If you have chronic insomnia, talk with a medical professional. They may recommend prescribed sleep aids or antidepressants with a sedating effect. Many prescription sleep aids pose some potential risk and may not be appropriate for everyone. Some may also have unwanted side effects such as dizziness. Others may experience dependence. Peoplpe sometimes use antihistamines, such as diphenhydramine and doxylamine succinate, to combat insomnia. These over-the-counter medications are OK for occasional use in most people.
Instead, you may want to try alternative sleep aids like melatonin, good sleep hygiene, and cognitive behavioral therapy. If chronic insomnia is a problem, talk with a healthcare professional. They may also prescribe medications that can help.
Insomnia treatment can include lifestyle changes, behavioral therapies, or medications. Learn about the treatment options. Sleep hygiene is about having healthy sleep habits. Your behaviors, both during the day and around bedtime, can affect the quality of your sleep. Falling asleep may be easy some nights and elusive on others.
We'll discuss the average time it takes a person to fall asleep. Do blue light glasses work? Read what the research says and learn how you can change your lifestyle and technology use to reduce blue light exposure…. Weighted blankets can be beneficial for sleep disorders as well as anxiety and restless leg syndrome. Another safety risk of using diphenhydramine at night is the presence of a residual sedative effect the morning after use.
This is taken from the Beers criteria, which are widely used by healthcare practicioners to guide treatment choices for older adults. They explain why diphenhydramine is to be avoided as:. The full Beers criteria was published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society , though you need to pay to access the full text.
As well as discussing using it with your own doctor, you can use the Nytol website contact page to ask the manufacturer questions not a paid link. Please leave a comment below describing your experience with them, and whether they helped you sleep better or not. So tried Nytol, at her suggestion. Only took half recommended dose taking advice from other reviewers. No extra vertigo this morning, and feel refreshed.
So far really impressed…will see if they continue to help without any extra vertigo. That sounds very positive Dave. I hope they continue to work well for you.
Regards Ethan. I am totally against taking any kind of drugs, however I decided to try Nytol. I fell asleep but woke after 3 hours, then slept on and off for the rest of the night. By contrast, taking two of the 25 has given me great nights sleep, despite feeling dreadful for a couple of hours the following morning. I wonder whether this has something to do with the way having two pills dissolve has a stronger impact than a single one.
Diphenhydramine gives me some unwanted side effects though like muscle pains and sometimes nausea so I usually supplement my prescribed Zolpidem Brand name Ambien from the Dr with Promethazine products. Hi SAM Thanks for your comment. The own brands of products like this are often much cheaper indeed. Did your doc give you the ok to combine those two sleep aids? First time 2 nights ago I took nytol and last night. Fell asleep very quickly and had a good nights sleep both times. He heads a bit fuzzy but nothing else.
Hi Sam What are the promethazine products that you use please? I use melatonin if I can get it and it takes ages to work but I only sleep for a short while then wake again, then have to start the whole process again. I have zolpidem from the Dr but it gives me an unbearable headache and nausea so I rarely take it.
I live in an area plagued by midges, and bites in the evening can make it difficult to sleep. Nytol solves both the itching and wakefulness. One 25mg tablet is enough almost every time. I can always take a second tablet if necessary but rarely do. I probably get through a box every summer. Morning drowsiness is easily dispelled by a mug of decent coffee about 15g of freshly-ground beans.
Hi Thanks for sharing your experience. As someone who has allergies, I know how useful these type of pills can be sometimes when you have both insomnia and itchiness! In fact I even took 12 capsules one night 8 is the max and it had no effect. I then did a bit of research and bought Boots own brand which was much cheaper than Nytol. Today I will try it out and see the difference. I will still keep the remaining Kalms capsules as they can be used for anxiety.
I experienced the same thing. I took it 20 mins before bedtime, but the results come much later. Hi Ethan, I tried Nytol for 3 nights in a row. Night one and two, out like a light.
But, by night 3 I seemed to have built up a resistance. The worst side of them for me has been strong feelings of anxiety even depression , tingling and numbness in my right leg and a lot of grogginess the next day. Best, Jenny. Hi Jenny Thanks for your comment. Prescription sleeping tablets make me alert and give me a bad headache, herbal remedies do nothing for me except one that knock me out and made me feel really groggy and sluggish the next day.
Hi Trish Thanks for sharing your experience. And when it comes to sleep aids like this, the general advice is to try not to become dependent on them and to not take them endlessly — unless a doctor recommends it.
Personally, I try never to go over a week of taking an over the counter sleep aid, and just use them from time to time to get through a bad patch if nothing else seems to be helping. I also felt very anxious which is not like me at all. Hi Gina Thanks for sharing your experience. Lorazepam is the answer for me. It guarantees me 8 hours sleep, and I wake up feeling refreshed with no side effects. My insomnia issue was waking up in the middle of the night, unable to get back to sleep — I rarely have trouble falling asleep.
Lorazepam works either way; you gradually feel dopier and dopier after 30 or 40 minutes of taking it. I used to use various OTC meds with diphenhydramine hydrochloride, but they often made my body feel…weird. Like a crawly feeling in my veins. And the fuzzy head the next day. Lorazepam is prescription only, and a controlled substance here in North America. My doc prescribes 20 pills at a time, and that tends to last me around 6 months.
To help you sleep, you'll usually take diphenhydramine 20 minutes before you go to bed. It normally takes about 30 minutes to work. Common side effects include feeling sleepy, dizzy or unsteady on your feet. You may also have difficulty concentrating and have a dry mouth. You can become dependent on diphenhydramine if you take it continuously for a period of time. It may also stop working as well. Speak to your doctor if you need to take it for more than 2 weeks. Do not drink alcohol while taking diphenhydramine.
Alcohol increases the risk of side effects. Giving diphenhydramine to children For cough and cold symptoms, you can give diphenhydramine tablets and liquid to children over the age of 6.
You can also use diphenhydramine cream on children for: insect bites and stings eczema. Important: Warning for children Do not give your child diphenhydramine to help them get to sleep. Who may not be able to take diphenhydramine Diphenhydramine is not suitable for some people. To make sure it's safe for you, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you: have ever had an allergic reaction to diphenhydramine or any other medicine have lung problems, such as asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease COPD , or an illness that creates a lot of phlegm have an eye problem called primary angle closure glaucoma have a blockage in your stomach or gut have kidney or liver problems have problems peeing or emptying your bladder have epilepsy or any other health problem that causes fits seizures are due to have an allergy test — diphenhydramine can affect your results, so you may need to stop taking it a few days before your test — ask a pharmacist or your doctor for advice are unable to have any alcohol — some liquid diphenhydramine products contain a small amount of alcohol, so check the ingredients and the packaging carefully.
Dosage If you're aged over 65, start with the lower dose, as you may be more likely to get side effects. Dosage for short-term insomnia Diphenhydramine comes as 25mg and 50mg tablets.
Dosage for cough and cold symptoms Diphenhydramine comes mixed with other medicines to treat the symptoms of coughs and colds. Dosage for hay fever and allergies Diphenhydramine comes as 25mg and 50mg tablets. Dosage for insect bites, stings and eczema Diphenhydramine comes as a cream which you use once or twice a day. How to take or use it You can take diphenhydramine tablets and liquid with or without food.
How to take diphenhydramine tablets Always take your diphenhydramine tablets with a drink of water. How to take diphenhydramine liquid Liquid medicines containing diphenhydramine come with a plastic syringe or spoon to help you measure the right dose.
How to use diphenhydramine cream With the cream, put a small amount onto the affected area and smooth it in gently. What if I forget to take or use it?
What if I take or use too much? Too much diphenhydramine can be dangerous. If you've taken more than the usual dose you may: feel very sleepy feel sick nauseous get blurry eyesight feel your heart beating very fast In serious cases you can become unconscious and may need emergency treatment in hospital.
Urgent advice: Contact for advice if:. Common side effects Common side effects happen in more than 1 in people. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist if these side effects bother you or do not go away: feeling sleepy, or drowsy, during the daytime dry mouth feeling dizzy or unsteady on your feet, or having difficulty concentrating Diphenhydramine cream can sometimes make your rash worse.
Serious side effects. Urgent advice: Contact for advice now if:. Immediate action required: Call if:. Serious allergic reaction In rare cases, it's possible to have a serious allergic reaction anaphylaxis to diphenhydramine. Other side effects These are not all the side effects of diphenhydramine.
Information: You can report any suspected side effect using the Yellow Card safety scheme. Visit Yellow Card for further information. What to do about: feeling sleepy, or drowsy, during the daytime — drowsiness usually wears off 8 hours after a dose. Do not drive, ride a bike or use tools or machinery if you're feeling this way. If the feeling does not go away or is worrying you, do not take any more medicine and speak to a pharmacist or your doctor. Diphenhydramine and pregnancy While diphenhydramine can be used during pregnancy, it is not normally recommended.
Diphenhydramine and breastfeeding If your doctor or health visitor says your baby is healthy, you can take diphenhydramine while you're breastfeeding, but it's better to take occasional doses or only take it for a short time. Non-urgent advice: Tell your doctor if you're:. Check with your pharmacist or doctor if you're taking: antidepressants, such as venlafaxine or a monoamine oxidase inhibitor such as phenelzine metoprolol , a heart medicine any medicine that makes you drowsy, gives you a dry mouth, or makes it difficult for you to pee — taking diphenhydramine might make these side effects worse If you're taking a cough or cold remedy or a painkiller containing diphenhydramine, check carefully what the other ingredients are.
Mixing diphenhydramine with herbal remedies and supplements There might be a problem taking some herbal remedies and supplements alongside diphenhydramine, especially ones that cause side effects such as sleepiness, a dry mouth or making it difficult to pee.
Important: Medicine safety Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you're taking any other medicines, including herbal medicines, vitamins or supplements. How does diphenhydramine work? How long does it take to work?
The medicine should work for around 4 to 6 hours. How long can I take it for? Only take diphenhydramine for a short time. Is diphenhydramine addictive? Can I take more than one antihistamine at a time? Important Do not take 2 antihistamines together unless you've been advised to by your doctor. What's the difference between diphenhydramine and other antihistamines?
How is it different to other cough and cold remedies? Can I take it with painkillers? Can I drive or ride a bike with it? Will it affect my fertility?
Will it affect my contraception? Can I drink alcohol with it? Do not drink alcohol while you're taking diphenhydramine. Is there any food or drink I need to avoid? You can eat normally while taking diphenhydramine. Does diphenhydramine make you put on weight? There's no evidence that diphenhydramine makes you put on weight. Can lifestyle changes help me sleep better? There are a number of things you can try to help yourself have a good night's sleep : set regular times for going to bed and waking up relax before bedtime — try taking a warm bath or listening to calming music use thick curtains or blinds, an eye mask and earplugs to stop you being woken up by light and noise avoid caffeine, cigarettes or vapes, alcohol, heavy meals and exercise for a few hours before bedtime do not watch TV or use phones, tablets or computers in bed, or before bedtime do not nap during the day make a list of your worries and any ideas for how to solve them before you go to bed — this can help you forget about them until the morning.
Can lifestyle changes help with hay fever and other allergies? Tips for when you're outside Do not cut grass or walk on grass. Wear wraparound sunglasses to stop pollen getting into your eyes.
Put Vaseline petroleum jelly around your nostrils to help trap pollen. Shower and change your clothes after you've been outside to wash off pollen. Tips for when you're inside Keep windows and doors shut as much as possible. Vacuum regularly and dust with a damp cloth.
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