Benadryl as sleeping pill? Safe?

Having worked for many years with cardiologists and cardiothoracic surgeons, Benadryl was often advised as a sleep aid. Start with one capsule. The benefit is two-fold if you also suffer from allergies, environmental or otherwise.

Having worked as an EMT first no home should be without it. But back to the question it is safe

I can't answer to its safety (although it's certainly very innocuous) but I can tell you that having worked 2nd and 3rd shift, it's a life saver (and non habit forming). If, however, you take too high a dose or are sensative, you can have a paradoxical response - itchy, twitchy and jumpy.

For some reason it wires me.

@glial yes it does that for some by the way are you ADD or ADHD because it sometimes acts that way on people with that disorder

Not that I am aware of; Strong pain killers do the same thing. I guess it is just me.

benadryl (diphenhydramine) is in OTC sleep aids

as @thetmle states, benadryl is diphenhydramine, which is the same exact medication in "Simply Sleep" and many other OTC sleeping aids.

In this question, I posted a link to a very informative web page on diphenhydramine:
http://www.fluther.com/disc/2064/does-simply-sleep-make-you-feel-sleepy-the-day-after-you/

In general, benadryl is safe, but some people (particularly the elderly) need to be careful. It has anticholinergic side effects, which are more common in the elderly, and can cause urinary retention (i.e. an inability to urinate), which can then cause more problems.

Can you take benadryl if you have taken a tums for an upset stomach?

I’ve taken OTC sleep aids (generic of Sominex) every night for about 10 years, and have had no known side effects. I asked my doctor if it was okay, and she said it can lead to incontinence, but I do not have that problem. I take ½ dose before I go to bed. I usually wake up between 1:00 and 2:00 AM and I take the other half of the dose.