Can Diphenhydramine Hydrocloride Or Benadryl Be A Possible Treatment?

[lyndao]

Long story made short. Can benadryl,taken by capsule be a way to lessen anxiety, rashes etc.

I have done so well on the gluten-free diet after being so sick for so long. WHY?

Maybe I don't have Celiac disease, but only a sensitivity to gluten or a possible deficiency omega fatty acids, and other vitamin deficiencies. I just don't know why I am doing so well on a gluten free diet.

Has anyone done any research into diphenhydramine hydrochloride? or Benadry and its effects on people managing psychiatric symptoms, such as anxiety, depression.

Just know I have not been truly diagnosed at this point with any gluten sensitivity, but why does this diet work so well for people like me who have neurological symptoms of numbing, tingling, rashes, joint pain.

Oh, I want to mention I have NOT been taking benadryl for a while and ONLY took a small dose last night after being itchy. I DO NOT advocate taking diphenhydramine BUT instead; direct to you a link I found at www.wikipedi.org and find an article by Bruce G. Charlton: Open Original Shared Link Medical Hypotheses.

I do NOT want to mislead but to guide, so people can make up their own minds.

I choose not to eat out at restaurants at the present time. This forum is to help you educate yourself. This forum is to help you be effective self-managers of your disease.

Lynda Lube

[lyndao]

Long story short. I get blood tests tomorrow, if the panel was done right, I should test positive for celiac disease. I may have to get a endoscopy. My recovery on gluten-free diet since Sept 18/07 for a half a day. I started the diet after research into a rash, that reappeared. (I used to get this rash as a child)

Jump forward to last night, I went on the forum to see if Benadryl was safe to take, given I do NOT ingest anything until I know it does NOT have gluten. I took 2 25mg around 2:15am and got up in the morning, wandering WHY I am diminishing my symptoms so fast on this diet???

You see I have been taking benadryl for a least 2 years (one 25mg benadryl) at night cause I was always stuffed up. This is in my medical records in town about taking benadryl at night. My daughter also is always stuffed up, because of dust mite allergies.

Again, why are my symptoms diminishing so fast??

I went to wikipedia.org for the chemical properities of diphenhydramine hydrochloride, VERY interesting. I can't seem to find any other connections between taking DC and helping Celiac people. I will let everyone know about my blood tests, hopefully I can get them back tomorrow. If negative I will be surprised, but there are many other variables to consider.

Lynda Lube, diagnosed with MS/IBS been taking benadryl at night for a few years, low dose 25 mg at night.

[cruelshoes]

Long story short. I get blood tests tomorrow, if the panel was done right, I should test positive for celiac disease. I may have to get a endoscopy. My recovery on gluten-free diet since Sept 18/07 for a half a day. I started the diet after research into a rash, that reappeared. (I used to get this rash as a child)

Jump forward to last night, I went on the forum to see if Benadryl was safe to take, given I do NOT ingest anything until I know it does NOT have gluten. I took 2 25mg around 2:15am and got up in the morning, wandering WHY I am diminishing my symptoms so fast on this diet???

You see I have been taking benadryl for a least 2 years (one 25mg benadryl) at night cause I was always stuffed up. This is in my medical records in town about taking benadryl at night. My daughter also is always stuffed up, because of dust mite allergies.

Again, why are my symptoms diminishing so fast??

I went to wikipedia.org for the chemical properities of diphenhydramine hydrochloride, VERY interesting. I can't seem to find any other connections between taking DC and helping Celiac people. I will let everyone know about my blood tests, hopefully I can get them back tomorrow. If negative I will be surprised, but there are many other variables to consider.

Lynda Lube, diagnosed with MS/IBS been taking benadryl at night for a few years, low dose 25 mg at night.

There is currently no treatment for celiac disease, apart from the gluten free diet. Celiac disease is an autoimmune disease. Benadryl is an antihistamine. As celiac disease is not a hystamine reaction, I don't think it would have any effect. Believe me, if there were a pill that would help fix my celiac disease, I would know about it, and be first in line to go to Domino's Pizza.

Good luck on your bloodwork tomorrow.

[happygirl]

I merged the two topics together since they were similar.

[tarnalberry]

it doesn't work that way. benadryl is an antihistamine. basically, it blocks the receptors for histamine on our cells. (some allergy drugs partially prevent mast cells from breaking down and releasing histamine as well.)

celiac disease, however, doesn't have anything to do with the histamine release process (outside of general inflammation elsewhere in the body as a secondary affect). the primary mechanism is one of an IgA and/or IgG (depending on the person) immune response, prompting auto-immune molecule production, which is completely independent of the histamine production path.

[Ursa Major]

The reason you are doing so well so quickly is simply, that you have stopped eating the foods that were making you sick. The Benadryl has nothing whatsoever to do with it.

I was sick for fifty years, and severely ill with chronic, watery diarrhea, horrendous back pain and unbearable joint and muscle pains the last six or seven months before figuring out the gluten connection.

The day after I stopped eating gluten, the diarrhea stopped, just like that (I didn't have a single day without total blowouts twenty minutes after eating anything before that for six months). The second day the back pain started subsiding. Within two weeks I was off the codeine I had been taking for six years for severe fibromyalgia pain.

I also have lots of allergies and intolerances besides gluten intolerance. I was taking Benadryl at times for food reactions, and it was working for reactions other than gluten. It was completely ineffective when it came to a gluten reaction, because celiac disease is NOT caused by an allergy, but is an immune reaction.

[gfpaperdoll]

I double that - if you quit eating all the offending foods you should notice a huge difference. Your IBS & MS should be gone soon...

Just eat whole foods for a bit... The internal damage will take a while but you should see a steady incline in energy & a lessening in any pain or depression...

[lyndao]

There is currently no treatment for celiac disease, apart from the gluten free diet. Celiac disease is an autoimmune disease. Benadryl is an antihistamine. As celiac disease is not a hystamine reaction, I don't think it would have any effect. Believe me, if there were a pill that would help fix my celiac disease, I would know about it, and be first in line to go to Domino's Pizza.

Good luck on your bloodwork tomorrow.

your right. Benadryl has properties similar to many anit-depressants, so it helps with anxiety, depression. see Bruce G Charlton article called " Self-management of psychiatric symptoms using over-the-counter (OTC) psychopharmacology: The S-DTM therapeutic model of self-diagnosis, self-treatment, self-monitoring. He talks about the history of diphenhydramine and present day prescribed drugs that have similar pharmacological definition of an SSRI (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors). It also writes about St. John's wart, early-morning bright light therapy. The article talks about how people have more access to information due to the web, sharing on forums, people can now become better at self-monitoring,self-diagnosis, self-treatment. lynda

[lyndao]

The reason you are doing so well so quickly is simply, that you have stopped eating the foods that were making you sick. The Benadryl has nothing whatsoever to do with it.

I was sick for fifty years, and severely ill with chronic, watery diarrhea, horrendous back pain and unbearable joint and muscle pains the last six or seven months before figuring out the gluten connection.

The day after I stopped eating gluten, the diarrhea stopped, just like that (I didn't have a single day without total blowouts twenty minutes after eating anything before that for six months). The second day the back pain started subsiding. Within two weeks I was off the codeine I had been taking for six years for severe fibromyalgia pain.

I also have lots of allergies and intolerances besides gluten intolerance. I was taking Benadryl at times for food reactions, and it was working for reactions other than gluten. It was completely ineffective when it came to a gluten reaction, because celiac disease is NOT caused by an allergy, but is an immune reaction.

Yes, I agree with you. I am doing so much better on my GFD within 2 weeks, no joint pain, no rashes, clearer thinking, no restless legs. Benadryl seems to help with depression and anxiety which are a part of living with symptoms recognized in Celiac. So, I guess there seems to be a connection between psychiatric symptoms, such as depression and taking benadryl. Benadryl is an example of an unofficial SSRI, which is an old antihistamine with a sedative action, and sold for treating coughs and allergies. Diphenhydramine the root molecule from which fluoxetine/prozac was orginally synthesized. According to Bruce G Charlton there are no clinical trials of diphenhydramine for anxiety, but it does fulfil pharmacological definition of an SSRI (selective seratonin reuptake inhibitor)

[gfpaperdoll]

You need to be taking B12 for depression... A lot of us take B12...

[YoAdrianne66]

I was diagnosed in 2003 with Celiac Disease when I was 38 years old. I have from what the doctors say a severe case of Celiac Disease and I'm severely sensitive to gluten. From what they can see through the many tests done over the years, my small intestines have been severely damaged.

I have been on a gluten free diet for 4 1/2 years now. Checking all products I use that may have gluten in it such as toothpaste, mouth wash, ect.. Also checking on all of my medications I take with the manufactures to make sure they are gluten free too AND if there is any possibility of cross contamination with the other gluten containing products that they make in their plant. I found out that gluten can be used in many forms of medication (tablets, capsules, and elixors) and the only kind that doesn't have any gluten or chance of cross contamination are injectable medications.

I have been working with a pain specialist and a GI doctor who (luckily) know what I am going through and specialize in this field. I've been seeing them for a few months now and they have had me try different medications to see which works better. Last time I was in the hospital the previous doctors were seriously thinking of putting me on IV meds for at home since they worked everytime I've been in the hospital (and for the fact that they are 100% gluten free). But I didn't want to have a central line or pic line put in, let alone be constantly on IV meds. So my new doctors understand how I feel and we've been pretty much going through a "trial and error" period on the different medications and hopefully find something that will help me.

In the hospital although, Benadryl Inj. / 50mg has been one medication I have noticed that always has really helped me with my severe case of celiac. I noticed that when taking it at the same time with my other medications, I seemed to get relief faster and better, rather than not using it at all. Benadryl doesn't work by itself only with your other meds. So I did some research and found out on Benadryl's FAQ web page it states that the OTHER uses for it is as an antispasmatic as well as for a sleep aid, and nausia. Also it stated that even though it doesn't contain gluten there is a chance for cross contamination. Because of that chance, I can't take Benadryl in pill form. I also found out you can get a prescription for it in a pre-made injection pen of 50mg that comes in a package of ten (I guess kinda like an epi pen) and also it's available in vials (like insulin for a diabetic). This to me doesn't sound too bad if given with the right combination of my other medications (with them being appsolutely 100% gluten free pill form). So next time, I see my doctors this is our next thing we'll be trying. Hopefully this will work. It's seems better to take a shot of Benadryl now and then with a severe flare up than having to take all my medications by injections in a central/pic line.

I even have to worry about cross contamination at home with using house hold items such as utensils, plates/cups, pots and pans, etc.. So I have my own that I only use as well as my own pre-made gluten free groceries and even the common items such as butter, peanut butter, etc.. But this is because of how severe my case of Celiac is.

Yes, I know, it's been a "pain" staking ordeal in many ways! But if any of this leads to some type of relief and regain my life back (not to mention not having to go to the hospital anymore!) I think I'll try it.

I hope this has helped you in some way. Feel free to contact me if you have any questions.

[wowzer]

On www.glutenfreedrugs.com they only list Benedryl elixir as gluten free. Does anyone know about the pills or capsules? It seems like I've seen it posted that they couldn't guarantee the pills and capsules to be gluten free. It makes me wonder because I was taking them a year ago for itching and getting no relief. Benedryl had always been the one thing that worked years before that. It sure doesn't make sense to take a pill that could have gluten in it when your itching is DH.

[gfgypsyqueen]

I believe one of the Benedryls contains a dairy product. I think it was the strips or chewables. Really I just can't remember. Call and check if dairy is an issue for you.

Over the years I have noticed that if I take a Benedryl or now Zyrtec, when I have eaten out or had a gluten reaction start, the reaction is not as bad. I still have a reaction, it is just milder and shorter. I also take Motrin for reactions. The reasoning is I am fairly certain that I have a wheat allergy on top of biopsy proven Celiacs. I know my allergic reactions for other things make me swell and itch and feel miserable. I assume when I have been glutened that my intestines are inflammed and causing pain (Motrin helps these) and the Zyrtec just helps calm any allergic reaction that I am having. I still get sick from the gluten, but at least it becomes livable.

[YoAdrianne66]

On www.glutenfreedrugs.com they only list Benedryl elixir as gluten free. Does anyone know about the pills or capsules? It seems like I've seen it posted that they couldn't guarantee the pills and capsules to be gluten free. It makes me wonder because I was taking them a year ago for itching and getting no relief. Benedryl had always been the one thing that worked years before that. It sure doesn't make sense to take a pill that could have gluten in it when your itching is DH.

I found out some more info on Benadryl and just wanted to post it for everyone who is interested. One web page you can go to is Open Original Shared Link that might be able to help you with the various questions you have or another one I found is Open Original Shared Link. I just saw my GI doctor yesterday and he told me that I might have something else also with the Celiac Disease that just happens to react to treatment from Benadryl - so it makes sense why in my case it has been helping me. But only when I have received it in my IV when hospitalized because it's 100% gluten free in shot form only. So now I will be giving myself shots of Benadryl at home when needed because my GI doctor said it would greatly benefit me. He said it's common for some people who were diagnosed with Celiac Disease to also be diagnosed with this other thing too (sorry I can't remember what the name of it is but will post it later). I copied and pasted some of the information from the second web page below.

Benadryl

Diphenhydramine HCl

Benadryl - Benadryl Side Effects - Benadryl Information

Indications: Antihistamine, antiemetic and antispasmodic. Allergic diseases such as hay fever, allergic rhinitis, urticaria, angioedema, atopic dermatitis, contact dermatitis, gastrointestinal allergy, pruritus, physical allergies, reactions to injection of contrast media, reactions to therapeutic preparations and allergic transfusion reactions; also postoperative nausea and vomiting, motion sickness, and quieting emotionally disturbed children.

Supplied: Caplets: Each, pink, film-coated caplet, imprinted Benadryl on both sides contains: diphenhydramine HCl 25 mg. Nonmedicinal ingredients: celluloses, dicalcium phosphate, D&C Red No. 27, PEG, polysorbate, starch, stearic acid, titanium dioxide, wax and zinc stearate. Energy: 0.5 kJ (0.12 kcal). Gluten-, lactose-, paraben-, sodium-, sulfite- and tartrazine-free. Unit packages of 12 and 24. Bottles of 50 and 100.

Capsules: Each white capsule with pink cap contains: diphenhydramine HCl 50 mg. Nonmedicinal ingredients: lactose, talc; capsule shell: FD&C Blue No. 1, FD&C Red No. 3, gelatin, silicon dioxide, sodium lauryl sulfate and titanium dioxide. Energy: 2 kJ (0.47 kcal). Gluten-, paraben-, sodium-, sulfite- and tartrazine-free. Bottles of 100.

Extra Strength Nightime Caplets: Each white film-coated caplet, embossed B on one side and 50 on the other side contains: diphenhydramine HCl 50 mg. Nonmedicinal ingredients: calcium phosphate, cellulose, crospovidone, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, magnesium stearate, polyethylene glycol, starch, stearic acid, titanium dioxide and wax. Gluten-, lactose-, paraben-, sodium-, sulfite- and tartrazine-free. Unit packages of 12. Child resistant package.

Cream: Each g of white emulsion for topical use contains: diphenhydramine 2% w/w. Nonmedicinal ingredients: cetyl alcohol, paraben, PEG, propylene glycol and water. Tubes of 30 g.

Elixir: Each 5 mL of red elixir contains: diphenhydramine HCl 12.5 mg. Nonmedicinal ingredients: alcohol, FD&C Red No. 2, flavoring agents, sugar and water. Energy: 42.7 kJ (10.2 kcal)/5 mL. Gluten-, lactose-, paraben-, sodium-, sulfite- and tartrazine-free. Plastic bottles of 100 mL.

Children's Liquid: Each 5 mL of colorless, bubble-gum flavored liquid contains: diphenhydramine HCl 6.25 mg. Nonmedicinal ingredients: artificial bubble gum flavor, carboxymethylcellulose, citric acid, glycerin, saccharin, sodium benzoate, sodium citrate, sorbitol, vanilla flavor and water. Energy: 43.68 kJ (10.4 kcal)/5 mL. Alcohol-, dye-, gluten-, lactose-, paraben-, sulfite- and tartrazine-free. Plastic bottles of 100 mL.

Junior Strength Chewable Tablets: Each light purple, mottled, grape-flavored, scored, round tablet, imprinted Benadryl 12.5 on one side contains: diphenhydramine HCl 12.5 mg. Nonmedicinal ingredients: aspartame, corn syrup solids, D&C Red No. 27, FD&C Blue No. 1, flavor, magnesium stearate, magnesium trisilicate, monoammonium glycyrrhizinate and tartaric acid. Energy: 9.83 kJ (2.34 kcal). Alcohol-, gluten-, lactose-, paraben-, sucrose-, sulfite- and tartrazine-free. Unit packages of 12.

[YoAdrianne66]

I just wanted to quickly add that I do not advocate Benadryl as a cure for everyone who has Celiac Disease but just to present this information for those interested in looking into it further. This isn't a cure but just something that might help your symptoms. Talking it over with your GI doctor will help decide if this is the right course of treatment for you. Everyone is different and one thing that helps one person might not help another.

[Yellow Rose]

Question: Are ya'll saying that it helps with other food reactions. I am reacting to soy, corn, rice, and milk products. I don't get D I get severe joint and muscle pain. I am cutting out these foods but do get them in something once in a while and start reacting. Has anyone had success with Benadryl helping with these symptoms?

Yellow Rose

[bakingbarb]

I found out some more info on Benadryl and just wanted to post it for everyone who is interested. One web page you can go to is Open Original Shared Link that might be able to help you with the various questions you have or another one I found is Open Original Shared Link. I just saw my GI doctor yesterday and he told me that I might have something else also with the Celiac Disease that just happens to react to treatment from Benadryl - so it makes sense why in my case it has been helping me. But only when I have received it in my IV when hospitalized because it's 100% gluten free in shot form only. So now I will be giving myself shots of Benadryl at home when needed because my GI doctor said it would greatly benefit me. He said it's common for some people who were diagnosed with Celiac Disease to also be diagnosed with this other thing too (sorry I can't remember what the name of it is but will post it later). I copied and pasted some of the information from the second web page below.

Benadryl

Diphenhydramine HCl

Benadryl - Benadryl Side Effects - Benadryl Information

Indications: Antihistamine, antiemetic and antispasmodic. Allergic diseases such as hay fever, allergic rhinitis, urticaria, angioedema, atopic dermatitis, contact dermatitis, gastrointestinal allergy, pruritus, physical allergies, reactions to injection of contrast media, reactions to therapeutic preparations and allergic transfusion reactions; also postoperative nausea and vomiting, motion sickness, and quieting emotionally disturbed children.

Supplied: Caplets: Each, pink, film-coated caplet, imprinted Benadryl on both sides contains: diphenhydramine HCl 25 mg. Nonmedicinal ingredients: celluloses, dicalcium phosphate, D&C Red No. 27, PEG, polysorbate, starch, stearic acid, titanium dioxide, wax and zinc stearate. Energy: 0.5 kJ (0.12 kcal). Gluten-, lactose-, paraben-, sodium-, sulfite- and tartrazine-free. Unit packages of 12 and 24. Bottles of 50 and 100.

Capsules: Each white capsule with pink cap contains: diphenhydramine HCl 50 mg. Nonmedicinal ingredients: lactose, talc; capsule shell: FD&C Blue No. 1, FD&C Red No. 3, gelatin, silicon dioxide, sodium lauryl sulfate and titanium dioxide. Energy: 2 kJ (0.47 kcal). Gluten-, paraben-, sodium-, sulfite- and tartrazine-free. Bottles of 100.

Extra Strength Nightime Caplets: Each white film-coated caplet, embossed B on one side and 50 on the other side contains: diphenhydramine HCl 50 mg. Nonmedicinal ingredients: calcium phosphate, cellulose, crospovidone, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, magnesium stearate, polyethylene glycol, starch, stearic acid, titanium dioxide and wax. Gluten-, lactose-, paraben-, sodium-, sulfite- and tartrazine-free. Unit packages of 12. Child resistant package.

Cream: Each g of white emulsion for topical use contains: diphenhydramine 2% w/w. Nonmedicinal ingredients: cetyl alcohol, paraben, PEG, propylene glycol and water. Tubes of 30 g.

Elixir: Each 5 mL of red elixir contains: diphenhydramine HCl 12.5 mg. Nonmedicinal ingredients: alcohol, FD&C Red No. 2, flavoring agents, sugar and water. Energy: 42.7 kJ (10.2 kcal)/5 mL. Gluten-, lactose-, paraben-, sodium-, sulfite- and tartrazine-free. Plastic bottles of 100 mL.

Children's Liquid: Each 5 mL of colorless, bubble-gum flavored liquid contains: diphenhydramine HCl 6.25 mg. Nonmedicinal ingredients: artificial bubble gum flavor, carboxymethylcellulose, citric acid, glycerin, saccharin, sodium benzoate, sodium citrate, sorbitol, vanilla flavor and water. Energy: 43.68 kJ (10.4 kcal)/5 mL. Alcohol-, dye-, gluten-, lactose-, paraben-, sulfite- and tartrazine-free. Plastic bottles of 100 mL.

Junior Strength Chewable Tablets: Each light purple, mottled, grape-flavored, scored, round tablet, imprinted Benadryl 12.5 on one side contains: diphenhydramine HCl 12.5 mg. Nonmedicinal ingredients: aspartame, corn syrup solids, D&C Red No. 27, FD&C Blue No. 1, flavor, magnesium stearate, magnesium trisilicate, monoammonium glycyrrhizinate and tartaric acid. Energy: 9.83 kJ (2.34 kcal). Alcohol-, gluten-, lactose-, paraben-, sucrose-, sulfite- and tartrazine-free. Unit packages of 12.

I had a friend with a serverly autistic child, she gave him benadryl anytime they went out. It kept him calm!

[kaplan1975]

I am a believer in the histamine connection when a celiac is glutened. I was misdiagnosed for 30 plus years (sick for about 10) and I am still struggling to find out who I really am in my "new" body.

I was very sick for many years with too many symptoms to list, including depression, but I was motivated and driven to be successful (or maybe afraid to fail). Considering my poor health I was able to be a productive employee while studying for my MBA degree, remodeling home, etc. and maintaing a srtong desire to advance professionally.

I attribute this to the possibility of elevated blood histamine levels due to Celiac. I feel now that my histamine levels are normal or maybe below average as I feel healthy (not tired) but am much more lazy. I find myself sitting on the couch all day watching TV while I feel well and know that there are many things that should be done. It is just strange to feel much healthier, yet lazier or less motivated to succeed professionally and at home.

After being "glutened" the first clue that something is wrong is a sensation of elevated nervous energy. I am also much more congested nasally after eating gluten and have trouble sleeping. Initally I have much more energy and feel motivated to clear my list of "to-dos", etc.

With all of that said...I can see why an antihistamine might help after being glutened if you react similar to how i do with symptoms driven (maybe) by elevated histamine levels in response to a substance introduced to my body that is known to be toxic.

[VioletBlue]

Could your doctor have been referring to Leaky Gut as it's commonly called around here, as the "other thing"? Leaky Gut, which I believe has a lovely technical name that I can't remember, creates allergic or histamine reactions to various substances in people with auto-immune disorders. Anti-histamines are of course useful in counteracting allergic responses.

Many people operate under the misconception that an allergic reactions always manifests itself in sneezing, itching or the like. Allergies can cause other types of reactions as well, from neurological ones to upset stomaches, diarrhea and asthma or bronchitis attacks. So it's very possible that an anti histamine does indeed make you feel better because it's masking some other allergic reaction.

And FYI, with leaky gut you can become allergic to any substance that enters your digestive track, even, yes folks, an anti-histamine. I'm living proof of that Zyrtec makes me sick as a dog, benedryl only mildly effects my allergic reactions and Claritin usually takes care of any allergic reaction. I've been through a couple other anti-histamines who's names I can't remember. So I'm careful to only take Claritin when I need it rather than risk daily exposure and up the chances of a reaction to the one anti histamine that currently works for me. This means I avoid like the plague anything I'm allergic to rather than just hope the pill fixes the problem for me. And that is part of the danger is relying on a pill, at least from my unique point of view.

I found out some more info on Benadryl and just wanted to post it for everyone who is interested. One web page you can go to is Open Original Shared Link that might be able to help you with the various questions you have or another one I found is Open Original Shared Link. I just saw my GI doctor yesterday and he told me that I might have something else also with the Celiac Disease that just happens to react to treatment from Benadryl - so it makes sense why in my case it has been helping me. But only when I have received it in my IV when hospitalized because it's 100% gluten free in shot form only. So now I will be giving myself shots of Benadryl at home when needed because my GI doctor said it would greatly benefit me. He said it's common for some people who were diagnosed with Celiac Disease to also be diagnosed with this other thing too (sorry I can't remember what the name of it is but will post it later). I copied and pasted some of the information from the second web page below.

[debmidge]

If the Benadryl helps, then sure take it, but do not go off the gluten free diet if you have celiac.

From my knowledge of Benadryl, the antihistimine in it does not affect the same "t" cells as found

in celiac disease.

[Tim-n-VA]

Another perspective. If you have celiac disease that does not prevent you from having other diseases/conditions that could be helped by Benadryl. Also, celiac is sometimes tricky to diagnose because it shares symtoms with other diseases to include some wheat allergies. Someone with a true wheat allergy would feel better on a gluten free diet and would see improvement with Benadryl.

At least one member of this site has reported having a clinical diagnosis of both celiac and a wheat allergy. That would mean that two different body subsystem are reacting against wheat they consume.

[Unclezack]

I just wanted to quickly add that I do not advocate Benadryl as a cure for everyone who has Celiac Disease but just to present this information for those interested in looking into it further. This isn't a cure but just something that might help your symptoms. Talking it over with your GI doctor will help decide if this is the right course of treatment for you. Everyone is different and one thing that helps one person might not help another.

Benadryl is an antispasmodic, so it could be helping with the horrible cramping some of us were getting before our intestines started to heal. I took St John's Wort, cramp bark and ashwaghandha. They helped my bowel to relax and many times allowed trapped gas to pass. When our intestines are in that fragile state, it is good to do whatever it takes to relieve any pressure. I would think a person should be careful not to confuse the benefits of any antispasmodic with actual healing though. The relief from antispasmodics are only temporary and if gluten is still being consumed accidentally or otherwise, the damage to the gut will keep getting worse.

[Dr.A]

On September 30, 2007 at 6:03 AM, lyndao said:

Long story made short. Can benadryl,taken by capsule be a way to lessen anxiety, rashes etc.

I have done so well on the gluten-free diet after being so sick for so long. WHY?

Maybe I don't have Celiac disease, but only a sensitivity to gluten or a possible deficiency omega fatty acids, and other vitamin deficiencies. I just don't know why I am doing so well on a gluten free diet.

Has anyone done any research into diphenhydramine hydrochloride? or Benadry and its effects on people managing psychiatric symptoms, such as anxiety, depression.

Just know I have not been truly diagnosed at this point with any gluten sensitivity, but why does this diet work so well for people like me who have neurological symptoms of numbing, tingling, rashes, joint pain.

Oh, I want to mention I have NOT been taking benadryl for a while and ONLY took a small dose last night after being itchy. I DO NOT advocate taking diphenhydramine BUT instead; direct to you a link I found at www.wikipedi.org and find an article by Bruce G. Charlton: Open Original Shared Link Medical Hypotheses.

I do NOT want to mislead but to guide, so people can make up their own minds.

I choose not to eat out at restaurants at the present time. This forum is to help you educate yourself. This forum is to help you be effective self-managers of your disease.

 

 

Lynda Lube

Celiac disease very commonly causes neurological symptoms, either from an immune reaction, an inflammatory reaction, or nutrient deficiency, all which are secondary to celiac. In addition, people with either celiac disease or gluten intolerance can develop something called a histamine intolerance. This is because damage the gut can damage the production of an enzyme called DOA, which is responsible for the breakdown of histamine in the gut. Since all foods have some degree of histamine in them (some more than others) then the gut and entire body can end up with an accumulation of histamine, which can cause all sorts of systemic issues, like sinus problems, migraines, abdominal cramping, diarrhea, insomnia, anxiety, etc. My guess is this is why people with celiac are likely to feel better on Benadryl, though he long term goal is healing the gut so the body can make DOA better! A classic example of someone with a histamine intolerance is someone with the appearance of many food "allergies" but all allergy tests are negative.

[kareng]

1 hour ago, Dr.A said:

Celiac disease very commonly causes neurological symptoms, either from an immune reaction, an inflammatory reaction, or nutrient deficiency, all which are secondary to celiac. In addition, people with either celiac disease or gluten intolerance can develop something called a histamine intolerance. This is because damage the gut can damage the production of an enzyme called DOA, which is responsible for the breakdown of histamine in the gut. Since all foods have some degree of histamine in them (some more than others) then the gut and entire body can end up with an accumulation of histamine, which can cause all sorts of systemic issues, like sinus problems, migraines, abdominal cramping, diarrhea, insomnia, anxiety, etc. My guess is this is why people with celiac are likely to feel better on Benadryl, though he long term goal is healing the gut so the body can make DOA better! A classic example of someone with a histamine intolerance is someone with the appearance of many food "allergies" but all allergy tests are negative.

Just a heads up - I don't think the original poster, or even any of the others have been active for many years.  This is from 2007.  I doubt they will see your answer.