![]() ![]() But check the leaflet that comes with your medicine to make sure.ĭo not drink alcohol while you are taking an antihistamine. Check the leaflet that comes with the medicine or ask your GP or pharmacist.įood and other drinks do not affect most antihistamines. Some antihistamines may need to be taken with water or food. You can use some types of antihistamine for a long time, but some are only recommended for a few days. If you're not sure how to use your medicine, such as eye drops or a nasal spray, ask your GP or pharmacist. This is because they can make you feel sleepy. Some types of antihistamine should be taken just before bedtime. How much you should take can depend on your age and weight. Take your antihistamine as advised by your GP or pharmacist, or as described in the leaflet that comes with it. If you no longer have the leaflet that came with your medicine, find an online version of it. ![]() Read the leaflet that comes with your medicine to check it's safe to give to your child. Read the leaflet that comes with your medicine to check it's safe for you to take. But not all antihistamines are suitable for everyone. Most people can safely take antihistamines. ![]() ![]() You may need to try several types to find one that works for you.Īsk a pharmacist for advice if you're not sure which antihistamine to try. Some people find certain types work best for them. Most types of antihistamine are just as good as each other. They are less likely to make you feel sleepy, but they still can. Non-drowsy antihistamines include cetirizine, fexofenadine and loratadine. They may be the best type for you if your symptoms stop you sleeping. non-drowsy - antihistamines less likely to make you feel sleepyĭo not drive or use machinery after taking any type of antihistamine.Īntihistamines that make you feel sleepy include chlorphenamine (including Piriton) and promethazine.drowsy - antihistamines that make you feel sleepy.According to studies from Consumer Reports, 1 out of 10 adults 65 and older who take OTC sleep aids report feeling “uncoordinated, tripping, or falling.” What’s more, they’re 34% more likely to fall than those not taking sleep drugs.There are many types of antihistamine, but they're usually divided into 2 groups: This side effect is particularly concerning for older adults who typically metabolize medications at a slower rate. (5-6)Īntihistamines-which are a sub-group of medications under the larger anticholinergic group-block acetylcholine, (7-8) and this disruption in acetylcholine metabolism may cause REM sleep to suffer, which is one reason why upwards of 40% of people taking OTC sleep aids report feelings of fogginess or drowsiness the following morning. Because of the disparity between the brain increasing activity and the muscles remaining inactive (known as atonia), REM is sometimes referred to as “paradoxical sleep.” We spend about 20-25% of our sleep time in this stage, which benefits cognitive functions such as memory consolidation, creativity, and learning. (4) During this time of the night, brain waves are far more active, although muscles remain fully relaxed. This neurotransmitter plays a critical role in rapid eye movement sleep, otherwise known as REM. When you use drugstore sleeping pills with antihistamines, sleep quality may suffer. The quality of your sleep-the amount of deep and REM sleep-matters, too. When you dig deeper, you’ll find that sleep time is only part of the story. (3) At face value, that sounds like a good thing (who wouldn’t want 30 more minutes of shut-eye?), but is it worth it when sleep quality suffers? A Consumer Reports study found that most OTC sleep aids increase total sleep duration by 20-30 minutes. (2)Ĭontrary to what many believe, antihistamines do NOT lead to better quality sleep. In fact, the American Academy of Sleep Medicine has officially suggested that clinicians not use this antihistamine as a treatment for sleep onset and sleep maintenance insomnia in adults. Histamine receptors also affect wakefulness, antihistamines have a secondary use as sleep aids because users often experience a feeling of drowsiness.ĭespite the fact that diphenhydramine is used in several over-the-counter sleep aids, Benadryl itself is not recommended for sleep. For the most part, antihistamine medications are used to reduce or eliminate allergy symptoms. Do antihistamines like Benadryl help you sleep?Īs the name suggests, antihistamines work to reduce or block histamines, which are chemicals produced by the immune system. ![]()
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