Question by hillaryc59bc: Do OTC Sleep aids increase the appetite?
I read somewhere today, that these sleep aids contain diphenhydramine (an antihistamine) and can increase your appetite,cause weight gain,etc. Have any of you that have taken these, experienced this side effect??
Mohamed…the website you provided indicated that diphenhydramine can cause stomach distress or upset. Doesn’t say increase of appetite. Why do these other guys like to get us so upset???
Best answer:
Answer by yellowkayak
This is a load of crap, Diphenhydramine is just the generic name for Benedryl an anti-histamine in fact the most powerful member of its family. if this were true then most people that use these drugs for allergies, etc. would show weight gain which they don’t. I will tell you that as an insomniac one drug that will cause you o sleep-eat is Ambien. If you go to bed slightly hungry you will take the drug and fall asleep wake up in a trance like condition hit the fridge or start cooking. My wife used to be afraid I would burn down the house because I would leave the stove or oven on. She would get up and clean up everything at 3am. Lets just say I don’t use that anymore now that lunesta is on the market.
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I really don’t know wether diphenhydramine is an appetizer or not. But another antihistaminic (Cryptohyptadine), is used as OTC hypnotic and can be used as OTC appetizer.
This’s what I found on net:
Diphenhydramine, an antihistamine, relieves red, irritated, itchy, watery eyes; sneezing; and runny nose caused by hay fever, allergies, and the common cold. It also may relieve the itching of insect bites, sunburns, bee stings, poison ivy, poison oak, and minor skin irritation. Diphenhydramine is also used to prevent and treat motion sickness, induce sleep, treat Parkinson’s disease, and relieve cough caused by minor throat or airway irritation.
This medication is sometimes prescribed for other uses; ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.
I have never heard of diphenhydramine causing weight gain, or an increase in appetite. I have taken it (Benadryl) to sleep, and the only side effect I have experienced is grogginess the next morning.