Diphenhydramine is an antihistamine medicine that relieves the symptoms of allergies. It's known as a drowsy (sedating) antihistamine and is more likely to make you feel sleepy than other antihistamines.
Promethazine is an antihistamine sometimes used as a sleeping pill. It is also known by the trade names Phenergan and Sominex. It's available to buy without a prescription from a doctor. It is an ingredient in some over-the-counter cold and flu medicines, such as Night Nurse.
For people who take an antihistamine such as Benadryl for a cold or allergies, drowsiness is often a welcome side effect. But a Baylor College of Medicine sleep expert cautions against turning to this type of medication as a sleep aid.
Melatonin: Melatonin is considered one of the safest over-the-counter sleep aids, with few side effects. A prescription drug called ramelteon is designed to mimic the effects of melatonin. Like melatonin, it is not considered habit-forming and it does not affect balance.
Melatonin can now be sold over the counter in Australia, enabling insomniacs over 55 safer access to the sleep drug without a prescription. Australians insomniacs aged over 55 will no longer need to look overseas to source a sleep-inducing drug without a prescription.
Antihistamine sleep-aids (like doxylamine succinate and diphenhydramine) are largely considered to be “non-habit-forming,” because they do not cause physical dependence.
Natrol melatonin tablets are fast-dissolving, over-the-counter sleep supplements, one of the strongest sleeping aids available on the market.
Antihistamines, mainly used to treat symptoms of hay fever or other allergies, can induce drowsiness by working against a chemical produced by the central nervous system (histamine). These medications can be useful in certain situations, such as for treating sleeplessness related to travel.
Cetirizine is a second-generation antihistamine that crosses the blood–brain barrier, has been previously associated with insomnia and nocturnal awakenings, and can cause tolerance with long-term use.
Interactions between your drugs
Using cetirizine together with diphenhydrAMINE may increase side effects such as dizziness, drowsiness, and difficulty concentrating. Some people, especially the elderly, may also experience impairment in thinking, judgment, and motor coordination.
Conclusions: Diphenhydramine is known for its sedative properties and is often used in studies as positive control. Diphenhydramine has been shown to consistently impair objective and subjective measures of CNS performance at single doses as low as 25mg.
Do not take RESTAVIT™ for more than a few days at a time. If sleeplessness persists continuously for longer than this, tell your doctor. Insomnia might be a sign of another medical problem. RESTAVIT™ helps most people with sleeplessness, but it may have unwanted side effects in a few people.
According to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, antihistamine (usually diphenhydramine hydrochloride or doxylamine succinate) is the most common ingredient in OTC sleep aids. The OTC sleep medications rely on the sedating effects of the antihistamine to facilitate sleep.
Nonprescription medications
Other over-the-counter sleep medications, such as Unisom SleepTabs, contain 25 mg per pill of an antihistamine called doxylamine succinate. These medications work by blocking certain brain chemicals, which can have a sedating effect. They are generally safe but come with some risks.
Non-benzodiazepine sedative hypnotic sleeping pills
They are thought to have fewer side effects, and less risk of dependency, but are still considered controlled substances. They include zalepon (Sonata), zolpidem (Ambien), and eszopiclone (Lunesta), which have been tested for longer-term use, up to six months.
Melatonin vs Magnesium for Sleep
Magnesium helps regulate muscle relaxation, hormone production, inflammation levels, and energy metabolism, all contributing to better sleep quality. Meanwhile, melatonin helps reset your internal body clock, so you can fall asleep quickly and stay asleep for extended periods.
Taking magnesium supplements can bring a range of side effects, such as drowsiness or fatigue during the day, muscle weakness, nausea, vomiting, skin flushing or diarrhea, Gurubhagavatula said. Some risks are even more serious.
Generally, magnesium glycinate is recognized as the best form of magnesium to help with sleep because it's easy for the body to absorb. Though the effects of magnesium on sleep are not completely known or understood, some believe that its effects on muscle contraction and nervous system regulation help improve sleep.
Keep the bedroom dark and quiet: Environmental disturbances, like noise and light, can wake a person from nighttime sleep. If darkness and quiet are not possible, wearing a sleep mask to block out light and earplugs to block out sound can help.
Reasons this might happen include drinking caffeine or alcohol late in the day, a poor sleep environment, a sleep disorder, or another health condition. When you can't get back to sleep quickly, you won't get enough quality sleep to keep you refreshed and healthy.