Benadryl for sleep?

SnoreNoMore2005 · Post by **SnoreNoMore2005** » Sat Sep 10, 2005 8:09 pm

I have been taking doxepin (a tryciclic antidepressant) before going to bed for years and years to help me stay asleep. This was long before I was diagnosed with OSA. My doc told me for at the low dosage of doxepin (10 - 20mg) I was taking, the only benefit I could get was the drowsiness from the antihistamine effect of doxepin.

He suggested me trying a regular antihistamine like Benadryl (diphenhydramine) instead of the doxepin.

Has anyone found benadryl effective for sleep? What about over an extended period of time?

I did cut back further on the doxepin and found my nose would get clogged which made it harder for me to sleep with my nasal mask. Turning up the humidifier has not helped.

Have any CPAP users had any experiences with using diphenhydramine or other antihistamines for sleep.

I do know that taking sleep medicine on a regular basis is not desirable. I'm just trying to substitute one medicine which I'm only getting a side effect benefit from for another which might target the effectiveness of the benefit to me better.

Thanks
SnoreNoMore2005

tomjax · Post by **tomjax** » Sat Sep 10, 2005 8:20 pm

Benadryl is helpful to some as a sleep aid.
Its side effect of causing drowsiness is the reason.

It can lose its effectiveness after a few weeks and would be better for occasional use.
Males should be careful in increasing the dosage beyond 50 mg.
It can cause urinary retention and this can result in prostatitis.
It may have some morning hangover for some.

rock and roll · Post by **rock and roll** » Sat Sep 10, 2005 9:55 pm

TomJax and I basically agree on this!

I use it often, and it works for what you want it to do. It will not work after awhile as you will have to increase the dosage every so often. I have never, ever had fluid retention from it, I wish it did, I would get more sleep. I also have never had the morning hangover from it. Itg is not addictive and is better than most sleep aids.

lynn · Post by **lynn** » Sat Sep 10, 2005 11:11 pm

We use Benadryl (diphenhydramine) occasionally for aid in sleeping. Usually we buy a store brand as it is cheaper (like Safeway's Benehist for example) and take two 25 mg tablets. If you check out any typical over-the-counter sleep aid, it's the same stuff only they charge more for it when they call it a sleep aid. Read the label. Haven't noticed a hangover from it
We have a prescription for Ambien but don't like to use it on a regular basis (don't really need it).
lynn

rock and roll · Post by **rock and roll** » Sun Sep 11, 2005 9:02 am

Love the Aussie picture Lynn. I had two of them, great dogs!

lynn · Post by **lynn** » Sun Sep 11, 2005 10:13 am

Thanks, R & R! Her name is True. We DO have two Aussies - the other is Doc. They ARE great kids - need lots of run time so it gets me my exercise every day, rain or shine

That wonderful person RG did the avatar of True for me. I think I have figured out how to do that myself but haven't found the right photo of the two of them together yet.....

lynn

rock and roll · Post by **rock and roll** » Sun Sep 11, 2005 11:14 am

I had one named Lucky that looked like her and then I had a rare solid black named Shadow. Hed was an Alpha Male and I don't think there was ever a more regal looking dog. I lived on a ranch then and he and my Brahma bull would always being going at it to see who was the ruler of the ranch. The female lucky had an endearing quality, she would smile when greeting you.

SnoreNoMore2005 · Post by **SnoreNoMore2005** » Sun Sep 11, 2005 4:56 pm

Thanks all. I used benadryl (25 mg) last night instead of doxepin. I think the doxepin made me drowsier, but the benadryl's antihistamine / decongestant effects definitely opened up my nasal passages. I could breath with the nasal mask far better than I've been able to breathe using either Flonase or Nasalcort sprays before bed.

I'm going to try the benadryl for a while and see if my body will get used to not having it's nightly dose of doxepin. Then I'll just have to worry about how to get off the antihistamines if they prove to be harmful long term.

Thanks again for your opinions.

SnoreNoMore2005

lynn · Post by **lynn** » Sun Sep 11, 2005 5:07 pm

Glad it worked for you last night, SNM

When we started cpap in February, I asked our doc (pulmonary specialist, head of sleep disorders dept of major hospital) about the use of benedryl and he said fine -- he didn't give us any dire warnings about it so we feel pretty free to use it as needed. I have not noted any dependency, but then again, we don't use it every night.

Good luck getting a good night's sleep!

lynn

Jan in Colo. · Post by **Jan in Colo.** » Mon Sep 12, 2005 1:07 am

Benedryl is a very safe drug. The only problem with it is that it has a very long half-life....it stays in the body a long time. You will still be affected by it the next day. It is especially bad in that respect for the elderly. Slows down their reflexes, slows down their mentation and adds to their dementia. That's the only problem I can think of with using it. Just be careful and cut back on it if you do notice symptoms from it the following day....

Jan in Colo.

texan27028 · Post by **texan27028** » Mon Sep 12, 2005 8:38 am

I have problems with being congested at night as well, and have basically just dealt with it. As long as one nasal passage was open, I was ok.

The other night I used some benedryl due to fall allergies wreaking havoc on me and found that it did open up my nasal passages and I was able to get more sleep, since it makes you drowsy. The only draw back was the next day, I didn't want to wake up and get going. I felt like I was in a movie going half speed. It's kind-of a bummer when your employer expects you to actually show up for work and you can't get going in the morning.

SnoreNoMore2005 · Post by **SnoreNoMore2005** » Mon Sep 12, 2005 8:35 pm

An interesting "side effect" during the two nights I have taken Benadryl. My "Average Duration of Apneas" reading has been the lowest I have ever recorded with MyEncore software.

It has really opened up my nasal passage and made my breathing much easier.

Coincidence? Don't think so.

SnoreNoMore2005

derek · Post by **derek** » Tue Sep 13, 2005 8:27 am

I met with my regular doc yesterday (3 month diabetic visit). I told him that last week I developed severe aches running down the back of both legs to the point that I could not get comfortable in any position. I told him that Aleve had helped greatly, and that I had been taking Tylenol PM at night as well. He said that Tylenol PM had the same antihistamine as Benadryl, and that it was very safe and non-addictive. He recommended I keep taking it, or perhaps switch to Benadryl.

It certainly helped me sleep right through, and coincidence or not, my AHI has averaged 0.3 since I started taking it - down from 0.7. Interesting note - the hypopneas I'm having are all occuring just as I'm waking - the rest of the night is blank.

rock and roll · Post by **rock and roll** » Tue Sep 13, 2005 8:43 am

dereck,

I notice you have said you were diabetic. I have had border line type 2 but doctor told me yesterday after all the tests that I am now in the severe range and have to go to checking my blood suger and taking medication for it ( like I did not have enough to deal with with Crohn's, RA, high blood pressure, high cholesterol acid reflux SA and more.). I also need to control my diet. Any thoughts for a newbie with diabetes.

It does seem that cpapers all have other illnesses.

Grabraham · Post by **Grabraham** » Tue Sep 13, 2005 12:05 pm

[quote="rock and roll"]dereck,

I notice you have said you were diabetic. I have had border line type 2 but doctor told me yesterday after all the tests that I am now in the severe range and have to go to checking my blood suger and taking medication for it ( like I did not have enough to deal with with Crohn's, RA, high blood pressure, high cholesterol acid reflux SA and more.). I also need to control my diet. Any thoughts for a newbie with diabetes.

It does seem that cpapers all have other illnesses.

Mask	Humidifier

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Mask	Humidifier

Additional Comments: i love resmed stuff!

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Additional Comments: i love resmed stuff!

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