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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 7 of 7. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by vishnu10003 on January 26, 2006, at 17:26:20
Hello,
Brand new to these boards. I have been taking 75 mg of benadryl nightly now for about 2 years along with lexapro 30 mg. During this period I have very rarely woken up feeling fully rested. I have heard that benadryl could mess up sleeping patterns over the long term. I have also heard that medications like effexor can cause problems sleep wise over the long term. I would really like to stay on both of these medications as they are working very well for their intended uses. Before getting off of either one I want to do everything in my power to try and correct this sleep situation. Any feedback/help/comments on this would be greatly appreciated.
Is there anyone else having this problem besides me?
Posted by linkadge on January 26, 2006, at 17:53:33
In reply to long term benadryl use, posted by vishnu10003 on January 26, 2006, at 17:26:20
Are you taking benedryl for allergies or as a sleep aid?
There is another antihisamine called periactin which would be perfect. It may be hard to get a hold of depending on where you live. It is an antihistamine, posessing other mechanisms which make it usefull for SSRI insomnia.
Bring it up to your doctor. They have medications such as Trazodone, or Remeron, which can be added to the lexapro to counteract insomnia.
Linkadge
Posted by yxibow on January 27, 2006, at 1:02:57
In reply to long term benadryl use, posted by vishnu10003 on January 26, 2006, at 17:26:20
> Hello,
>
> Brand new to these boards. I have been taking 75 mg of benadryl nightly now for about 2 years along with lexapro 30 mg. During this period I have very rarely woken up feeling fully rested. I have heard that benadryl could mess up sleeping patterns over the long term. I have also heard that medications like effexor can cause problems sleep wise over the long term. I would really like to stay on both of these medications as they are working very well for their intended uses. Before getting off of either one I want to do everything in my power to try and correct this sleep situation. Any feedback/help/comments on this would be greatly appreciated.
>
> Is there anyone else having this problem besides me?
Effexor, if you are more subject to anxiety than depression, can give one heck of a caffiene like rush, which will continue until it is discontinued. At least in my experience. But Lexapro is not a SNRI like Effexor -- its an SSRI and not related.Taking benadryl long term for sleep isn't the best idea -- not that it is terribly toxic, but you are taking it for its side effects, not its intended effects. It also causes post-sleep depression, which would seem to counteract the purpose of Lexapro. Long term Ambien or Lunesta use would be far better and contribute to REM sleep than benadryl.
Trazodone, I dont know if you're male -- has a fairly substantial risk of priapism (sustained erection).. something to think about. Its also only used for side effects and tolerance can build to a point where one is taking a clinically significant dose.
Remeron -- be careful of weight gain... another side-effect use drug.
Your psychiatrist may differ in opinion but I believe that for a sleep agent, whether one has drug-induced or genetic insomnia, should be one that is intended solely for long term sleep use, such as Ambien/Ambien CR and Lunesta, as well as the new Rozerem if the melatonin agonism doesn't interfere with depression.
Posted by vishnu10003 on January 27, 2006, at 9:13:16
In reply to long term benadryl use, posted by vishnu10003 on January 26, 2006, at 17:26:20
Thanks for the reply guys. I was unclear in stating that I am not actually using benadryl for a sleep aid. Im using for its anti-inflammatory effects. I have tried other medications but benadryl is the ONLY one that seems to be effective and I have tried a lot of them. Thus I am very attached to staying on it. I guess my main question is there anything you guys reccomend that I could take *along side* benadryl/lexapro to help with the sleep problems. Maybe like melatonin? Some kind of natural herb? etc... I really do not want to come off of these and want to cover every area of possibility before I have to. Any advice is always greatly appreciated.
Posted by ed_uk on January 27, 2006, at 15:34:35
In reply to Re: long term benadryl use, posted by vishnu10003 on January 27, 2006, at 9:13:16
Hi
Can you describe in more detail the condition which Benadryl is treating?
Ed
Posted by vishnu10003 on January 27, 2006, at 18:10:00
In reply to Re: long term benadryl use » vishnu10003, posted by ed_uk on January 27, 2006, at 15:34:35
Well, intense scalp irritation I get resulting in abnormal hair fallout. Believe me Ive tried everything for it including hydrocortisone etc...
I really am not looking for reccomendations on alternate treatments I would jus tlike advice on my previous question which is what could I take along side the benadryl/lexapro to work out my sleep problem. If the replies, which I very much appreciate, could stick to that topic that would be great. Thanks again.
Posted by yxibow on January 27, 2006, at 23:35:30
In reply to Re: long term benadryl use, posted by vishnu10003 on January 27, 2006, at 18:10:00
> Well, intense scalp irritation I get resulting in abnormal hair fallout. Believe me Ive tried everything for it including hydrocortisone etc...
> I really am not looking for reccomendations on alternate treatments I would jus tlike advice on my previous question which is what could I take along side the benadryl/lexapro to work out my sleep problem. If the replies, which I very much appreciate, could stick to that topic that would be great. Thanks again.
I know you want to stick to the previous topic, but.. Intense scalp irritation though is something I had for a while along with patchy hair loss. I still do have some patchy loss, but my medication regime is more under control and my anxiety is less so I no longer have the seborrheic dermatitis that you describe.There are much more targeted things to keep it under reign like Nizoral (ketoconizole) and coal tar (e.g. Neutrogena) (use sparingly and alternatly as coal tar long term increases skin cancer risk) shampoos as well as fluocinolone (Lidex) drops and creams which are much more powerful than hydrocortisone for s.d. or eczema.
On the natural side, some swear by Nioxin shampoos (available at your favourite hair salon). I still use it most of the time, its not a bad shampoo although a little expensive. Whether it keeps s.d. and thinning under control I have no idea but I like it.
Anyway on to the other side if you're satisfied with the Benadryl. Melatonin has a problem being a hormone that it can worsen depression. It should be used on a short term basis. The same probably goes for Rozerem, which is a prescription drug that is a bit more refined than melatonin but basically does the same thing. If you want to experiment with melatonin, I would probably be cautious about it.
But its probably the only thing I would mix with the other drugs as mixing Benadryl with Ambien or Lunesta would be bad CNS depression and a oversedating drug mixture I would think.
This is the end of the thread.
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