zeion said:
Hello.
I've been using sleeping pills with 25mg of diphenhydramine hydrochloride occasionally to help me sleep.
I take 2 pills each time maybe 3 times a week.
I'm just wondering if there is any long term effects if I continue to do this regularly?
(I've read the article on Wikipedia already, just wanted some personal input.)
As well, would you recommend any alternatives to help me sleep better?
I've began to try to exercise more already.
Thanks.
My first reaction is what any doctor you ask will have: why are do you feel the need to take sleep aids 3 times a week? All drugs have possible adverse effects, and unless you've explored the full range of simple tools to get to sleep (generally under the term: "Sleep Hygiene"), I don't see why you should take this. Check your caffeine intake, and the time at which you take it in. Try to have small 'ritual' around sleep, such as brushing teeth and the like. Something as simple as progressive muscle relaxation and breathing exercises are very effective in cases where there is no underlying medical or psychological issue.
That, however, is not what you asked. What you're taking is better known to the average person as 'Dramamine', a medication often purchased OTC or by Rx for motion sickness. As anyone who's used Dramamine knows, it has the unfortunate side effect of causing drowsiness in many people. It is therefore, the adverse effect of one application which is exploited here for the advantage of the sleeper.
I should say, it's not EXACTLY Dramamine, but a mixture of diphenhydramine and buffer = Dramamine (diphenhydrate). Really, diphenhydramine is everything that Dramamine is, but in its original formulation to max the hypnotic effect (as with most antihistamines). There ARE effects, although any allergic reaction would likely have manifested by this time.
Obviously this is not exactly the most dangerous pharmaceutical out there, but it does have some notable adverse reactions. I for one, wouldn't like a long QT develop (Q-T interval of cardiac sinus rhythm), which can be deadly alone, but can also be exacerbated by other drugs into causing a lethal event, even at a young age. This drug is a sufficiently powerful hynotic that it definitely has the capacity to form a psychological habit, especially if used to alleviate anxiety or induce sleep for a similar reason.
The other thing, which relates this to Scopolamine, is the profound anticholinergic effect. Now, unless you start taking this in unsafe quantities you don't have to worry about anticholingergic toxidrome, but dry mouth at night alone can increase tooth decay and gum disease... a LOT.
The only other one, and this relates to the first thing I said, is the line you should have read from Wikipedia: "Since 2002, the US FDA requires special labeling warning against using multiple products that contain diphenhydramine.[18]
Diphenhydramine has been shown to build tolerance against its sedation effectiveness very quickly, with placebo-like results after a third day of common dosage.[19]"
The tale of any drug that allows someone to build tolerance is the same: dependence, or possible toxicity. Because it's an anticholinergic, there's an upper limit to what you can take before developing serious side effects, ones that would stop a rational person from using the drug. Of course, this leaves the person in search of a new way to get to sleep, and that often leads to drinking (bad idea), or prescription medications. The latter is fine if you need it, but not just for the sake of mild insomnia.
BOTTOM LINE: The fact that you take a sleep aid 3 times a week at the maximum dosage (in the west at least) should be a cause to visit your doctor. There are better options with no side effects that you can probably learn. It's not so much that this is a terrible and dangerous drug, but that the benefit to you vs. the risk is terrible when you can get the same benefit for 0 risk.
