Diphenhydramine is a drug that can be used both medically and recreationally
and is available in most places in over-the-counter medications.
There are other chemicals derived from diphenhydramine, such as dimenhydrinate,
which serve different medical purposes, and can change the recreational trip too.
Diphenhydramine is found (here, at least) as Diphenhydramine HCl in the over-the-counter
anti-histamine "Benadryl." Its primary use is to relieve allergy symptoms
but it could also so used as a sleep aid, though I wouldn't imagine a very good one
(see the bit in "Suggestions" about sleeping on diphenhydramine.)
Dimenhydrinate is found in the anti-nauseants Dramamine and Gravol, and other generic brands.
It's primary use is to suppress nausea and vomiting, but could be used as a sleep aid
in the same manner as Diphenhydramine.
There are other forms, such as that in Dramamine II (less drowsy formula)
but I have no experience with them as of right now, and wouldn't want to
pass on just hearsay. You can find out more about these other places if you want to.
Diphenhydramine in larger-than-normal doses can induce some rather strange effects,
and some people enjoy these as a high. I'm one of these people, but as I go along
you will see that I don't really hold diphenhydramine in very high regard. The background image
is not at all arbitrary. This stuff is poison for the body, poison for the mind, and poison for
the spirit. It is not your friend. It is not something you'd find a hippie or a shaman calling
"The Medicine" as is oft found with mushrooms, peyote, etc. This stuff is, quite simply,
chemical evil. Have fun.
I will use the measurement "pills" in here... this is because the amount in
miligrams varies depending on the chemical.. 25 mg diphenhydramine is as potent as 50 mg dimenhydrinate
but diphenhydramine is sold in 25 mg pills, and dimenhydrinate in 50 mg pills, so 1 pill = 1 pill.
As far as dosage goes, you should start with a low dose (1 or 2 pills) because some people are
allergic to the drug. You won't get anything but a bit drowsy at this low dosage, but it's better
than ending up dead (or worse) from an allergic reaction to the 40 pills you just dropped.
For your first recreational dosage, 1 pill / 30 lbs (I'm using lbs in here, it's easier. 1 kg = 2.2 lbs)
would work, though I would suggest just diving in at 1 pill / 15 lbs... 1 / 30 doses aren't terribly fun.
I wouldn't suggest you break the 25 pill mark.. and even that may be too high. I know someone who dropped
41 pills and survived at 140 lbs, but he might be luckier than you.
Diphenhydramine fits best into the category of "deleriant" though not to the extreme
of Datura ("[Datura is] a giant dram[amine] trip that comes in waves." - CENTAG)
The trip lasts the same length as an LSD trip (8 - 12 hours). The come-on seems to vary
considerably between people - I feel effects beginning 10 minutes after ingestion, and
I've heard people waiting up to an hour before feeling anything.
You should experience auditory hallucinations (such as banging, footsteps, people calling
your name) and visual hallucinations (things moving, colour changes, people, stuff appearing
out of and then melting into other things) as well as very realistic daydreams. If you sleep
and dream, you may be unable to tell your dreams from daydreams or reality.
Music may sound different (you might even hear extra sounds and lyrics)...
I found that music I'd heard before sounded very interesting and 3-dimensional, whereas new
songs were just noise, and I didn't compile the various aspects into a song in my mind.
Also, I find I think a lot about drugs and why I do them, and other users have told me this
happens to them as well. This is not a drug you crave unless you're seriously fucked up.
The most intense side effect from diphenhydramine is drowsiness. If you find it to be
overwhelming, you could try Dramamine II, the "less drowsy" formula. Otherwise, just try
to ignore it. You could try some coffee, though caffeine, as a stimulant, is probably a bad
idea (see "Combinations")
I find, personally, that dimenhydrinate causes a lot, lot, lot less drowsiness than diphenhydramine,
but this doesn't seem to be the norm among people I've talked to.
The other big side effect, which I got, ironically, on dimenhydrinate (an anti-nauseant)
but not on diphenhydramine (an anti-histamine) was nausea. After several hours spent trying
to vomit, but unable to (it suppresses vomitting. Forget trying, waste of time.) I had to
smoke a bowl of marijuana (lighting it with a candle lit from the stove 'cause I had no lighter)
and that effectively relieved the nausea.
Other side-effects: forget about trying to talk. It's hard. If you're talking to someone
who knows you're tripping, it'll be easier, they just gotta listen hard in case you whisper.
You may lack energy to talk, and need to work hard at it.
If you try to act sober.. hah! You need to concentrate on everything you say and they say very
carefully. This is extremely hard to do.
Cotton mouth can get pretty bad, and your extremeties may get cold.
Odds are, short-term memory will go a little strange, and you'll have a hard time paying attention
to what people say, what you're reading, etc.
You may feel very tired or detached the next day.. especially if you make the mistake I did
and take the drug too late and end up still tripping the next day at school/work!
In "Suggestions" I talk about avoiding this next-day drowsiness.
Other after-effects include intense hatred of the drug. I'm not joking, thinking about dosing
may make you feel sick to your stomach... probably a sign that your body isn't too happy with it.
Diphenhydramine can weaken your heart, and combining it with stimulants like amphetamines,
nicotine (1 cigarette an hour max), LSD, caffeine, etc, may result in a minor case of your chest exploding.
Combining it with marijuana will help relieve nausea, but don't bother smoking very
much. I mean, do you really need to feel any more relaxed? You're already craving oblivion. Also,
I found that marijuana's effects were completely unnoticable.
Other "downers" are probably just going to make you more tired as well. You don't want that.
Hallucinogeons I'm not sure about. I wouldn't do it, in case the diphenhydramine started
making me believe that my acid or mushrooms hallucinations were real like it does with its own hallucinations.
Dextromethorphan (DXM) seems to be a popular combination with diphenhydramine. It's supposed
to make the hallucinations more cartoony and less like flu delerium. I can't say myself, but I know I'd hate to
pile DXM nausea on diphenhydramine nausea. Also, DXM is a stimulant, so be wary of this.
Do not combine alcohol with any drug. It's never a good idea.
Some people are allergic to these drugs. Read dosage suggestions for info on that.
Diphenhydramine may weaken the heart, as well as damage the brain. So, please, don't abuse it,
and be careful about what you combine it with.
If you find that you're psychologically addicted to diphenhydramine, seek professional help immediately.
Talk to your doctor or go to a hospital, they will help you.
If someone ever has a bad reaction to diphenhydramine, take them to a hospital immediately.
Tell the doctor exactly what they took (brand name, chemical name, and dosage) and that they
took an Anti-cholinergenic. Also tell them what they ate, and what other drugs, legal or illegal,
they combined with the diphenhydramine.
For the user
Do not let yourself taste the pills, especially if they're powder (uncoated)... they taste awful, and if
they dissolve on your tongue, you'll taste it forever... hold them with your front teeth, put a glass of
water to your lips, pour it and swallow it one motion. Don't try to dry-swallow these. I've dry-swallowed
10 coated benadryls at once (stuck 'em all in my mouth together) but uncoated.. I tried, and I now know better.
Avoid distractions (like TV, computer, music, conversation) if you want the full effects of the drug.
If you're watching TV, you'll feel nothing but tired because you won't notice the effects.
If you feel sick, don't bother trying to puke: you won't be able to. Smoke some marijuana, it'll get rid
of the nausea.
As far as sitters go, I'm not sure which way I think on the issue.
On one hand, safety, especially with potentially dangerous drugs like these, is very important.
On the other hand, having someone there talking to you will really change the kind of trip you have.
You need to be alone so you can crawl to the bathroom and watch the reflections in the toilet for an hour,
and other such nonsense, without them distracting you.
Suggestion from Centag on IRC (the 41 pill dude): use a sitter for the first 3 times out, until you
know what you're doing.
Avoid the public. If a cop were to stop you, you'd be in the back of his car immediately..
The trip, in total, should last about 12 hours... once you hit the 12 hour mark, the tiredness should at least
have started to recede. If at all possible, do NOT sleep until you reach this point. Sleeping on diphenhydramine
is very synthetic and you wake up feeling as tired as you were when you when to bed... but if you wait it out, you
should feel nicely refreshed when you wake up.
For the sitter
Don't talk to the user too much. Let them do whatever they want... your job is to protect them from
hurting themself or others, not to enjoy their company. Don't let them take anything that might be harmful
(like too many cigarettes, etc... see "Combinations" for info.)
Also, know what they're taking, both the brand, the dosage, and the chemical, what they've eaten with it, and what
other drugs they've taken recently or with it. Give all this information to the doctor if you take them to
a hospital, as well as tell them that they took an anti-cholinergenic. Don't worry about legal issues,
that's for later... if you're really worried, just remember, the drug is legal and was obtained legally.
Conclusions? The stuff is awful. But, it's definately a learning experience, and if you don't abuse it or
use it much, I would recommend it. Just do it safely. It can be fun, but it's definately not worth losing
something more important to you over.