This summer, I went through a bout of insomnia. I have a long history of Restless Leg Syndrome, a sleep disorder that, in my case, requires medication. At that time, I didn’t have the funds to fill the expensive prescription, so in desperation, I tried to find an over the counter sleep aid.
In the drug aisle, I looked over the vast array of sleeping pills. The general price range for generics was $5-10, with some name brands ranging up to $20.00. I had to get some sleep, so I began looking at the active ingredients to find the differences between these medications. I discovered they almost all contain the main ingredient Diphenhydramine.
Diphenhydramine is the generic name for Benadryl. Although Benadryl is touted as an allergy medication, it is often used for sleep. As a patient hospitalized for skin treatment at Mayo Clinic in the 1990’s, doctors prescribed Benadryl to help me sleep and to relieve my itching at night.
Benadryl does work wonders. However, this summer it made the problems worse. People need to be aware of two facts about Benadryl as it relates to sleep. First, although Benadryl will make most people drowsy, it also has a history of producing the opposite effect, especially in children. Second, and most important to my own case, Diphenhydramine and Restless Leg Syndrome do not mix. My family doctor and sleep disorders specialist both explained Benadryl will intensify the leg jerking and movements of patients suffering from Restless Leg Syndrome, making sleep nearly impossible.
I am now able to purchase my prescription medication for my Restless Leg Syndrome. Last month, I had a flare-up of my skin condition, and I felt comfortable taking two Benadryl because I was treating my sleep disorder. However, the second and third nights my legs jerked uncontrollably, and I have not taken Benadryl since.
I fully recommend Benadryl as an over the counter sleep aid for patients who do not have Restless Leg Syndrome. Benadryl is much less expensive than medications listed as sleep aids, and the generic store brand can be bought in bulk quantities for less than $3.00. The benefits of Benadryl are a good night’s sleep, a reduction in itching which can cause sleeplessness as well, and a much lower price tag. Because whatever sleep aid you decide to purchase contains the same amount of the active ingredient Diphenhydramine, it only makes sense to purchase Benadryl.
