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Q. I have a history of sleeping problems. I just started taking half an acetaminophen PM tablet (1/4 the adult dose) just before bed. This allows me to sleep through the night. Is this safe?
A. If pain is not an issue, you don’t need the acetaminophen. The PM part of the pill is diphenhydramine (DPH). This is the antihistamine found in Benadryl and it makes people drowsy. At the dose you are using, there should be few, if any, side effects.
While OTC sleep aids are helpful occasionally, they are not the cure for any underlying problems that may be causing insomnia. Also, how old is the patient? Anticholinergic effects should always be taken into account, especially in geriatric patients.
Watch out with benadryl...some people, like me, have a miserable reaction where the drug makes you slightly sleepy but causes your body to be hyperactive...jerky legs, inability to sit still. IT is AWFUL for me.
I take 1/2 mg of Lorazepam (Ativan) at night for sleeping, which works very well. Is this at all harmful??
I do have sleeping pills but I will also take melatonin 3MG.