Diphenhydramine and Drowsiness: What Users Say (Page 3)

• nic...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 14, 2022

Diphenhydramine for Insomnia "I have never been a very good sleeper, but since hitting menopause, my sleep pattern has been awful. Waking up several times a night. Someone recommended Sominex, so I thought I would give it a try. For reference, I am 5'3" and between a 12 and 14 UK size. I rarely take medication, so after reading the reviews, I thought I would start with just a quarter of a tablet. Within an hour, I was feeling sleepy (I was tired anyway). I slept right through without waking once. I don't feel groggy, so my advice is to maybe start small and then work the dosage up to what suits you."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 25, 2022

For Nausea/Vomiting "I have emetophobia (fear of vomiting) and suffer from bad nausea as part of my PMS symptoms. All my usual remedies (ginger, antacids, peppermint) just don't seem to work, so I did a Google search and found that diphenhydramine (I use Nytol, available over the counter in the UK) can help with nausea. It has absolutely helped me!! I take half a pill, so 25 mg, when the nausea starts to come on, and with half an hour, I'm up and about feeling better! I take my first dose at night as it does make me drowsy initially and causes some really weird dreams, but any subsequent doses after that don't really have much of a drowsy effect at all. Definitely worth a shot for hormonal nausea."

• che...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 31, 2021

For Insomnia "If you are not tired and you want some sleep aid that is gonna make you feel sleepy, take this. If you have severe insomnia like me and you have anxiety/other psychological problems that are the underlying causes of that insomnia, this probably is gonna do nothing for you. You're gonna feel the drowsiness and tiredness, but you'll be unable to sleep anyways."

• Mar...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 16, 2018

For Insomnia "So when I first started using these, I had extreme insomnia, sometimes I would stay up until 5 am. When I took the first set of Nyquil LiquiCaps (for sleep aid), I did feel sleepy, but not significantly enough to actually want to fall asleep. I took antihistamines daily before I resorted to diphenhydramine, so I may have grown a tolerance to it. But either way, this won’t work if you have been taking antihistamines for at least 2 months (at least in my case). Now all this does is make me uncomfortably drowsy, with heavy eyelids, but still the incapability to fall asleep. I recommend taking straight up melatonin."

• aqu...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 1, 2022

Diphenhydramine for Insomnia "Knocked me right out! I took it to try and sort out my “body clock,” as I wasn’t getting to sleep until about 4 a.m. I took it at 9:30 p.m. and was asleep by 10:15 p.m. It did cause some very vivid dreams, and I woke up a few times in the night. I also felt quite groggy in the morning, like I couldn’t wake up properly. However, it did get me to sleep, so I’ll be using it again."

• Bla...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 2, 2022

For Insomnia "I've taken Nytol 2 days in a row now to help with insomnia caused by anxiety. It takes a while for it to kick in for me, about 1-2 hours, but I slept through the night both nights. Unfortunately, I am experiencing moderate drowsiness the next day, which is making it hard for me to perform properly at work. It has been 12 hours since I took the medication now, and I'm struggling to keep my eyes open. This is good for occasional use early in the night, but I wouldn't recommend it if you have something you need to be wide awake and focused for the next day."

• Gar...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 1, 2022

Diphenhydramine for Insomnia "I'm only 150 pounds and 73 years old, so for insomnia, I just took 1 Simply Sleep pill (25 mg) when I first tried this drug. The directions suggested 2 caplets. But it worked well, perhaps a bit too well. I slept well but was a bit groggy the next morning. So I then tried 1/2 of 1 tablet, and it worked perfectly for me, no side effects at all. I'm glad the much lesser dose worked because I hate taking any medicines. Taking 1/4 of a THC Delta 9 marijuana gummy also works pretty well. Those are now legal in many states."

• Blu...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 15, 2021

Diphenhydramine for Insomnia "I take this tablet to help me between changes in shifts. As I transition between a 3 a.m. finish to a night shift or between night shifts, it helps me get around 8 hours of sleep. I was finding if I went to sleep at 7 a.m., I would be awake by lunchtime, then tired for my night shift. Taking half a tablet keeps me asleep until 4. I do wake up feeling groggy and often fall asleep again for a nap early evening, but by the time I start work, I’m fine and good to get through the night. It helps, and I only need to take it a couple of times during a 6-day set of shifts."

• ins...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 27, 2022

Diphenhydramine for Insomnia "I've been taking Nytol one-a-night for a week now, as I was struggling to fall asleep despite being tired, and when I did sleep, I'd be up and down all night. From starting Nytol, it has helped me sleep through the night, but I often wake up very late (around 11 a.m.) and it takes me hours to fall asleep. I try to take one tablet at around 10 p.m., and then I'm having to take another at around 11:30 p.m. to midnight, as I feel tired and groggy but lay in bed for hours trying to sleep. Clearly, Nytol doesn't work for getting me to sleep, it just leaves me feeling groggy throughout the day after sleeping from around 3 or 4 a.m. through to 11 a.m., so, in the end, I'm not getting more sleep than I'm supposed to, I've just changed my sleeping hours."

• SJR...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 19, 2025

Diphenhydramine for Insomnia "I was a few bottles of wine a night person and slept fine, but I needed to stop that, and that's when insomnia kicked in. I can't afford to be awake at 6:30 a.m., so I looked into options. The Nytol 50 mg didn't work very well on its own, so I used an online chemist and ordered 3 mg Melatonin. These don't work that great on their own either, but then I tried both together, and you are out like a boxer being hit on the jaw. I also took L-Theanine 400 mg 4 hours before sleep, as this amino acid helps calm the brain. I did this because the slight initial grogginess of the sleep tablets could be counteracted by taking the amino acid L-Tyrosine in the morning, and the L-Theanine counteracts it, but you have a very awake and alert day, so you can be productive."

• Mit...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 22, 2017

For Nausea/Vomiting "I took diphenhydramine by mouth for spring allergies. It made me drowsy and helped my allergies, but also made me dizzy and nauseated, which it is supposed to prevent. I do know that it is probably one of the best antihistamines on the market."

• Tri...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 13, 2025

Diphenhydramine for Insomnia "I've found Nytol to be very good. They do help me with my sleep anxiety. The only problem I have is after a few nights of taking them, I struggle with fatigue during the day. For me, there seems to be a buildup, and I feel drowsy all day. Overall good, but just as a very short-term solution."

• Con...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• January 16, 2025

"I'm sorry, I did not explain why I gave it a 6. 0.25mg makes me very groggy. The anti-nausea effects wear off, and I become more and more loopy as I re-dose every 6 hours. I'm still throwing up. I'm sleeping all the time. I know it is the drug because I stopped for 2 weeks and was much more alert, but also could not eat. The medication stops me from vomiting every 15 minutes while making me sleep a lot. I must have quite the concussion. That was 6 weeks ago. It's not expensive, that's a plus. But compared to the anti-nausea stuff they gave me in the hospital, it's not the greatest. I took a break for my organs. The bottle says 'see a doctor,' but I already have? My GP is gone for 'training' the next 6 months?"

• Ski...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 27, 2020

Diphenhydramine for Allergic Reactions "Benadryl works great to help with the chronic itching this infestation has caused - I got bit by chigger bugs. Only side effect is sleepiness, so I spread the dosage of 2 out. It’s too bad the packaging is so difficult to open. My heart goes out to anyone with arthritis or trembling that would have to open this product."

• Amy...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 13, 2021

Diphenhydramine "I use these when I’m feeling anxious due to work/personal problems and can’t sleep. The one-a-night version doesn’t work for me. The original version, where you take up to two tablets, is better! I drop off to sleep easily within 40 minutes and stay asleep. The only thing is, if I take two, I feel groggy the next day until lunchtime, so I often take 1 or 1 and a half unless I’m feeling very anxious. I’m 5’5” and weigh 68 kg for reference. All in all, great for fixing sleeping patterns and helping me to sleep when I’m anxious. No bad side effects at all."

• dan...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 24, 2022

Diphenhydramine for Insomnia "I started using these about a month ago as I've had problems sleeping for ages. I took 25 mg before bed. And yes, these work. You'll not only sleep better, but you'll wake up feeling drugged and exhausted for hours after you wake - even on this small dose. Not only that, but I believe this drug also triggered really bad heart palpitations. They say that side effect is rare, but I'm not so sure. Taking this drug, in my opinion, will make you worse off than if you don't take it. Try other methods to get to sleep that aren't drug taking. I seriously couldn't believe how this drug made me feel. You do not wake up fresh. You wake up feeling drugged and groggy, and that can last all day. Will not take any more."

• Qui...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 19, 2021

For Insomnia "Took this because it was safe with antidepressants, and the pharmacist recommended it to me to help with my sleep issues. Took it as instructed, 20 minutes before sleep, and all it did was keep me wide awake the whole night and made me kind of groggy the next day, but not even enough to nap. Would NOT recommend."

• Pau...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 19, 2021

Diphenhydramine for Insomnia "I was very stressed due to work commitments and was not sleeping at night, constantly thinking about work. I took 1 tablet 2 hours before going to sleep, and I got the best sleep. I highly recommend. Strange how the reviews are so bad. What I can say is you do wake up feeling a bit groggy, but it does subside after about an hour, and it makes my mouth feel very dry, but I will be continuing to take it as I’m getting a really good night's sleep."

• Sle...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• August 4, 2024

For Insomnia "I have tried many drugs as a sleep aid. I know it's an antihistamine. It makes me too drowsy! I find 25 mg in the evening, I wake up in the morning still groggy all day. I can't use it as a sleep aid. But it sure does help with nausea or motion 'car sickness.' As long as I am not behind the wheel. I have to look out the window. Driving, fine. Riding, sick. It's great for motion sickness. It lasts too long and makes me groggy when I use 25 mg at night. I might take half a tablet if we're going on a road trip. It works for that!"

• Sle...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• August 4, 2024

For Insomnia "I have tried many drugs as a sleep aid. I know it's an antihistamine. It makes me too drowsy! I find 25 mg in the evening, I wake up in the morning still groggy all day. I can't use it as a sleep aid. But it sure does help with nausea or motion 'car sickness.' As long as I am not behind the wheel. I have to look out the window. Driving, fine. Riding, sick. It's great for motion sickness. It lasts too long and makes me groggy when I use 25 mg at night. I might take half a tablet if we're going on a road trip. It works for that!"

• Ray...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• March 14, 2025

For Allergic Reactions "33 years old male living in central Texas. Diphenhydramine is my go-to allergy medicine, it is effective in eliminating hay fever and allergic symptoms, no noticeable side effects for me, didn't notice any drowsiness. The only complaint I have is I had to take it once every few hours, and I didn't want to depend on my life on a drug. It's not as powerful and long-lasting as fexofenadine or loratadine, but it works."

• Ray...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• March 14, 2025

For Allergic Reactions "33 years old male living in central Texas. Diphenhydramine is my go-to allergy medicine, it is effective in eliminating hay fever and allergic symptoms, no noticeable side effects for me, didn't notice any drowsiness. The only complaint I have is I had to take it once every few hours, and I didn't want to depend on my life on a drug. It's not as powerful and long-lasting as fexofenadine or loratadine, but it works."

• cd1...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 30, 2014

Diphenhydramine for Nausea/Vomiting "Great for nausea. However, does cause sleepiness."

• mai...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• May 8, 2018

Diphenhydramine for Nausea/Vomiting "The nurses at my cancer center, where I get my chemo treatment, give me Benadryl before my chemo medicine, and it works wonders, but it puts me to sleep once every week."

• Ban...
• February 12, 2016

Diphenhydramine for Insomnia "Takes a while to get to sleep, but once asleep, that's how I stay. However, I have found that it still affects me the next day... extremely groggy and exhausted. Not for me."