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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
[email protected]Shown: posts 1 to 16 of 16. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by beatrix34 on May 19, 2004, at 11:28:16
Does anyone know whether it is safe to be taking 50mg of Diphenhydramine a night? I have been taking it for a week now and it seems to be helping me sleep through my Effexor induced insomnia, but I don't want to continue to take it if it is going to cause me any problems in the long term. Does anyone have any info? I have chcecked the net but haven't been able to find any answers.
Posted by Lori623 on May 19, 2004, at 11:49:10
In reply to Diphenhydramine HCI - how safe for long term use?, posted by beatrix34 on May 19, 2004, at 11:28:16
> Does anyone know whether it is safe to be taking 50mg of Diphenhydramine a night? I have been taking it for a week now and it seems to be helping me sleep through my Effexor induced insomnia, but I don't want to continue to take it if it is going to cause me any problems in the long term. Does anyone have any info? I have chcecked the net but haven't been able to find any answers.
I'm not an expert, but I've been on different antihistamines most my life (29) and never had any problems associated to them.
Posted by King Vultan on May 19, 2004, at 12:08:55
In reply to Diphenhydramine HCI - how safe for long term use?, posted by beatrix34 on May 19, 2004, at 11:28:16
> Does anyone know whether it is safe to be taking 50mg of Diphenhydramine a night? I have been taking it for a week now and it seems to be helping me sleep through my Effexor induced insomnia, but I don't want to continue to take it if it is going to cause me any problems in the long term. Does anyone have any info? I have chcecked the net but haven't been able to find any answers.
I take the same quantity per night (and may have been the one who suggested it to you, for all I know) and don't believe it is of great concern. To put it in perspective, this is a pretty innocuous OTC med compared to many prescription drugs that people take every day--it is probably at least 10 times less problematic than Effexor, for instance. The only thing I might suggest is to make sure to practice good oral hygiene, as diphenhydramine (Benadryl) is anticholinergic, and dry mouth is a common side effect. The reduction in saliva can increase the risk of tooth decay and perhaps gingivitis also. I make sure to brush my teeth twice a day and floss at least once a day.Todd
Posted by rod on May 20, 2004, at 4:07:58
In reply to Diphenhydramine HCI - how safe for long term use?, posted by beatrix34 on May 19, 2004, at 11:28:16
I take 100mg of Diphenhydramine for over a year now, and didnt turn green yet :D
I also take it as a sleep aid, but it also has mild antidepressive effet for me (anticholinergic, antihistaminic, weak dopamine reuptake)Roland
Posted by Teknohead on May 20, 2004, at 7:20:37
In reply to Diphenhydramine HCI - how safe for long term use?, posted by beatrix34 on May 19, 2004, at 11:28:16
Hi!
I've personaly used Diphenhydramine on any insomnia, drug induced or otherwise, for up to about a month at a time. I usually need a full 50mg. Never had any problems except that, for me, the effects start to wear off after a few weeks and I prefer not to raise the dose over 50mg.
I find it especially helpfull for insomnia caused by a washout when switching meds.
Kev
Posted by jlbl2l on May 20, 2004, at 15:51:53
In reply to Diphenhydramine HCI - how safe for long term use?, posted by beatrix34 on May 19, 2004, at 11:28:16
i know it can lower the seizure threshold , usually at higher dosages.
Posted by Questionmark on May 22, 2004, at 14:43:43
In reply to Diphenhydramine HCI - how safe for long term use?, posted by beatrix34 on May 19, 2004, at 11:28:16
Practicing good oral hygeine IS a good piece of advice from KingVultan. Other than that, i don't believe nightly diphenhydramine use would be that bad. Be aware, however, that my one friend who used an OTC antihistamine every night for months and months for his bad insomnia, and then quit because he didn't want to rely on them anymore, got (what i maintain is)a withdrawal reaction that mimicked having really bad allergies (and he wasn't allergic to anything at all where we were before he stopped the antihistamines). It was pretty dang funny actually (he got red itchy eyes, runny nose, and was cONstantly sneezing), but it was too annoying for him so he went back to using them.
> Does anyone know whether it is safe to be taking 50mg of Diphenhydramine a night? I have been taking it for a week now and it seems to be helping me sleep through my Effexor induced insomnia, but I don't want to continue to take it if it is going to cause me any problems in the long term. Does anyone have any info? I have chcecked the net but haven't been able to find any answers.
Posted by Tony P on May 25, 2004, at 7:08:29
In reply to Diphenhydramine HCI - how safe for long term use?, posted by beatrix34 on May 19, 2004, at 11:28:16
You probably haven't found clear answers on the web because DPH has been around so long its safety is just taken for granted.
I think it's pretty darn safe - I was on similar or higher total daily doses for allergies decades ago. It's still used for allergies (Benadryl is the commonest brand), and has become almost the only OTC sleeping pill available, so the authorities must think it's safe. Like any sedative, there's a possibility it might stop working so well for you after a long time on it.
Shop for the best bargain - whether it's on the anti-histamine counter or the sleep-aids shelf, diphenhydramine is the same, and the generics are just as good as brand-name acccording to my pharmacist & my own experience. Just make sure if you get it from the antihistamines that it isn't marked No-Doze and doesn't have a decongestant or anything else added - pseudoephedrine (Sudafed) will keep you awake!.
I've only used it short-term for sleep (I don't like the quality of sleep it gives me), but a friend of mine used it for several years with no ill effects.
One poster mentioned a friend getting an allergic-like reaction on stopping DPH. I've never heard of that happening to anyone else with this drug (YMMV), but it's always a good idea to stop gradually anything you've taken for a long time. Anything from A/Ds to heart medicine can have bad effects if you stop too quickly.
Tony P
---------
> Does anyone know whether it is safe to be taking 50mg of Diphenhydramine a night? I have been taking it for a week now and it seems to be helping me sleep through my Effexor induced insomnia, but I don't want to continue to take it if it is going to cause me any problems in the long term. Does anyone have any info? I have chcecked the net but haven't been able to find any answers.
Posted by LynneDa on May 26, 2004, at 11:45:28
In reply to Diphenhydramine HCI - how safe for long term use?, posted by beatrix34 on May 19, 2004, at 11:28:16
Hi Beatrix -
After taking any anti-histamine over a long period of time and then quitting, there is indeed the chance that it will make your allergies worse. It's a rebound effect and I can't remember the physiological chain of events that occurs, but basically it causes even more sensitivity to allergens and I think overproduction of histamines? Anyway, your doctor should be able to tell you about it. It's not dangerous by any means, just annoying!Maybe vary what you take. I also use tylenol PM, midol pms, and cough medicine to sleep so I'm not always taking the same things. I also tried sleeping pills, but they made me way too groggy the next day. Good luck!
~ Lynne
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Does anyone know whether it is safe to be taking 50mg of Diphenhydramine a night? I have been taking it for a week now and it seems to be helping me sleep through my Effexor induced insomnia, but I don't want to continue to take it if it is going to cause me any problems in the long term. Does anyone have any info? I have chcecked the net but haven't been able to find any answers.
Posted by beatrix34 on May 27, 2004, at 19:36:43
In reply to Re: Diphenhydramine HCI - how safe for long term use? » beatrix34, posted by LynneDa on May 26, 2004, at 11:45:28
Thanks everyone. I have actually been getting some sleep, and have even been able to cut down to 25mg of Diphenhydramine a night...plus I'm tapering off the Effexor to try Lexapro...the quest continues... :)
Bea
Posted by owenus32 on May 27, 2004, at 22:13:07
In reply to Re: Diphenhydramine HCI - how safe for long term use? » beatrix34, posted by LynneDa on May 26, 2004, at 11:45:28
My Dad has taken sudafed for 25 years to sleep. They should use him for scientific studies when he dies. But he seems ok from it.
Posted by LynneDa on May 28, 2004, at 9:26:43
In reply to Re: Diphenhydramine HCI - how safe for long term use?, posted by beatrix34 on May 27, 2004, at 19:36:43
Bea - Good luck to you! I understand what you mean about the quest ....
I did experience insomnia on Lex - it took about 5 months for it to get under control, but i think I'm unusual in that respect. We have a whole Lex thread going, so feel free to join us on social!
~ Lynne
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Thanks everyone. I have actually been getting some sleep, and have even been able to cut down to 25mg of Diphenhydramine a night...plus I'm tapering off the Effexor to try Lexapro...the quest continues... :)
>
> Bea
Posted by snowcrash on June 21, 2004, at 13:32:56
In reply to Re: Diphenhydramine HCI - how safe for long term use? » beatrix34, posted by LynneDa on May 28, 2004, at 9:26:43
Hello
this is not really an answer to current questions but more another question:
i discovered Walgreen's Acetaminophen which consists Diphenhydramine HCI 25mg and 500mg Acetaminophen .
it is the only medicine which helps to sleep longer, i try to úse it only every second night.
here are my questions:
- do you know if this combination might be dangerous if you apply it long term?
- is the Acetaminophen probably having any effect on my sleep positively too?
- any other inexpensive alternaives (this product is so cheap)Thanx from Germany
Jens
Posted by Sad Panda on June 23, 2004, at 11:00:26
In reply to Re: Diphenhydramine HCI - how safe for long term use?, posted by snowcrash on June 21, 2004, at 13:32:56
> Hello
> this is not really an answer to current questions but more another question:
> i discovered Walgreen's Acetaminophen which consists Diphenhydramine HCI 25mg and 500mg Acetaminophen .
> it is the only medicine which helps to sleep longer, i try to úse it only every second night.
> here are my questions:
> - do you know if this combination might be dangerous if you apply it long term?
> - is the Acetaminophen probably having any effect on my sleep positively too?
> - any other inexpensive alternaives (this product is so cheap)
>
> Thanx from Germany
> Jens
>
>If that's all you need for sleep then I would suggest getting diphenhydramine without acetaminophen instead becuase acetaminophen wouldn't really help much with sleep, but would be harmful to your liver.
Cheers,
Panda.
Posted by marlboroman on October 15, 2007, at 5:59:17
In reply to Re: Diphenhydramine HCI - how safe for long term use? » snowcrash, posted by Sad Panda on June 23, 2004, at 11:00:26
this stuff is grrrrrate!
Posted by tecknohed on October 15, 2007, at 14:52:08
In reply to Re: Diphenhydramine HCI - how safe for long term use?, posted by marlboroman on October 15, 2007, at 5:59:17
> this stuff is grrrrrate!
Yeah, a great quick fix, but tolerance is likely.
This is the end of the thread.
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