Dipenhydramine- an unintentional experience, now a question

[CherokeeMist]

Alright, I have a weird situation.

I have a history of depression and anxiety problems... I've always kind of suspected there was more. I don't really do many drugs but I like to do legal sedatives (valerian, dipenhydramine (benadryl), etc.) as they help me to sleep and I like the feel.

I took 87.5mg of dipenhydramine in an OTC sleep aid. I didn't want to "trip" on dipen like some people do to hallicinate, I just wanted to get that sedated comfortable feeling. I've taken this dose once before with desired effects. Anyway, I was with friends and things got weird. I got delusional, thinking they were talking to my dad about my drug use and they got freaked out, so they left my room and I just fell asleep. I slept 16 hours and woke up feeling really off, I was still not making any sense and would only eat unopened food in my house... I also refused to let my dad cook for me as I thought he was messing with the food... a few other things happened and it was the weirdest two days of my life

For about 2 days I felt really childlike and to be honest sort of nice- everything was magical and new and artistic. But I wasn't myself, I could even feel that, and my friends were worried. Tonight is the first night I actually make any sense and I'm realizing what was going on after just over two days but I still feel SO weird and scattered, I know for sure I'm not normal yet.

My question is, should I avoid benadryl permanently? I love the effects at 50mg and it helps me to sleep and I don't want to give it up completely. Is there any permanent damage that could be caused by taking it again?

I know the most obvious answer is "NO, why the fuck would you want to take it again after that". Like I said the experience in all wasn't SO bad, and I'd like to take reccomended doses at night (never more than 50mg again).

What do you think?

[Grim]

I think that's odd. I take OTC sleeping pills to just help with sleep and generally one 50mg pill is enough to make me drowsy, but occasionally I've taken up to 200mg within a few hours and never experienced anything like that.

I'd wind down the doses for a while, or look for one of those natural remedy things that supposedly is just as effective.

[LSDMIKE]

diphenhydramine or dipenhydramine

[Mr.Writer]

Cherokee, that sounds a lot like a dramamine trip that just went on for too long. Either that or a psychotic break ;).

[CherokeeMist]

yeah i have no idea what happened.

but my question is, how dumb would it be to take it again? i've tried natural alternatives and they don't work as well- i also just like the feel of dipenhydramine at 25-75mg doses and would like to take it again.

i'd like to try like 25mg or 50mg tonight, three nights later- i was just wondering if there are any known possible permanent side effects from repeated high doses, or taking small doses after an experience like i had.

[lovelypeace]

i take advil pm at night b/c i have trouble sleeping. each pill has 38mg of benadryl in it, so a dose has 76mg. nothing like your experience has ever happened to me. i just get extremely sleepy, and it can sometimes make me feel hungover the next morning. i don't think it can cause longterm side effects when taken in moderation...but be careful.

[moomooman]

well 87.5 mgs isnt necessarily a high dose, but if you reacted badly to it i would take more precautions next time. you could mess up your acetylcholine system from repeated high doses, but it should balance back out after a break. you should be fine to take 25 to 50 mgs i would say, but i dont know, i mean you did react weird to 87.5 mgs. maybe you have a low tolerance to it. whats the most you've ever taken?

[CherokeeMist]

moomooman- 87.5 is the highest dose i've taken, but i've taken that much once before without incident.

i took 50mg a little while ago, it's kicked in and everything's fine.

hmm it's weird... i guess i'll just have to be careful.

[moomooman]

yeah you just gotta watch out, sometimes the same drug same dose can affect you in unexpected ways. i've had it happen to me with dxm a few times.

[st. stephen]

thats weird, never heard of that happening with such a low dose. the 3rd time i tried dph i slept for over 24 hours, but that was with 725mg.