Allergic to Benadryl?

[Brittneesher]

Have any of you ever heard of a patient having a true allergic reaction due to benadryl or diphenhydramine? If so, what are their options as far as treating an allergic reaction?

[indigonurse]

I know what you mean allergic reactions and untoward side effects are usually listed under allergies because that is usually the only heading the have for someone who cannot take a med for one reason or the other.

[diane227, LPN, RN]

It is important to know when a patient states an allergy to a medication what exactly they consider to be an allergy. Often side effects are mistaken by the patient as an allergy. In addition, it might be the filler in the tablet or capsule that causes the reaction, not the actual medication itself. For example, my husband has been on a certain medication for at least 10 years. It is the only medication that he takes. It was in generic form. Once, when the medication was refilled, he was given a new generic brand and he broke out in a major rash. Once he was switched back to the other formula, the rash was gone.

When you have a patient that develops a rash to a medication they have had before, encourage them to report this reaction to the FDA. They can do it on line and it is very important to know who made this medication when it is a generic. It is usually listed on the medication bottle. And, as we did with my husband, we contacted the pharmacy as well. The medication had been made in India. It was pulled finally because so many patients had reactions to medications made at that location.

[12345678910]

I'm severely allergic to nuts and I had an anaphylactic reaction a few days ago to cashew milk. I was given epi and rushed to the hospital. after a few hours at the hospital I felt fine and went home. after about an hour I developed really bad hives. (bounce back reaction). I went back to the hospital where they administered Benadryl through IV. I immediately felt like my lungs were on fire and I started coughing uncontrollably. I was given more epi and had to stay the night. The nurses told me it was unlikely that I was allergic to Benadryl, but I'm positive my reaction was to the Benadryl.

[OyWithThePoodles, RN]

A friend is allergic, hives and swelling. Last time she had an allergic reaction to something the doc rx'd pepcid.

[Cricket183, BSN, RN]

I’m not “allergic” to Benadryl per se but I definitely have a paradoxical reaction to it. It does not make me sleepy or drowsy as a side effect. It makes me bounce off the walls, like a combination of steroids and caffeine on speed! I become almost manic. I wouldn’t say it’s to the point of anticholenergic psychosis that someone else mentioned, but it’s close! Even a small dose will keep me up for days.

[FolksBtrippin, BSN, RN]

On 12/28/2010 at 6:50 PM, elkpark said:

There is also an anticholinergic psychosis that can be a side effect of Benadryl.

I've seen it from overdose, the patient had 875mg of benadryl and was hallucinating. Have you seen it from a regular dose?

[ArmyRntoMD, BSN, RN]

I am allergic personally to the red dye in most Benadryl tabs. I have to use the clear syrup.

[Guest219794]

I am pretty sure it is possible to be allergic to anything.

But, given the huge amount of allergies I see listed, and the infrequency in which I see allergic reactions, I suspect true allergies are a small fraction of listed allergies.

Often, a person who is sick takes a medicine. At some point shortly after taking the medicine, something bad happens.

Causation vs correlation.