And in the process, this increases your phases of light sleep at the expense of deeper sleep, leading to greater likelihood of next-day sedation. Putting a dog to sleep with Benadryl can be used to put your dog to sleep via euthanasia; so as not to cause pain anymore. And switching to an OTC sleep drug that happens to contain antihistamine doesn’t mean you’re off the hook, either. 12.5 mg (Benadryl … As mentioned earlier, Benadryl can be used for exceptional cases, and one of the most common is euthanizing dogs. Updated September 27, 2019. Experts discuss whether it's safe to rely on the allergy medicine. As it does cause sleepiness, it is only recommended for short-term treatment of insomnia or acute insomnia. Because antihistamines can peer pressure your body to spend more time in the lighter stages of sleep, the eight hours you clock in bed might end up feeling more like five. , a New York-based allergist and spokesperson for the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. Our free guide can help you get the rest you need. (Other sleep aids, such as melatonin, have little to no drowsiness effect.) doi:10.1093/geront/gnv139, Sateia MJ, Buysse DJ, Krystal AD, Neubauer DN, Heald JL. Diphenhydramine has many potential uses. Antihistamines don’t get to the core of what’s really affecting your sleep. This leads to sedative effects and is accomplished by blocking its uptake into nearby cells. “The onset of action is about 20 minutes, so people feel like it’s really ‘working,’” Elliott added. When you’re tired by day and wired by night, it can get to the point where you’ll try just about anything to get a solid night’s sleep ― including taking Benadryl, a drowsiness-inducing antihistamine, whether you’re experiencing allergies or not. If your sleep problems persist beyond two weeks, at most, evaluation by a doctor is a good idea. “Make sure you aren’t allotting more than an hour to fall asleep, in addition to your average nightly sleep duration.”. Focus on: keeping a regular sleep and wake time to maintain your body’s sleep-wake cycle; jotting down every loose end and worry so that your mind’s quieter before you hit the sack; maintaining a bedtime routine that promotes relaxation. (Other sleep aids, such as melatonin, have little to no drowsiness effect.) Trazodone may be an effective sleep aid with fewer side effects than other options. Sure, some sleep is better than no sleep, even if it’s of the lighter variety. Benadryl is not a great option to improve sleep, particularly to get better sleep over time. The blocking of acetylcholine (anticholinergic effect) causes a sedative sensation to the … These occur more rarely. Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. Side effects might include daytime drowsiness, dry mouth, blurred vision, constipation … A bedtime snack can prevent hunger pangs from keeping you awake, too. Get our printable guide for your next doctor's appointment to help you ask the right questions. Benadryl It may help you get to sleep or stay asleep. Another thing that can help is adding more options to your sleep hygiene repertoire so that you’re not relying solely on one way of nodding off when the going gets tough. Her study reveals that the over-the-counter medications most often recommended to parents for insomnia in kids were antihistamines such as Benadryl and "nighttime" … Benadryl works really well for my hives and some allergies. Continued. But only one is indicated for helping you fall asleep. The over-the-counter medication diphenhydramine is found in many sleeping pills intended for insomnia treatment. Sanja Jelic, MD, is board-certified in sleep medicine, critical care medicine, pulmonary disease, and internal medicine. We asked experts to give us the breakdown. If you are thinking about taking Benadryl … You may feel like a human yo-yo for the first couple of weeks, Reed said, but eventually your bed will become a stronger trigger for sleep ― and you can finally get back to catching quality Zs. You may also develop a tolerance to the sedative effects pretty quickly, according to the Mayo Clinic, so the longer you take the medication, the less likely they are to help you conk out. ZzzQuil 5. Advil PM 3. , roughly 1 in 5 adults use an over-the-counter sleep aid, and Benadryl is one of the most commonly used products. Discover How Travel Affects Circadian Rhythms, cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBTI), Review of safety and efficacy of sleep medicines in older adults, Sleep health and appropriate use of OTC sleep aids in older adults-recommendations of a Gerontological Society of America workgroup, Clinical practice guideline for the pharmacologic treatment of chronic insomnia in adults: An American Academy of Sleep Medicine clinical practice guideline, Diphenhydramine hydrochloride injection, USP label, Diminished coordination or cognitive function, Increased intraocular pressure (similar to glaucoma), Anaphylaxis (severe allergic reaction including difficulty breathing), Low blood cell counts (agranulocytosis, anemia, thrombocytopenia, and leukopenia). , so the longer you take the medication, the less likely they are to help you conk out. 2017;13(2):307–349. Antihistamines can cause drowsiness, which might help you fall asleep for a few nights but routine use of antihistamines for insomnia isn't recommended. But does taking a Benadryl really contribute to a better night’s sleep ― and is it even safe?