- Benadryl and marijuana don’t mix well. While researchers haven’t studied the exact consequences of this combination, taking both together may increase the risks of side effects such as drowsiness, dizziness, and confusion.
- On the bright side, marijuana can help manage some of the same symptoms Benadryl does, including inflammation, nausea, sleeplessness, and muscle rigidity. High-CBD strains offer the best benefits for these conditions.
In the heat of allergy season, you may run to the medicine cabinet for Benadryl, a popular antihistamine that relieves common allergy symptoms.
But if you also use marijuana, you should think twice before popping that blister pack.
Benadryl and marijuana both benefit patients individually, but may cause harm when combined. Researchers still don’t fully understand the compounded effects of Benadryl and marijuana, but they can potentially increase risks of concerning side effects such as drowsiness and confusion.
Learn more about each medication, its benefits, and how marijuana can achieve some of the same results as Benadryl. If you need to decide between one medication or the other, TeleLeaf can help you weigh your options based on your unique healing goals.
Understanding Benadryl and Marijuana
To fully grasp the potentially negative relationship between Benadryl and weed, you first need to understand how each medication works on its own. Both share some of the same benefits, though they interact with your body in unique ways.
How Benadryl Works
Diphenhydramine, better known by the brand name Benadryl, belongs to a group of medications called antihistamines.
People use Benadryl most commonly to treat symptoms caused by:
- Allergies
- Motion sickness
- Insomnia
- Parkinson’s disease
Benadryl relieves allergy symptoms by suppressing histamine, the chemical your body releases during an allergic reaction. This function also increases feelings of tiredness, which is why Benadryl is labeled as a drowsy medication.
Additionally, Benadryl can minimize the tremors and muscle rigidity often experienced by people living with Parkinson’s disease. Histamine receptors behave similarly to muscarinic receptors present in your central nervous system, so Benadryl can suppress those, too.
Certain side effects you may experience when taking Benadryl include:
- Dizziness
- Drowsiness
- Constipation
- Headaches
- Stomachaches
Some antihistamines can only be prescribed by a doctor, but you can buy Benadryl as an over-the-counter medication.
How Marijuana Works
Marijuana, or cannabis, also interacts with receptors in your body: endocannabinoid receptors.
Cannabis contains chemical compounds called cannabinoids, which behave nearly identically to your body’s natural endocannabinoids. Cannabinoids (both built-in and introduced via cannabis) can activate CB1 and CB2 receptors located in the brain, central nervous system, and throughout the body.
When cannabinoids interact with these receptors, they produce a wide range of effects; they can:
- Relieve pain
- Reduce inflammation
- Uplift mood
- Aid sleep
- Suppress nausea
- Promote appetite
Cannabinoids also benefit people with movement and spasticity conditions.
Currently, the FDA has only approved one cannabis-derived drug for patient use: Epidiolex, which treats severe epilepsy and childhood seizure disorders.
Still, many states now have medical marijuana programs where qualifying patients can access marijuana to treat neurological conditions such as:
- Multiple sclerosis (MS)
- Parkinson’s disease
- Cerebral palsy
- Tourette’s syndrome
In some states, you can buy recreational marijuana from dispensaries. In others, you need a medical marijuana recommendation from a state-certified clinician. You can meet with a healthcare provider from the comfort of your home with telehealth services like TeleLeaf.
Benadryl and Weed Interaction
When you mix medications, there’s always the risk that they’ll interact negatively with each other. The severity of these interactions can vary, however.
Taking marijuana and Benadryl together can produce a moderately negative reaction, though researchers haven’t closely studied the combination.
Both Benadryl and cannabis have sedative effects; combining them may make you uncomfortably (and even concerningly) drowsy.
You may experience other unpleasant side effects such as:
- Dizziness
- Trouble concentrating
- Confusion
Adverse Benadryl interactions aren’t limited to marijuana.
Benadryl also causes negative side effects when taken together with:
- Cold medications
- Sleep medications
- Barbiturates
- Blood pressure medications
- Antidepressants
- Movement disease medications (e.g., Parkinson’s disease medications)
- Alcohol
When beginning any new treatment, your doctor will ask what other medications or substances you currently take. Always answer honestly so your doctor can advise you on potential medication interactions and help you develop the best treatment plan possible.
Using Marijuana Instead of Benadryl
If you’re disappointed that you can’t use both marijuana and Benadryl to treat your various symptoms, you might be in luck—cannabis offers many of the same benefits as Benadryl.
Some cannabis strains—particularly ones high in cannabidiol (CBD)—have potent anti-inflammatory properties, which can help minimize the symptoms of allergic reactions.
CBD is one of the many cannabinoids found in cannabis. On its own, it doesn’t produce the psychoactive effects associated with tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)—in other words, CBD doesn’t get you high. CBD can also improve sleep and symptoms of neurological diseases like Parkinson’s.
Medical marijuana patients use cannabis to manage several of the other conditions Benadryl treats, including:
- Nausea
- Insomnia
- Parkinson’s disease
- Other motor diseases
Before switching from Benadryl to marijuana to treat your symptoms, discuss your thoughts with your healthcare provider.
Best Cannabis Strains for Inflammation and More
Want to use cannabis to naturally combat inflammation and other symptoms that Benadryl treats? Look for strains high in CBD, one of the main anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective cannabinoids found in cannabis.
Here are a few specific strains that can help:
- ACDC – This strain can contain up to 20% CBD, making it ideal for treating inflammation, pain, and anxiety. It has almost negligible levels of THC, too. If you want a non-intoxicating anti-inflammatory that soothes your body and mind, choose ACDC.
- Sour Space Candy – Another high-CBD, low-THC strain, Sour Space Candy offers out-of-this-world relief for symptoms of inflammation, insomnia, muscle spasms, and spasticity. This strain also has a rich terpene profile which may enhance the overall benefits according to the entourage effect theory.
- Valentine X – This strain boasts an even wider CBD-to-THC ratio at 25:1, making it a potent anti-inflammatory. Valentine X is named after the patron saint of epilepsy, but it benefits people living with other neurological conditions, including Parkinson’s disease and MS.
- Sour Tsunami – While this strain has a slightly lower CBD content than the ones listed above (between 11 and 13%), it provides powerful inflammation relief. Many patients also use it to manage Parkinson’s disease, seizures, and MS. Try Sour Tsunami and let the relief crash over you like a wave.
While these strains can all provide powerful allergy-related inflammation relief, some cannabis consumption methods don’t. Smoking, for example, isn’t always compatible with patients’ needs; it can exacerbate allergy symptoms affecting your respiratory system such as coughing and congestion. If this is the case for you, opt for non-irritating edibles, oils, or tinctures.
Supplementing Other Drugs with Marijuana
Many patients use medical marijuana to reduce the need for other medications and treatments, too—most notably, the need for opioids and prescription painkillers.
According to one survey, over half of people with chronic pain reduced their use of both prescription and over-the-counter pain relievers by consuming cannabis.
Why does this matter? Cannabis doesn’t pose the same high risks involved with traditional prescription drugs.
Unlike opioids, for example, cannabis:
- Is nonaddictive
- Rarely causes an overdose
- Has never caused a death
Remember—speak with your healthcare provider before making any dosage or medication changes to your current treatment plan. They can advise you on which path best serves your healing journey, and then help you switch safely and effectively.
For patients seeking a safer alternative to symptom relief, cannabis may hold the key. If you don’t believe us, listen to the over 30 thousand TeleLeaf patients who’ve finally found a treatment that meets all their needs.
Manage Symptoms Holistically with a Medical Marijuana Recommendation from TeleLeaf
Interested in exploring the full healing potential of cannabis? TeleLeaf is here to help guide the way.
We simplify the recommendation process with same-day virtual appointments followed by immediate cannabis access. Connect with your state-certified medical marijuana clinician, discuss your qualifying symptoms, and get your medical card online. It’s that easy.
While you might not be able to obtain a medical marijuana recommendation for allergies alone, you may experience other qualifying conditions that Benadryl treats, including nausea and movement disorders.
Schedule an appointment today to learn how medical marijuana can transform your current treatment plan.
Sources:
Cleveland Clinic. Diphenhydramine Syrup or Elixir.
https://my.clevelandclinic.org
StatPearls. Diphenhydramine.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/
Healthline. A Simple Guide to the Endocannabinoid System.
https://www.healthline.com/health/endocannabinoid-system
U.S. Food and Drug Administration. FDA Approves First Drug Comprised of an Active Ingredient Derived from Marijuana to Treat Rare, Severe Forms of Epilepsy.
https://www.fda.gov/
ProCon.org. State-by-State Medical Marijuana Laws.
https://medicalmarijuana.procon.org/legal-medical-marijuana-states-and-dc
Drugs.com. Drug Interactions between Benadryl and cannabis.
https://www.drugs.com/drug-interactions/benadryl-with-cannabis-896-1617-2758-0.html
Healthline. 6 Health Benefits of CBD Oil — and a Look at Side Effects.
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/cbd-oil-benefits
StayHonest.org. Best Strains For Inflammation: Key Factors for Choosing The Right Cannabis Strain for Your Needs.
https://stayhonest.org/best-strains-list/best-cannabis-strains-for-inflammation/
JAMA Network. Use of Cannabis and Other Pain Treatments Among Adults With Chronic Pain in US States With Medical Cannabis Programs.
https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2800119
Marijuana Policy Project. FAQ.
https://www.mpp.org/issues/faq-mj/
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