SUBSCRIBE

The Connection Between

Benadryl and Anxiety
Medically reviewed by Alan Carter, Pharm.D. — By
Jill Seladi-Schulman, Ph.D. on May 13, 2021

Benadryl and anxiety CNS depression

Other related side effects Proper dosage
When to call a doctor Summary

Catherine Falls Commercial/Getty Images

Benadryl is a type of antihistamine that’s available

over-the-counter (OTC). It’s most commonly used to
relieve allergy symptoms, such as:

runny nose

sneezing

itching

The active ingredient in Benadryl is called

diphenhydramine. Like any medication, Benadryl
has several side effects. Some of the most common
are:

feeling sleepy or drowsy

dry mouth or throat

dizziness

It’s also possible that after taking Benadryl some

people can feel:

restless

excitable

anxious

Continue reading to find out why this happens and

what to do if it does.
ADVERTISEMENT

Search for

1. Depression And Anxiety Test

2. Top 5 Depression Signs

Symptoms Of Congestive
3.
Heart Failure

Can Benadryl cause anxiety?

One of the most common side effects of Benadryl is
drowsiness. Because of this, some people use
Benadryl as a sleep aid.

However, it’s also possible that Benadryl can do the

opposite. When a medication has an effect that’s the
opposite of what’s expected, it’s called a
paradoxical effect.

In some people, taking Benadryl can actually have a

stimulant effect, which is called paradoxical
excitation. People that experience this after taking
Benadryl may report feeling:

excitable

nervous

anxious

restless

agitated

wide awake

hyper

Why does this happen?

It’s generally unknown why paradoxical excitation

happens in some people and not others.

One theory from a 2008 case report has to do with

a type of genetic variation. Three people reporting
paradoxical excitability as a response to
diphenhydramine had extra copies of a specific
gene.

This gene encodes instructions to make an enzyme

called CYP2D6. CYP2D6 is important for breaking
down (metabolizing) certain types of medications,
such as Benadryl. Having extra CYP2D6 can make
Benadryl metabolism much faster.

The researchers above hypothesized that it’s

possible that in these people, Benadryl could be
quickly broken down into substances that lead to
excitability, rather than sedation. However, more
research is needed to confirm this.

How common is it?

There aren’t currently any estimates of how

common paradoxical excitation is in people that
take Benadryl.

If the theory about fast metabolism is correct, a

significant number of people in the United States
could be impacted. The 2008 case report discussed
above estimated that 1% to 2% of people in the
United States have the genetic variation.

Additionally, it appears like paradoxical excitation is

more common in children. You’ll actually see this
effect listed on the labels of Benadryl products.

HEALTHLINE NEWSLETTER

Get our weekly Allergies & Asthma

email
To help you avoid triggers and manage reactions,
we'll send you expert advice and treatment news.

Enter your email

SIGN UP NOW

Also sign up for our popular Heart Health newsletter

Your privacy is important to us

Benadryl and central nervous

system depression
Taking Benadryl can slow, or depress, the functions
of your central nervous system (CNS).

This is what can lead to some common side effects

of Benadryl, such as drowsiness or dizziness. It’s
also why some people may use Benadryl to help
them to sleep or to feel less anxious.
ADVERTISEMENT

Search for

Depression And Anxiety

1. ›
Test

Symptoms Of Congestive
2. ›
Heart Failure

3. Best Anxiety Supplements ›

Other related side effects of

Benadryl
Now that we’ve discussed how Benadryl may be
connected to feelings of excitability or anxiousness,
you may be wondering if Benadryl has any other
similar side effects. Let’s look into this now.

Benadryl dependence

It’s possible for a person to become dependent on

Benadryl. This can happen if it’s used frequently
over a period of time, such as if you use Benadryl
every day for 2 weeks or longer, according to the
National Health Service.

When someone becomes dependent on a

substance, they may also experience withdrawal
symptoms when they stop using it. These can
include:

tremors

insomnia

anxiety

It’s important to always take Benadryl as directed by

the product label or by your doctor.

Because continuous use of Benadryl can lead to

dependence, call a doctor if you find that you’re
taking Benadryl frequently for conditions like
allergies or sleep. They can recommend alternative
medications that you can try instead.

Benadryl and dementia

It’s possible that long-term use of Benadryl could

increase the risk of developing dementia, according
to a 2015 study  describing a group of 3,434
people.

The study found that a higher cumulative use of

anticholinergic drugs was associated with an
increased risk of dementia in this group. Examples
of some types of anticholinergic drugs include:

first-generation antihistamines, like Benadryl

tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs)

certain medications used to treat an overactive

bladder

medications used to treat Parkinson’s disease

symptoms

If you’re concerned about Benadryl and dementia,

be sure to only take Benadryl for a short amount of
time. You may also consider asking a doctor about
alternative medications that may help treat your
symptoms.

ADVERTISEMENT

Measure your response to 40 indoor

and outdoor allergens
Everlywell offers free shipping on their at-home
Indoor & Outdoor Allergy Test. It measures your
body’s response to 40 common allergens. Collect
your sample, mail it in, and get results in days.

LEARN MORE

How to take Benadryl safely

Benadryl can be found in several forms, including:

tablets

capsules

liquids

You can find Benadryl products available OTC at

grocery stores and pharmacies.

Benadryl tablets or capsules

According to the National Institutes of Health,

Benadryl tablets or capsules contain 25 milligrams
of diphenhydramine, the active ingredient. The
recommended dosage of Benadryl is:

Ages 12 and up: a total of 1 to 2 tablets every 4

to 6 hours

Ages 6 to 12: a tablet every 4 to 6 hours

Under age 6: do not take

Liquid Benadryl

There are also liquid formulations of Benadryl that

can be used for children. When measuring liquid
Benadryl, it’s important to use the little cup that
comes with the medication. Don’t measure doses
using a kitchen spoon.

According to the National Institutes of Health, for

this type of Benadryl, the recommended dosage is:

Ages 6 to 12: a total of 1 to 2 teaspoons (5 to

10 milliliters) every 4 to 6 hours

Ages 4 to 6: only use under the direction of

your child’s pediatrician

Under age 4: do not take

Tips for taking Benadryl safely

It’s also important to follow the guidelines below to

ensure that you take Benadryl safely and lower your
risk of side effects:

Don’t take too much in a day. Avoid taking

more than 6 doses of Benadryl in one 24-hour
period.

Use only as needed. Because Benadryl can

cause long-term side effects, be sure to only
take it for a short amount of time.

Avoid other sedatives. Because Benadryl

often has a sedating effect, avoid taking it with
other sedative medications, sleep aids, or
alcohol.

Be careful with activities. Since Benadryl can

make you drowsy, avoid driving or operating
heavy machinery after taking it.

Speak with your doctor if you:

take sedative medications or a type of
antidepressant called a monoamine
oxidase inhibitor (MAOI)

have lung conditions (asthma, chronic

bronchitis, or emphysema)
have glaucoma, stomach ulcers, seizures,
or trouble urinating due to an enlarged
prostate

are pregnant or breastfeeding

had a previous allergic reaction to

Benadryl

ADVERTISING

When to call the doctor if you’ve

taken Benadryl and are having
anxiety
Generally speaking, you don’t need to call a doctor
if you’ve taken Benadryl and are experiencing
feelings of:

anxiety

nervousness

agitation

Feelings of paradoxical excitement typically only last

for the length of time that Benadryl is in your
system. This can be about 4 to 6 hours.

Instead, you can try:

taking deep breaths or counting to 10 slowly

may help you to feel calmer

avoiding other stimulants like caffeine or

nicotine

getting exercise, which help to lift your mood

trying a relaxing activity like yoga or meditation

Speak with a doctor if you would like

recommendations for alternative medications that
are less likely to have these side effects.

Medical emergency

Taking too much Benadryl can lead to an

overdose. If you or someone else has taken
Benadryl and has any of the symptoms
below, go to the emergency room or call
911.

blurry vision

rapid or irregular heart rate

nausea or vomiting

dilated pupils

trouble emptying your bladder (urinary

retention)

confusion or disorientation

hallucinations

low blood pressure (hypotension)

seizures

coma

ADVERTISEMENT

Takeaway
One of the most common side effects of Benadryl is
drowsiness. However, some people may find that
taking Benadryl causes them to feel:

anxious

excitable

nervous

It’s unknown what exactly causes the above side

effects to happen. If you take Benadryl and
experience anxiety or agitation, you can do a few
things to help ease these feelings until the
medication wears off. Some examples include
taking deep breaths or doing a relaxing activity.

ADVERTISEMENT

Discover 4+ star products

Sponsored

Nutricost Inositol Capsules 500m… Integrative Therapeutics L

240 Capsules465- Veggie Capsules, Theanine 200880mg - Promo
Non-GMO, Gluten Free (Myo- Relaxed State & Healthy S
$13 95
Inositol) Shop at Amazon $21 50
Response* - VeganShop at
and Gl
Free - 60 Capsules

Last medically reviewed on May 13, 2021

How we reviewed this article:

SOURCES HISTORY

Our experts continually monitor the health and

wellness space, and we update our articles when
new information becomes available.
Current Version

May 13, 2021

Written By
Jill Seladi-Schulman, PhD

Edited By
Roman Gokhman

Medically Reviewed By
Alan Carter, PharmD

Copy Edited By
Sofia Santamarina

Share this article

 v  

READ THIS NEXT

Is It Safe to Mix Benadryl and

Alcohol?
Medically reviewed by Lindsay Slowiczek, PharmD

Is it OK to combine Benadryl and alcohol? Benadryl

is the brand-name version of an antihistamine calle…
diphenhydramine. It’s used to treat allergy…

READ MORE

Claritin for Child Allergies

Medically reviewed by Lindsay Slowiczek, PharmD

Claritin is an over-the-counter allergy medication. If

your child has allergic rhinitis (more commonly…
called allergies), you may be looking for a…

READ MORE

What Is a Sulfa Allergy?

Medically reviewed by Elaine K. Luo, M.D.

Sulfa allergies are an uncommon reaction to some

medications. Here’s what you need to know.

READ MORE

Hair Dye Allergy

Medically reviewed by Cynthia Cobb, DNP, APRN,
WHNP-BC, FAANP

Hair coloring products contain many ingredients that

can irritate the skin and cause allergic reactions.…
Hair dye brand names can be deceiving, since…

READ MORE

Skeeter Syndrome: Allergic

Reactions to Mosquito Bites
Medically reviewed by Elaine K. Luo, M.D.

Skeeter syndrome is another name for a mosquito

bite allergy. Nearly everyone is sensitive to…
mosquito bites, but the reaction can be serious for…

READ MORE

Allergies and Dizziness: The

Cause and the Treatment
Medically reviewed by Marc Meth, MD, FACAAI, FAAAI

Are you feeling dizzy? One symptom of allergies can

be dizziness. An airborne allergy could be the cau…
of your dizziness. If you’re feeling severe…

READ MORE

Cetirizine
Medically reviewed by Cynthia Taylor Chavoustie,
MPAS, PA-C

Cetirizine is an over-the-counter antihistamine used

for allergies. Generally, cetirizine is a safe and…
effective drug, but you should be aware of…