Health - Long Term Effects of Diphenhydramine?

[xyccoc]

SWIM has, every day for the past two years, been taking between 375mg and 625mg of diphenhydramine before bed (usually 2-3 hours before.) He or she started using it because of insomnia, but got into chronic use after falling in love with its mellowing recreational effects. In the long term, SWIM has not encountered any noticeable health problems, but is curious if there are any he or she would be aware of? SWIM knows it isn't a good idea, for obvious reasons, but he or she so far has no reason to stop.

[Orchid_Suspiria]

625 mg?Whoa thats alot of diphenhydramine.SWIM used to be a very frequent user for both sedative and recreational purposes and has a very big tolerance to it but still wouldn't ever consider something as high as 625 mg.Mellowing recreational effects?More like delerium,hallucinations,and temporary psychosis.SWIM is not sure of the exact health risks involved but still does not think that much is such a good plan.

[xyccoc]

Well SWIM's usual dose is 18 pills, or 450mg, but once in a great while may feel like doing 25ish pills. SWIM has definitely built up a tolerance to it, hence the higher dose. SWIM enjoys the heavy feeling, and how the drug makes most things more interesting. The severe loss of short term memory, oddly enough, is also found to be enjoyable. The deleriant effects like the hallucinations, both visual and auditory, along with the incredible dreams, are always found to be an excellent end to the day.. plus (unless he or she takes too much), sexual arousal and orgasm is greatly enhanced. He or she has also found that too much of the diphen makes it impossible for him or her to fall asleep, which isn't fun at all, expecially on hot nights. Besides from the acute effects, it doesn't seem to have done any permanent damage to SWIM's senses or body in any way. Something may sneak on on SWIM in the future, though, which he or she would like to be aware of.

[Orchid_Suspiria]

Before SWIM developed an opiate habit he liked those effects of diphenhydramine aswell but afterwards it simply made him uncomfortable and feel a greater need for opiates.A few months ago when SWIM was going through some VERY BAD opiate withdrawals he made the mistake of eating about 20 benadryls.Life literally became a nightmare and SWIM felt strange pain in his arms and bodies.Now SWIM only uses diphenhydramine to go to sleep which is really little help because he has such a tolerance to it.

[xyccoc]

Maybe SWIY's dislike of it was partly because of his opiate use? Other than marijuana occasionally, SWIM hasn't done many other drugs than diphen.

[Orchid_Suspiria]

SWIMS main dislike is it makes him uncomfortable and the body feeling is awful and it tends to make SWIM imagine and think of the things he fears or is saddened by the most,and when SWIM is in any kind of pain he wants his mean and demanding little bestfriend methadone to come take it away.

[xyccoc]

Well SWIM has been using for over 2 years nightly and really has had no reason not to continue. Effects everyone differently SWIM supposes.

[Nacumen]

With frequent doses like that, I'd be surprised if you could still see straight. The HPPD that SWIM gets from such large doses of diphenhydramine makes the ground flow like waves for days afterward, not to mention the dementia that lasts well into the next day.

[Orchid_Suspiria]

SWIM simply can't understand how someone can have such a huge tolerance to it.SWIM thought he had a tolerance and it seems like with diphenhydramine a tolerance develops almost over night.SWIM guesses it could be good that you like it because it is cheap,it is legal,and can be gotten almost anywhere.Still SWIM just couldn't see just using diphenhydramine and nothing else.That would get rather boring.

[xyccoc]

Yea SWIM definitely loves painkillers and other drugs, but their price, illegality, and addiction/withdrawal symptoms are more unwanted than any 'shortcomings' of diphenhydramine (satisfaction-wise). Six nights worth of diphen for aboutxxx total (store brand bottle of 100) is more enticing to SWIM than xxx for a single 5mg percocet.


DO NOT POST PRICES!

[Orchid_Suspiria]

Well opiate addiction is no walk in the park but there are plenty of other drugs one can find that are much funner than diphenhydramine and carry little risk of dependency.

[xyccoc]

What does SWIY have in mind?

[Orchid_Suspiria]

Swim is wondering if anyone has any fact based info on the longterm effects of heavy diphenhydramine use on the human psyche?Swim has googled this and not really been able to find anything.This is of great concern to swim because swim has never been "all there"but it seems like after years of diphenhydramine abuse starting in 98 it's gotten far worse.Swim doesn't abuse it now but is worried that some of the damage may be irreversible.Swim is far more paranoid than he once was,more fit to moodswings,ofcourse an opiate dependency could be part of the problem aswell.

[beentheredonethatagain]

The taking of medicine to offset the negative affects of drug abuse is just piling on more potential negative problems. I would suggest to myself if I were battling the opiates a detoxing period, just to clean out the old pipes.

Welcome back and the best of blessings !!!

[Orchid_Suspiria]

Well opiate addiction does have its problems true,however swim was abusing diphenhydramine before opiates and fears that this actually in someways has had a more negative effect on swim.Unfortunately swim can not find any real information on the effects of heavy diphenhydramine use.Its hard to find anyone with this knowledge.

[BigDonJuan73]

piracetam and detox

[bloot]

What was SWIY usage like.. Like what daily dosage.. for how long etc.

[Orchid_Suspiria]

A doctor told swim longterm use of diphenhydramine can lead to dementia.Swim has been searching google for evidence of this and all he can find is ofcourse articles on shortterm diphenhydramine delerium being bad for people with dementia but can find no cases of diphenhydramine being the cause for dementia.Could this doctor have been lying?Does anyone have any information that this is true?

[sarbanes]

I wouldn't worry about it - the worry will hurt you more than the benadryl. If youo are using so much diphen that you are constantly hung over, then perhaps, maybe maybe you might worry a slight bit, short term. AFAIK, there is no evicence this compound (or its metabolites) pose any sig neural toxcicity.

[Orchid_Suspiria]

Swim is definitely not using it frequently as in his younger days,just curiosity about how honest this doctor is.This doctor has lied to swim before telling him the naloxone in suboxone is active orally.

[Metomni]

Maybe the doctor isn't lying, but simply does not know what he's talking about? I mean, unlikely, but definitely possible.

[Paracelsus]

Diphenhydramine, like all anticholinergics, causes cognitive impairment. While there is no evidence that long-term use causes lasting impairment, use of diphenhydramine in borderline demented elderly people (who often have a slow metabolism) can exacerbate their condition. There is close to no data available on long-term recreational use, maybe because few people find it enjoyable.

[GForce]

I know there are a few threads on this issue, but they didn't really have the answers I was looking for. SWIM uses diphenhydramine a few times a week to help get a good night sleep. I was wondering what organs are involved in the metabolism of diphenhydramine and if long-term use can be dangerous to those organs. I saw the other thread had mentioned how it effects the mind in the long-term, and there wasn't much of an answer, so if anyone knows anything I'd want to know that as well. However, I think because SWIM takes 100mg when he needs to sleep and doesn't use the medicine recreationally that it can have long-term effects on his brain, but you never know.

[Jatelka]

Diphenydramine is metabolised by the liver. CYP2D6 has the greatest activity. CYP1A2, CYP2C9, and CYP2C19 are also involved, but to a much lesser extent.

[Orchid_Suspiria]

This is something swim has asked about alot aswell.The thing is even on a site as informative as this one it is difficult to find alot of definite answers because recreational diphenhydramine use just isn't that trendy.