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Original poster

Benadryl for occasional anxiety?

7 replies

TheGingerTree · 02/04/2015 16:31

I am struggling with occasional anxiety which I know is linked to fluctuations in my hormones. My GP thinks I am peri menopausal because of other physical symptoms I have too.

The anxiety is really nasty. Arrives out of nowhere for no reasons. Stays for a few days then disappears again. Sometimes just for a few days, other times for as long as a month.

I am hoping to move on HRT very soon but in the meantime I have read a lot about anxious people self medicating their anxiety with Benadryl tablets for hay fever.

Just wondering if anyone has tried using it on here? I am very tempted.

OP posts:
dillie · 02/04/2015 16:32

Not sure, but very interested!

Carrie5608 · 02/04/2015 16:35

Well you need to careful which Benadryl it is. There are a couple if different ones and only the diphenhydramine one will be any good but it is very sedating. You could only really take it at night.

Carrie5608 · 02/04/2015 16:37

I do think American Benadryl is different. Really you would be best to talk to your GP and see if can prescribe a low dose anti anxiety medication.

Original poster
TheGingerTree · 02/04/2015 17:15

Which Benadryl is the sedating one? I already have some Benadryl Relief which is for allergies but it doesn't contain diphenhydramine.

OP posts:
Carrie5608 · 02/04/2015 17:45

No Benadryl relief won't be the right one. I don't think they make the Diphenydramine one anymore in the UK. You really do need to talk to a GP or pharmacist.

Original poster
TheGingerTree · 02/04/2015 17:59

Thank you carrie. That's a shame Sad

All my GP wants to do is put me on ADs for my anxiety. But I don't get it every day. In fact I can go days and even weeks without any anxiety. So I don't want to take a daily AD.

Plus the anxiety is caused by my hormones so ADs aren't the answer, they won't cure anything they'll just masque the symptoms.

OP posts:
Carrie5608 · 02/04/2015 18:30

Amitryptyline is used for anxiety as well as for depression. Very few drugs are licensed for anxiety but several have the side effect of reducing anxiety and are therefore used for both. It may be worth looking into Valerian as its herbal but used for anxiety. Also maybe looking on Amazon at the Laycare magnet reviews.

Also yoga or other breathing exercises might help. A lot of them you can get on Youtube.

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