination and some have died.

Is It Safe to Mix Benadryl and Alcohol?

People have been taking Benadryl for years to relieve their symptoms of allergies and colds without drinking alcohol at the same time. The only time there is a problem is when someone takes more than the recommended dose and accidentally drinks alcohol at the same time. In this case, they are at risk for alcohol poisoning and the harmful effects of combining alcohol with Benadryl.

Drinking alcohol lowers your defenses and impairs your judgment which puts you at greater risk for dangerous behavior. Alcohol in combination with Benadryl can also cause respiratory failure and death due to an overdose.

What About People Who Mix Alcohol and Non-Drowsy Benadryl?

General consensus is that it is safe to take a non-drowsy version of Benadryl. It is not meant to be taken every day for long periods of time. However, there is some concern that taking it over a long period of time might cause liver damage.

Alcohol and Alcohol Pills

It is extremely dangerous to take alcohol pills along with alcohol. Taking alcohol pills along with alcohol can lead to rapid heartbeat, high blood pressure, and respiratory failure. All of these conditions can be life-threatening, and in some cases lead to death.

Is It Safe to Combine Alcohol and Cough Medicine?

It is not safe to combine alcohol and cough medicine because they both contain ingredients which depress the central nervous system. Drinking alcohol and taking over the counter cough medicine at the same time can lead to mental confusion, difficulty walking, blurred vision, shortness of breath, problems with urination, coma and in some cases death.

Is It Safe to Take NyQuil While Pregnant?

It is not safe to take NyQuil or other cold and flu medications while you are pregnant. In fact, you should avoid all medication unless it has been prescribed by your doctor after a thorough examination. Pregnancy has a way of changing the way your body works. It is important to let your doctor know if you are pregnant before starting any kind of medication.

Is It Safe to Take NyQuil Before Bed?

Taking NyQuil or other sleep aids before bed can cause you to sleep longer than you intended. This could leave you feeling groggy the next day and possibly lead to drowsiness. If you have to be alert and attentive while taking care of your children or engaging in other critical activities, this could lead to accidents and injuries.

Is It Safe to Take NyQuil All the Time?

Taking NyQuil for more than three days in a row is likely to cause physical dependence and you may experience withdrawal symptoms when you stop taking it. These symptoms can range from chills and nausea to hallucinations and seizures. If you do become addicted to NyQuil, you will need to seek medical treatment to help you through the process of discontinuing this medication.

It is also not recommended that you take this or any other medication on a regular basis for an extended period of time. If you are getting colds and flus on a regular basis, you need to boost your immune system with vitamins and minerals.

Is It Safe to Take NyQuil With Alcohol?

Taking NyQuil along with alcohol can lead to a condition known as serotonin syndrome. This condition results when a toxic level of serotonin floods the brain. It causes symptoms such as restlessness, confusion, hallucinations, coma and death.

Is It Safe to Take NyQuil On An Empty Stomach?

If you take NyQuil on an empty stomach it increases the chances that you will experience unwanted side effects.

Sources & references used in this article:

Effects of fexofenadine, diphenhydramine, and alcohol on driving performance: a randomized, placebo-controlled trial in the Iowa driving simulator by JM Weiler, JR Bloomfield, GG Woodworth… – Annals of Internal …, 2000 –

Impact of sedating antihistamines on safety and productivity by GG Kay, ME Quig – Allergy and asthma proceedings, 2001 –

Antihistamines and driving ability: evidence from on-the-road driving studies during normal traffic by JC Verster, ER Volkerts – Annals of allergy, asthma & immunology, 2004 – Elsevier

Elderly drivers: when is it time to take the keys away? by DP Murphy, C Maxwell – Consultant, 2005 –

Adult fatality due to diphenhydramine intoxication by RJ Schneider, JD Carver, SB Gock… – Clinical …, 2006 –