INSOMNIA

[Starcatty]

I would like to know if i can take Benadryl (diphenhydramine hydrochloride) for sleep if i have CKD stage 3B?

The research on this is very confusing. Some sites say it's OK; others say it's bad.

Any other suggestions for sleep aids?

[jodaer]

I don't know about Benadryl, but I take melatonin and Unisom. Sometimes Nyquil. To me sleep is very important so that takes precedence on some things. I would suggest you ask your doctor.

[Ziggydoodah in reply to jodaer]

I am on dialysis and having issues sleeping. I did my research regarding melatonin. I took it for 2 nights running. However my blood pressure was a lot higher than normal. I eventually googled to see if it could be the melatonin. I discovered it could be and this info completely contradicted the info I had read before taking it. I stopped taking it and my blood pressure is now back down to "my normal". Obviously this won't apply to everyone, just wanted to offer my experience.

[Turtlepad513 in reply to Ziggydoodah]

I’ve never been told Benadryl is a problem and I have CKD related high BP, but check with your doctor.

[Tabookitty5 in reply to Ziggydoodah]

melatonin is on the “interactions” list of several things we could use for basic mental health and wellbeing management. I had to ditch the melatonin and get weed oil and/or ambien due to insomnia. We can’t take LOTS OF STUFF

[WYOAnne NKF Ambassador]

You should always check with your doctor before you take anything, even something over-the-counter. My nephrologist told me it was OK to take Benadryl. He even takes it when he travels. That being said, there is research now that taking Benadryl daily can cause a greater chance of developing dementia, but so does Melatonin and so does not sleeping. So, don't take all the time. Moderation. It's like everything, they do have to report "any and all" side effects.

[Kam73]

I was having trouble sleeping, staying asleep and having night terrors. I read somewhere about using a weighted blanket can help so I tried it. I am going on 6 weeks of sleeping! Not even a night terror. I got a 15 pound blanket from Amazon but I am sure across the pond they have places to buy them. I am in the USA.

[Reese4]

Benadryl is the only thing that works consistently for me but I only take it when I've missed a couple of nights sleep. I take melatonin but as Ziggydoodah said it raised blood pressure. I've also tried l-tryptophan and valerian which are okay for getting to sleep but don't keep me there. Seems everything has warnings but sleep is coveted so I just remain cautious no matter which I give in to. Still, diphenhydramine works best for me.

[chicablue]

I took it for years (I've dealt with CKD for 27 yrs) but when I was stage 4, my nephrologist told me to cut it in half. Since that is difficult, I just take it less often than I used to.

[Darlenia in reply to chicablue]

Yes! We found that a number of my hubby's medications were cut in half or changed to child size when he was on dialysis. - maybe because the medications don't have a way to leave the body or perhaps they metabolize differently? Zyrtec, the allergy med, was one of them too that our doctor prescribed in child size.

[chicablue]

I also have been using Zyrtec. Is that available in a lower dosage?

[Darlenia in reply to chicablue]

Yes, it's available in adult or child size - online, in the big box stores, etc.

[chicablue]

Thanks!

[whats]

I have awful insomnia. I take "hydroxylamine sulfate" which is in a lot of the brand name otc sleep medications, half a tab. My dr said that all these sleep medicines are associated with dementia, but lack of sleep has to be worse for you, imho. There are several prescription sleep meds that are NOT associated with dementia, like Ambien and Trazodone, but I didn't like the side effects, only the benzo diazepam drug Tazepam, which I take every 3rd night. I think my doctor said these are all processed by the liver not the kidneys but maybe my memory has been affected by all the sleep tablets.