Trouble in diphenhydramine-land... If for some inexplicable reason you're a regular reader of this blog, then you may remember that early this year I discovered the insomnia-destroying effects (for me, anyway) of diphenhydramine. That's the active ingredient in the allergy medicine Benadryl, but for me it's been working great for six months as a way for me to regularly sleep through the night. That's been a new experience for me, as I'd been an insomniac for my entire prior adult life. After some experimentation, I settled on a 12.5 mg dose, which I've been taking every night, an hour or two before I go to sleep.
The last week or so this has not been working. The logical conclusion, reinforced by some online reading, is that my body has developed a tolerance for the drug, and I'd have to increase the dose for it to continue being effective. Of course, that's the first step of the classic dependency cycle, and I refuse to get on that particular train to destruction. So ... last night's dose will be my last, at least for a while. I suspect my insomnia will return with a vengeance in the short term, then after a few days or weeks I'll be back to my pre-diphenhydramine norm.
This makes me very sad, as I've been greatly enjoying all the benefits of a full night's sleep ... and I don't know any other way to get that...
Or find a medication with similar properties and switch for awhile.
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