I often take Simply Sleep (approx one or two times a week) to ensure a good nights rest. However, I also get a night time "issue" my husband & I call the "itchies". My Dr. has tested for everything in regards to the itchies and believes that it's not a condition to be treated but more anxiety from laying awake and not able to turn off my mind long enough to rest. What works is taking a Benedryl but just for the itchies not for the insomnia...Lately I have found myself taking Simply Sleep around 9pm already knowing it's gonna be a insomnia night...and around 1am scratching away and watching the time tick towards the point of no return. I don't wan to pop a Benedryl (75mg of Diphenhydramine) if it's a risk considering I'm going to be asleep. My husband thinks I should just take 2 Benedryl even for insomnia, I know the active ingrediants are the same but my fear is becoming immune to Benedryl and honestly I'd rather be awake 24hours then to deal with the itchies all night!
Can I take 50mg of Simply Sleep and a 25mg Benedryl?
- Posted:
- 5 weeks ago by sleepanxi...
- Topics:
- night time, simply sleep, insomnia, sleep disorders, sleep
Answers (2)
Hi sleepanxiety, I'm not sure if you can mix those meds or not. I will suggest that rather than take sleep meds in anticipation of not sleeping, you wait until you're in bed and ready to try to sleep. Unless you're taking a sleeping pill that will knock-you-out at any time, you need to create an environment where the sleep meds can do their work, and you're ready to try sleeping. If you take them earlier, it will just make it harder for them to work later. Oddly enough, I get the itchies sometimes too! Have you tried cordisone or another itch related ointment or cream? It usually just happens to me on my hands and the tops of my feet. Just one more weird thing I live with. Maybe it would be a good idea if you spoke with a professional about your anxiety issues too. Hope you get some answers soon, keemo7
Hey, sleep anxiety. I also have an insomnia problem, but no itchies, thank goodness! One thing I have found that will help you sleep like a log and is not narcotic is phenergan or generic name promethazine. It is perscription, used for nausea, but it is also used for night time sedation. You can look it up in any drug book. The dose is 2 25mg tabs at night and it works like a charm and seems to be perfectly safe. Look it up yourself, though, and make sure it won't interfere with any other problems you might have. Good luck. Oh, you can become immune to the sleep inducing affects of benadryl.

I would go one step further than Kemo. Kemo is on the right track. I would ask for a sleep study to really find out why you are not falling into a good sleep. It could be anything from Restless Leg Syndrome to Apena. I know that there is an answer out there for you, but to guess why is not the answer, and loading you with medicine is not the answer either. Your local hospital knows who in your area who does these tests. They are covered by most insurance including Medicare.