OTC Sleeping Pill Last Night Feel Really Bad Today

[UMTerp]

I am in my second week of using my machine. I could not fall asleep last night. Around midnight I took 1/2 of an OTC sleeping pill (Costco brand).
This morning I woke up with pain in my chest/lungs and a bad ear ache.
Does anyone know if this is related to taking the sleeping pill with the APAP machine?

TIA!

UMTerp

[BlackSpinner]

Go and see a doctor if you have chest pain - NOW!

[UMTerp]

Thank you! The chest pain has resolved and the ear pain is better with Advil.

[Julie]

The chest pain is possibly due to relatively unused muscles now being used ... and should pass in time. However, if you have ANY trouble breathing (while awake) or sweating, nausea, etc. etc. DO go to the ER.

[UMTerp]

Will do, thank you!

I was thinking that maybe the auto pressure was higher last night due to the sleeping pill which may have caused my discomfort.

[Sir NoddinOff]

The most common agent in over-the-counter sleeping aids is diphenhydramine, an antihistamine. It initially has a relaxing effect for many people which makes you feel drowsy, but later on it may cause a plethora of other side effects; read the warning labels. They do have a tendency to raise blood pressure which can have consequences in some individuals, including chest pain. It's noteworthy that I also get ear-aches from OTC sleep meds... what a coincidence! You're the first I've heard say that.

I avoid them completely because I typically experience anxiety attacks, angina, dry mouth, headaches earaches and so forth. If you absolutely feel you have to occasionally resort to sleep meds please talk to your doctor first... they may recommend a short term dose of ambien or lunesta (or their generics), or some of the other newer sleep meds which have limited (but not inconsequential) side effects.

For more info do a google search on OTC sleep meds... you need to be informed before you start to use them.

[curems]

FWIW, one of my docs recommended Unisom tabs as an OTC sleep med (specifically the ones that do not contain diphenhydramine).

[Cerulean60]

I will add my two cents. For nearly fourteen years I have been working a rotating day to night shift. At first the night shifts were horrible so i decided to try some things: My bedroom is cool and dark, I use high thread count sheets, run a box fan for white noise and take an OTC sleep aid. My brand of choice is Sleepenal, and its active ingredient is diphenhydramine HCl 50mg. The Unisome product uses the other ingredient, doxylamie succinate. This, I found, lingers too long into the next day (or same day). I get five to six hours of reasonable sleep, and when I get up generally feed ok after an hour or so. One month ago I started sleeping with the alien face hugger and my sleeping world has been rocked. Thank goodness for this forum as I am finding some very useful tips and support. What a journey.

[Sir NoddinOff]

Sorry to rattle some cages cuz I know lots of people use them, but I forgot perhaps the most important drawback for OTC sleep meds. New research indicates possible links to Alzheimer's. I personally don't know if I'd want to take that chance. There has been a lot of discussion on CPAPtalk about that recently.

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/288546.php

http://blog.aarp.org/2015/01/29/common- ... lzheimers/

[49er]

Sorry to rattle some cages cuz I know lots of people use them, but I forgot perhaps the most important drawback for OTC sleep meds. New research indicates possible links to Alzheimer's. I personally don't know if I'd want to take that chance. There has been a lot of discussion on CPAPtalk about that recently.

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/288546.php

http://blog.aarp.org/2015/01/29/common- ... lzheimers/

Good point SNO.

However, you can also develop Alzheimer's from not sleeping. So if the OTC or drug remedy someone was on was working, wouldn't that be the lesser of two evils? I am not asking the question to be argumentative by the way as I just think this would be a tough issues. Obviously, it is better not to take anything but for many people, that is easier said than done.

49er

[Luthie2006]

I asked my Primary regarding Alzheimer's and sleeping pillls and she said that the studies are very small and no conclusive evidence and needs a larger amount of studies before arriving at this conclusion.

[Cardsfan]

S

[49er]

S

What does the S stand for Cardsfan? I have been meaning to ask you since you keep using it in your posts. Just curious.

49er

[49er]

I asked my Primary regarding Alzheimer's and sleeping pillls and she said that the studies are very small and no conclusive evidence and needs a larger amount of studies before arriving at this conclusion.

Thanks, I wondered about that.

Not that I am a Benzo fan but it seems there has been a move to demonize them when the alternatives might not necessary be much better. And if it is based on a small study, that is even worse.

Also, I am concerned in this haste to get people off of benzos that they will be taken off too quickly which could be very damaging health-wise, particularly to folks who have been on them for many years.

[RogerSC]

Yes, I was hearing about the "PM" products, like Tylenol PM, etc. tending to be correlated with higher risk of dementia. I doubt that occasional use would have that effect (my guess), but use every day consistent use is most likely not advisable until the cloud has cleared; e.g.

http://www.dddmag.com/articles/2015/04/ ... rgic-drugs

So it goes...