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Diphenhydramine - Casual User - Extremely Weird

The_Comrade

Bluelighter
Joined
May 12, 2009
Messages
45
Location
Colorado
so last Saturday I had in my possession 4 fluid ounces of benadryl (diphenhydramine) which amounts to 300 mg of diphenhydramine (equivalent to 12 pills) and a pill bottle of 100 regular 25 mg benadryl.

I drank all of the liquid syrup and took anywhere from 25-35 of the pills (925-1175 mgs total) of the benadryl.




Background Info
---------------------

I have used/abused diphenhydramine many times, it happens to be the first OTC drug I ever used, and the second drug I ever used illicitly. (second to alcohol)

I am pretty experienced with it, I have even used it at school, taking as much as 600 mg during a regular school day.

it usually gives me an amazing body high followed by a short, weak trip, and possibly vomiting.

previous to this incident, the most I had ever used was 800 mg.



The Story
------------------

originally I was supposed to have my friend stay the night as a sitter to make sure I didn't do anything stupid, I shall refer to him as Jim.

when I did this I was at my mom's house in the basement (my room) which is secluded from most of the family.

I have a sister who lives about 60 miles away from where I was at the time, and she has a bestfriend, sister=Sally, bestfriend=Kate.

the friend that was supposed to watch me that night has a bestfriend that will be referred to as Bob.


The Trip
-----------------

I took all of it at the same time, at about 9:30 at night.

right after I took it, my friend that was supposed to watch me that night began complaining that he was feeling sick, but he ignored it.

we watched TV for about a half an hour, and just relaxed.

he was on one bed, I was on the other.

then at about 10 o'clock he started complaining again, and told me that he had to go home because he felt horrible.

I said okay, whatever, and walked him to the door.

I then went to the bathroom before returning to my room, which took maybe 15 minutes.

when I walked downstairs and into my room, I saw Jim sitting on my bed.

we started talking, I thought nothing of it because I was seriously fucked up and pretty much had forgotten he had left in the first place. I told him to go to his bed, and he got up and started walking towards his bed and suddenly faded away and I realized it was just a stack of books. but I also thought nothing of it because I was tripping pretty hard.

I sat on my bed for a while, staring at the wall (we have hardwood walls with the standard wood patterns, it was freaking me out) watching as the weird patterns became faces that started pulling out of the wall and towards me. I was having a very intense body high, my heart was beating very quickly, and everything became fairly distorted if I looked at it for more than 5 seconds. I was still talking to Jim, completely forgetting that I had hallucinated him in the first place.

I looked at the ceiling at around 10:45 and noticed that there were millions of spiders hanging from those single strands of spider webbing attached to the ceiling, which freaked me the fuck out because I have an extremely irrational phobia of spiders. I blinked my eyes a couple times and they were gone.

at about this time I noticed that my TV was off now, so I walked over to the TV to turn it on. I pressed the power button a few times, nothing happened.

from about this point forward I had to go to the bathroom a LOT. I walked up stairs to go, as I was walking into the bathroom I noticed that my mom had already gone to bed, at 10:50 this was pretty early for her to go to sleep.

when I got out of the bathroom, she was lying on the couch watching TV, I thought nothing of it, and I wanted to tell her something.

I walked out into the living room to tell her something, and after I said "hey..." I completely forgot what I was going to say.

she looked at me with a confused look and said "yes son? what is it?"

I kinda just stared at her, then tried to say nevermind when I realized I completely forgot how to talk. after about 2 minutes of struggling I finally mustered up the strength to say it.

she just kinda looked at me and asked "Are you okay? you look sick..."

the same problem with having trouble speaking arose, and while I was trying to say "No, nothing is wrong, I'm just gonna go to sleep...", I was having a lot of difficulty talking even when I could get the words out, I kept mixing up words and saying weird things that had nothing to do with what I wanted to say.

I eventually got this out: "No mom, I'm ready, downstairs is cooling and I'm going to head to sleep now..."

she just looked at me as I walked downstairs.

at about this point, things started getting REALLY weird.

when I reached my room, I saw that the TV was on, and it was on the discovery channel or something. for some reason all I heard was deathcore music playing from the TV though... I went to reach for the glass of water I had on my nightstand and my hand PASSED RIGHT THREW THE GLASS. (I didn't realize it then, but I was probably just hallucinating the glass in the first place or it was distorted by the hallucinations.) I was getting aggravated, and after a few unsuccessful tries I eventually was able to pick up the glass and get a few drinks of water down my throat. (at the time my mouth was dry as hell, and I really needed the water.) because of the whole, hand passing through the glass thing, I did a few tests by using my left hand to grab my right at various places. I started by touching my right hand, it worked fine. I then touched my wrist, it worked fine. I then touched my forearm, and my hand passed right through. I touched the elbow, same thing.

I ignored it, and sat on my bed, watching TV. Jim was lying on his bed with the blanket on him, no pillow under his head. I payed no attention.

I suddenly noticed that my sister, Sally, and her bestfriend Kate were in the middle of my room running around and playing. I yelled at them to get out, as they were bugging the hell out of me. they ignored me, and I yelled again. then I realized that they weren't really there. haha.

when I looked up, I saw Jim and his bestfriend Bob sitting on opposite sides of the room, chatting. I talked with them for a while, enjoying the conversation we were having. the same thing happened, I realized that they were really just a lamp or a stack of books or something weird like that. time passed, I can't really remember everything that happened, but I do remember that the whole, hand passing through objects was a reoccurring thing every time I tried to grab or pick something up. at some point between 11:45 and 12:30, I fell asleep for a few minutes, only to be awoken by Jim handing me a plastic bag.

it was helpful though, because I was vomiting at this time. I threw up into the bag for about half an hour, then placed the bag on the floor. when I looked up, Jim and Bob were again on opposite sides of the room and chatting. I just watched the TV, which was now tuned to Comedy Central with regular sound playing. I looked at my phone and it was 1 o'clock at this time, and I got the sudden urge to call my friend. I dialed the number and pressed send. the phone rang a couple times, and she answered.

she asked, "come on, what do you want at 1 in the morning?"

I just answered, "nevermind, nevermind..." (as this is all I could say for some reason)

she kept asking if I was okay, and I just kept answering with nevermind.

eventually I hung up, and I looked at my phone, it was 1:30. I lied down for a few minutes, listening to Jim and Bob talk and the sound of some standup comedian telling stupid, annoying jokes. then I felt my phone ring, and I looked at the caller ID. it said "Unknown Number"

I answered the phone and said hello. the person on the other end of the phone said "911, what's your emergency?" to which I responded, "nevermind" and hung up the phone.

I looked at the time and it was 2:30ish, I was tired and decided I wanted to go to sleep. I looked at the other bed and Jim was lying down, asleep. I reached towards the light sitting next to me to turn it off, and my hand passed through it the first few times I went to turn it off. eventually I was able to grab hold of it, and when I turned it off my room went pitch black.

You know that ringing sound you get in your ears when you are in a very quiet environment? I heard that EXTREMELY LOUD in my ears, to the point that it was making my head hurt. I eventually got to sleep though.



The Next Morning
-------------------

This is the part I find most interesting. I woke up the next morning to the sound of my mom nagging me to get up. I looked at the clock and saw it was 10:30 in the morning. she asked me why I left the water running in the sink upstairs, I told her that I didn't, and she said "well you must have been sleep walking, cuz someone did."

I suggested that Jim did it, to which she answered "Jim left at 9:30 last night."

I looked at the other bed, which was completely bare, all the sheets stripped off, Jim was not there.

I got up and saw that the bag I had thrown up in was no where to be found, and the spot on my floor that I thought I had throw up on was completely clean. I asked if my mom cleaned it up, and she said it was never there.

when I got out of bed I noted that there was no TV in my room, my mom told me that my brother took the TV out some time around 9 because his broke, and that I told him it was okay.

when I looked at my phone, there were a few things that caught my eye. one was that in my phone log it said that I called 911, not the other way around, and that there was no calls to or from my friend last night.

I also noticed that I had an entire conversation over text between two friends throughout last night that I didn't remember at all.




Erowid Report:
ID:78734
Name used: The Comrade
Title: Intense Trip Using Diphenhydramine


cliffs:
-Took a ton of benadryl
-Hallucinated people, talked to nonexistent people
-My hands could pass through objects
-Next morning my memory didn't match what happened

Tagged by Xorkoth
substancecode_diphenhydramine
substancecode_deliriants
explevel_inexperienced
exptype_neutral
exptype_difficult
roacode_oral
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Wow. Although it really isn't smart to be taking diphenhydramine at all let alone on a regular basis(IMO), I must admit that this report was seriously entertaining.

Some of the stuff is you described is absolutely ridiculous. The fact that you hallucinated the TV and the puking is particularly bizarre. I have heard of people talking to imaginary people and smoking imaginary cigarettes but nothing this extreme.

I couldn't ever imagine taking Benadryl for fun. Even a small dose of it such as in tylenol pm gives me some really aggravating and somewhat painful muscle cramps/restless legs. It feels kinda like opiate withdrawl.
 
Wow. Although it really isn't smart to be taking diphenhydramine at all let alone on a regular basis(IMO), I must admit that this report was seriously entertaining.

Some of the stuff is you described is absolutely ridiculous. The fact that you hallucinated the TV and the puking is particularly bizarre. I have heard of people talking to imaginary people and smoking imaginary cigarettes but nothing this extreme.

I couldn't ever imagine taking Benadryl for fun. Even a small dose of it such as in tylenol pm gives me some really aggravating and somewhat painful muscle cramps/restless legs. It feels kinda like opiate withdrawl.

many people experience the same things with diphenhydramine, it depends on your body, along with other things.

I have been taking diphenhydramine for a while as a sleep aid before I realized that it was an abusive substance, which is probably why I do not suffer from side effects such as muscle cramping or sedation at all anymore.

hallucinating the TV was interesting, as I have never done that. like I said, my memory of the events isn't particularly clear, and I was alone so I have no one to verify exactly what was happening.

I have heard of people hallucinating many strange events on diphenhydramine such is puking, stereos being on, strange repetitive sounds, people, animals, etc.

The TV thing isn't entirely clear, but I do remember seeing it on and hearing it even though it wasn't there.

I very vividly remember the vomiting thing however, and I know I hallucinated that.

the sideeffects you have with diphenhydramine might be due to the acetaminophen that you are taking it with in the tylenol, but I don't know, I've never experienced anything like it.

I don't take benadryl on a regular basis, nor do I take it even close to every day. the background info on my experiences with benadryl was taken from a very extended period of time, I've only used it maybe 10 times.

it's easy to obtain, and easy to use. after that night I am weary to ever use it again.
 
is Diphen not damaging at that high dose?

Gald you came out that trip in one piece. I tried DPH a few times, but its the most uncomforting trip for me. I just cant grasp whats real..which helps in reality. I get bugs hallucinatings alot when I tripped DPH

I was sleep deprived of 4 days and I felt like I was tripping on DPH it made me sick to my stomach thinking about it. Hallucinations/delerium were about same. Fucking saw some motherfucker in my room chilling in the corner of my room when I was trying to get some sleep and I grabbed a knife to cut the bitch..ended up being in a chair
 
is Diphen not damaging at that high dose?

Gald you came out that trip in one piece. I tried DPH a few times, but its the most uncomforting trip for me. I just cant grasp whats real..which helps in reality. I get bugs hallucinatings alot when I tripped DPH

I was sleep deprived of 4 days and I felt like I was tripping on DPH it made me sick to my stomach thinking about it. Hallucinations/delerium were about same. Fucking saw some motherfucker in my room chilling in the corner of my room when I was trying to get some sleep and I grabbed a knife to cut the bitch..ended up being in a chair

the second time I did it that same thing happened, but it was because I used it with ambien.

nah, DPH is only dangerous when used with acetaminophen (tylenol pm) which will most likely divide your liver by zero.
 
This sounds identicle to my unfortunate Datura high
Wow I wish I wasnt so trusting in people
Glad you survived it tho man, that shit can really fuck your head up
 
This sounds identicle to my unfortunate Datura high
Wow I wish I wasnt so trusting in people
Glad you survived it tho man, that shit can really fuck your head up

yeah, it really does.

no more of that shit, it's a dissociative, it really fucks you up.
 
Really enjoyed reading that as it reflects (on a much higher level) my own experiences with diphenhydramine. I actually really enjoy taking it on my own at bedtime. I've never gone above 600mg, and nor would I want to. Usually I only take 300-400mg and lay down and close my eyes. I really enjoy the delerium but it's impossible to sleep, there's a certain illusion of brief periods of sleep, but it's just dream-like delerium.

I always get the spider hallucination and although I have a slight phobia of them, it never bothers me. I find it very interesting, and an insight into the workings of the brain.
 
Really enjoyed reading that as it reflects (on a much higher level) my own experiences with diphenhydramine. I actually really enjoy taking it on my own at bedtime. I've never gone above 600mg, and nor would I want to. Usually I only take 300-400mg and lay down and close my eyes. I really enjoy the delerium but it's impossible to sleep, there's a certain illusion of brief periods of sleep, but it's just dream-like delerium.

I always get the spider hallucination and although I have a slight phobia of them, it never bothers me. I find it very interesting, and an insight into the workings of the brain.

at high doses the original tranquilizer affect becomes adversed.
 
I dislike how it's viewed as an illegitimate drug experience by so many. I happen to think that it's one of the most interesting things I've ever experiemented with - along with certain solvents (although I stopped using them years ago when it became too weird). When you talk about having a diphenhydramine experience, many people simply disregard it as you not having access to 'proper' drugs. However, I think it's as proper as you can get, and I have quite good access to psychedelics and other drugs.

It's one of the most unique and interesting chemicals I've ever taken and will continue to use it occasionally. However, I do notice some side effects if I take it a few days in a row, which is hard not to do whenever I buy some. I would usually buy 16x50mg caplets of Nytol and that's 2-3 nights worth. After that I won't buy for a few months. Although, I did make the mistake of ordering a good whack of generic diphenhydramine which I went through quite quickly and made my head feel funny for ages (physically, not mentally).

I think it scares some people because they think you need to go to such high doses to get any use out of it. 200mg, for me, is enough to get an experience which is worthwhile and interesting. If you take a small dose such as that at bedtime and go to bed, you will more than likely get some worthwhile effects that won't scare you as you'll be very aware that it is not real. Plus, it won't be full on with eyes open. I think some people may have to 'train' themselves to get their head in a state that is receptive to it at lower doses.
 
I dislike how it's viewed as an illegitimate drug experience by so many. I happen to think that it's one of the most interesting things I've ever experiemented with - along with certain solvents (although I stopped using them years ago when it became too weird). When you talk about having a diphenhydramine experience, many people simply disregard it as you not having access to 'proper' drugs. However, I think it's as proper as you can get, and I have quite good access to psychedelics and other drugs.

It's one of the most unique and interesting chemicals I've ever taken and will continue to use it occasionally. However, I do notice some side effects if I take it a few days in a row, which is hard not to do whenever I buy some. I would usually buy 16x50mg caplets of Nytol and that's 2-3 nights worth. After that I won't buy for a few months. Although, I did make the mistake of ordering a good whack of generic diphenhydramine which I went through quite quickly and made my head feel funny for ages (physically, not mentally).

I think it scares some people because they think you need to go to such high doses to get any use out of it. 200mg, for me, is enough to get an experience which is worthwhile and interesting. If you take a small dose such as that at bedtime and go to bed, you will more than likely get some worthwhile effects that won't scare you as you'll be very aware that it is not real. Plus, it won't be full on with eyes open. I think some people may have to 'train' themselves to get their head in a state that is receptive to it at lower doses.



I definitely agree about the whole, illegitimacy of benadryl.

it can be a very intense psychedelic, and I have taken it while I have access to other things such as LSD.

you should try taking a dose as high as 700 mg or more, it is a completely different world.

after taking 18x25mg, every pill (25mg) after that it seems to double the intensity of the effects.
 
I will probably try 700mg sometime. The only thing is that swallowing so many pills makes me feel quite sickly. The strange thing is that I've had more intense experiences from 300mg than some 500/600mg doses. For me, I don't think that it has a linear dose response. I think how tired I am when I take it definitely affects the intensity.
 
Wow that sound's crazy. I've only taken them to help me sleep or enhance a nod on OC's never took no where NEAR that much. Wow........=D
 
Dear god.

I have experience with diph; I've done 300-400 mg doses several times, along with a single 600 mg dose. What's odd is that I do hallucinate the spiders, but nothing else major like you did... and I'm a friggin' stilt.

In my experiences, I find it enhances the music I listen to, which is why I keep using it.
 
Achiwawa. Great report!

I have a perverse awe and fascination with Diphenhydramine. I may very well never take a visionary dose of it, because the anticholinergics strike me as difficult and highly unpredictable tools to work with. But I never cease to be amazed by other people's reports from this corner of the youniverse.

I adore diphenhydramine for its ability to induce sleep, get rid of itch, and boost painkillers. We always have it laying around everywhere, because my wife has a few allergies that produce anaphylactic reactions. I never hesitate to pop 25-75mg for one of the above purposes.
 
Theres got to be somthing with diph. and the hallucination effects. I took 25 of the 25mgs. Tripped ballz. Wont get into such detail on a post. But same occurrences with me.

Watching a tv that was not really there.
Talked to my grandma who passed away 3 years ago.
Left the fridge open, toilet cover had been ripped off and was in the sink.
Weird shit man, weird shit...
 
I adore diphenhydramine for its ability to induce sleep, get rid of itch, and boost painkillers. We always have it laying around everywhere, because my wife has a few allergies that produce anaphylactic reactions. I never hesitate to pop 25-75mg for one of the above purposes.

Same here.

Except for once in the 10th grade I swallowed a handful and my brother siezure meds trying to off myself (depression), I just ended up high as hell in front of my brother and dad and they knew I was on something... I denied it the next morning and decided never to try that again.

Is the diphenhydramine trip the same as a DXM trip?
 
Same here.

Except for once in the 10th grade I swallowed a handful and my brother siezure meds trying to off myself (depression), I just ended up high as hell in front of my brother and dad and they knew I was on something... I denied it the next morning and decided never to try that again.

Is the diphenhydramine trip the same as a DXM trip?

oh god no.

diphenhydramine is quite honestly comparable to no drug. DXM is completely different, while DPH, every visual or auditory hallucination you undergo is extremely realistic, and it is very difficult to discern reality and the hallucinations.
 
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