Why are drugs addicting? Why can people no longer stay away from drugs once they get a taste of them? Does the body crave what is harmful? , How much Benadryl can i take? And what are the last resorts in which I should put my body through that?

To answer that, a slight misunderstanding must first be cleared. It is not true that the body craves the numbness a drug provides because it enjoys it. Rather, these drugs provide relief to human minds. A relief one gets by momentarily escaping the real world into one that doesn’t exist. The relief of escaping into a world where only happiness is promised.

Let us tone that down a bit. Instead of imagining alcohol and drug pills to numb the pain in one’s heart, humans take drugs in the form of medication to numb the physical pain in one’s body. What makes this type of drug special is the fact that not only do doctors approve of it, but they also recommend it when you feel pain.

Benadryl is one such medication. Even though the medicine is extremely light and causes no serious side effects, it will react if taken in an illegal amount. So

What is Benadryl?

Also known as diphenhydramine, Benadryl is an over-the-counter medication classified as an antihistamine. It is a light medicine usually taken even without the doctor’s prescription to cure colds, itchy skin, slight fevers, small allergies, and even bug bites. Due to its safe composition and low side effects, it is also given to children.

The problem starts when people start relying on the medication too much and eventually start to overdose. According to a study conducted in 2017, 3% of deaths that occurred in the U.S. were caused due to medicine overdosage, with Benadryl being in the top 10 of the medicine list.

How the body reacts to Benadryl

Benadryl is responsible for blocking the histamine receptors in the body (a substance that causes allergy symptoms), preventing them from overflowing and causing itchy eyes, blocked noses, and red skin to occur.

Taking an antihistamine like Benadryl helps lessen the impact of histamines on the body and the body stops responding to these receptors.

A normal dosage of Benadryl

You should always take medicine according to the prescription of your doctor. If in case you are experiencing something mild and do not feel the need to consult a doctor, start by taking two doses of Benadryl in one day.

• If the symptoms are slightly higher, it is advised to take a 25 mg to 50 mg dosage every 4 to 6 hours. This dosage is recommended for children 12 years old or above. Remember, do not take more than 300 mg of this diphenhydramine in 24 hours.
• For children between 11 years of age, the 12.5 mg to 25 mg dosage is recommended in 4 to 6 hours, and not more. For children this small, it is not recommended to give more than 150 mg in one day.
• If you are an adult suffering from insomnia, Benadryl can help you with that too. 25 mg to 50 mg dose is recommended 30 minutes before bedtime, as a side effect includes sleepiness. However, this medicine is not recommended for children with insomnia.
• Another suffering Benadryl can help you with is motion sickness. The medicine is so light and helpful that taking a dose 30 minutes before your car ride will help prevent motion sickness. Just remember not to take more than 50 mg dose at once.

Now that you know the normal dosage Benadryl is taken in, know that any dose higher than these in a time frame of 4 to 6 hours will be considered overdosage.

Effects of Benadryl overdosage

Taking an excessive amount of Benadryl will enhance the side effects which include

• Sleepiness
• Dizziness
• Headache
• Dry mouth and eyes
• Weakness

Other than these, an overdose of Benadryl will slowly affect your brain and make you tired. You will experience a slower breathing rate and your blood pressure will also decrease. Remember that the histamine receptors are blocked and blocking them, even more, can also affect the heart by rapidly increasing your heart rhythm.

If any of these cases ever happen, rush to the doctor immediately.

When is it recommended to take Benadryl?

Benadryl is mainly used to resolve mild symptoms of allergies such as

• Hay fever
• Insomnia
• Motion sickness
• Bug bites
• Migraine
• Cold
• Eczema
• Heat rash
• Sinus pain
• Swelling
• Sunburn

And other small allergies. In case the symptoms get extreme and do not heal in a few days, seek medical attention so you can be treated properly.

How to know of an overdose?

One who takes an excessive amount of Benadryl will experience different medical conditions such as

• Constipation
• Seizures
• Irregular heartbeat
• Coma

Not to scare you, overdosage can also cause a human’s death. So be careful!

Conclusion

Too much of anything is harmful. This applies to the most beneficial substances such as water as well. In comparison to water, a medicinal drug is nothing and of course, overdosage can cause serious harm.

Even if Benadryl is considered a safe medicine, it is still advised to consult a doctor before taking one, as the symptoms it is used for are considered life-threatening at times. If the medicine does not affect you soon, take proper treatment instead of overdosing on this one.