need help..struggling with sleep meds - Sleep Disorders Message Board

prettyinpink17 · 10-27-2005, 11:05 PM

hi
i have had trouble sleeping almost my entire life....my doctor told me to take benadryl....i did...but i got used 2 it...i took something natrual melatonin...that worked for awhile but i got used to it...lately ive been taking just generic sleeping pills...like the equate/walgreens/walmart etc brand...and they are working right now...what confuses me is that the benadryl and all generic brands contain the same thing yet once i get used 2 one brand and switch for to another i am able 2 fall asleep...the ingredient is Diphenhydramine HCl...in the softgel i take there is 50mg in each..i have 2 take 4..is that dangerous?
<3

Lilly10 · 10-28-2005, 06:56 AM

Hi prettyinpink17

Just my take on this situation of yours perhaps switching brands is causing some sort of placebo affect on you?? I was taking tylenol PM (the one with out pain reliever) a few times a week and I worked my way up to 4 that is when i went to the Doctors and he prescribed ambien. I dont think taking 4 is dangerous but I would not want to take any more then that. Have you ever tried Valerian??

Boo Girl · 10-28-2005, 08:10 AM

I used to take Tylenol PM and got used to it too. If you are at the point that you're taking four a night just to get to sleep, I would seriously think about going to a sleep specialist. There are so many different medications out there, I'm sure a specialist could prescribe the right one for you. Another thing to consider is that you may have a much more serious underlying problem like apnea. If you can afford it, I would go to a specialist for sure.