Benadryl is BAD news!

[2girlsmom]

I took 2 Benadryl the other night for congestion. I had a horrid night data wise, woke feeling awful! My AHI has been around 3-4 with AI 0.0-0.4 nightly. Well the night I took benadryl AHI was 7.8 and AI was 2.0!!! Bad!!! I know people have asked about Benadryl recently and from my experience I can honestly say do not take it!!!

[kteague]

Just thinking, couldn't the congestion for which you took the Benadryl have contributed to the higher numbers? When your congestion is fully resolved, maybe take a dose of Benadryl and see if your numbers are similarly affected.
Kathy

[WearyOne]

Did you take Benedryl that's just an antihistamine, or one that has a decongestant? Antihistamine-only will not help with congestions, only sneezing, runny nose, post-nasal drip, etc. Decongestants help with nose and sinus congestion, but they can cause insomnia.

I take Benedryl antihistamine only when I'm really having trouble with post-nasal drainage or runny nose. It doesn't change my numbers at all, but I do have a "hung over" feeling the next day.

Pam

[Babette]

Everyone reacts differently to it. My receptionist is actually ALLERGIC to Benadryl. She has a bad problem with food allergies causing her hives, but she can't take Benadryl, because it also gives her hives! Poor thing.....

I agree. Try another experiment once you're "well" and see what your numbers do. You might have actually been inadvertently shoving the mask out of full seated position, and causing leaks and more events.

Good luck!
B.

[deerhound]

I have Myasthenia Gravis and Benadryl can exacerbate the muscle weakness associated with MG. Not a good thing if you also have OSA.
Dale

[roster]

Benadryl is not a decongestant. If congestion is caused by allergies then Benadryl, being an antihistamine, may help.

Benadryl will "hold you under" so if you have apneas they may last longer. Not good.

Benadryl alters normal sleep architecture and can leave you feeling groggy the next day. Not good.

Benadryl dries out membraneous tissue. Not good. Drink a lot of water.

For some advice on congestion and drugs, please see Dr. Falcon's advice in this thread: viewtopic/t36483/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=36 ... a&start=15

[sheltie]

Very interesting! For about 25 years I've taken two Tylenol PM before going to bed. However, for the past five years I been taking hydrocodone 10/650 three times a day and finally decided I wanted to cut down my acetaminophen use so quite the Tylenol and went to a Benadryl generic as it has EXACTLY the same sleep aid as the Tylenol without the acetaminophen. Great results, less danger for me.

[Treesap]

I've taken Benedryl every night for years. It helps knock me out. I originally started taking it for night time congestion. It didn't work. It must be because the congestion isn't allergy-related.

I'm one of "those" who have congestion on one side at night. I think it would be hard to get off Benedryl. It could be mental, but I know I would have a hard time falling asleep as quickly as I do.

[goose]

I've been taking benedryl at bedtime for years -- both for sleep assistance and allergy control....(one of my many allergy weapons). It's never left me groggy in the morning and it doesn't leave me "dried out" -- though I tend to drink a lot of liquids normally.
If you don't need the "other ingredients" don't take the "PM" type stuff as the PM part is generally benedryl. Like sheltie, if you don't need the acetaminophen don't use it -- it IS liver toxic!!!!!
Everyone reacts to things differently, so I wouldn't say unequivocally "don't use it".....I'd say, try it and see if it works for you. My disclaimer?? I'm not a doctor!!!!

cheers
goose

[kayakdoc]

Benadryl alters sleep architecture? Can we hear a little more about that?

I've been taking 2 benadryl caps per night for 4 weeks now to reduce congestion/post nasal drip and it works great for that, and helps me get sleepy, but I forgot about the morning hang-over effect. I'll knock it off and see if mornings get any better.

I prefer the real benadryl because the generics I've seen have additional unnecessary ingredients in them besides the diphenhydramine and the fewer chems the better, IMO.

[roster]

I am not a fan of acetaminophen but I will say the idea that it causes liver damage is way overblown.

McNeil's (Tylenol producer) website says, "When Used As Directed TYLENOL® Is The Safest Type Of Pain Reliever". Science has completed no studies that can refute this statement.

There are studies that show a doubling of the recommended dose combined with alcohol consumption raises a certain enzyme level in the liver. The studies did not show liver damage even in this extreme case. If you have a subscription to JAMA you can find the study.

If I need a pain killer, it is usually because of inflammation such as muscle soreness. Acetaminophen does a poor job of addressing this so I will take a NSAID, such as ibuprofen or aspirin. But I am careful because of the danger of stomach lining erosion caused by regular use of NSAIDs.

16 aspirin or ibuprofen per day will do more damage to your health than an overdose of 16 extra stregnth Tylenol per day. I do not recommend either.

[roster]

Benadryl alters sleep architecture? Can we hear a little more about that?

.........

A number of clinical studies have addressed the dose- and time-dependent properties of antihistamines and found both subjective and objective changes in sleepiness, sleep, and psychomotor performance associated with the reduction in latency to sleep onset or increase in sleep duration.[5-8] Although previous studies tended to support the use of this class of drugs to treat occasional mild-to-moderate insomnia,[9,10] more recent opinions of sleep specialists have shifted strongly against this practice.[11]

The major reason for limiting the use of antihistamines for treating insomnia is their multiple side effects, including changes in sleep architecture, notably a reduction in rapid eye movement (REM) sleep caused by their anticholinergic effects; a reduction in cognitive functions;[12] day-after sedation; an increased risk of accidents;[13] the development of tolerance;[14] and interference with other medications. The side effects of antihistamines appear to be especially risky for elderly patients, almost 50% of whom use sleep medications occasionally or on a regular basis and who often choose OTC sleep aids.[15]

Source: http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/495339

Just Google "benadryl and sleep architecture". You will see lots of info.

For people who say they have used Benadryl (diphenhydramine) for years, they probably developed tolerance early on and any beneficial effect today is only placebo. Personally, I would find a placebo with fewer negative side effects.

2girlsmom is correct, "Benadryl is bad news!"

[Debjax]

Hubby is on 2,000 mg of Niaspan daily for his heart problems, and there are times where it makes him flush like a lobster and itch like mad. He has to take Benadryl on those nights, it is the only thing that helps even slightly.

[mbridget]

Following my sleep guys instructions I am actually 'not allowed' to take Benedryl anymore because it increases my RLS, which wakes me up, etc...etc...

[goose]

According to a couple of my doctors (including the sleep neurologist), the low dose I take daily doesn't cause tolerance effects. If you take full dose, all day, every day (like it says on the bottle!!), then yes, you will develop a tolerance.....
I'll spare you the entire bar stool analogy, but for me the histamines have no place to sit because all the stools are occupied (by anti-histamines)....no histamines - no adverse allergic reactions (adverse reactions, for me, can and have included very acute asthma) - no adverse reactions - I can breathe. Placebo's won't/can't occupy the stools!!!!!! Benedryl is only one weapon in my arsenal against allergies - causing drowsiness is a great side effect (I initially started it for the drowsiness but discovered it was doing more for my breathing that my sleeping) - it certainly works for me!!!! Very well, thank you!!

Again, different compounds affect different people in different ways. If it causes you issues, by all means, don't take it!!!
Questions about drug interactions or effects should be addressed to your pharmacist (I'd look at the PDR first, but.....that's me).

cheers
goose