"One to be taken at night as required"

My sleep issues are ongoing in that I just don't! The reason is simple, since I stopped working I just don't get tired enough, as a consequence it's not harming me but it is bloody annoying. It's hard enough sometimes to fill up the day with constructive things to do, let alone fill half the night as well!

To this end I occasionally take a generic antihistamine, an over the counter drug indicated for allergies that I long since, courtesy of eczema, discovered has the rather handy side effect of knocking me over the head.


I had cause to speak to a pharmacist whilst collecting a script from the chemist a day or two back so while I was engaged in the conversation I asked her if any of the marketed 'sleep remedies' actually worked because the medication I take isn't indicated for insomnia I thought it maybe inappropriate to be using it in that manner.

Now don't get me wrong here, I'm sure they have their place but I didn't want a herbal 'remedy'. I don't doubt some of them are very affective I just think that if pharmaceutical companies, with all their money and testing, can get it very wrong in some instances then the relatively Heath Robinson herbal industry certainly can.... and if you doubt the potency or possible dangers of the natural products just go do some research on St. Johns Wort for instance. Yes, there is a suggestion that it helps mild to moderate depression but it has almost as many contra-indications as a pharmaceutical produce, it's just less stringently tested or licenced!

So, my friendly local pharmacist recommend a pharmaceutical product and I inspected the pack to find out it's active ingredient, I take other meds regularly that are contra-indicated in some instance's so I needed to know.....and what did I find?

What I found was the word 'diphenhydramine'.

Diphenhydramine is a similar antihistamine to that which is active in my generic anti-itch pills! I laughed and told the pharmacist my 'sin', that I had been taking these meds to sleep but was concerned it wasn't appropriate. She laughed and said I might as well carry on (occasionally)....they are way cheaper than the same thing packaged as a sleeping product!

I wonder how many people out there pop the sleeping version without also realising they never get an itch at night!


*Disclaimer: Do not do this at home without individual medical advice!