Have you ever become so dependent on something or someone that you cannot imagine life without it? So much that the mere thought of that particular existence disappearing is enough to make you go bonkers? If you are, then I personally advise you to become a stronger person and try to get rid of this addiction. Because addiction will lead to death if deprived. How much Benadryl can I take? More like, how much Benadryl before I catch an unhealthy addiction to it?
Introduction
. If it isn’t a person, it is a thing. And in this article, we take that thing to be Benadryl. An extremely light yet strong off-the-counter pill that relieves the body and mind of physical and mental pain. Because it is off the counter and extremely light, it can’t do much harm to the body, right? Well, it will not if taken in reasonable amounts. However, the moment you get addict to it, it will take higher doses of Benadryl to calm your nerves. There will come a point when a dangerous amount of Benadryl will require to relieve you, and that is not healthy.
Benadryl properly explained
Everyone knows it is a drug. But what kind of drug? And what is it taken for?
Technically, Benadryl is an over-the-counter antihistamine that can combine with other medicines (such as painkillers) to increase its effects. What is histamine, you ask? Histamine is chemically usually found in cells of the human body. This chemical is the cause of minor symptoms such as small injuries, minor allergies, colds, flu, etc. An antihistamine prevents this chemical from reacting to the human body.
Benadryl’s other name is diphenhydramine, and it doesn’t need a doctor’s prescription to take. It is safe enough to give to children as well.
So far, we didn’t read anything alarming, did we? It was all well until people started relying on the medication too much. If I tell you that 3% of deaths in the U.S. were caused due to medicine overdosage, with it being in the top 10 of the medicine list in 2017, would you believe me? Well, it did happen.
Different ways in which the body reacts to Benadryl
Before talking about this topic, know that factors such as age and body metabolism have an effect on how the body reacts to Benadryl. For example,
- People aged over 65 and under 12 metabolize the diphenhydramine present in Benadryl slowly.
- Anyone having a liver disease isn’t advised to take this medicine as Benadryl is processed through the liver. However, if one does dose it, it will be a slow process of metabolism.
- Similarly, if someone has a kidney problem, he or she will also have difficulty metabolizing the medicine. This is because Benadryl helps flush the toxins from the bladder.
- Dehydration will cause the diphenhydramine to be eliminated slowly.
The correct dose of Benadryl
Even though Benadryl is a medicine you can take without the prescription of a doctor, you must know how much you should take. For something as mild as a headache, two doses in one day are enough. This dose can vary between 12.5 to 150 mg dose per day, depending on the level of stress or pain you are experiencing. Remember not to take more than 150 mg of Benadryl in one day.
Also, the dose should tone down when given to children. It is recommended to give 3 doses of 25 mg with time intervals in one day to children.
What happens if I take too much Benadryl?
Before that, let us talk about the side effects experienced after taking Benadryl. Some of them are:
- Drowsiness
- Dry mouth
- Dizziness
- Nausea
- Headache
- Constipation
- Restlessness
- Loss of appetite
These are the effects you are most likely to experience even if you do not overdose on Benadryl. However, overdosing will lead to:
- Abnormality in heart rhythms
- Hallucinations
- Seizures
- Death
I bet after reading these effects, you will never think about depending on Benadryl more than necessary.
What should one do if someone overdoses on Benadryl?
When one overdoses on Benadryl, the symptoms show themselves after a short period. The best thing to do is call a doctor and in case the condition is serious, contact 911 immediately.
What can Benadryl heal?
As mentioned, Benadryl is a light over-the-counter medicine that can be taken without a doctor’s prescription. It can be used to heal:
- Flu
- Cough
- Minor allergies
- Bug bites
- Insomnia
- Hives and itch
- Anxiety
- Motion sickness
- Migraine
- Colds
- Eczema
- Heat rash
- Sinus pain
- Swelling in the body
- Sunburn
Notice that a few of these cannot heal using Benadryl alone. In that case, the medicine is taken alongside other pills to speed up the healing process.
Conclusion
A light and effective medicine seem like an all-in-one package for every ailment. However, remember that all that glitters is not gold and shouldn’t consider necessary for survival. There needs to be a balance in self-healing and healing through a drug, even if it is an antihistamine.
