We just discovered that my girlfriend is highly allergic to benadryl. As we speak she is laying in bed covered with hives which are leaving her in agony, covered in ice packs. Does anyone have any experience with such issues, or know of a way to counteract the active ingredients in benadryl?

Just replied to your previous post.

Never heard of a benedryl allergy.. anti-histamines.. block allergic reaction producing histamines. You need to get to an allergist and be tested it may be a dye or inactive ingrediant in the benedryl.

Look into OTC Claritin for some relief.. but do it in a controlled enviroment. You may be looking at an immunological disorder instead of allergic. An allergist/immunologist is your best bet at curing this.

Sincerely,
MG

The previous poster is correct in that an allergy to Benadryl is highly unusual. Often, when someone thinks they have reacted to Benadryl, its really either the red dye in the product or something else that had nothing to do with the Bendryl in the first place. She must have already been having some type of allergy symptom that triggered her to take a dose of Benadryl, right? It could be that allergy has progressed and is not responding to the Benadryl. If you do think it could be the dye, Benadryl does make a dye free version of their product. It should be readily available in most drug stores.

In January 2007 my dermatologist warned me about Benadryl allergy. I was using Benadryl daily on face to relieve itching from Rosacea.

Apparently becoming allergic to Benadryl is not so rare after all.

If I was at risk using the topical, would hate to take Benadryl pills.

I have Rosacea, exzyma, and severe contact dermatitus.. have you had a contact skin allergy test done? I am allegic to the emulsifiers in creams and suspensions... propylene glycol to be specific. And a few perservatives and such.. all my creams, lotions, deodorant.. had to be changed. It may be something in the Bendryl mix they tested you with.. it is hard for them to test you using just the active ingrediant there mixtures are not made addidtive free.

I am not saying a Benedryl allergy is unlikely.. just that I find it highly improbable given my knowledge of chemistry and chemical reactivity.

Sincerely,
MG

I had an awful flushing of my face,neck, chest and upper legs, after taking a Tylenol PM a few weeks ago. It freaked me out as I had never had that reaction before. I called the pharmacist...she said not to take anymore.

I happened to have a scheduled second visit with my allergist for a RAST. I had already had the skin scratch test done for food allergies and all had come back negative. But since I was still having what I perceived as symptoms....he decided to do the bloodwork to catch the 2% that the skin test doesn't pick up.

Anyway....I told him what happened with the Tylenol PM....which is tylenol and benadryl. And I told him what the pharmicist said. He said Vickie....I want you to be assured and feel confident in what I am saying. "No One...I mean No One is allergic to benadryl. It is an anti-histamine. It blocks histamines. And I'm not even concerned about dye...because the Tylenol PM is white/blue gel coated. You must of had a hot flash co-inciding with the pill. LOL!!!! Boy did we have a big laugh in the office.

Oh, and I received my bloodwork results back, and it was completely negative too. He has decided my itchy, scratchy throat and lump is acid reflux related.

We just discovered that my girlfriend is highly allergic to benadryl. As we speak she is laying in bed covered with hives which are leaving her in agony, covered in ice packs. Does anyone have any experience with such issues, or know of a way to counteract the active ingredients in benadryl?


I would check and see if Dye free Benadryl did the smae thing....Because as they others have stated, Benadryl is an antihstamine and histamines are what cause hives so it would improbale to be allergic to antihistamines it self. But I am allergic to clarintin...it makes my hair fall out, but it isn't the antihistamine properties itself but a binding agent in the drug that causes that.


Hope that helps...

(note: please excuse any mispelled medication names - I am not a medical professional)

I am allergic to Benadryl. In 1991 I had gotten poison oak. I was given the little red pill and discovered a measle like rash over my body. I also had extreme skin reactions to heat with extreme itching and hives. I had no idea, nor did the doctors, that it was the benadryl until one morning after taking the pill I had rash and hives running from my mouth down my neck and chest. Of course they stopped the benadryl immediately and I have to report my allergy to it to everyone. The doctors look at me as if I am crazy, ask me what my symptoms were, and then say, "yep...you are allergic to benadryl!" :confused:

I recently discovered that I am allergic to Minocin (generic antibiotic). It does not contain the red dye like the benadryl. This one caused breathing problems...and I have the skin reaction as well. I am taking the antibiotic because I have rosascea...which seems to worsen when I am given meds. I am now thinking, since I had this reaction to Minocin, that the antibiotic is causing my face to display an allergic reaction. I am going to consult with my doctor and see what she says. I am defiinitely not taking the Minocin again. I felt as if I had smoked 10 packs of cigarettes and was wheezing when just breathing normally.

my neighbor has a reaction to benadryl.. it makes her heart race. She is allergic to many strange things.. topically and orally

You didn't say what type of Benadryl. If it was the pill form, you should see if it had the dye in it. Most people do well with the dye free kind.

In my neighbor's case it was given to her at the ER when she had a reaction to something at the dentist's office

Wow, I can't believe it.....I'm not the only one with this problem. I took Benadryl as a kid and developed the same horrible measle-like rash all over my body. I haven't taken any since then (30+ years ago). Whenever I go to a new doctor, etc. and a nurse or doctor asks if I'm allergic to any meds, I tell them benadryl and they look at me like I'm nuts. My allergy doctor believes it is the dye that caused my reaction. As a kid, I couldn't wear anything with red dye in it because I broke out in hives. I asked my allergy doctor if I could take the dye free benadryl that is out now and he told me not to...that it's not worth taking a chance of having a reaction.

The only other allergies I have are seasonal allergies and mold. These are pretty manageable though. I am highly sensitive to fragrance as well. I must use fragrance free soap, laundry detergent, dryer sheets, no perfumes, no scented candles, etc.

Just wanted to post to say "hi" and to let you know that you are not alone (although I may be the only other person besides you that is allergic to benadryl). Good luck!

:) Hi there. It is nice not to be alone. I dont know about the red dye thing, but I was wearing a red/maroon t-shirt yesterday and my rosascea was very pronounced and I was a little itchy. I dont know. It seems I am allergic to everything these days.

Yeah...dont try that benadryl...that measle like thing was horrible and I wouldnt want you to go through that again.

Have a great weekend...Your "weird allergic to benadryl' friend...

D :jester:

:) Hi there. It is nice not to be alone. I dont know about the red dye thing, but I was wearing a red/maroon t-shirt yesterday and my rosascea was very pronounced and I was a little itchy. I dont know. It seems I am allergic to everything these days.

Yeah...dont try that benadryl...that measle like thing was horrible and I wouldnt want you to go through that again.

Have a great weekend...Your "weird allergic to benadryl' friend...

D :jester:

I too am allergic to red dye including allth other dyes. I have more allergies than any other person I have read about. I think Benadryl is another problem. I have to take it out of the capsule because of the dye.But I my throat still swells up. So yes it is a problem:)

Found out from doctor today that I am allergic to benedryl. I have never had it in pill form, only liquid form (no dye).

If you research the net you will see a lot of connections from medical sources between benadryl and anaphylaxis. Apparently Benadryl is a man-made substance and you can therefore be allergic to it.

I got a bad case of hives. Just scared if it is worse next time!

Yes I'm allergic to benadryl. I had a bug bite that was itching. I sprayed
benadryl on the bite and my heart started racing and I got dizzy. I had to
wash it off, then my heart stopped racing.