Will Benedryl help me sleep? - Menopause Message Board

MrsLinda · 09-14-2004, 06:44 AM

I'm not sleeping well. I'm having big trouble falling and staying alseep. I have a prescription for Ambien and it's not working. Actually after reading about this drug I really don't want to take it!

On this board, maybe last winter someone began a thread about " sleeping problems". A few women mentioned that they took "Benedryl" at night to help them sleep. I tried to search for that thread but it's been archived because I couldn't find it.

If ANYONE is presently taking Benedryl please let me know how much you're taking. I've taken 2 (50 mg) at bedtime and it's not been too effective. I'm wondering if 3 (75 mg) would be the max that I could take.

Thanks....

Z'sMom · 09-14-2004, 10:21 AM

Please do a search on "side effects of benedryl" before committing to taking these doses on a regular basis...one of the side effects can even be insomnia. This is a product that is reactive with many other drugs and is SO not good for you to take on a routine basis.

http://www.rxlist.com/cgi/generic/dihydram_ad.htm (the link if it will post)

molly123 · 09-14-2004, 10:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrsLinda

I'm not sleeping well. I'm having big trouble falling and staying alseep. I have a prescription for Ambien and it's not working. Actually after reading about this drug I really don't want to take it!

On this board, maybe last winter someone began a thread about " sleeping problems". A few women mentioned that they took "Benedryl" at night to help them sleep. I tried to search for that thread but it's been archived because I couldn't find it.

If ANYONE is presently taking Benedryl please let me know how much you're taking. I've taken 2 (50 mg) at bedtime and it's not been too effective. I'm wondering if 3 (75 mg) would be the max that I could take.

Thanks....

50mg would probably knock most people out cold! I take Benedryl (1 pill) when I have an allergy problem (itchy skin) only...at first, it would make me sleepy but after your body gets used to it, I doesn't make you sleepy anymore. To help me sleep, I take Tylendol PM sometimes. I only take 1/2 of pill even tho the bottle recommends 2 pills. I sleep thru the night with this. It contains the same ingredients as Benedryl but for some reason, it seems to work for me. The Tylendol relieves my achy back/hips. I also notice that once I started making it a habit to go to bed the same time, I sleep better - there are times when I automatically fall asleep by myself w/o taking anything.

You might want to try OTC sleeping aids instead of taking an antishistime. I tried Melatonin but it takes a long time to get me sleepy and I would still wake up in the middle of the night.

molly

MrsLinda · 09-15-2004, 06:34 PM

Tylenol PM use to make me sleepy. I would take it at night for my hip pain. But that was before the surgery and before I had to sleep with all these pillows between my legs!! I had a hip replacement and you have all these restrictions with regards to sleeping.

I do have allergies and remembered that the same ingredient that's in Tylenol PM is what's in Benedryl. I took 2 the other night and literally waited to fall alseep. Needless to say I didn't. I think I'm "thinking" about it too much and fighting the medication.

Anyway thanks for the replies. If this continues I'll speak to my medical doctor on the next visit.

Cookie531 · 09-16-2004, 05:54 AM

Tylenol PM, Sominex and all other sleep aids are nothing more than Benedryl. Same ingredient. It helps me sleep but I only take one or else I wake up very groggy.