To help you get some shut-eye, you’ll probably attempt whatever you can think of. Taking a Benadryl between tossing and turning in bed or looking at the ceiling in despair might be an option.
After all, the antihistamine has a reputation for creating drowsiness and is simple to obtain (there’s a good chance you already have a box in your medical cabinet). Is it, however, a wise decision? Take a look at what the advantages and cons are of taking Benadryl before you go to bed.
What Exactly Is Benadryl?
The antihistamine diphenhydramine is sold under the brand name Benadryl. Histamine, a substance in the body that causes symptoms of allergies (think: sneezing, congestion, watery eyes), is blocked by antihistamines, according to the US National Library of Medicine. Many people suffer from a runny nose and itchy throat during spring because of histamines. In addition to affecting your sleep-wake cycle, histamines have been found to be more active when you’re awake. (Also, is melatonin dangerous to take every night?).
Benadryl, on the other hand, is an over-the-counter antihistamine used to treat hay fever, allergic reactions, and the common cold. According to the National Library of Medicine, diphenhydramine can also be used to treat or prevent minor throat irritation, such as a cough, as well as to treat or prevent motion sickness and sleeplessness. That’s all for now…
When Taking Benadryl, Does It Help You Sleep?
Dr. Noah S. Siegel, the director of Mass Eye and Ear’s Sleep Medicine and Surgery Division says, “Histamine is more likely to wake you up.” As a result, “Benadryl is more likely to make you sleepy since it blocks that chemical in the brain.”
Meaning that the medicine can help some people sleep easier by removing alerting impacts on the brain (such as histamines) says Christopher Winter, M.D. in his book The Sleep Solution: Why your sleep is broken and how to fix it. Taking Benadryl, even when it is prescribed to treat allergy symptoms, might cause the sleepiness associated with diphenhydramine, or as Dr. Winter describes it, a “sedated” feeling.
As a result, you should be aware that the medication’s label warns that “when using this product marked drowsiness may occur” and urges you to avoid using it while driving a car, operating heavy machinery, or in combination with any sedatives (such as alcohol), sleep medications (such as Ambien), or diphenhydramine-containing products (e.g. Advil PM).
Benadryl may help you fall asleep, but it won’t keep you asleep, and that’s the truth. In addition, you can only use this as a sleep aid so many times before your body becomes accustomed to it. For the most part, Dr. Winter explains, its long-term effectiveness is low, and after four or more days of chronic use, tolerance develops quickly.
The reason for this isn’t fully understood, but studies has shown that antihistamine tolerance develops quickly. A number of things could go wrong with that: It’s possible that Benadryl won’t help you sleep if you’ve been using it as a sleep aid for a long time, and it may not be useful if you’re suffering an allergic response.
What are the benefits and drawbacks of Benadryl?
Pros
Of course, if you’re trying to get some shut-eye, Benadyl’s ability to make you drowsy is a plus. For the most part, “It makes it simpler to fall asleep quickly,” said neurologist and sleep expert Dr. Ian Katznelson at Northwestern Medicine Lake Forest Hospital. When it comes to getting ready for bed, he recommends using this method.
According to Dr. Winter, you can get Benadryl at just about any pharmacy. Also, compared to benzodiazepines (such as Valium and Xanax), a family of psychoactive medications used to treat anxiety or sleeplessness, it is “less harmful.” Cons
Antihistamines are not recommended by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine for treating chronic insomnia (i.e. problems sleeping and staying asleep for months at a time) since there is insufficient evidence that they are useful or safe. Because of this, the country’s most prominent sleep-related professional group discourages you against doing this. Benadryl does not advertise itself as a sleep aid on its label or website, which is also worth mentioning.
Dr. Katznelson warns that taking Benadryl for sleep or allergies can have some unpleasant side effects, such as dry mouth, constipation, urinary retention, cognitive impairment (i.e. difficulty thinking), and even seizure danger if the dose is too high.
It is possible that Diphenhydramine can produce nausea and vomiting as well as headache, weakness of the muscles and nervousness, according to the National Library of Medicine (NLM). The next day, Dr. Winter warns that Benadryl can cause “hangover sedation,” so if you don’t like the feeling of being foggy after a bad night’s sleep, think again before popping one of the pink pills.
When Benadryl is taken for sleep, Dr. Siegel says there is a risk of establishing a “mental reliance” on the drug. As a result, you may find yourself unable to fall asleep unless you first take an antihistamine. According to him, “I would rather individuals learn sleep strategies,” which include things like reducing your caffeine intake, keeping your room dark, and exercising regularly. Again, there’s a slight chance you’ll become physically dependent on it (conjure up the word “addiction”). How Often Should Benadryl Be Taken for Sleeping Disorders?
As a general rule, sleep medicine professionals discourage the use of Benadryl as a sleep aid. Nonetheless, if you’re generally healthy and can’t sleep at the most inconvenient of times, Dr. Katznelson recommends taking the suggested dose of Benadryl if you happen to have it on hand. In spite of this, “it should not be used on a regular basis and sparingly, if at all.” What about the food?) Are they the key to better sleep?
Dr. Katznelson points out that “clear guidelines” are absent. For insomnia, Benadryl should only be used on a case-by-case basis in those under the age of 50 with no additional medical conditions, such as respiratory issues (e.g., chronic bronchitis) or vision issues (e.g., presbyopia). You should realise that Benadryl can cause an increase in benign prostatic hyperplasia and prostate enlargement in certain people.)
As a general rule of thumb, Dr. Winter advises not utilising these types of drugs more than once a month. “There are other ways to deal with insomnia. Why not just pick up a book and read it? Fear of ‘not sleeping’ in the present time is the main issue for most people.”
