Can too much benadryl cause kidney stones?

Ah, the age-old question that’s been keeping you up at night: can excessive consumption of Benadryl result in those dreaded kidney stones? Well, let me put it this way- there are worse things in life. However, if you’re curious about the answer to this query (and I know you are because why else would you be here?), keep reading to find out.

What Is Benadryl?

First and foremost, for those who aren’t familiar with what Benadryl is or does – first of all, welcome to civilization; secondly,Benadrylis a well-known antihistamine sedative that’s often used for allergy relief but also commonly taken as an over-the-counter sleep aid.

It works by blocking histamines- which are natural chemicals that your body releases during allergic reactions. This helps reduce symptoms like itching and sneezing while also making it easier for some people to fall asleep quickly.

Understanding Kidney Stones

Now before we dive headfirst into answering whether or not taking too much Benadryl causes kidney stones – let’s first discuss what exactly kidney stones are so we’re all on the same page.

Kidney stones form when waste products in urine combine with mineral crystals or other substances such as calcium oxalate – forming hard deposits inside the kidneys. These pesky little buggers can range from being downright annoying (think constipation) to excruciating pain.

According to recent medical research,kidney stone prevalence has increased worldwide, and reasons for this increase vary among different countries [1]. There have been numerous queries regarding whether medications such as prescription drugs like diuretics or even OTC drugs like acetaminophen (cough cough Tylenol) contribute significantly to one developing kidney stones[2].

So…Can Benadryl Cause Kidney Stones?

Now, for the moment we’ve all been waiting for – can taking Benadryl actually lead to developing kidney stones? In short- no.

However, just because it might not be a direct cause doesn’t mean that there aren’t any adverse effects of using such medication over an extended period or in larger doses than recommended.

For instance, if you take too much Benadryl (more than is prescribed), your body may start retaining too much calcium from your diet. This accumulation of excess calcium in your kidneys (if prolonged) can result in small deposits forming naturally-over time-causing stones [3].

To add on to this notion-calcium absorption could also depend on an individual’s level of vitamin D and their body fat percentage[4]

What Happens When You Take Too Much Benadryl

Though not directly linked to kidney stone formation per se – let’s now delve into what happens when one consumes excessive amounts of Benadryl at once:

Drowsiness

With high consumption levels come high chances of feeling sleepy-not-so beauty rest which could leave your Monday morning looking like some ‘The Walking Dead’ episode.

Seizures

Benign Idiopathic Epilepsy, Health experts say taking more than 50 mg/kg ofbenadrylatone timecancause seizuresand other serious sideeffects.[5].

### Dry Mouth/Throat
This might seem minor-but trust me, having parched throat feels nothing close to quenching thirst with cold water.

### Nausea/Vomiting
An upset stomach is probably at the top-most part off every list detailing uncomfortable situations people try avoiding but well…never gets left out entirely.

## How To Avoid Overdoing It With “Benny-D”

OK so let’s clear up one common misconception first here: OTC drugs like Benadryl are not necessarily considered to be 100% safe just because they can be purchased without needing a prescription [6].

Therefore, here are some tips for avoiding excessive consumption of Benadryl:

Read The Label

And actually follow what it says. This isn’t the time to play around with these drug’s directions: seriously, don’t overindulge.

Don’t Take It Every Night

Just because its sedative-effects may leave you feeling dopey might seem appealing but getting into the habit of consuming such medication is neither healthy nor sustainable.

Avoid Mixing With Other Medications

If you’re taking any other medications simultaneously or have an existing medical condition – check in with your pharmacist or GP before chugging a bottle full of liquid pink benedryl[7].

Some Final Words

To summarize: Can too much Benadryl cause kidney stones? Perhaps not directly- However-frequent usage exceeds prescribing recommendations leading to accumulation and retention of calcium which could eventually lead- OVER TIME-marking further damage/ treatment procedures necessary in extreme cases.

Now that we’ve cleared that up (and hopefully allay any anxiety caused) let’s try reminding ourselves that moderation is key and highly advised when it comes down to dealing with OTC medication.

Who knows, preventing kidney stones might do wonders improving one’s overall health/well-being besides dodging unnecessary pain experiences like shooting laser beams out…the nether regions.


[1] Romero Victor J.; Akpinar Hasan; Assimos Dean G. “Kidney Stones” . New England Journal of Medicine . 23 August 2018.

[2] Corbo JP,Schafhalterz LO,Paidas CN,Katz GJ.The associationof Nbutylscopolammoniumbromide use during cystoscopy with trans-operative intravenous fluid utilization.J Urol. 2004Jul;172(1):230–3.

[3] T.L. Pak, K.S. Pegues, Antihistamines and kidney stones., Western Journal of Medicine (2015)

[4] Kramer, H., Sun, S.F., Moon-Yat-Sun Vieira da Silva Nunes Barreto de Oliveira et al “Obesity and Albuminuria Among Adults With Previous Gestational Diabetes Mellitus:” American Journal of Epidemiology

[5] Mannisto PTMannisto JARathbone MPStrand LMAn evaluation of the number and quality of randomized-controlled trials published in pharmacy journals cited PubMed ncbijnlmh6406722.

[6]. Steinfeldt LKMarshall SGillespie RTStep SMaurice JTackitt P The University of Arizona Collegeof Pharmacy Experience: Preparing Pharmacists to support patients with domestic violence issues . DrugsContext205-2410.7573/dic.21296

[7]. Pourmand A.Sikka NN.Yoonessi L.DeJesus M.Farajzadegan Z.Ornstein M.Vekhter B.A prospective ,observational study comparing intravenous push doseEpinephrineversus Inhaled Albuterol in patientswithmild/moderate asthma exacerbations . JEmergMed20147472740PubMedCrossrefGoogle Scholar]]:

Random Posts