CBD and Benadryl: Can They Be Taken Together?
If you are one of the millions of people that have used CBD to relax or get relief from various conditions and suffer from allergies, you may be wondering if CBD can be taken together with over-the-counter medications.
Benadryl is one of the most popular allergy medications that can be purchased over the counter and is used to treat non-life-threatening allergic reactions, but is it safe to combine with CBD? Let’s discuss whether you should take CBD and Benadryl together.
What is Benadryl?
Benadryl is the brand name for a drug called diphenhydramine. Diphenhydramine is an antihistamine that works against chemicals in your body called histamines that causes allergy symptoms such as sneezing, itchy eyes, and runny nose.
Histamines are a crucial part of our immune system since it helps white blood cells attack foreign bodies. They also send signals to your stomach to produce more stomach acid and can even activate certain neurons in the brain that control wakefulness while suppressing the neurons that promote sleep.
The things that histamines do for our body are important, but there are times when they overreact and can cause a multitude of issues ranging from mild, such as itchy skin or increased production of mucus secretion, to severe, such as bronchoconstriction, which is the narrowing of the airways in your lungs, and low blood pressure.
Benadryl can reduce the effect of histamines on your body and relieve minor allergy symptoms such as itching, sneezing, and runny nose. It is also proven effective in mitigating the nausea and dizziness that motion sickness can cause, making it a great tool for those who suffer during long car rides or airplane trips.
Some of the most common side effects that taking Benadryl can cause include dizziness, gastrointestinal issues such as upset stomach and constipation, blurry vision, and drowsiness.
Related: How Your Pet Can Benefit From CBD Oil Products
Can Benadryl be Taken With CBD?
If you are wondering if you can take Benadryl while taking CBD, the answer is that you probably should avoid combining the two. Benadryl can make you drowsy, hinder your coordination, and cause cognitive impairment, and these effects can become compounded with it is taken with CBD.
Are you looking for the best CBD products for your everyday needs? Take a look at our store here.
How Do CBD and Benadryl Interact With Each Other?
CBD, which is short for cannabidiol, can also cause dizziness and drowsiness, so mixing it with Benadryl can make those sedating effects much more potent. These increased effects are called agonistic interactions. This means that activities requiring concentration and attention, such as driving or operating other heavy machinery, should be avoided when taking CBD and Benadryl.
Related: Still Awake? Five Examples of CBD Helping People Sleep
Both CBD and Benadryl are metabolized in the liver by the same enzyme, so it can cause your body to process both substances slower than usual. This means that not only will the effects of both CBD and Benadryl be delayed, it can take much longer to eliminate it from the body. This can cause dangerous levels of diphenhydramine to gather up in the body if Benadryl is taken regularly.
How Do I Take CBD When Taking Benadryl?
If you want to take CBD while taking Benadryl, you can do a couple of things to ensure that you are taking the appropriate amount of both substances. Since CBD and Benadryl are metabolized by the liver when consumed orally, you can avoid metabolic competition by using a form of CBD that isn’t processed through your digestive system.
If you need relief by using CBD while taking Benadryl, reach for a topical form of CBD instead of a tincture or edible if you need some relief. Topical CBD gets absorbed into your skin and begins to work on the cannabinoid receptors of the skin, bypassing the need for it to be absorbed into the bloodstream.
Another way you can safely take CBD while taking Benadryl is by smoking CBD flowers. You can also use a vaporizer to inhale your CBD. Both of these methods bypass the liver since the CBD is processed through the lungs, allowing your Benadryl to be processed and metabolized by your body normally.
If you decide to combine CBD and Benadryl together, make sure that you avoid anything that can be potentially dangerous, such as driving or operating other heavy machinery, since the combination can slow down motor function and cause cognitive impairment due to its powerful sedative effects.
Related: Types of CBD: Full Spectrum Vs. Broad Spectrum Vs. Isolate
Dosing While Taking CBD With Benadryl
Since the combination of CBD and Benadryl can cause you to become drowsy and impaired, it is recommended that you start with low doses and slowly increase them until you achieve the desired effect. Ensure you give yourself enough time for the CBD to take effect before taking another dose, usually around thirty minutes to an hour.
Final Thoughts
While combining Benadryl with CBD is not recommended, ensure you do it safely. Since Benadryl is metabolized in the liver, try using a topical CBD or a CBD vaporizer pen to avoid disrupting the way your body absorbs diphenhydramine.
Have you been searching for a trustworthy store that provides the best CBD products for your needs? Take a look at our selection of CBD products here.
