Benadryl is a brand of various antihistamine medications used to stop allergies, whose content varies in different countries, but which includes some or no combination of diphenhydramine, acrivastine, and cetirizine. It is sold by Johnson & Johnson. Benadryl is used to relieve allergy symptoms such as sneezing, itching, runny nose, rash, and hives.
In the United States and Canada, the active ingredient is diphenhydramine. In the United Kingdom, the active ingredients of Benadryl are the antihistamines acrivastine or cetirizine. Benadryl is also sold as a cough medicine in Australia and New Zealand containing diphenhydramine, as well as the antitussive dextromethorphan or the expectorant guaifenesin.
Diphenhydramine (DPH), the major active ingredient in Benadryl has been implicated in false positive drug test results. If you’ve taken diphenhydramine, your drug screen may show a positive result for opiates, methadone, or PCP.
A “false positive” result occurs when the analytical drug detection method recognizes some of the molecules in the body as illegal drugs when you haven’t ingested anything illegal. Drugs that are typically screened for include amphetamines/methamphetamines, benzodiazepines, barbiturates, marijuana, cocaine, PCP, methadone, and opioids (narcotics).
Research conducted at Boston Medical Center shows that drug tests produce false positives in 5% to 10% of cases. Although this is not a high percentage, the consequences for failing a drug test could jeopardize your career, education, or job prospects. Several common prescriptions, over-the-counter medications, herbs, vitamins, and even some foods could trigger a false positive drug test.
How To Flush Benadryl Out Of Your System
The standard dose of diphenhydramine in brand name Benadryl is 25 mg per dose for adults and 12.5 mg per dose in children’s formulas. For the average healthy adult, elimination half-life ranges from 6.7 to 11.7 hours. So between 6 to 12 hours after taking Benadryl, half the drug will be eliminated from the body. Within two days, the drug will be completely gone from the body.
Several factors impact how quickly Benadryl is metabolized and flushed out, they include;
Age: Adults over 65 years old and children younger than 12 years old metabolize diphenhydramine more slowly, so lower doses less often are safer.
Liver problems: Since the active ingredient in Benadryl is processed through the liver, anyone with decreased hepatic function will have difficulty safely consuming this drug.
Kidney problems: The kidneys help to process toxins by passing them out through the bladder. People who have decreased renal function may have a tough time metabolizing Benadryl. Urinary pH can also impact how the body processes diphenhydramine.
Hydration: People who do not drink sufficient water may struggle to eliminate diphenhydramine from their system.
Low vs. high dose: Even healthy adults who take more than the recommended dose of Benadryl will experience consequences, such as taking longer to metabolize the drug. Taking the recommended dose of Benadryl for longer than recommended may also lead to tolerance as the drug builds up in the body, and that also might increase the medication’s elimination time.
Other medications: Taking prescription drugs, or other over the counter drugs, along with Benadryl may change how the body metabolizes all the substances together.
Body weight/mass: Different body types process different amounts of medication at different rates. This is true for prescription drugs, recreational substances like alcohol, and over the counter drugs like Benadryl.
In order to flush out Benadryl quickly from your body it is important that you observe the following ;
Increase Water Intake
It is critical for us to keep our bodies in a healthy state by consuming at least 6-8 glasses of water daily, eating fresh fruits/vegetables, and whole grains.
Avoid Unhealthy Items
Avoiding tobacco, fried foods, animal fats, sugar, and caffeine are helpful in keeping our bodies functioning appropriately and eliminate Benadryl.
Exercise
To stay healthy, exercising at least 150 minutes of moderate aerobic activity a week plus strength training once a week will help convert fat to muscle mass. Excessive amounts of fat can severely impact how medications such as Benadryl get absorbed and released from the body, in addition to damaging our kidneys and liver which are responsible for cleaning the body from waste and toxins.
Consume Probiotics
Lastly, probiotics can be helpful in regulating the bacteria in our gastrointestinal tract which is important, given toxins can be released from invading microbes. These can be found in both supplements and food sources (examples include yogurt, kefir, miso, and kombucha).
Short-Term Detox Diet
A general body detox diet has been shown to clear out toxins and waste, including helping medications get eliminated from your body if your energy level is especially low. Often, these detox diets are done over the weekend where you start on a Friday night with a green salad. Saturday’s menu consists of lots of vitamin C and fruit juices which will help flush your body quickly. Typically every 90-120 minutes you would drink something so you don’t get deprived or too hungry. Eating brown rice, chopped vegetables, or miso soup are good options for meals due to the high fiber content. Relaxation techniques such as massage therapy, sauna, aromatherapy baths, walking, and deep breathing exercises can help with the cleanse as well.
Liver detoxification can be another avenue to explore, given that our livers are often overworked with a combination of poor lifestyle and diet choices. Antioxidant vitamins such as vitamin B, C, E, and betacarotene all have been shown to help cleanse the liver. Additionally, minerals such as zinc and selenium as well as herbal supplements like milk thistle, silymarin, dandelion root, and schizandra may help protect our liver cells. One area of concern however is that there are no clear scientific studies to indicate a physiological benefit from using these vitamins and minerals.
In general, Benadryl detoxification can be aided by re-hydrating your body, consuming proper nutrients, choosing appropriate food options, and adopting healthy lifestyles. Drinking adequate water during the day acts as a natural detox and can help flush the body of chemicals, toxins, and fats. Consuming nutrients and foods that are not processed or refined, but instead are freshly prepared can go a long way.
Additionally, cutting down on sugars and bad fats while eating more fruits and vegetables can allow our body to stay at our finest. Some foods that are excellent for Benadryl detoxification include chia seeds, cilantro, parsley, lemon, green leafy vegetables, berries, yogurt, fish, avocados, and almonds. Lifestyle changes can also play a critical role in increasing our energy and keeping our bodies running smoothly.
Trying to find ways to reduce our daily stress can help decrease the amount of stress hormones that are released such as cortisol, epinephrine, and norepinephrine, which can have detrimental effects to overall health. Sleeping at least 8 hours each night can help reduce stress while giving us more energy during the day. Lastly, exercise is another way to keep our body healthy, convert fat to muscle mass, and help alleviate stress.
In summary, most of us are taking some form of a medication, whether its prescription, over-the-counter, supplements, or vitamins. If taken correctly, medications can keep us healthy while improving our quality of life. It is extremely important to notify your local pharmacist and healthcare providers on every medication you are taking to ensure there isn’t any drug interactions or an increased risk for adverse events.
Making smart choices like choosing a healthy diet, keeping up with exercise, and avoiding smoking as well as excessive alcohol can keep our body running efficiently. Both our kidneys and liver are subject to damage from fat from the foods we consume but also from high-risk behavior such as unsafe sex, inappropriate medications, and drug interactions. Always remember: by making smart and healthy choices we can keep our body operating at a high level to get rid of the toxicity that medications can cause. SEE: How To Flush Topamax Out of Your System
