# I need to sleep! Got any suggestions? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 3, 2007, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-to-sleep-got-any-suggestions/398593 "2007-04-03T18:35:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2007, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-to-sleep-got-any-suggestions/398593/21 "2007-04-04T16:51:42Z")
Yay! Glad to hear it. ---
**Author:** ![vivalostwages](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/d07c76/32.png) [@vivalostwages](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vivalostwages)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2007, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-to-sleep-got-any-suggestions/398593/22 "2007-04-05T00:40:17Z")
If I could just hijack my very own thread for a moment… I’m concerned about my ears being plugged up every time a sinus infection strikes. Am I going to lose my hearing someday from this if it keeps happening? ---
**Author:** ![Sister\_Vigilante](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9de0a6/32.png) [@Sister\_Vigilante](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sister_Vigilante)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2007, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-to-sleep-got-any-suggestions/398593/23 "2007-04-05T01:46:40Z")
> [@](#): > > However, you _can_ still get pseudoephedrine, even though it’s behind the pharmacist’s counter. Still, if vivalostwages is on a prescription decongestant, that would be overkill. Pseudoephedrine does the opposite, I’m sure that’s not what the OP wants. It makes you awake. Some nasal decongestant pills do that, they combine the pseudoephedrine with the diphenhydramine, which I would classify as bad, as it’s uppers and downers in the same pill. As for me, I have dealt with this forever. Tried everything. The antihistamine is what you want. It’s the diphenhydramine in the Benadryl. Look for that. But, as others have said, it only works for about 4 hours, depending on your metabolism. I wouldn’t recommend taking two at once because that will just make you more zombie-like for that 4-5 hours. What if there’s an emergency? Just take the first pill and then try to lay still and go back to sleep the rest of the night. I do that. As for repeated sinus infections, see a doctor. ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2007, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-to-sleep-got-any-suggestions/398593/24 "2007-04-05T03:15:33Z")
[QUOTE=CairoCarol] A vote for Tylenol PM here. But start with 1/2 a dose unless you can afford to be totally groggy the next day (it is extraordinarily powerful stuff and takes a while to wear off), and obviously make sure it doesn’t conflict with any other drugs you are taking. A night spent in the embrace of Tylenol PM feels more like getting knocked out than getting a normal night’s sleep, but in a situation like yours, where the alternative is tossing and turning from discomfort, it is a definite improvement. [/QUOTE] As Swallowed My Cellphone notes, Tylenol PM is just Tylenol with the active ingredients of Benadryl added. I know a lot of people think otherwise, but are open about it on [their webpage](http://www.tylenol.com/print.jhtml?id=tylenol/pain/pmlpfaqprint.inc#4_a). Anyway, it works for a whole lot of people because Benadryl makes a whole lot of us sleepy. I never take it during the day when I have to be out and about for that reason. I’m not sure why it’d make anyone groggy the next day, though, since it’s not a “real” sleeping pill. Unless Benadryl does too, it sounds like a power of suggestion thing. **vivalostwages** , if you were just unable to sleep I’d suggest a small amount of Godiva’s chocolate liquor in hot chocolate, but I don’t think that make you feel better in this case ☹ If you’re not up to trying a neti pot (they’re kind of scary sounding, with that tilting your head back and all) you can achieve pretty much the same effect with a bulb syringe, previously unused, obviously, and warm salt water. You’ll spit a lot, so make sure you’re over the sink. [This thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=398424&highlight=neti) discusses both methods. ---
**Author:** ![Quiddity\_Glomfuster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/c4cdca/32.png) [@Quiddity\_Glomfuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quiddity_Glomfuster)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2007, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-to-sleep-got-any-suggestions/398593/25 "2007-04-05T03:35:23Z")
[QUOTE=elfkin477] I’m not sure why it’d make anyone groggy the next day, though, since it’s not a “real” sleeping pill. Unless Benadryl does too, it sounds like a power of suggestion thing. [/QUOTE] It’s not power of suggestion. Drowsiness is a side-effect of several antihistamines, which is why, I guess, they started developing the ‘non-drowsy’ sorts. ---
**Author:** ![vivalostwages](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/d07c76/32.png) [@vivalostwages](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vivalostwages)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2007, 4:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-to-sleep-got-any-suggestions/398593/26 "2007-04-05T04:51:21Z")
[QUOTE=elfkin477] As Swallowed My Cellphone notes, Tylenol PM is just Tylenol with the active ingredients of Benadryl added. I know a lot of people think otherwise, but are open about it on [their webpage](http://www.tylenol.com/print.jhtml?id=tylenol/pain/pmlpfaqprint.inc#4_a). Anyway, it works for a whole lot of people because Benadryl makes a whole lot of us sleepy. I never take it during the day when I have to be out and about for that reason. I’m not sure why it’d make anyone groggy the next day, though, since it’s not a “real” sleeping pill. Unless Benadryl does too, it sounds like a power of suggestion thing. **vivalostwages** , if you were just unable to sleep I’d suggest a small amount of Godiva’s chocolate liquor in hot chocolate, but I don’t think that make you feel better in this case ☹ If you’re not up to trying a neti pot (they’re kind of scary sounding, with that tilting your head back and all) you can achieve pretty much the same effect with a bulb syringe, previously unused, obviously, and warm salt water. You’ll spit a lot, so make sure you’re over the sink. [This thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=398424&highlight=neti) discusses both methods. [/QUOTE] I snort the warm salt water from a spoon. I’d love some liquor of any kind, but no can do as long as I’m on these meds. Should be okay within a few days, though. I usually can sleep more soundly, but the drip and drain thing made it difficult. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2007, 6:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-to-sleep-got-any-suggestions/398593/27 "2007-04-05T06:20:29Z")
[QUOTE=vivalostwages] They advised me to take Tylenol PM before bed. It works eventually, but only for a short time. ? [/QUOTE] Tylenol PM is just Tylenol (Acettaminophen) and Benadryl (diphenhydramine hydrochloride), you can buy the generic versions of each for less than 1/10th the cost and have the same effect. You can take two pills of diphenhydramine hydrochloride safely if you are “most people”. Tylenol has no sleep benefit, it’s just a pain relievers- one that is very safe if taken at the recommended doses\* so Docs “prescribe” it a lot. Aspirin helps some dudes and so does melatonin. A single drink also helps- not more than one, as then you sleep poorly. Melatonin seems to help you sleep better and stay asleep. \ ***But** - it is very dangerous if taken at just twice the normal daily dose. And since it is hidden in many cold medications (including Nyquil) it is pretty easy to double the dose, and have _liver failure._ Very bad. ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2007, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-to-sleep-got-any-suggestions/398593/28 "2007-04-08T14:42:06Z")
[QUOTE=Quiddity Glomfuster] It’s not power of suggestion. Drowsiness is a side-effect of several antihistamines, which is why, I guess, they started developing the ‘non-drowsy’ sorts. [/QUOTE] I know that drowsiness is a common side-effect. What I meant is unless Benadryl also causes _that particular person_ drowsiness too it would seem that their complaints were caused by the power of suggestion. I’ve heard a few people claim that Benadryl doesn’t make them sleepy, but the “powerful sleep aide” in Tylenol PM does 😉 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-to-sleep-got-any-suggestions/398593.md?page=1)