DPH + Benzodiazepines

[utaninja]

DPH + Benzodiazepines
Dangerous

Both substances potentiate the ataxia and sedation caused by the other and can lead to unexpected loss of consciousness at high doses. While unconscious, vomit aspiration is a risk if not placed in the recovery position. Memory blackouts are likely.

Montoro, J., Bartra, J., Sastre, J., Dávila, I., Ferrer, M., Mullol, J., del Cuvillo, A., Jáuregui, I., & Valero, A. (2013). H1 antihistamines and benzodiazepines. Pharmacological interactions and their impact on cerebral function. Journal of investigational allergology & clinical immunology, 23 Suppl 1, 17–26.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK526010/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK470159/

[AlanaRm-rf-me]

I recently conferred with a family member who is a registered nurse, and we discussed the use of benzodiazepines and diphenhydramine. As we all know, these two drugs have a synergistic reaction. Clinically, my physician has also informed me that in typical medical doses of 25 to 50 milligrams, this should not be a significant concern. If we are discussing medical doses of diphenhydramine or Benadryl, I believe the risk of ataxia and aspiration is low.

In my opinion and experience, the concern mostly lies with other sedatives, hypnotics, or substances such as alcohol. The major concern here would be recreational doses of benzodiazepines, which could possibly push someone into a blackout. From anecdotal experiences as someone who was once a teenager.

Though, this medication is quite frequently prescribed alongside actual narcotic medications by doctors, though they've been shying away from first-generation antihistamines nowadays. It used to be normal for doctors to tell patients to control their itching with just 25 milligrams of diphenhydramine.

I would say this interaction is more appropriate as a caution than a dangerous interaction, as I recall medical journals and drug interaction checkers listing it as such.

[utaninja]

I recently conferred with a family member who is a registered nurse, and we discussed the use of benzodiazepines and diphenhydramine. As we all know, these two drugs have a synergistic reaction. Clinically, my physician has also informed me that in typical medical doses of 25 to 50 milligrams, this should not be a significant concern. If we are discussing medical doses of diphenhydramine or Benadryl, I believe the risk of ataxia and aspiration is low.

In my opinion and experience, the concern mostly lies with other sedatives, hypnotics, or substances such as alcohol. The major concern here would be recreational doses of benzodiazepines, which could possibly push someone into a blackout. From anecdotal experiences as someone who was once a teenager.

Though, this medication is quite frequently prescribed alongside actual narcotic medications by doctors, though they've been shying away from first-generation antihistamines nowadays. It used to be normal for doctors to tell patients to control their itching with just 25 milligrams of diphenhydramine.

I would say this interaction is more appropriate as a caution than a dangerous interaction, as I recall medical journals and drug interaction checkers listing it as such.

This is a good point and I'll add a note that this is for recreational dosages. However, since the chart interactions will be displaying warnings for the "worse" combinations (as in recreational dosages) I'm partial to keeping it to dangerous as it would be a dangerous interaction at recreational dosages. What do you think since this is the case?

[utaninja]

Both substances potentiate the ataxia and sedation caused by the other and can lead to unexpected loss of consciousness at high doses. While unconscious, vomit aspiration is a risk if not placed in the recovery position. Memory blackouts are likely. While medical dosages are unlikely to be of concern, the risk increases as dosages increase.

@AlanaRm-rf-me how does this look?