Benedryl

[Anonymous]

Over the last year I have found that my kid is buying and taking benedryl. They don’t have allergies. They do have mental health issues (serious enough to have been hospitalized many times and be in a non mainstreamed special ed school.

My question is does anyone have any ideas why benedryl? Their diagnosis is bipolar and anxiety.

[Anonymous]

Self medicating to turn off the anxiety.

[Anonymous]

To fall asleep?

[Anonymous]

Sleep

[Anonymous]

If it makes you feel better, my DH with anxiety takes a prescription strength antihistamine (which is what benedryl is) for his anxiety. He says it helps a lot. Maybe talk to his/her Dr and see if he/she can get a prescription so it's better controlled and cheaper.

[Anonymous]

Thanks everyone. I’ve never taken Benedryl and it makes sense that they would want to self medicate for anxiety. There age been a lot of issues with medication and bad reactions so it’s been hard to get it right.

[Anonymous]

I take it to sleep so I would assume that.

[Anonymous]

I take it to sleep. Sleeping is very hard with anxiety.

[Anonymous]

Sounds like he/she has done some researching themselves. Good time to talk about that. For education purposes it is fine but they need to discuss with their doctor. Depending on their age they might be old enough to call directly. Or, might need to go through you.

Good time to emphasize the importance of not mixing meds until you know if there can be complications. Also good time to talk about effects of mixing meds with drugs and/or alcohol.

[Anonymous]

Absolutely sleep. I give it to my 10 year old as well (per his doctor) because he is on Adderall and can't sleep. I used to take it to sleep as well when I was younger and then the doctors prescribed Trazodone. Not advocating for Trazodone at all. It really does help me sleep but if I do not have it I have the most horrible case of restless leg syndrome.

[Anonymous]

My son has mental health issues as well and has been hospitalized a few times. The drs use Benadryl for him to calm his anxiety without having to give him the more intense drugs.

[Anonymous]

I take it for sleep occasionally, as I have insomnia problems. I would personally be wary to do this on a regular basis because there's some evidence that long term use is linked to later risk of dementia. If they are having sleep troubles make sure to discuss options with the doctor or psychiatrist.

https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/common-anticholinergic-drugs-like-benadryl-linked-increased-dementia-risk-201501287667

[Anonymous]

Sleep. But my best friend basically gets high off a normal dose. It just really affects her so that would be a concern too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Absolutely sleep. I give it to my 10 year old as well (per his doctor) because he is on Adderall and can't sleep. I used to take it to sleep as well when I was younger and then the doctors prescribed Trazodone. Not advocating for Trazodone at all. It really does help me sleep but if I do not have it I have the most horrible case of restless leg syndrome.

Beware, a study just came out that long term use of Benadryl can lead to dementia or alzheimers. Once someone gets dependent on a sleep aid for sleep, it is a very difficult habit to break. If he grows up needing this, not good for his future ability to sleep.

And Trazadone turns people into daytime zombies, that stuff is like a horse tranquilizer.

[Anonymous]

It IS good to sleep, but in high doses it is also a deliriant (hallucinogenic properties) not on the same level as magic mushrooms or LSD, but still.

Just make sure they’re not taking too much.