Even though this is an over-the-counter medication, you should still speak with a doctor before using it as a sleep aid. Consulting a doctor is the best way to determine whether Hydroxyzine or Benadryl is a safe and effective option for you. There are other off-label prescription drug options for sleep aids, including Trazodone an antidepressant and Gabapentin. Your doctor might explore these or other over-the-counter supplements, including melatonin.
Additionally, a sleep doctor might recommend non-medication therapies including sleep hygiene and cognitive behavioral therapy to help improve your sleep.
Alex Dimitriu is a Stanford-trained physician with dual board certification in psychiatry and sleep medicine. The included content is not intended to replace medical advice. Always be sure to discuss any prescription medications with your doctor. You've successfully subscribed to Kick Health Blog. Next, complete checkout for full access to Kick Health Blog. Welcome back! You've successfully signed in. Your account is fully activated, you now have access to all content. Your billing info is updated.
Billing info update failed. Benadryl vs. Hydroxyzine For Sleep Measure content performance. Develop and improve products. List of Partners vendors. Hydroxyzine is a first-generation, sedating antihistamine , which means it has similar side effects to Benadryl. It is marketed under the brand names Atarax and Vistaril but is also available in generic form.
Hydroxyzine was originally developed as a sedative during the s but was found to have significant antihistamine properties. Hydroxyzine is commonly prescribed for the treatment of various allergic conditions, particularly hives , but is also commonly used to treat itching , anxiety, insomnia, as well as nausea and vomiting.
However, the effects of sedation and drowsiness may lead instead to a prescription for one of the second-generation antihistamines such as Xyzal levocetirizine. Hydroxyzine works by blocking the H1 receptor, binding to them and decreasing the activity of histamine.
Histamine also induces swelling and the production of wheels in rashes. By blocking the H1 receptor, hydroxyzine is effective against these allergy symptoms. This can also help when itching pruritis is caused by allergies. But hydroxyzine also crosses into the brain where it has further effects to cause drowsiness and sedation. These effects may not be wanted when treating allergies.
The active metabolite of hydroxyzine is cetirizine Zyrtec , which is available over-the-counter as a low-sedating antihistamine. The active isomer of cetirizine is levocetirizine Xyzal , which is available only by prescription and has become available in generic form.
It doesn't cross into the brain as readily as hydroxyzine, and therefore it doesn't produce the same sedation. Zyrtec and Xyzal are better for the treatment of allergic rhinitis than hydroxyzine since they have fewer side effects and a longer duration of action. They are also effective for the treatment of hives and itching. Zyrtec and Xyzal are not effective for the treatment of anxiety, insomnia or nausea, and vomiting, conditions for which hydroxyzine or other first-generation antihistamines may be prescribed.
Despite hydroxyzine being a year-old medication, it still has benefit for the treatment of various medical conditions. An advantage of the second-generation antihistamines Zyrtec and Xyzal is the lack of unwanted side effects such as sedation, drowsiness, and difficulty in concentrating and learning. These side effects are of special concern when school-aged children are treated for long periods with hydroxyzine. Xyzal levocetirizine is the only antihistamine with which there are no clinically relevant adverse effects on physical and psychomotor development in children aged six months to 12 years, according to studies.
That said, hydroxyzine continues to have non-allergy uses for the treatment of mild anxiety, insomnia, and nausea and vomiting. It may also be an inexpensive short-term medication for adults with allergies when the side effects of sedation may be beneficial such as with insomnia or anxiety. Sign up for our Health Tip of the Day newsletter, and receive daily tips that will help you live your healthiest life.
National Library of Medicine. Revised February 15, Walsh GM.
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