How Benadryl can Help with a Migraine

I first learned about Benadryl and how it can help with my migraine after a trip to the ER. The doctor asked if I would I be driving after or did I have a ride to take me back home. He wanted to administer Benadryl in the IV. I told him I would not be able to drive after a migraine cocktail infusion and then asked why Benadryl was used with the other medication. I found out that it can be very helpful for many reasons. Since that ER visit, I use Bendryl with my migraine medicine every time I have an attack. To understand why Benadryl is helpful to take during a migraine attack, let's first go over what Bendryl is.

Benadryl is an antihistamine medication. It is the active ingredient of diphenhydramine. Benadryl works by blocking two natural substances that your body produces in response to an allergic reaction:

• Histamine—a chemical that causes allergy symptoms when the immune system tries to get rid of the foreign substance (allergen) that your body comes into contact with;

• Acetylcholine—a neurotransmitter responsible for many functions, including secretion that causes runny nose and watery eyes.

Benadryl can also block the uptake of serotonin. This can lead to drowsiness and sleepiness. For some conditions, including migraines, this side effect can be positive. Usually, doctors prescribe Benadryl to relieve allergy symptoms, such as rash, itching, runny nose, and sneezing. In some cases, Benadryl can be effective for treating the common cold that comes with similar symptoms or preventing and treating nausea and vomiting associated with motion sickness.

What does Benadryl do for migraine, specifically?

It has been known for a long time that many people with migraine have trouble with excessive histamine. Whether too much histamine is produced or too little is metabolized, we do not know but it is certainly part of the problem for many of us.

Taking Benadryl for headache and migraine can help in 3 possible ways:

1. The antihistamine action blocks circulating histamine from attaching to cells and

causing negative effects like swelling of blood vessels. Also, histamine in the brain

promotes wakefulness so blocking this chemical messenger may help calm our

nervous system.

2. Benadryl provides a soothing effect for the brain through blocking acetylcholine in

addition to histamine. For many of us, sleep is a one of the key factors in recovering from

an attack. Many people know that they must get at least a short sleep to finally end the

attack and sometimes it is Benadryl that comes to the rescue.

3. Benadryl can also boost the effectiveness of some medications. Benadryl has a known

effect of boosting the effectiveness of some medications it is taken with. Drug makers

know this which is why it is paired with analgesics and cold medications for nighttime

sleep. When combining Benadryl to other acute migraine medications, it enhances the

speed and effectiveness of the primary treatment.

If you are interested in trying Benadryl in conjunction with your other migraine medications, your doctor or pharmacist should be consulted. Although it can interact with some medications in a good way, it can also have negative interactions as well. Benadryl can have different names in other countries outside of the United States. Always check with your pharmacist and doctor to make sure you are taking Benadryl and not another medication.