Is it OK to take Benadryl to sleep?

For people who take an antihistamine such as Benadryl for a cold or allergies, drowsiness is often a welcome side effect. But a Baylor College of Medicine sleep expert cautions against turning to this type of medication as a sleep aid.

What happens if you take Benadryl just to sleep?

Although antihistamines like Benadryl will make you feel sleepy, they're not a great choice when it comes to treating insomnia. Not only can they affect your sleep quality, but they'll also become less effective very quickly, meaning you may not notice any benefits if you use them often.

How much benadryl do I take for sleep?

Diphenhydramine comes as 25mg and 50mg tablets. You'll usually take 50mg, 20 minutes before you go to bed.

Can I take Benadryl every night before bed?

You should not take diphenhydramine every night. While it may be helpful during limited periods of insomnia, your body will build up a tolerance for the medication over time, and it will no longer have the desired effect. After 2 weeks of taking diphenhydramine, you may become dependent on it to fall asleep.

What can I take every night for sleep?

I take Benadryl to help me sleep: Should I Worry?

Is ZzzQuil the same as Benadryl?

ZzzQuil is an over-the-counter nighttime sleep aid. The active ingredient in ZzzQuil is diphenhydramine, which is also the active ingredient in the allergy medication Benadryl. Diphenhydramine is an antihistamine that people commonly use to treat allergic reactions, itchiness, and hives.

Does Benadryl help with anxiety?

Benadryl is an antihistamine that may cause you to feel sedated and drowsy. This doesn't mean it calms anxiety symptoms, though. There's simply no scientific evidence to support its use for anxiety. In fact, it's not recommended for this purpose.

How often can you give Benadryl for sleep?

Taking diphenhydramine as a sleep aid for more than 7 to 10 nights is not recommended, because you will gain tolerance to it. Diphenhydramine should never be given to children to help them sleep and is best not given to children younger than 12 years of age without the direction of a physician.

How can I stay asleep for 8 hours?

How many days in a row can you take Benadryl?

Do not use diphenhydramine for longer than 2 weeks to treat sleep problems, or longer than 7 days to treat cold or allergy symptoms. This medicine can affect the results of allergy skin tests.

What is a good sleep aid for anxiety?

Antidepressants: Some antidepressant drugs, such as trazodone (Desyrel), are very good at treating sleeplessness and anxiety. Benzodiazepines: These older sleeping pills -- emazepam (Restoril), triazolam (Halcion), and others -- may be useful when you want an insomnia medication that stays in the system longer.

Is it OK to take melatonin every night?

Regardless of whether it truly helps with sleep or not, Dr. Ramkissoon doesn't recommend taking melatonin long-term. "Namely, because if you think you need to take melatonin every night to get to sleep, we need to understand why that's the case," explains Dr. Ramkissoon.

Who should not take Benadryl?

What is an alternative to Xanax for sleep?

If you have insomnia, you may want to talk to your provider about a Xanax substitute like trazodone to help aid in sleep. It is a melatonin receptor agonist, which helps to balance chemicals in the brain.

Does Benadryl raise blood pressure?

Antihistamines like diphenhydramine (Benadryl) and cetirizine (Zyrtec) aren't known to raise blood pressure when used alone. Antihistamines are part of many combination over-the-counter (OTC) cough and cold products. They may be combined with a medication that can raise your blood pressure.

What are the side effects of Benadryl?

How long does Benadryl make you sleepy?

The effects of diphenhydramine last from four to six hours. Benadryl in the injectable form has a rapid onset of action. When used as a night-time sleeping aid, the usual dosage of Benadryl is 50mg at bedtime. A lower dosage may be needed in the elderly.

Is Unisom or Benadryl better for sleep?

Unisom Sleeptabs (Doxylamine) can help you get a good night's sleep, but you can have a hard time waking up if you don't give yourself enough time to sleep. Treats allergy symptoms and helps you sleep. Benadryl (Diphenhydramine) is great for allergies, but curl up on the couch after taking it and get ready for a nap.

What sleep aid is the same as Benadryl?

Is the sleep aid diphenhydramine the same as Benadryl? Yes. Diphenhydramine is the generic name for Benedryl, an antihistamine that causes drowsiness. Diphenhydramine works to promote sleep by altering neurotransmitter levels and causing sedative effects.

What is the strongest over counter sleep aid?

What is the strongest sleep aid over the counter? Doxylamine is one of the strongest OTC sleep aids. It is an antihistamine. However, it is only suitable for short-term use.

What vitamin helps you sleep better at night?

Omega-3, Vitamin D

A study in the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine found the combination of omega-3s and vitamin D from fatty fish like salmon improved sleep in participants. Researchers think it's because of the effect of those nutrients on regulating serotonin.

Who shouldn't take melatonin?

Do not use melatonin if you are pregnant or breastfeeding or have an autoimmune disorder, a seizure disorder or depression. Talk to your health care provider if you have diabetes or high blood pressure.