Does anyone know if elavil and diphenhydramine taken together can cause insomnia? Or could elavil itself cause insomnia?

I've been taking 10 mg. (which is a very low dosage) of elavil at bedtime for approx. a couple months now. I often take 50 mg. diphen. as well. My insomnia seems to be getting worse.

Any ideas? Has anyone ever heard of elavil causing insomnia? Or maybe somehow elavil when combined with diphen. is causing insomnia?

Oh boy. What a night last night. I decided to take NO elavil, and just took 50 mg. diphenhydramine. I did not fall asleep until after my son left for school this morning, at 7:45.

I don't know what to do. I really don't. My doctor does not prescribe sleep meds. aside from low dose elavil.

I am pretty much a non-drinker, but am thinking that tonight I may try to drink a beer before bed. Doesn't sound appealing to me at all, but perhaps that will help, because my problem is solely with the 'getting to sleep' part. Once asleep, I am fine.

Originally posted by MMMarie:
Does anyone know if elavil and diphenhydramine taken together can cause insomnia? Or could elavil itself cause insomnia?

Elavil or and Diphenhydramine can sometimes cause agitation, restlessness, and even confusion due to cholinoreceptor blocking. Usually it happens in elderly people or people with Alzheimer's disease (luck of acethylcholine in the brain). Trasodone is better for sleep.

Thanks for responding, Bird. I doubt my doctor would prescribe Trazadone. He's reluctant to prescribe anything at all. I wonder if the Elavil could actually be making me feel more restless at night. I'm not exactly elderly, but then again, at 45 I'm not exactly a spring chicken either.

Thanks again.

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[This message has been edited by chrysanthemum (edited 01-06-2003).]

Elavil and diphehydramine both can cause restless legs, which in turn causes insomnia. If your doctor prescribes elavil chances are he will prescribe trazadone. Neither are addictive. If you take trazadone, start at a low dose about 50mg and the doctor can increase it until you find what dose lets you get enough sleep. It is also helpful for depression if that mught be effecting the quality of your sleep. good luck

Tx. for the replies.

re the alcohol - I only tried it that one night and it didn't do a thing for me.

elavil - I'm off it completely now. I'm back to the diphenhydramine 50 mg. at bedtime.

trazodone - I will ask my doctor about it next time I see him.

Chrys - No, I don't go to any type of counselling. I really feel that my dwelling on the insomnia is my biggest problem. SEriously. I seem to have fewer problems with sleep if I don't think about it. Hard to do sometimes, but I think that's what works best for me.

Thanks again, you guys. http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/smile.gif