No, you should not take Benadryl with alcohol: the Drug Facts label says to avoid alcoholic drinks, because alcohol increases the drowsiness diphenhydramine causes. The NHS says the two together can make you sleep so deeply that you can't breathe properly and may be hard to wake, and the NIH alcohol institute lists dizziness and a higher risk of overdose as possible reactions. Never use Benadryl as a sleep aid after drinking. If someone who mixed them can't be woken or is breathing slowly, call 911.
What does the Benadryl label say about alcohol?
Benadryl's active ingredient is diphenhydramine, a sedating antihistamine. Under "When using this product," the Benadryl Drug Facts label lists these warnings together:
- Marked drowsiness may occur.
- Avoid alcoholic drinks.
- Alcohol, sedatives, and tranquilizers may increase drowsiness.
- Be careful when driving a motor vehicle or operating machinery.
Why is mixing Benadryl and alcohol risky?
The effects add up. MedlinePlus says alcohol can add to the drowsiness diphenhydramine causes and advises avoiding alcoholic beverages while you take it. The NHS says the two together can make you sleep so deeply that you can't breathe properly and may have difficulty waking up.
The NIH's National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) lists these possible reactions when alcohol is mixed with diphenhydramine products:
- As an allergy medicine (Benadryl): drowsiness, dizziness and an increased risk of overdose.
- As a sleep aid (diphenhydramine sleep products): drowsiness, dizziness, slowed or difficult breathing, impaired motor control and memory problems.
- On its own, diphenhydramine can make you dizzy, unsteady or unable to concentrate, according to the NHS. Alcohol adds to the drowsiness.
Can I take Benadryl to sleep after drinking?
No. This is the situation where the mix is most dangerous. You are already sedated from alcohol, you are about to fall asleep, and nobody may be watching your breathing. The NIAAA warns that alcohol combined with sleep aids can raise the risk of an overdose, and that drinking while taking over-the-counter antihistamines can also be dangerous.
Getting up in the night is another problem. The NHS says diphenhydramine can make you dizzy, unsteady or clumsy, and the NIAAA lists impaired motor control when alcohol is mixed with diphenhydramine sleep aids. Together, that makes a trip to the bathroom in the dark riskier. The NIAAA also notes that aging slows how fast the body breaks down alcohol.
If you can't sleep after drinking, skip the pill for that night.
How long after drinking can I take Benadryl?
No label or health agency we checked gives a safe waiting time, so we won't give you one. The label simply says to avoid alcoholic drinks while you use it. The safest plan is to wait until you are fully sober and the alcohol has cleared, and if it's bedtime, skip the Benadryl for that night.
It works the other way too. The NHS says diphenhydramine drowsiness usually wears off around 8 hours after a dose, so a drink a couple of hours after a dose stacks onto the medicine that's still working.
Who should be extra careful?
Some people face higher risk from the combination:
- Adults 65 and older. MedlinePlus says diphenhydramine generally should not be used in older adults except for serious allergic reactions. The NIAAA notes that aging slows how fast the body breaks down alcohol.
- People taking sedatives or tranquilizers. The label says to ask a doctor or pharmacist before use, and those drugs plus alcohol add even more sedation.
- People with breathing problems such as emphysema or chronic bronchitis, glaucoma, or trouble urinating from an enlarged prostate. The label says to ask a doctor before use.
- Anyone using another product with diphenhydramine, even one used on skin. The label says not to combine them.
- Anyone who will drive. The label says to be careful driving, and alcohol adds to the drowsiness. Don't drive after mixing them.
When should you get care?
In an emergency, call 911Call your doctor or get same-day care if, after taking Benadryl, you have a fast or irregular heartbeat, feel very restless, or have confusion or trouble thinking clearly.
If you took more Benadryl than the label allows, or took it with a lot of alcohol and feel unwell, call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222 right away.
Call 911 if someone who mixed Benadryl and alcohol can't be woken, has a seizure, is breathing slowly or with pauses (fewer than 8 breaths a minute, or 10 seconds or more between breaths), or has blue, gray or pale skin or lips.
Call 911 for signs of a severe allergic reaction: swelling of the lips, mouth, tongue or throat, a tight throat, or trouble breathing.
Do not leave a very drunk person alone to sleep it off. If they're lying down, roll them onto their side.
How our AI doctor decides when to send you to care ›What can I do for allergies if I've been drinking?
For mild sneezing, a runny nose or itchy eyes, you can usually wait until you are sober. If you take a daily allergy medicine, ask a pharmacist which options are safer for you with alcohol. The NHS says non-drowsy antihistamines such as cetirizine, fexofenadine and loratadine are less likely to make you drowsy, but no source we checked says any of them is safe to mix with alcohol.
If your itching came with swelling of the lips, tongue or throat, or trouble breathing, that is not a wait-it-out situation. Call 911.
Common questions
Can I take Benadryl with alcohol?
No. The Benadryl label says to avoid alcoholic drinks, because alcohol increases the drowsiness diphenhydramine causes. The NHS says the two together can make you sleep so deeply that you can't breathe properly, and the NIH alcohol institute lists dizziness and increased overdose risk. Wait until you're sober, and don't use it to sleep after drinking.
Is one beer with one Benadryl dangerous?
The label doesn't set a safe amount. It says to avoid alcoholic drinks, not to limit them, and that alcohol may increase drowsiness. Don't drive, and the safer choice is to skip one or the other.
Can I drink the day after taking Benadryl?
The NHS says drowsiness usually wears off around 8 hours after a dose. No source we checked gives an exact safe gap. If you still feel drowsy or foggy, wait longer before drinking.
Does ZzzQuil or a store-brand sleep aid count?
Many over-the-counter sleep aids, such as Sominex and Unisom, contain diphenhydramine or doxylamine, another sedating antihistamine. Check the active ingredient on the box. The NIAAA lists slowed or difficult breathing as a possible reaction when these sleep aids are mixed with alcohol, so the same advice applies.
What if I already took Benadryl and had a drink?
Stop drinking, don't take more of either, and don't drive. Have someone stay with you if you feel very sleepy. Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222 if you're unsure, and call 911 if you or someone else can't stay awake or is breathing slowly.
Is Benadryl cream OK if I've been drinking?
The label covers swallowed Benadryl, and we didn't find guidance on drinking with the skin cream alone. The label does say not to take Benadryl tablets with any other diphenhydramine product, even one used on skin, so don't stack the two.
Pymander is not a replacement for a physician and does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of a qualified health provider with questions about a medical condition. If you think you may have a medical emergency, call 911.