Many opiate abusers have asked me the question “Does Benadryl help with opiate withdrawal?” And the answer I always state is “Yes and no.”
Benadryl has the ability to decrease the intensity of opiate withdrawal symptoms such as anxiety, insomnia, runny nose, etc., however, for a certain percentage of individuals, the use of Benadryl for opiate withdrawal worsens their RLS.
Article Overview
In this article, I’m going to teach you the important things you need to know about using Benadryl for opiate withdrawal. I’ll first provide you with a brief overview of Benadryl and its actions. Next, I’ll discuss how the use of Benadryl for opiate withdrawal has benefited many individuals.
After that, I’ll caution you on the risks associated with using Benadryl for opiate withdrawal. Finally, I’ll teach you about alternatives to using Benadryl to help induce sleep, in case you decide the medication is not the right choice for you.
Benadryl Overview
Diphenhydramine, sold under the brand name Benadryl, is an over-the-counter medication commonly used in the treatment of allergies. Diphenhydramine blocks the effects of the naturally occurring chemical histamine in the body.
Along with it being an antihistamine, Benadryl also contains the following properties:
- Anticholinergic – Inhibits the physiological action of acetylcholine
- Antitussive – Cough-relieving
- Antiemetic – Prevents vomiting
- Sedative – Promoting calm or inducing sleep
Benadryl is typically used to treat the following conditions:
- Allergic symptoms and itchiness
- The common cold
- Extrapyramidal symptoms
- Motion sickness
- Insomnia
Benadryl For Opiate Withdrawal Benefits
Many individuals have successfully used Benadryl for opiate withdrawal insomnia and other symptoms. The over-the-counter medication has strong hypnotic and sedative effects and is FDA-approved as a nonprescription sleep aid.
Due to its diverse mechanisms of action, it could potentially be helpful for the following opiate withdrawal symptoms:
- Anxiety
- Insomnia
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Sneezing
- Watery nose and eyes
Benadryl For Opiate Withdrawal Precautions
Due to Benadryl’s anticholinergic action, it has the potential to exacerbate symptoms of Restless Leg Syndrome. After reading through many comments of Benadryl users on drug forums, I realized two main points.
First of all, many individuals have successfully used Benadryl for opiate withdrawal with no side effects. However, a certain percentage of individuals that use Benadryl for opiate withdrawal claim that it significantly worsens their RLS, making it impossible to relax or fall asleep.
Benadryl Addiction
If an individual takes the recommended Benadryl dosage (25-50 mg every 6-8 hours, not to exceed 50-100 mg every 4-6 hours) it is uncommon for them to develop a physical dependence. However, some people greatly exceed this amount to achieve euphoric effects.
Though it is extremely rare, some individuals develop psychological addictions to Benadryl. They take Benadryl to get high, and they often experience cravings for the drug even though it’s doing them harm. If used in large amounts over an extended period of time, an individual can experience withdrawal symptoms from coming off Benadryl abruptly.
How To Use Benadryl For Opiate Withdrawal
If you decide on using Benadryl for opiate withdrawal, please be aware of the potential risks as well as the potential benefits. Do more research to make sure it is safe for you to take.
The following link should be reviewed:
When using Benadryl for opiate withdrawal, keep the following tips in mind:
- The dosage for adults is 25-50 mg every 6-8 hours, not to exceed 50-100 mg every 4-6 hours.
- It may exacerbate RLS.
- Always use the medication under the direction of your physician.
- Use the least amount of Benadryl as is necessary to relieve symptoms.
- Try to use Benadryl for only a few days to help ease the most severe symptoms, because the longer you take it, the higher percentage chance you have at developing a physical, and even psychological dependence.
- Don’t mix it with CNS depressants, as well as any other medication, supplement, or condition in which it is contraindicated.
Benadryl For Opiate Withdrawal Alternatives
Due to the potential for exacerbated RLS symptoms, you may wish to use an alternative medication or supplement to decrease your opiate withdrawal insomnia and anxiety.
Many individuals going through opiate withdrawal have obtained relief from anxiety and insomnia, as well as many other symptoms, by using a powerful Opiate Withdrawal Formula. Getting yourself a 30-day supply of this powerful opiate withdrawal supplement might be just what you need to help you get your life back on track.
If you can afford it, I also highly recommend taking this awesome supplement, because the benefits are just too good to pass up.
Conclusion
Using Benadryl (diphenhydramine) for opiate withdrawal can be a “last resort” strategy to help induce relaxation and sleep during opiate withdrawal. However, some individuals have reported their symptoms of RLS worsen (this is due to the anticholinergic action), making the medication very undesirable to them.
There are also many medication-based and natural alternatives to using Benadryl for opiate withdrawal symptoms, Opiate Withdrawal Formula being one of the more popular ones. Click here now to view my best home detox program.
If you have any questions on using Benadryl for opiate withdrawal, feel free to post them in the comment box below.
On day 5 of kratom withdrawal cant sleep at all took gaba for the first 3 days no problems with anything only minor wd. 30-40 g a day and believe me its just as bad as jumping from 2 1/2mg sub did that 4 years ago. Hopefully the benadryl helps with the sleep and the sweats kill me all day long. Just looking for some mercy i dont deserve.
I’m hoping the best for you, Michael. Kratom withdrawal can be so awful, especially above an ounce a day where you were at. Hang in there man. Glad you have some good medicine to help you through this.
Quick question, do i need to wait a certain amount of days after stopping methadone before i take benadryl to help sleep?
I was addicted to oxy for 4 years before putting them down and starting suboxone. 6 years later, I am only 15 days off suboxone. “Akathisia” as I guess it’s called (creepy crawling out of skin feeling) has been my worst withdrawal symptoms by far. No sleep. No comfort. Constantly on the mind. I just saw a Dr. for the first time this morning at a recovery center and explained my concerns regarding this insanely unbearable feeling. Benadryl she says. Popped 3 of those suckers an hour ago and thank you Jesus! OTC remedy this while time and I never knew, even with as much relief methods research I’d done online. Anxiety has gone from a 10 down to a 2. My mind is blown! If you knew me, that is a bold statement to be said. I’ve tried benzos, weed, booze and sure, they’d relax me for a bit, but never suppress or even ease that crawling feeling in my spine and neck. I highly recommend Benadryl for relief of Akathisia. Remember, this is coming from someone that’s spent the last 6 years a slave to suboxone. Good luck to all of you! You’re not alone. This shit sucks, to say the very least, but for once I have hope I can get through this. You all can. God bless!
I just had a hip replacement 1 month ago. I’m 55 yrs. the doctor gave me Percocet. I quit cold turkey yesterday. I’m a little uncomfortable. But getting through it. Now here comes the problem. I’m due to have a shoulder surgery which they say is very painful. And yes you guessed it back on Percocet after the surgery which is in 10 days. I had been on Percocet a total of 3 months because of the pain in my hip. Now this. Am I going to get addicted to this evil???
Did you ever got addicted to the percs? I know it’s been years but was curious.
I had an odd situation this month. I take suboxone for opiate withdrawal and to assist in the pain that got me on those opiates to begin with.
I decided it was time to put a stop to it.
I was on two 8mg film a day.
I smoke weed and I took benedryl (4 – 25 m a day)
I was anxious while waiting for the horror show to begin but it never happened. After 7 days of no suboxone, I still did not have one symptom.
When I went to see my psyche doc he told me it was because of the weed,
What I dont understand is why doctors allow their patients to go thru the pain and misery of withdrawal when we have this product that has such a bad reputation.
If what my doctor says is true, we could eradicate opiate withdrawal altogether and more folks would happily give up those harmful drugs if they knew it was this simple.
What is your opinion and is my doctor correct or am I one of those that matured out of my addiction ?(I am 63)
Actually there are tons of anticholinergics that are also OTC available, not just Benadryl. The problem with withdrawal is the histamine released is part of a cascade reaction of not enough opiate receptor activity, so more histamine is released in an attempt to increase it, then too much histamine causes a bunch of adrenaline/epinephrine to be released to tone down the histamine. As a result you’re sweating and generally having a panic attack. Histamine is only part of the problem, and in the end, the epinephrine causes the end result symptoms that make you climb walls. The medications in hospitals directly turn off the adrenaline cascade, but there’s not much available OTC to do exactly that. Even years later, a person may still be dealing with adrenal depletion and adrenal fatigue depending on how many times they’ve been through this withdrawal cycle. The real damage is to the adrenals and endocrine glands, that’s the long term damage. Anything you can do to cut short or reduce this cycle of adrenal damage is going to help you live better later on when you’re clean. Benadryl is worth it. So is Dramamine, Chlor-Trimeton and Bonine (also anticholinergics, also antihistamines). This is about more than a temporary increase in RLS.
Thank you!!!! This was not only helpful but somehow comforting and encouraging…
Excellent!
Namaste’
my son is on suboxen clininc, he started 12/23/15. before that he was on methadone clinic. his last oes of 10mg was dec 22. 15
with this new clinic they do drug testing. there saing methadone is stll coming up on screens, which is unpossible. how long does it take for methadone to come out of system. and could this be a false neg? or is doctor cheating the system.?
Methadone, Suboxone, zubsolve, pain killers, heroin, all the same nightmare! Just different names…
Between 6 and 12 days it’s in your u time test for so your son could still be us No if longer but everyone is different
One of my major factors for sleep disturbance has been RLS. Can you shed some light as to why this happens? Any remedies you suggest to alleviate the restless legs? It’s the worst in the morning and wakes me up.
Please check out the following article:
How To Stop Restless Legs From Opiate Withdrawal
Great article thank you! I will def be getting some epsom salt and exercise.
You’re welcome! And good for you 🙂 You got this!
“Akathisia” is the correct term for the creepy twitchy feelings and compelling movements that are a hallmark symptom of opiate withdrawal. Restarting opiates will always alleviate akathisia, whereas chronic idiopathic RLS is usually treated with medications such as clonazepam, diazepam, L-DOPA, and ropinirole (but never opiates). For many, including myself, akathisia is the most intolerable and enduring of the opiate withdrawal symptoms. I stopped Suboxone (for chronic pain) on June 1, 2015, and I’m still battling spells of akathisia in my PAWS phase. As you mention, it often happens at night and disrupts sleep. Matt correctly notes that anti-cholinergics and antihistamines will often make it worse. Medications that affect serotonin can also aggravate akathisia.
Naively I tried all of the RLS medications, and they did nothing at all — even 8mg of clonazepam had no perceptible effect — and my sanity was about to go from lack of sleep. So what to do? The only thing that was sure to give relief was some type of opioid. Rather than go back to Rx opiates, I discovered Kratom on this site and found it to be 100% effective for akathisia. HOWEVER, and in capitals, Kratom isn’t to be trifled with — you need to understand exactly what you’re doing before you try it. Kratom contains powerful opioids and developing a physical dependency, or even an addiction, is certainly possible. Kratom has the expected opiate effects of pain relief and at high doses, mild euphoria, but it also has the unexpected effect of boosting energy, sociability, and mental focus, leading some folks to choose it as a lifestyle supplement. That’s fine, but if you’re here on this site because you want to stop your opiate dependency, then treat Kratom as a temporary crutch and not a substitute. If you wish to try Kratom specifically for akathisia, see Matt’s article but start at a very low dose (i.e.,1/2 gram) in grapefruit juice and stop increasing when you get just enough to provide relief but not enough to get a psychological effect.
I am not sure why banadryl can exacerbate RLS, but I do know that magnesium and potassium can greatly reduce the RLS related to opiate withdrawal. I’ve read that the leg and arm restlessness during withdrawal is caused by your body leaching water from your muscles. Magnesium and potassium help your muscles to retain water. Hope this can help.