Diphenhydramine and Drowsiness: What Users Say

• Ann...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 11, 2020

For Insomnia "I had been suffering from insomnia and restless legs, so the doctor gave me a week's course of sleeping tablets, which obviously worked brilliantly. When they were gone, I went back to no sleep all night once again, so I tried Nytol as a last resort. I have taken two an hour before I want to sleep for two days now, and they have absolutely done the trick. I'm surprised, to be honest, because most of the reviews are so poor! They make me feel relaxed, and before I know it, I'm asleep. It's wonderful! I did have a slight headache the next day, but no dry mouth and only very minor drowsiness in the morning. I highly recommend them, and I'm so glad to have found something that works."

• Anonymous
• April 14, 2012

For Insomnia "As a former bartender, I'm a night owl by nature. Now that I'm in law school and have 8 am classes, I can't afford to be up all night. It ruins my entire next day because I cannot think and I am useless. Also, lack of sleep depresses me and gives me anxiety. Anyhow, I have tried literally everything under the sun - Ambien, Sleepytime, Valerian, melatonin, Simply Sleep, and 4-5 others, both natural and not, and Sominex is the only one that has ever consistently worked to not only put me to sleep but KEEP me asleep on most nights. Occasionally, I'll have an off night when I wake up mid-sleep or when I'm super groggy in the morning, but at least 90% of the time it works great. I usually take it about 1-2.5 hours before I want to fall asleep."

• Mar...
• June 5, 2016

For Nausea/Vomiting "I had a couple of surgeries on my jaw where I could not open it fully for an extended period of time. I am already semi-allergic to pain meds/anesthesia (excessive vomiting and nausea), so I was terrified to take my painkillers after surgery. The nurse/doctor recommended taking a couple of Benadryl tablets (25 mg) before the pain meds, and it worked wonders! The only side effect is drowsiness."

• Gsd...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 20, 2019

For Insomnia "I took 1/2 a Sominex pill because it was my first time taking this drug. It took more than an hour to make me sleepy. Once I fell asleep, I slept 10 hours without interruption or dreams, but I felt horrible for more than 24 hours afterward. It was hard to wake up (even after 10 hours of sleep), and all day afterward I felt groggy and inexplicably angry and cranky. My limbs felt heavy, and I was just so very tired all day... the kind of extreme fatigue you feel with the flu. This drug is way worse than having a bad night of sleep... and I only took 1/2 a pill! I'll never take this again."

• Blu...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 10, 2020

For Insomnia "I bought these Nytol from Boots, and the man behind the counter, the pharmacist, didn't even ask me any questions. They do work, but I have anxiety and a history of panic attacks. These made me panic because I was going off to sleep, but because I knew it was from the tablet, I panicked and felt out of control. I felt shaky and had two panic attacks. These make you feel very strange in a way that isn't nice. That normal internal chatter you have in your head is cut off, so you are relaxed but feel disconnected from yourself. They make you feel drowsy and not alert. Also gave me diarrhea. So overall, horrible experience."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 10 years or more
• June 11, 2018

For Allergic Rhinitis "Benadryl really helps take the sinus pressure away, and I found out recently it even worked best for my migraine. Out of Tylenol and Motrin, Benadryl was the only one to knock it out. It does cause me dry mouth and drowsiness. It also helps to calm me when I feel a panic attack or anxiety coming on. I'd rather take Benadryl than psych meds or all kinds of prescription meds any day. I hope it stays working wonders for me because Claritin and Flonase did nothing for me, and I don't want to have to try anything else."

• EDD...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 17, 2021

For Insomnia "First off, I read the instructions on the box, which says two things! Firstly, you can take one an hour before you go to bed (mistake), as it won't work that fast and you're even more awake because you're waiting for the effects! Now, the second point they make is much more advisable, where you take one probably around, I would say, 6 pm, as it gives your body much more time to acclimatize to the product. For me, I only took one just before I went to bed, but it's much more of a delayed reaction, so I found that I was quite groggy the next day (mistake). So, it definitely works, and I had a few funny dreams, but who cares? Probably try not to lay in bed too much when night becomes day and get yourself into a good pattern, as you will be trying to overcompensate with Nytol."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 3, 2019

For Insomnia "I’m the type of person to be terrified to try new drugs, always read up on the reviews, etc. So I took half of this Sominex pill. I’ve taken it 3 times now. Before taking this pill, I would have nightmares constantly, wake up 3 or 4 times in the night, and sometimes stay awake. After taking half of the Sominex pill, my nightmares have gone :) and I manage to sleep uninterrupted through the night, maybe wake up to wee or wake up once or so. You do feel a bit groggy in the morning, but that’s because it’s still in your system, it takes around 12 or 13 hours to get out of your system, so just take it in good time :) Try it on a day off if you’re worried."

• Lil...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 4, 2020

For Insomnia "I was trying to get my sleep schedule back on track since quarantine, so I turned to ZzzQuil as opposed to my usual melatonin 10mg dose. I can say I was wildly disappointed with the results. It made me drowsy, and I could fall asleep, but then I’d either wake up frequently, or stay wide awake all night until morning. I gave it a week's worth of a chance before I threw about half the rest in the trash."

• Big...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 17, 2018

For Insomnia "Took a half tablet about an hour before bed. Slept just short of nine hours and probably could have turned over and got a bit more but forced myself up. Felt a bit drowsy for a short time, but a lot better than I usually do after my normal 5-6 hours. I would strongly recommend you start at half a tablet and work your way up if necessary, as if half a tab does what it did, I'd hate to see what the manufacturer recommended two would do. Would give this a ten but should always leave room for improvement."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• October 17, 2020

For Insomnia "I have tried everything non-prescriptive for sleep, and Sominex really works. I am 6 ft and normal build and only need 1/4 tablet. I've worked out this is the optimal dose for me, so I can still function well in a busy job the following morning. Anything more than 1/4 tablet and I feel too groggy to function properly the next day."

• dip...
• May 3, 2010

For Insomnia "Works excellent if you haven't built a tolerance to it. After a few days of use, you may find the medicine is less effective than it was when you first used it. Benadryl knocks me out quite quickly when I use it, the only problem I have with it is that I tend to oversleep or wake up groggy the morning after, which is generally relieved with some sort of caffeinated beverage."

• Anonymous
• July 25, 2009

For Insomnia "I love Unisom SleepGels. I can't go to sleep and then can't stay asleep. This has fixed that with no grogginess next morning, no matter if you sleep 4 or 5 hours or 8 or 9 hours and feel the same. No hallucinations or anything. Best yet, it's over the counter and cheap."

• Anonymous
• October 7, 2008

For Allergic Reactions "I am severely allergic to all nuts, and I always keep a few pills with me. If I eat something that has been in contact with nuts, I take two pills or a gulp of the syrup, and my itchy mouth and throat, swollen lips are instantly soothed. The syrup does work faster than the pills, but pills are lighter to carry around. I once ate a huge piece of hazelnut chocolate, and having Benadryl on me really saved me. It won't work on severe reactions, i.e., eating peanut butter, but it is definitely a lifesaver for all other allergic reactions. I am never without Benadryl and my EpiPen. The only thing to look out for is intense drowsiness, so make sure to be at home to take a long nap when it takes effect."

• Cow...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 17, 2020

For Insomnia "Ugh, just no. The first time I tried this tablet, I took a whole one. Did what it said on the tin, and I was knocked out within the hour. I slept for thirteen hours and woke up feeling terrible. Groggy, dizzy, and as if my limbs were tied down with iron weights. I wanted to cry at the tiniest things and felt bloody awful. Having slept for so long, I couldn't sleep it off. The next night, I took half a pill. In the morning, I didn't have the same grogginess, but I wasn't firing on all cylinders. I was also gripped with horrible anxiety that stayed with me until about 9 pm. I didn't take anything last night, and I feel absolutely fine. I find it difficult to chalk this up to coincidence."

• Tom...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 24, 2019

For Insomnia "They do help me sleep, but I feel really terrible in the morning. Very groggy and very short-tempered. Have had to throw the pack out, as I feel so awful in the mornings. I've not noticed this to this degree of morning grogginess with other sleeping tablets. Horrible stuff!"

• Nic...
• September 8, 2015

For Insomnia "Funnily enough, after taking this, I feel it is easier to fall asleep during the day than at night. After an unintentional 12 hours of sleep (just couldn't wake myself up), I was awake for a few hours, then was too drowsy and fell asleep again. I really feel these tablets work better during the day than at night. :("

• Jen...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• May 12, 2012

For Allergic Reactions "I use this medicine for weather allergies and allergies to medications when I need it. It does help greatly, but does not last long, and my burning sensation comes back into my body and the hives start to show. However, a lot of people say that this medicine makes them feel sedated. I have the complete opposite, I take 1 before bed, and I will not sleep."

• Pef...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 25, 2020

For Insomnia "Nytol did not help my insomnia. A waste of money. I don't know how the company dares to make the claims it does in its adverts in the UK. The problem with the product has a warning that it may make you feel drowsy - if only it did."

• Mot...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• August 3, 2017

For Insomnia "Certainly helps me to sleep. But first time I slept for about 12 hours, which meant that I slept badly the following night. I now take 3/4 of the tablet for a solid 8 hours. I suggest trying 1/2 or 3/4 your first time. The first half hour or so on waking leaves me groggy, then I'm fine. Also seems to help me sleep really well the following night. I use only occasionally."

• Ano...
• August 6, 2008

For Insomnia "This stuff works ridiculously well. The first time I took it, I woke up the next morning and I was instantly wide awake and full of energy, it's like nothing I've ever had before. Absolutely no drowsiness carrying on to the next day."

• Ins...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 29, 2020

For Insomnia "Little (minuscule) help with insomnia, but bad, bad side effects. In the morning, very tired, groggy, not able to function normally. The morning feels like I am recovering from some illness. The worst sleep medicine ever!!!!"

• Dax...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• March 17, 2013

For Insomnia "My doctor had prescribed Ambien. Before taking it, I wanted to know side effects. Found that it can have very negative unwanted side effects. Therefore, did NOT even take one tablet. Threw them out! So, I turned to the Equate Nighttime Sleep Aid, 50 mg, which was a good choice. Helped me to sleep well. I do, though, awake, although briefly, around 2:30-3:00 AM after having gone to bed at 9:00 PM. Notice some daytime sleepiness at times."

• Jul...
• July 21, 2017

For Allergic Rhinitis "I have a lot of allergies. About a year ago, I began taking Benadryl at night to help me sleep. It also helped a lot with the allergies. I only take it at night because of the drowsiness. Recently, my stomach was upset for a month, and I noticed they've begun putting calcium in it! This is so upsetting! Calcium stimulates stomach acid, and people with allergies are sensitive to acid. This has been documented in the allergy journal. I would have thought a pharma company would know better than this! I wish the two corp drugstores in my area had a better selection of drowsy antihistamines. They mostly have only Benadryl. CVS has chlorphen, but it has lactose in it. :( For now, I'm making do with a Walgreens combo that includes chlorphen."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• January 15, 2016

For Insomnia "This medication works well if taken as directed for your insomnia and for no longer than about 1 month. I began taking 1-50 mg twice a week, which worked very well, but I continued to increase the dosage every 2 weeks. It did make me tired enough to fall right to sleep after about 45 minutes of taking it and with no drowsiness the following morning."