Sleep Aids

[Guest guest]

Anyone using them?

I've been sleeping pretty poorly for a while now - maybe 2 hours a night on bad

nights - maybe 4 or 5 on good ones. So I decided to try an OTC sleep aid. Not

only did I sleep through the night, but I woke without the usual ears ringing

and thumping, and without immediately breaking out in a sweat. I felt great all

day - almost no symptoms at all.

So I took it a few more nights - same results - no symptoms beyond some

prickling sensations and a few mild sweats. Then I tried taking half as much -

with about half the relief. I still slept better than without the sleep aid,

but woke a couple times in a sweat. Symptoms over all were still better, but

not as good as with a full dose.

Last night I tried going without, and slept maybe 4 hours total. Ears really

noisy, hot and sweaty even though the room is only 62 degrees F, tending to

*almost* grind my teeth...

Anyway, I just wondered how sleep aids work for other people here - if they tend

to dampen other Lyme symptoms beyond helping with the insomnia. I felt really

good on those days - almost like I was Lyme-free.

The stuff I used was Equate Nighttime Sleep Aid from Walmart - Diphenhydramine

HCL, 25 mg per tablet - adult dose 2 tablets. I did a little googling of

Diphenhydramine, and found that it interferes with the production of

acetylcholine, which controls, among other things, sweating.

So, it looks like a good way to get to sleep without sweating. But I'm

wondering how often, or for how long, it's OK to take it. Guess I'll have to

ask my doctor when I talk to him next week. Meanwhile, it was a nice little

vacation from my remaining symptoms. Good to know there's something I can do

the night before if there's a day I *have* to feel well.

Thanks, All,

D.

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