Benadryl (diphenhydramine) is on the Beers List because it is a first-generation antihistamine with strong anticholinergic properties, making it highly inappropriate for adults 65 and older. It poses significant risks, including severe sedation, confusion, dizziness, constipation, urinary retention, and increased risk of falls.

Why is Benadryl being taken off the market?

Published in the World Allergy Organization Journal, the paper gives several reasons why it's time to move on from Benadryl, including the "presence of effective and safer second-generation antihistamines, frequent and sometimes severe adverse reactions to first-generation agents, [and] its demonstrated abuse potential ...

Is it really time to say goodbye to Benadryl?

In the past, it has been a useful medication that has helped millions of patients; however, its current therapeutic ratio is matched or exceeded by second-generation antihistamines, especially due to their markedly reduced adverse reactions. It is time to say a final goodbye to diphenhydramine, a public health hazard.

Is Benadryl part of Beers Criteria?

The 2023 American Geriatrics Society (AGS) Beers Criteria for Potentially Inappropriate Medication Use in Older Adults recommends that individuals 65 years or older avoid use of first-generation antihistamines, including oral diphenhydramine.

Why does Benadryl feel so good?

Benadryl (diphenhydramine) can make you feel "good" primarily due to its strong sedative effects, blocking histamine and acetylcholine in the brain, causing drowsiness and relaxation, which can feel calming or help with sleep. While this sedation can be pleasant for some, especially for short-term anxiety or insomnia, higher doses can lead to unpleasant disorientation, confusion, or even paradoxical excitation, and misuse carries significant risks like addiction, heart problems, and seizures, making it a potentially dangerous substance to chase a "high". 

What Is Beers Criteria?

What was Benadryl originally used for?

As an antihistamine, diphenhydramine originally was released and marketed as a medication to treat minor allergic phenomena. The activation of H1 receptors by histamine results in the onset of symptoms characteristic of acute allergic reactions, including pruritus, sneezing, and heightened vascular permeability.

What causes 70% of dementia?

Alzheimer's disease is the primary cause of roughly 70% of all dementia cases, a progressive brain disorder characterized by protein buildup (plaques and tangles) leading to memory loss and cognitive decline, with other forms like vascular dementia and Lewy body dementia making up the rest, often coexisting with Alzheimer's.

What drug causes the most memory loss?

There isn't one single drug causing the most memory loss, as it varies, but Benzodiazepines (like Xanax, Valium) and strong anticholinergic drugs (some allergy meds, sleep aids) are major culprits, particularly for older adults, affecting memory encoding and potentially increasing dementia risk, while recreational drugs like PCP, Ketamine, and Alcohol severely disrupt memory function. These drugs interfere with brain chemistry, impacting the hippocampus and neurotransmitters crucial for learning and recall. 

What medications cause sundowning?

Certain medications, such as anticholinergics, benzodiazepines, antipsychotics, and opioids, can impair cognition, disrupt the sleep-wake cycle, or trigger agitation in people with dementia. Sundowning is not caused solely by dementia; multiple factors often contribute to it.

Why do neurologists not like Benadryl?

Neurologists and other doctors are wary of Benadryl (diphenhydramine) due to its strong anticholinergic effects, which block acetylcholine, a brain chemical vital for memory, learning, and attention, leading to risks like confusion, delirium (especially in older adults), poor sleep quality, and a potential long-term increased risk of dementia and Alzheimer's disease. While effective for allergies, its sedative and cognitive side effects, plus concerns about chronic use, lead many to prefer newer antihistamines (like Zyrtec or Claritin) and avoid it as a sleep aid.
 

Why do I sleep so good on Benadryl?

Benadryl is a medication that fights allergies. It has diphenhydramine hydrochloride in it. This ingredient blocks histamine in the brain, making you sleepy and relieving allergy symptoms.

What is the cheat pill for anxiety?

Influencers have described propranolol as a magic pill that eases nervous jitters in all kinds of settings. “It almost seems like a cheat code, if you will.” Prescriptions are on the rise, especially for young women.

Is Zyrtec stronger than Benadryl?

Neither Benadryl nor Zyrtec is definitively "stronger"; they work differently: Benadryl (diphenhydramine) acts faster (15-30 mins) but wears off in 4-6 hours, causing significant drowsiness, while Zyrtec (cetirizine) starts slower (up to 1 hr) but lasts much longer (24 hrs) with less sedation, making it better for daily, long-term allergy relief, though Benadryl's sedating effect can help with sleep. 

What is a natural substitute for Benadryl?

Natural antihistamines like ginger, turmeric, and capers offer effective, holistic ways to manage allergies. While these remedies may not replace traditional treatments for severe cases, they can significantly reduce symptoms when used consistently.

What can elderly take instead of Benadryl?

Astepro (azelastine) nasal spray, and non-drowsy oral antihistamines, such as Allegra (fexofenadine) are also first-choice options. All of these allergy medications are safe for older adults. Nasalcrom (cromolyn) and antihistamine eye drops, such as Zatidor (ketotifen), are also safe but may be less effective.

What drugs are linked to dementia?

Among the specific benzodiazepines most frequently linked to Alzheimer's are alprazolam (Xanax), lorazepam (Ativan), and diazepam (Valium). Although these medications have been shown to increase the risk of cognitive decline and dementia over time, they are still used to address anxiety and sleep disorders.

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