What Causes Heart Palpitations While On Diphenhydramine?

Posted on Sun, 25 Oct 2015

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Sun, 25 Oct 2015 Answered on

Mon, 16 Nov 2015 Last reviewed on

Question : I have been having trouble getting to sleep some nights. I have been taking 1 tablet of diphenhydramine and it seems to have worked well...no after affects. I have diabetic neuropathy in my feet that is always worse at night, so, the other night I took 2 tablets. I didn't notice any difference or bad effects until the next day and it comes back every so often during the day when I become active, and that is a feeling that I have rapid heart beat which goes away when I sit down and rest from whatever I had been doing, like doing the dishes or other somewhat passive activity....Now I am leery about taking this pill at all. My PA has prescribed two different RX's for this myopathy, but I am afraid to take them after reading the possible after effects that came with the RX. I am going to use a topical pain cream for myopathy and just wear a loose pair of sox to bed at night. But I really need to know if the diphenhydramine which I bought over the counter at Walgreens is a risk and is there anything I can do to get rid of the seeming "anxiety" rapid heart beat, other than to let it just wear off. Thank you!.

Answered by Dr. Dr. Chintan Solanki (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
don't be afarid, you can continue one tablet of diphenhydramine

Detailed Answer:
Hello,

Thanks for writing to us.

Diphenhydramine is overall safe drug. You were taking 1 tablet without any problem. After taking 2 tablets you faced problem of palpitations. Palpitations is side effect of diphenhydramine. In your case it is likely due to dose related. It will subside on its own. In elderly half life of diphenhydramine is extended up to 13 hours and it is excreted in urine. So you can drink more water to clear it from body and relive from side effect. Skip dose also for a day. And after a day you can continue with one tablet. It will not help in pain. For diabetic neuropathy pregabalin or gabapentin will help and that can also help in sleep.
At last if you cannot get sufficient sleep with 1 tablet of diphenhydramine you can ask your doctor to write maltonin , zolpidem or ativan prescription.

Hope I have answered your query, I will be happy to help further.

Regards,
Dr.Chintan Solanki

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar