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Benedryl

jswog

By jswog
in Related Issues & Disorders

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jswog Contributor
jswog
Posted

Hi! Not sure if this is the best forum for posting this question, but here goes...

I'm normally a VERY sound sleeper and can sleep through ANYTHING. Ever since I went gluten free, I've been not sleeping well, very light, waking up often, and just having a difficult time getting to sleep. Would benedryl be safe to take to kind of help me over the hump to sleeping again? Or do you have any other suggestions that might help me?

TYIA!

Jen

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eatmeat4good Enthusiast
eatmeat4good
Posted

Benedryl could either make you drowsy...or make you jittery. It isn't really meant as a sleep aid, though I do know some people use it as such. Melatonin is a supplement that is said to help those with trouble sleeping and those with jet lag. It is harmless by all research I have read. You could try that. Or test out how you do with Benedryl. Or ask your Dr. for a short term solution to sleeplessness. Hopefully things will balance out soon.

Skylark Collaborator
Skylark
Posted

As long as you follow all the directions on the package, Benedryl is fine to try for sleep. It's been marketed as Sominex for decades. I find it leaves me drowsy in the morning though.

I like to take a little passion flower herb if I have trouble sleeping. It's milder and I'm not aware of any dangers or side effects from it. It only works for a few nights and then I get used to it, though. Also, I don't sleep well if I forget my fish oil for a few days.

Bubba's Mom Enthusiast
Bubba's Mom
Posted

I use Benedryl(at bedtime) along with Melatonin(an hour before bedtime) if I'm having a bad night. For me, insomnia means I got some cc somewhere, so be sure you're not getting a small dose somehow?

Also, be sure to take a calcium and multi vitamin suppliment. Low calcium can cause insomnia and a B6 deficiency can as well. I'm sure there must be other nutrients in the puzzle as too?

Good luck to you in sorting this out. I'm very well aware of how it feels to go without sleep. Not good at all!

jswog Contributor
jswog
Posted
  • Author

I use Benedryl(at bedtime) along with Melatonin(an hour before bedtime) if I'm having a bad night. For me, insomnia means I got some cc somewhere, so be sure you're not getting a small dose somehow?

This has only started after I went gluten-free. I was sleeping very well (very sound) before going gluten-free.

Also, be sure to take a calcium and multi vitamin suppliment. Low calcium can cause insomnia and a B6 deficiency can as well. I'm sure there must be other nutrients in the puzzle as too?

I do take both already (Calcium/Magnesium Combo), in addition to a Iron/VitC/Folic Acid/B12. My multi has 20mg (1000% RDV) of B6, 400IU (100% RDV) VitD, 50mg (5%RDV) of Calcium. The Calcium/Magnesium has 1000mg (100% RDV) Calcium, 50IU (13% RDV) VitD, and 500mg (125% RDV) Magnesium. Now all of this has no bearing on if I'm actually absorbing it all or not. I do have a follow-up appointment on Thursday when I should have the results of my biopsies and I plan to ask her to run a vitamin/mineral profile to weed out any deficiencies I may/may not have.

  • 1 year later...
amahones Rookie
amahones
Posted

Hi! Not sure if this is the best forum for posting this question, but here goes...

I'm normally a VERY sound sleeper and can sleep through ANYTHING. Ever since I went gluten free, I've been not sleeping well, very light, waking up often, and just having a difficult time getting to sleep. Would benedryl be safe to take to kind of help me over the hump to sleeping again? Or do you have any other suggestions that might help me?

TYIA!

Jen

One of Benadryl's side effects is sleepiness and because of that, it's the active ingredient in most OTC sleep-aids, and in the "night-time" version of many OTC drugs (I think Zzzquil, Advil PM and others). I find with Benadryl that I am very groggy in the morning but that probably isn't a big concern if you're not sleeping at all. I've had reasonable luck with Melatonin and I have a prescription for clonazepam that I take occasionally. Good luck, I hope you find something that helps you!

shadowicewolf Proficient
shadowicewolf
Posted

you could take it, but should you need it for something else (aka allergic reaction), it probably won't work the best as your body would be used to it.

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  • 4 months later...
Smylinacha Apprentice
Smylinacha
Posted

Before I went gluten free, I couldn't sleep and attributed it to stress. Dr. gave me Valium and that barely worked. Then I tried Ambien but I couldn't wake up for work. Now I just take some calcium and a benadryl the dye free ones and I only wake up once at night. I do sleep a little better going gluten free and not as stressed and depressed.

love2travel Mentor
love2travel
Posted

Still have raging insomnia. Wake up at least 25x per night. Mostly due to pain. Benadryl does not make me the least bit sleepy. Ambien is the only thing that allows me about six hours of sleep. Waiting for it to improve so I can be alert!

whitepine Apprentice
whitepine
Posted

My partner finds a certain magnesium tablet helps him sleep better. Sometimes it can be a magnesium or other vitamin deficiency that causes insomnia. I get panic attacks more often when my iron is really low and I have a hard time sleeping.

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