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Diphenhydramine (Benadryl) Prevented Me from Conceiving

I just wanted warn anyone who's trying to conceive and taking Benadryl, Z-Quil, Tylenol PM, etc. all of which has the main, active ingredient, diphenhydramine. It is, in fact, very physically addicting and can prevent pregnancy. If I would have known these things, I never would have started taking it for my allergies.

It affects the central nervous system, causes horrible short term memory loss, sleep apnea, lack of dreaming because it puts you in such a deep sleep, among many other side effects. I was in a fog for about 3 years and didn't know that's what it was from. When I found out all the horrible side effects, I tried quitting and I went into horrible withdrawal. It started out as slight nausea and after four days I was violently vomiting, to the point where I was completely sore the next day. I ended up taking one pill whenever I felt nauseated and that enabled me to taper off completely, over six days. I tried just tapering from my full dose before, but whenever I'd get lower than 1 1/2 pills, I'd start getting nauseated.

We have been TTC for over a year now and I didn't know why I wasn't getting pregnant. I was so fertile before. I use to say if a guy looked at me wrong, I'd get pregnant. Well, I went through those withdrawals during my period and that same cycle I finally got pregnant. It was definitely the diphenhydramine that was preventing me from getting pregnant. So, I wanted to let anyone else know, who's having a hard time conceiving, while taking a sleep aid or who, like I was, is taking it for allergies throughout the day.

I feel that the way I quit is really the best way to do it. I've read horror stories from a multitude of others who have gone through withdrawals from diphenhydramine and their nausea was lasting longer than two weeks. I read someone's post who said it had been over a month and they were asking if anyone knew when the nausea would go away. Mine was four days of nausea until I couldn't take it anymore and then I tapered down for six days.

My memory is now great, like it use to be. I no longer snore. I'm dreaming up a storm. I have my energy back AND most of all, I'm Pregnant!!

Good Luck to you All!

1 Reply • 10 years ago

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