Antihistamine before bed=bad idea?

[johnjohn320]

A friend says that they adversely affect your sleeping patterns-something about your REM's are abnormal or something to that effect. A bit ironic seeing as they also pretty much knock you out cold.

Any thoughts on this?

 

[bunker]

The majority of over the counter sleep aids are nothing but an antihistamine, diphenhydramine.

 

[Hayabusa Rider]

Your friend is right. You get sleep, but is is not as restful or restorative as natural sleep. There are newer agents that are far better. Ambien is one, although long term use of any hypnotic is not recommended.

 

[Mill]

Yes it will affect your sleep pattern and most of them also contain pseudoephedrine as well.

 

[johnjohn320]

OK, I should probably be more clear: I have pretty bad allergies at times, and sometimes I have trouble falling asleep from all the sneezing and itchy eyes and whatnot. It's those nights where I've taken Benadryl (an allergy-symptom antihistamine) half an hour or so before bed. My friend told me that was a bad idea, since I wouldn't sleep very well, even though it felt like I was.

 

[Soccer55]

Originally posted by: johnjohn320
OK, I should probably be more clear: I have pretty bad allergies at times, and sometimes I have trouble falling asleep from all the sneezing and itchy eyes and whatnot. It's those nights where I've taken Benadryl (an allergy-symptom antihistamine) half an hour or so before bed. My friend told me that was a bad idea, since I wouldn't sleep very well, even though it felt like I was.

I've taken Benadryl before going to bed before and usually it's a pretty good sleep. Last time I took it, I slept for 12 hours straight and woke up wide awake and ready to get started on the day. I don't know if it's a good thing to do on a regular basis and I doubt it's a good thing to use as a sleep aid, but if it's only once in a while when your allergies are bothering you, then I don't think it's a big deal. I'm no doctor, so this is just my $.02

-Tom

 

[Mill]

Originally posted by: johnjohn320
OK, I should probably be more clear: I have pretty bad allergies at times, and sometimes I have trouble falling asleep from all the sneezing and itchy eyes and whatnot. It's those nights where I've taken Benadryl (an allergy-symptom antihistamine) half an hour or so before bed. My friend told me that was a bad idea, since I wouldn't sleep very well, even though it felt like I was.

You are asking about sleep patterns. I have no doubt that an anti-histamine makes your symptoms easier to deal with and for you to fall asleep faster. The quality of sleep, however, is not the same.

As Hayabusarider said there are tons of new drugs that are a lot better(albeit prescription) and one of those is Ambien. Ambien is world's above most other short term sleeping medications but some people still have their sleep quality degraded. The beauty of Ambien is that a majority of people do not feel groggy when they wake up after using it to fall asleep.

 

[boyRacer]

I like how it knocks me out... ...but it makes my sinus feel like isht in the morning...

 

[Hayabusa Rider]

Since allergies are already affecting your sleep, what could it hurt to try? If you feel crappy after a week or two, you know what happened. I would suggest a different antihistamine though. Claritin is now OTC, and does not cause sedation in most. Alleviating your symptoms seems a rational way to handle allergies and improve sleep, it that is an issue.

FYI, it generally takes several doses of a medication to get the best results. The rule of thumb is 5. Claritin is a once a day drug, so you need to take it consistently, since taking it as needed means good relief is a long time coming.

 

[Howard]

Melatonin works perfectly, doesn't it?

 

[SociallyChallenged]

Antihistamine for one messed up my sleep patterns and two made me feel like I wasn't really living, like I was a robot or somethin'...

-Brent

 

[SammyBoy]

Dearie! God forbid you had a couple beers or something! It would mess up your brain wave cycles and you wouldnt feel like yourself, you'd feel like someone who wasn't so socially challenged, could talk to people without turning red (cuz you already are red), and LORDY you'll never be the same again. That is until you puke up your 2 beers along with the taco bell in your big fat belly, and you feel JUST FINE.