AboutJohn Hendrix Expertise I can answer questions regarding treatment of Substance-related disorders using Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy and Motivational Enhancement Therapy.
Experience I am an Internationally Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor (ICADC) and have a Bachelors degree in Psychology.
Expert: John Hendrix Date: 3/5/2004 Subject: Benadryl
Question I read a response under the alcohol addiction heading that said that if Benadryl is being used as a sleep aid, the drug is being used incorrectly. Is this factual? I am concerned because I am a Pharmacy Technician and diphenhydramine (Benadryl) is prescribed as a sleep aid. It is the active ingredient in over the counter sleep aids, too. My concern is that I have a recovering alcoholic friend who has been prescribed (not a written prescription, but a recommendation by a doctor) Benadryl to help him sleep. Is this an incorrect use of Benadryl? If diphenhydramine should NOT be used as a sleep aid, then why is it in most OTC sleep aids?
Thank you!
Jen
Answer You likely are more knowledgable regarding medications than I, but I have worked with many alcohol-dependent patients who struggle with this issue. In the initial stages of withdrawal, patients may experiece ongoing sleep difficulties.
The psychiatrists with whom I work are trained in treatment of addictions, and they sometimes recommend Benadryl for very teomporary assistance with sleep issues. It is a better option than many prescription sleep aids. However, use of any medicine to assist with sleep should be temporary. Retraining the brain to function normally without chemicals is required to fully recover from an addiction.
If a sleep problem persists beyond a few weeks into abstinence, further evaluation is necessary to determine if other factors are causing the difficulty. Long-term use of medication to induce sleep is not appropriate for an "alcoholic".
