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Antihistamine for Sleep

Newspaper Columns, Pharmacy Q&A May 2, 2008

Antihistamine for Sleep

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.

Tags: acetaminophen, diphenhydramine, insomnia

Reader Comments

The comments below are provided by the users of this site and not by The Peoples Pharmacy or the Graedons. Please also remember that nothing contained in this site is intended as a substitute for medical advice.

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.

Posted by: A.G. | May 3, 2008 4:01 PM

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.

Posted by: LF | May 9, 2008 8:39 AM

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Joe Graedon is a pharmacologist. Teresa Graedon holds a doctorate in medical anthropology and is a nutrition expert. Their syndicated radio show can be heard on public radio. In their column, Joe and Teresa Graedon answer letters from readers. Write to them in care of this newspaper or e-mail them via their Web site: www.PeoplesPharmacy.com.

© 2008 King Features Syndicate, Inc.