home *** CD-ROM | disk | FTP | other *** search
- $Unique_ID{BRK01432}
- $Pretitle{}
- $Title{Can Antihistamines Help With Trouble in Falling Asleep?}
- $Subject{sleep insomnia treatment mental emotional conditions antihistamine
- asleep sleepy drowsiness sleeping anxiety antihistamines rest compoz nytol
- unisom sominex medication medications antianxiety drug sleeps insomniac treat
- treating drowsy anxious restlessness restful treatment treatments}
- $Volume{E-23,R-23}
- $Log{}
-
- Copyright (c) 1991-92,1993 Tribune Media Services, Inc.
-
-
- Can Antihistamines Help With Trouble in Falling Asleep?
-
-
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- QUESTION: I have trouble falling asleep, probably because I am always so
- anxious. Do you think that antihistamines can help a problem like mine? My
- brother uses them for his allergy and says they make him sleepy.
-
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- ANSWER: Antihistamines are better known as a treatment for runny noses and
- itches due to allergies, but because they cause drowsiness, they're also the
- main ingredient in several sleeping aids. This is a case where the side
- effect of a medication used for one condition is used to treat a completely
- different condition.
- Insomnia associated with anxiety can be a problem. Because
- antihistamines are not habit forming and are extremely safe, they can help you
- fall asleep more easily. In turn, sleep, and the rest it provides, may ease
- some of your anxiety problems.
- There are several sleeping aid products with antihistamines you can buy
- in a drug store, including Compoz, Nytol, Unisom, and Sominex. Use these
- medications occasionally and only as directed, and tell your physician you are
- taking them. Your physician may recommend one of these or prescribe a
- stronger antihistamine, or if they should fail to bring you the relief you
- seek, prescribe an antianxiety drug instead.
-
- ----------------
-
- The material contained here is "FOR INFORMATION ONLY" and should not replace
- the counsel and advice of your personal physician. Promptly consulting your
- doctor is the best path to a quick and successful resolution of any medical
- problem.
-
-