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Goodbye, Benadryl: It is time for you to retire

Sometimes, old ideas and time-tested treatments remain the best. Newer doesn’t always mean better. Except in the case of one of our oldest antihistamines, tried-and-true Benadryl. It is time for that old drug to be retired, sent off to pasture, and never used again. Goodbye, Benadryl. Fare thee well, adieu, and don’t let the door hit you on the way out.

Benadryl (diphenhydramine) was introduced in 1946. The top single that year was Perry Como’s “Prisoner of Love,” and, with all due respect, neither has aged well. Back in 1946, medicines like Benadryl didn’t have to pass the stringent safety and efficacy standards now required. And there’s zero chance, today, it would have been approved…

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  Common anticholinergic drugs like Benadryl linked to increased dementia risk

The ACT results add to mounting evidence that anticholinergics aren’t drugs to take long-term if you want to keep a clear head, and keep your head clear into old age. The body’s production of acetylcholine diminishes with age, so blocking its effects can deliver a double whammy to older people. It’s not surprising that problems with short-term memory, reasoning, and confusion lead the list of anticholinergic side effects, which also include drowsiness, dry mouth, urine retention, and constipation.

 Does Benadryl Do More Harm Than Good?

This drug — whose generic name is diphenhydramine — provides almost immediate allergy relief. And with Benadryl around since the 1940s, it’s become the “Kleenex” of antihistamines, said Dr. Anna Wolfson, an allergist at Massachusetts General Hospital. But experts believe it’s time to say goodbye because of how older antihistamines like Benadryl cross the blood-brain barrier, causing grogginess and increasing the risk of falls, car accidents and potentially even dementia. If you’re on a deserted island and Benadryl is the only allergy drug available, you should take it, Dr. Wolfson said. But in almost every other case, there are safer, better options.

 The over-the-counter medicine scientists say may raise your dementia risk

Diphenhydramine is the active ingredient in countless over-the-counter medications. But experts say there are serious risks to taking too much of the drug—or taking it too long.

Articles of Interest

Behind the ‘Benadryl Challenge’ and Why It’s Harmful

Teenagers are no strangers to taking on challenges. However, there is a challenge that’s sweeping across social media networks, and has the potential to be deadly. The “Benadryl Challenge” has been made popular on TikTok, urging viewers to take large doses – in some cases as much as 10 times the normal dose – of the drug diphenhydramine (Benadryl) in order to give the user hallucinations or a “trip”.

Benadryl and other common medications are linked to dementia in men and women

Many people turn to over-the-counter medicines when they need relief from allergy and cold symptoms or have trouble falling asleep. That’s why you might be concerned about a new study showing that one of the most common of those drugs—Benadryl—could lead to serious health problems, including dementia.

Benadryl is safe during pregnancy and breastfeeding

While some information suggests that it's important to avoid all medication while pregnant, Martha Rac, MD, says this is not the case.

FDA Says TikTok’s Benadryl Challenge Is Dangerous—Here’s What to Know

Benadryl is a common over-the-counter medication, but experts say it can be deadly if used the wrong way. Here’s what you need to know.

Many Canadians unaware that Benadryl is no longer recommended as first choice for allergy medication: experts

While both first and second-generation antihistamines bind to receptors in the brain and spinal cord to block the release of histamines — the chemicals that cause allergy symptoms — first-generation crosses the blood-brain barrier and causes more sedation in patients, something that was corrected in second-generation antihistamines.

Study: Over-the-Counter Drugs Linked to Dementia

A new study links the use of drugs such as non-prescription sleep aids and the antihistamine Benadryl with increased risk of developing dementia.

The Trouble With Sleep Aids

The over-the-counter antihistamines I used to take, which contain diphenhydramine, “were never really systematically studied for their effects on sleep,” Dr. Krystal said. They’re recognized for their allergy benefits but are often used as a sleep aid because they cause drowsiness, he added. The few studies that have been done on diphenhydramine suggest that it doesn’t help much at all...

This Common Allergy and Sleep Aid May Be Quietly Raising Your Dementia Risk

If you’ve ever reached for a quick fix for allergies, a cold, or a sleepless night, chances are you’ve taken diphenhydramine. It’s the active ingredient in well-known over-the-counter meds like Benadryl, Tylenol PM, and many generic nighttime formulas. But National Geographic reported that scientists say prolonged use could come with serious cognitive consequences. Diphenhydramine is one of the most widely used first-generation antihistamines. It’s been FDA-approved since 1946 and remains a go-to remedy for everything from seasonal allergies to insomnia. But newer research warns that long-term, daily use may increase your risk for developing dementia or other neurodegenerative conditions.

Why It’s Time to Rethink Our Use of Benadryl

Did you know that pilots are not allowed to fly for 30 hours after taking even one dose of Benadryl? This is due to the potential for sedation and profound impairment that can slow reflexes and interfere with motor skills. Yet parents and pediatricians routinely give this medication to infants and children of all ages for a myriad of reasons.