Can "benadryl" cause hypertension in a 50 yr old?
I have been taking "benadryl" for 22 yrs. and basically is my allergy pill of choice. 12 years prior I had shots as I was on very heavy prescription antihistamines (none of which I can recall, being over 34 years ago.) They made me "foggy" on days of high pollen, mold, etc. counts. Therefore I tried the pincushion treatment. After 12 years I was able to rely on many OTC drugs. When I realized that lactose was used as a filler, after testing positive for intolerance, I stopped experimenting and have relied on "benadryl" by label or generic since. I was recently told (by an MD) that my high blood pressure could be caused by it. I thought this was ridiculous, being a sedative. Or having sedative effects...I have been losing weight (from 215 to 185/5'6") as I believe it to be the underlying cause to the hypertension. Please tell me your opinion. I cannot find anything even anecdotally that would support this opinion.
I just did a search for Benedryl and hypertension because after a year on Benedryl for sleep disorder my blood pressure has jumped from 110/60 to 140/80. I can't find any other differences in my habbits or diet. Other searches have indicated a rare side effect of benedryl being high blood pressure. .... an ringing ears which I also have. I've dropped the benedryl - I guess I can do without sleep:). I am 61.
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lori
Wednesday, June 17, 2009 at 09:36 AM
Jo
Wednesday, June 17, 2009 at 11:35 PM
Ifound the same thing you did and also dropped the Benedryl. Unfortunately the ringing ears persists but the BP has dropped. My BP was also 140/80. It makes sense to me. the benedryl would drop the BP during the night and since mine was low to begin with, I assume my body was overdoing it on the rebound. I have switched to melatonin for sleep. I cut a 3 mg tablet into quarters and the resulting .75 mg works great. I've done research on it and can find no side effects, particularly at that low a dose. I'm also giving the full 3 mg to my husband who has advanced prostate cancer. There is continuing research on the significant benefits of melatonin to attack prostate cancer. It is interesting what is out there that we never hear about. If melatonin is wonderful, it won't be widely known until the drug companies figure out how to create something they can patent and charge a lot for.
I had the same experience with Benedryl after about 6 months of one tablet each night. It makes sense to me if you are starting with low blood pressure, as I was. Since one effect of benedryl is hypotension and our bodies want to maintain status quo, my body would raise my blood pressure to compensate for the effects of the benedryl. when the benedryl was not present, my body systems would be exhibiting the blood pressure rise with no counter effect from the Benedryl. Only my personal theory but makes sense to me. I am under considerable stress but that has been true in the past too and then my BP remained constant. The sites that note increased BP from benedryl (rare side effect) do not explain the physiology.
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I'm wondering the same thing. I'm 56 and my blood pressure jumped from a consistent 100/70 to 140/85 for no apparent reason. I had actually lost a lot of weight and was down to 148 at 5.6". I hadn't changed anything as far as eating, meds, etc. But I have taken Benadryl for two years to help me sleep. I was researching why someone gets high blood pressure and ran across the info that allergy meds can cause it and then found this site. I"m going to stop it and see if there is any difference.
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have you noticed your blood pressure going back down after going off the benedryl? My husband's blood pressure was high this morning and I am wondering the same thing about benedryl. He takes it alot for allergies and has been struggling with High Blood Pressure. please email me at eyelovedogs@comcast.net with your answer . thanks. Lori