Benadryl/Hydroxyzine
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Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2018
Posts: 1
Benadryl/Hydroxyzine
Hi all! I have almost 2 years sober. Im wondering what your thoughts are about taking antihistamines for legitimate insomnia issues. I recently experienced a devasting loss. I went to my doc to get back on my antidepressants and she also precribed me hydroxyzine for insomnia/anxiety. I have not taken more than directed. But it still makes me worried that somehow i have comprimised my sobriety. I also will take a benadryl at nignt time here or there when i cant sleep. Again.. Not more than the recommended dose. Thoughts???
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Join Date: Jun 2018
Posts: 275
I think the issue can get a bit complicated. The two antihistamines you mention both obviously cause sedation. Benadryl is commonly used as both a sleep aid and a medicine for allergies and upper respiratory symptoms, as it can dry up a runny nose. I don't think anyone would consider using Benadryl for hay fever to be an immediate threat to your sobriety.
However, sedating antihistamines can rapidly change your emotional state. Bear with me here; it goes like this: let's say you're in bed, tossing and turning, and the experience is uncomfortable. Your mind is wandering all over the place, and you're experiencing frustration, anxiety, boredom, and maybe even anger as you contemplate having to wake up early in the morning without having a refreshing sleep.
So you reach for the sleeping pill, and within a half hour you drift off. So far, so good; that's what sleep aids are for, right?
Well, the potential threat to your sobriety comes from the idea that you can use a chemical to rapidly turn off uncomfortable emotions. We all drink for many different reasons, but one common reason is to turn off an uncomfortable emotion.
Many people can use chemical sleep aids without any difficulty, so by no means is there a one size fits all answer. But the more someone's pattern of use starts to resemble using a pill to turn off uncomfortable feelings, the more reinforcing (and risky) the pattern becomes.
In fact, sleep aids can become habit-forming for this reason. People can get used to the idea of not having to wait for sleep to come naturally, and then the idea of trying to sleep without the pill becomes itself a source of anxiety. Hence the common recommendation to use them for short periods only (say, a week or two), and not night after night in an ongoing way.
As they say, your mileage may vary, but those are my thoughts.
However, sedating antihistamines can rapidly change your emotional state. Bear with me here; it goes like this: let's say you're in bed, tossing and turning, and the experience is uncomfortable. Your mind is wandering all over the place, and you're experiencing frustration, anxiety, boredom, and maybe even anger as you contemplate having to wake up early in the morning without having a refreshing sleep.
So you reach for the sleeping pill, and within a half hour you drift off. So far, so good; that's what sleep aids are for, right?
Well, the potential threat to your sobriety comes from the idea that you can use a chemical to rapidly turn off uncomfortable emotions. We all drink for many different reasons, but one common reason is to turn off an uncomfortable emotion.
Many people can use chemical sleep aids without any difficulty, so by no means is there a one size fits all answer. But the more someone's pattern of use starts to resemble using a pill to turn off uncomfortable feelings, the more reinforcing (and risky) the pattern becomes.
In fact, sleep aids can become habit-forming for this reason. People can get used to the idea of not having to wait for sleep to come naturally, and then the idea of trying to sleep without the pill becomes itself a source of anxiety. Hence the common recommendation to use them for short periods only (say, a week or two), and not night after night in an ongoing way.
As they say, your mileage may vary, but those are my thoughts.
quat
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: terra (mostly)firma
Posts: 4,822
Just to touch on common reasons and such.
I drank to get drunk , intoxicated. When intoxicated I was emotionally unpredictable , either heightened emotions or run toward flat, usually just numb out but always the potential to get 'madder' or even 'happier', didn't matter really , I drank to get intoxicated, I loved that.
Habitual sleep aid use can have adverse effects and knowing that going in will help most people to recognize and be mindful of any needed precautions. Common sense , yeah ?
"Addicts" aren't by definition getting fooled into behaviors because of some inherent different-ness , if you use anything alcohol , sleep aids ect and find yourself liking the effects for the effects sake, well common sense should better kick in. For addicts , former addicts or never addicts.
If anyone uses chemicals that produce even mild intoxicating effects, watch out, especially if you like the way they feel, yeah ?
I drank to get drunk , intoxicated. When intoxicated I was emotionally unpredictable , either heightened emotions or run toward flat, usually just numb out but always the potential to get 'madder' or even 'happier', didn't matter really , I drank to get intoxicated, I loved that.
Habitual sleep aid use can have adverse effects and knowing that going in will help most people to recognize and be mindful of any needed precautions. Common sense , yeah ?
"Addicts" aren't by definition getting fooled into behaviors because of some inherent different-ness , if you use anything alcohol , sleep aids ect and find yourself liking the effects for the effects sake, well common sense should better kick in. For addicts , former addicts or never addicts.
If anyone uses chemicals that produce even mild intoxicating effects, watch out, especially if you like the way they feel, yeah ?
Member
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: US
Posts: 5,095
I can share my experience for what its worth.
Hydroxyzine, I think, is just high powered benadryl. I have taken it but I'm one of those weirdo's that gets amped from antihistamines. So they simply don't work for me.
I have been tapering off Seroquel for sleep for like 5 years. Yeah, you heard that right. I'm almost off it and I sooooo wish I had never started it. But I was having insane sleep paralysis so, I dunno, maybe I needed it. Anyway, its pretty hard getting back to normal sleeping when sleep aides have been used...or at least that's been my observation, and personal experience.
The science shows that over time sleep aides have an adverse effect on sleep due to tolerance and other issues...probably just long term messing with circadian cycles. I've heard that seeing a sleep specialist (CBT) is more effective long term. I'm seeing one....in January. Soonest apt. Whatever.
I'm using magnesium, valerian and melatonin and that seems to work well. But again, a sleep aide, albeit natural. If hydroxazine works for you you might respond well to the supplements I just mentioned. But ask your dr for sure because herbs etc can interact with other meds.
Hydroxyzine, I think, is just high powered benadryl. I have taken it but I'm one of those weirdo's that gets amped from antihistamines. So they simply don't work for me.
I have been tapering off Seroquel for sleep for like 5 years. Yeah, you heard that right. I'm almost off it and I sooooo wish I had never started it. But I was having insane sleep paralysis so, I dunno, maybe I needed it. Anyway, its pretty hard getting back to normal sleeping when sleep aides have been used...or at least that's been my observation, and personal experience.
The science shows that over time sleep aides have an adverse effect on sleep due to tolerance and other issues...probably just long term messing with circadian cycles. I've heard that seeing a sleep specialist (CBT) is more effective long term. I'm seeing one....in January. Soonest apt. Whatever.
I'm using magnesium, valerian and melatonin and that seems to work well. But again, a sleep aide, albeit natural. If hydroxazine works for you you might respond well to the supplements I just mentioned. But ask your dr for sure because herbs etc can interact with other meds.
Member
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: ohio
Posts: 3,615
It’s individual, I think. If YOU feel that taking these meds compromises your sobriety, beware. If your doc prescribed them and you are uneasy because you think maybe you’re in danger... I personally think an abundance of caution related to our sobriety is a good thing but in this case don’t think that’s a big worry.
Again, it’s your situation and you know yourself better than we do. Here’s my experience if it can help at all:
I have trouble falling asleep. prone to seasonal allergies that get worse at night, and also sometimes get hives for no apparent reason. I take one Benadryl per night, more often than not. I’m 5.5 years sober. I don’t feel that this has harmed my sobriety in any way, for two reasons. One, if I don’t take a Benadryl, I don’t “crave” it. I sneeze more and that’s annoying, but I certainly don’t obsess about my next Benadryl.
Two, and this is a biggie for this alcoholic... taking or not taking Benadryl does not, and never has, made me want to drink. It doesn’t make me think about booze.
Good luck on whatever decision you make. If you’re honest with yourself, you’ll seldom go wrong.
Again, it’s your situation and you know yourself better than we do. Here’s my experience if it can help at all:
I have trouble falling asleep. prone to seasonal allergies that get worse at night, and also sometimes get hives for no apparent reason. I take one Benadryl per night, more often than not. I’m 5.5 years sober. I don’t feel that this has harmed my sobriety in any way, for two reasons. One, if I don’t take a Benadryl, I don’t “crave” it. I sneeze more and that’s annoying, but I certainly don’t obsess about my next Benadryl.
Two, and this is a biggie for this alcoholic... taking or not taking Benadryl does not, and never has, made me want to drink. It doesn’t make me think about booze.
Good luck on whatever decision you make. If you’re honest with yourself, you’ll seldom go wrong.
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