TheSeanieB

I'm starting med school in 4 1/2 month and was hoping to have my dependence on Benadryl taken care of before I start. I am, however, finding that this may be impossible.

Background: Up until my discovery of benedryl/Sominex/Tylenol PM when I was 16, I was never able to get the right amount of sleep. Even by doing all of the right things, I would lie awake and get on average 4-5 hours per night. Upon the discovery of Diphenhydramine, I was able to get 6-7 hours nightly. The expense was that I have had to take increasing doses of Diphenhydramine for this to continue. I am now up to 4 times the recommended dose nightly in order to get my 6-7 hours.

I have seen several doctors and done extensive reading online to no avail. The last doctor a Neurologist/Sleep Medicine Specialist prescribed Ativan to cure me of the Benedryl dependence. I found that this was essentially trading one dependence for another.

So here is my question. Do I have an actual condition that is treatable. My condition is that I only can only sleep 4-5 hours with the neurons that I was born with when I really need 6-7 hours per night. Is there something that can be fixed? I have been advised before that I should just stop the benedryl and lose sleep and let my body take of the rest. I've tried this and even months later I am exausted and cannot enought sleep. The best way to decribe it is that my equalibrium for sleep is 4.5 hours per night.

Any advice

Ghostly

I can relate. Have you gotten rid of all caffeine and sugar? I'm talkin bout all. If not, do and see if that works / helps.

I take a prescription sleeping pill (10 mg Ambien) but frequently combine it with one diphenhydramine (25 mg). That generally works for me.

Before this I used a lot of Vodka, which worked, but had obvious other problems.

Before that I used just 1 or 2 diphenhydramine, but it wasn't reliable.

I feel for you. Sleep problems suck. Realize if you have tried everything other than a prescription for long periods of time, nothing else may work. You may have to go without sleep. Otherwise consider talkin to a Dr. bout other meds. I hear ya that is is trading one thing for another. For me it was an easy choice. One or two reasonable sleep meds a night to trade for a large amount of Vodka.

So, sounds like you have tried everything. Give up all sugar / caffeine. Try to sleep without anything for a while. See what happens. If you go months without sleep...consider other options. Good luck.

Squizz

I don't know what to tell ya'. But I will say this: four times the recommended amount o Benadryl is NUTS.

Dude, if I take the recommended dose, I'm a ZOMBIE the entire next day. How on Earth could you get through the day?

dbearw

I take trazadone, a low dose, for insomnia. It has been a couple of years at the same dose. I love it after years of no sleep.

currygod

As the above poster said trazodone is pretty good for sleep and many people never seem to develop a tolerence to it even after years of use.

You could also try a melatonin? Its naturally found in the brain and is involved in inducing sleep, you can buy supplements (either online or I think some health food shops stock them) and are really effective is sending people off.

I did notice you said you didn't wanna gain another dependence though so have you considered something like exercise? I'm not saying its a panacea by any means but it pretty useful in treating many complaints, insomnia included .

Tabula

The good news is yes you can give up. If it was something like Zopiclone, Zolpidem I'd say go to a doctor immediately as both of those can cause suicidal thoughts (I speak from experience).

Sominex is ok, although I've always used Phenergan which is the same compound but a hell of a lot cheaper.

I'm using something called Sleep essentials at the moment which contains GABA, Melatonin, Valerian and some other bits and pieces. When I've stopped taking everything it generally takes anything up to a month before I even approach a normal sleeping pattern.

Even then I have to make sure that I get up early, get some exercise while awake and go to bed at the same time (not too early, I can't sleep before midnight generally) I have to get up at the same time at the weekends too which is a killer for me, but there you go.

Valerian can be bought as tea, and it's one of the few herbs which has some clinical backing for its efficacy.

Oh and avoid caffeine, it really causes problems.

Latte

Have you considered asking your doctor for a sleep study? I know that my Step Father got one done and needed a CPAP. He is doing so well now. Weight loss (he was overweight), full nights sleep, and just a generally happier person.

We are about ready to set my daughter up for a sleep study because she has breathing issues at night which keep her from getting a restful nights sleep. I believe she just needs her tonsils and adenoids removed but the sleep study is something I'd like to try first and her Pediatrician agrees (my daughter is 9).