OTC sleep-aid not for daily use

DEAR DR. GOTT: My husband has been taking Simply Sleep by Tylenol nightly for more than a year. I feel it is harmful to the body. There’s no warning on the label that states it causes liver damage, but other sleep aids have the warning.

DEAR READER: Simply Sleep contains the antihistamine diphenhydramine, a common ingredient in several sleep aids. It was designed for occasional sleeplessness and difficulties falling asleep. I agree with your view and don’t believe it is meant to be taken every night. Nonetheless, I don’t know his complete medical history, whether he eats properly, exercises, is under stress, or works a swing shift. Many factors can come into play here. Your husband should speak with his physician for an opinion on the matter.
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Benadryl side effects

DEAR DR. GOTT: I get severe leg cramps when I use Benadryl. Is it because I get dry mouth from the medication?

DEAR READER: There are a number of different Benadryl products on the market, each containing different inactive ingredients. And, as I have reported on countless occasions, all medications can carry side effects. As you have discovered, a common one in many Benadryl products is dry mouth. Furthermore, diphenhydramine/ibuprofen can cause numbness of an arm or leg and unusual joint or muscle pain.
Consider a trial without this medication. If your symptoms stop, you will have the answer. If you feel you need an antihistamine, speak with your physician regarding a substitution.

Sleep aids detrimental to the elderly

DEAR DR. GOTT: Although I am in reasonably good health for an 87-year-old woman, I need some help in order to get a good night’s sleep. I had been taking an over-the-counter sleep aid off and on for quite some time until I read that all the OTC aids contain diphenhydramine. I have heard that this drug can cause delirium and may lead to Alzheimer’s in older adults.

The number of Alzheimer’s cases is ever increasing, which leads me to ask why the FDA hasn’t banned this ingredient. Should I be concerned about the Tylenol PM I have been taking?

Thank you for any advice you may be able to give me as I am truly concerned, but I do need help in order to get a good night’s sleep. [Read more...]